What is the Gender Health Gap?

Last month I co-hosted an in-person networking event on the topic of women’s mental health, and it was such an enjoyable evening!! ❤️ I loved chatting with peers in real life and the conversation was incredibly thought-provoking. Fresh off that session, I thought it would be beneficial to put women’s health in focus more broadly this month. 

This is an area I’m sometimes hesitant to take on because it may not resonate with everyone, especially those who do not necessarily relate to the topic. But it’s important to remember that women make up nearly 50% of the workforce, so the health issues and challenges they face are not insubstantial.

Here are a few stats that I found quite fascinating:

• 50% of women who experience heart attacks had their symptoms go unrecognized, and women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men

• 23% of women suffer from depression after giving birth or having a miscarriage

• 89% of women feel stress or anxiety at work because of menstrual pain, their period, or other challenges with their menstrual cycle

• 75% of women deal with symptoms of menopause that significantly interfere with their daily lives, and up to 10% of women even leave their job or turn down a promotion because of their symptoms

All said, these numbers add up to what some in the industry call the gender health gap. This refers to a gap in the experience women have with healthcare, where the quality of care tends to be lower because there’s been a historical lack of focus on women’s specific needs when it comes to their health.

So how does this translate into the workplace, and your employee benefits? Understanding the gap is important because it provides an opportunity to look at the specific health issues that women face and ensure there is coverage or support for them. And when it comes to women’s health, there is a wide spectrum to consider – let’s explore some of the key areas where healthcare and coverage might be needed.

Women’s Mental Health: Studies have shown that women feel a heavier burden of household and childcare responsibilities than men, which causes higher levels of stress that carry into the workplace. Mental health has been identified as the top concern for women across all age groups, so ensuring there are resources in your benefits plan for mental health and wellness is essential.

Reproductive Health and Child-Bearing Years: There are several health issues and concerns that can arise for a woman her reproductive years – from chronic pain related to her period to mental health issues brought on either by her pre-menstrual cycle, pregnancy loss, or after giving birth. Fertility issues and family planning are also quite prevalent, and we’ll get into what benefits coverage can look like for that in a bit more detail below.

Menopause: The impact of menopause in the workplace is a topic that’s recently blown up in the sector. Keep in mind that even 100 years ago, women did not live as long, so this area of women’s health is a relatively new topic for doctors, scientists, and really, even society. There is a lot to learn for women going through this experience and benefits coverage in this area might include hormone replacement therapy, access to a dietician, and resources for mental health.

Does your employee benefits plan account for the gender health gap? Connect with Shannon to look at what kind of coverage you have in place to see how you can provide support and care for women’s health in your organization.