The UN Denounces That Women Live Longer But Not Better, Citing Biases Such as “Historical Exclusion from Research”
The United Nations (UN) has denounced the fact that women live longer but not better, attributing this to medical biases such as “historical exclusion from research.” Indeed, “until 1993,” women “were largely excluded from clinical trials,” a situation that resulted in “many treatments being developed based on male biology.”
This constitutes one of the “uncomfortable truths” to which the organization refers regarding the unequal treatment of women; according to its own data, women remain less likely to be taken seriously, correctly diagnosed, or adequately treated. Consequently, issues ranging from misdiagnoses to deeply ingrained medical prejudices—deficiencies within healthcare systems—continue to negatively impact their health, safety, and quality of life.
In this regard, the organization has highlighted that women are more likely to have their pain dismissed, their symptoms misinterpreted, and their medical conditions diagnosed too late. According to the gender equality agency UN Women, this reflects a medical system that was historically designed without taking women into account.
Nevertheless, the latter agency has noted that quantifiable progress has been achieved; between 2000 and 2023, maternal mortality declined by 40 percent, dropping from 328 to 197 deaths per 100,000 live births. Furthermore, adolescent fertility rates declined from 66.3 to 38.3 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 between 2000 and 2024.
Other data presented reveal that skilled birth attendance increased from 60.9 to 86.6 percent, and the proportion of women using modern family planning methods rose from 73.7 to 77.1 percent. However, in less developed countries, adolescent births increased from 4.7 million in 2000 to 5.6 million in 2024.
WOMEN SPEND 10.9 YEARS IN POOR HEALTH, COMPARED TO EIGHT FOR MEN
Regarding the assertion that women live longer—but in poorer health—than men, UN Women has indicated that, in 2021, women spent an average of 10.9 years in poor health, compared to eight years for men. This includes chronic conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders, gynecological diseases, migraines, and depression.
In light of this, the UN has highlighted specific issues requiring correction—such as the aforementioned concerns regarding research. Consequently, women are more prone to experiencing adverse reactions to medications, and their symptoms may be misinterpreted; in response, recent research has underscored the importance of integrating sex and gender into medical studies.
Moreover, conditions affecting women are often under-researched and receive limited funding. Furthermore, to this day, outdated tools continue to be used in clinical care—such as the speculum, which is widely used in pelvic examinations and has changed very little since its design in the 19th century. Delayed diagnosis is common, the organization continued, illustrating this point by noting that—despite the fact that endometriosis affects approximately one in 10 women and girls worldwide, representing some 190 million people—detection can take anywhere from four to 12 years.
Finally, it stated that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, yet the most widely recognized symptoms are largely based on male patterns. In light of this—and other inequalities—it advocates for healthcare systems that reflect the reality of women.
