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Each year, an estimated 12 million adults in the U.S. are misdiagnosed in outpatient settings. Studies show that women (especially women of color) are at higher risk – about 20–30% more likely than white men to be on the receiving end of a diagnostic error.
These aren’t just numbers; they represent real women who suffered through “It’s all in your head” when something was truly wrong.
From the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions to the deeper reasons behind them, we’ll break down what every woman should know—along with how things are improving, and what you can do to take charge of your health.
Why misdiagnoses disproportionately affect women
For decades, medical research and clinical trials focused primarily on men. Until the early 1990s, women—especially those of childbearing age—were often excluded from drug studies, yet the results were applied universally. This created a knowledge gap in how conditions show up in women. Take Ambien, for example: it was prescribed at the same dose for men and women for years before researchers discovered that women metabolize it more slowly and need half as much.
Many conditions also present differently in women. Heart attacks are a prime example. Instead of crushing chest pain, women are more likely to experience fatigue, nausea, or back and jaw pain—symptoms that don’t match the textbook and are easier to dismiss. Women are 50% more likely than men to be misdiagnosed after a heart attack. Similar issues happen with autoimmune diseases or ADHD, which often look different in women and can be misattributed to stress or emotional issues.
Even well-meaning doctors may carry unconscious bias. We’re conditioned to associate certain conditions with certain genders: heart disease with men, depression with women. These assumptions show up in the exam room. One analysis by KFF Health News found that women and minorities are far more likely to be mislabeled or misdiagnosed than white male patients. Women’s symptoms are more often chalked up to anxiety, hormones, or weight—even more so for women of color. This kind of dismissal, often referred to as medical gaslighting, can delay critical diagnoses.
Communication style also plays a role. Women may share more context or details about their symptoms, but in rushed 15-minute appointments, providers may interrupt or miss key clues. If a woman feels dismissed, she might downplay symptoms at future visits—deepening the gap.
None of this is about bad doctors—it’s about systemic blind spots. When medicine is based on male norms and research overlooks women’s unique presentations, misdiagnosis becomes a pattern. Many women end up cycling through providers for years before getting answers.
Common misdiagnosed conditions in women
Certain health conditions are notorious for being frequently misdiagnosed or diagnosed much later in women. Here are some of the most common ones and why they slip through the cracks:
1. Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one killer of women, yet it’s frequently misjudged. Women suffering heart attacks are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed as having anxiety or indigestion in emergency rooms. One study found women have a 50% higher chance than men of receiving the wrong initial diagnosis after a heart attack. Why? Women’s heart attack symptoms can be atypical – beyond chest pain, they may experience shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, neck/jaw pain, or nausea. If these clues aren’t recognized, a woman having a heart attack might be sent home or told it's a panic attack. Similarly, women’s chest pain due to heart disease is sometimes written off as acid reflux or stress, delaying critical treatment.
2. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing pain and other issues. Despite affecting an estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, it’s infamously hard to get diagnosed. On average, women in the U.S. wait around 7 to 10 years for an accurate endometriosis diagnosis. Many are told for years that their crippling pelvic pain is “normal” period pain or IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or even that it’s psychosomatic. Endometriosis symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions, and definitive diagnosis requires a surgical laparoscopy – so unless a doctor strongly suspects endo, a woman may suffer without answers for a long time. This delay can be devastating, leading to years of pain or even fertility problems before proper treatment begins.
3. Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases (like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, etc.) disproportionately hit women with 4 out of 5 autoimmune sufferers being female. These illnesses are tricky: symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, and mood changes are nonspecific and can come and go, which often leads doctors on a wild goose chase. It takes seeing an average of five different doctors over nearly four years to get an autoimmune diagnosis. Women often hear comments like “maybe you’re just stressed” or get misdiagnosed with depression, fibromyalgia, or other conditions first. Laboratory tests for autoimmune markers can be inconclusive in early stages, so some women truly know something is wrong but don’t get validation until the disease progresses enough to be obvious. In the meantime, their symptoms might be minimized. The result is that women with autoimmune issues frequently feel dismissed as complainers before finally getting the correct label and care.
4. Thyroid Disorders
Thyroid problems (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) are extremely common in women. In the US, about 1 in every 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder in her lifetime (far higher risk than men). Yet thyroid issues are frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed for long periods. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) causes symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, depression, hair loss, and feeling cold – signs that can easily be blamed on aging, menopause, or just a busy life. Many women are told those changes are “just normal” or given antidepressants instead. Women are seven times more likely than men to have hypothyroidism, yet they may visit doctor after doctor complaining of feeling awful and still hear that everything is “fine.” Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), on the flip side, can cause anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations that might get a woman misdiagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The key issue is that thyroid symptoms are broad and often attributed to other causes, so women endure long stretches before getting a simple blood test that finally explains it.
5. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a hormonal disorder affecting roughly 5–10% of women of childbearing age in the U.S.. It’s a leading cause of irregular periods and infertility. Despite how common it is, less than half of women with PCOS are properly diagnosed. Why the disconnect? First, PCOS has a range of symptoms (irregular or absent periods, ovarian cysts, weight gain or trouble losing weight, acne, excess facial or body hair, thinning scalp hair, etc.) that can vary widely from one woman to another. There’s no single test for PCOS, and it’s often a diagnosis of exclusion – doctors might rule out thyroid disease or even assume stress is causing menstrual changes. Some women with PCOS have normal-looking ovaries on an ultrasound or are not overweight, which fools doctors into thinking it can’t be PCOS. Many women spend years being told to just go on birth control to regulate periods without ever getting an explanation of why their cycles and hormones are out of whack. The consequence is that underlying PCOS (which also raises risk of diabetes and other issues) remains untreated in many women. It’s estimated up to 70% of PCOS cases go undiagnosed worldwide, a statistic that patient advocates call unacceptable. Clearly, more awareness is needed so that classic signs of PCOS in women (like very irregular periods plus other symptoms) get recognized earlier.
6. Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer has been nicknamed the “silent killer” because it’s often caught late – and part of the reason is misdiagnosis. Early ovarian cancer symptoms are subtle: bloating, pelvic or abdominal discomfort, feeling full quickly, and urinary changes. It’s easy for doctors (and patients) to chalk these up to less serious problems like indigestion, IBS, or perimenopause. There is also no routine screening test (unlike mammograms for breast cancer or Pap smears for cervical cancer). This means many women don’t get checked for ovarian cancer until it’s advanced. According to the American Cancer Society, only ~20% of ovarian cancers are found at an early (more treatable) stage. Too many women have reported that they went to the doctor with persistent bloating or pain, went through gastrointestinal tests or were told to change their diet, and lost precious time before someone finally did an imaging scan of the ovaries. By the time of diagnosis, the cancer may have spread, making treatment far more difficult. Ovarian cancer misdiagnosis is a prime example of why listening to patients and considering a wide range of possibilities is so critical – especially when a woman insists “something isn’t right” with her body.
These are just some of the conditions that illustrate the gender gap in diagnosis. The pattern is clear: when symptoms don’t fit the “standard” or if they affect a predominantly female population, women often face disbelief or incorrect diagnoses before finally getting proper care.
The impact of misdiagnosis on women
Misdiagnosis is not just a minor inconvenience – it can have serious consequences for women’s health and lives. Here are some of the ways women bear the brunt of diagnostic errors:
Delayed or inappropriate treatment
A wrong diagnosis can mean the real illness goes untreated while you undergo treatment for something you don’t actually have. This delay can make the condition worsen. Simply put, delayed care can be life-threatening for conditions like cancer, heart disease, or stroke. Even when not life-threatening, delays mean prolonged suffering – potentially years of uncontrolled pain, fatigue, or other symptoms that could have been managed sooner.
Emotional toll and loss of trust
Being repeatedly misdiagnosed or told “you’re fine” when you clearly feel unwell is emotionally exhausting. Women often internalize these experiences – they start to wonder, “Am I crazy? Is it really ‘just stress’?” This self-doubt can chip away at mental health, leading to anxiety or depression. There’s also trauma in not being believed: it’s a terrible feeling to have your pain minimized. Over time, many women may lose trust in the healthcare system.
Financial stress
Misdiagnoses can take a serious financial toll. Multiple doctor visits, unnecessary tests, and treatments for the wrong condition quickly add up.
Many women pay out-of-pocket for specialists just to get answers. And if insurance doesn’t cover second opinions, the burden grows. Take a woman misdiagnosed with depression who’s actually dealing with hypothyroidism: she might spend years on therapy and antidepressants, while the real issue goes untreated—causing more health problems and more expenses.
What’s changing for the better?
It’s not all doom and gloom. In recent years, there’s been a growing awareness of the healthcare gaps affecting women, and efforts are underway to close those gaps. Here are some hopeful developments making a difference:
Awareness and education is growing
Importantly, the conversation around women’s health disparities is out in the open. Medical schools and training programs are increasingly teaching about implicit bias and the need to listen to patients (and not dismiss women’s reports of pain). There are now specialized courses and centers for gender-specific medicine. More women physicians are in the field than ever before, and they often bring personal perspectives that improve patient care.
Doctors are learning to reconsider phrases like “women are just anxious” and instead ask, “Could we be missing something?” Meanwhile, women are learning that it’s okay to question a diagnosis that doesn’t feel right.
Technology and diagnostic tools are improving
Technology is playing a promising role in leveling the field. Advances in medical diagnostics can help catch conditions that used to be missed. For example, improved imaging techniques and less invasive tests are emerging for diseases like endometriosis and ovarian cancer. Whole body MRI scans, like Prenuvo, have become more accessible as a screening tool – some women are proactively using these scans to scan for potential cancers or abnormalities in one go, gaining clarity and peace of mind about their health. These radiation-free MRIs can sometimes detect issues that were overlooked, giving women a greater sense of control in cases where they feel something was missed.
How women can advocate for themselves
While systemic fixes are in progress, what can you do now to take charge of your health and avoid falling through the cracks? Here are some strategies for advocating for yourself in medical settings:
Trust your instincts
First and foremost, believe in yourself. If you feel something is really wrong, don’t let one dismissive comment derail you. It’s easy to start doubting yourself when a doctor says “you’re fine” but you don’t feel fine. Remember that persistent pain or symptoms are your body’s way of signaling a problem. Trust that inner voice. If a symptom is affecting your daily life, it’s significant. Don’t downplay it when talking to your doctor.
Come prepared and be organized
Given the short appointment times, it helps to go in with a game plan. Before your visit, jot down a bullet list of your key symptoms (when they started, how often they occur, what makes them better or worse). Keep it concise and focused. This helps ensure you cover everything important without getting sidetracked. Also, bring up important history or risk factors upfront – for example, if your mom had early heart disease or your sister has an autoimmune disorder, mention it. Those details can prompt a doctor to consider diagnoses they otherwise might not.
Advocate and persist
If you’ve tried a treatment and it’s not working, or if time passes and you’re not improving, bring it up. You have every right to say, “I’ve followed your instructions, but I’m still feeling bad. What’s the next step?” If the response isn’t satisfactory – say, the doctor has no new ideas or continues to downplay your symptoms – it may be time for a second opinion. Seeking another doctor’s perspective is completely acceptable, especially in complex cases.
Above all, don’t give up
If you feel unwell, you deserve an explanation. Period. It can be tiring to self-advocate, but momentum is on your side – the healthcare field is becoming more attuned to women’s needs, and there are more tools and knowledgeable professionals out there than ever before.
To learn more about the benefits of a whole body MRI—and what makes Prenuvo different—book a call with a member of our care team.
