In the UK, the dismissal of women's pain by healthcare professionals is a growing issue, one that is finally beginning to receive the attention it deserves. Recent studies have highlighted how widespread this problem is and the damaging effects it has on women’s physical health, mental well-being, and careers.
The Nurofen Gender Pain Gap Index Report, now in its third year, surveyed over 5,000 men and women across the UK to examine the key stages in life where gender pain bias is most prominent. The report shines a light on how dismissing or ignoring pain can impact women in ways that are often overlooked or minimised. The findings show that young women, in particular, bear the brunt of this systemic issue, with a staggering 81% of women aged 18-24 reporting that their pain was dismissed, compared to 73% of men in the same age group. Even more concerning, one in ten young women had their pain dismissed by a healthcare professional between the ages of 10-15.
Key Findings from the Gender Pain Gap Report
Persistent Pain Dismissal: Nineteen percent of women reported their pain had been ignored for five years or longer, compared to sixteen percent of men.
Cultural Expectations: Over half of women who believe the gender pain gap exists attribute it to the perception that women are "emotional" and expected to endure pain naturally.
Menopause Mismanagement: More than 40% of women experiencing menopause-related pain had it dismissed, with one in six women over the age of 45 waiting over a year for a diagnosis.
Increasing Rates of Dismissal: Between 2023 and 2024, the percentage of women feeling their pain was dismissed rose from 49% to 62%, while men's dismissal rate increased from 38% to 60%.
Impact in the Workplace: Pain dismissals are particularly prominent in professional settings, with 40% of women believing their pain was overlooked in the workplace, and only 20% feeling comfortable discussing their pain with HR or their manager.
A Universal Struggle
The stories shared by women in Nurofen’s report reveal how relatable and widespread this issue truly is. Gabby Menezes-Forsyth, now 25, reflects on her experience with severe period pain and a delayed diagnosis of endometriosis. "From an early age, I felt that my period pain was worse than others, but I didn’t have a frame of reference for what was normal," she said. Despite multiple visits to her GP, her pain was often dismissed as her being "dramatic." Gabby was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis after suffering a miscarriage at age 22, providing clarity after years of confusion and frustration.
This issue affects older women too. Among women over 45, 56% said their pain had been ignored or dismissed, compared to 49% of men in the same age range. The emotional and mental toll of pain dismissal is significant, with one-third of women reporting an impact on their mental health and one in four women beginning to question whether their pain was even real after it was dismissed.
Impact on Careers and Mental Health
The long-term effects of pain dismissal go beyond physical suffering. A fifth of women reported that their career was negatively impacted due to their pain being dismissed, and 40% of women felt the workplace was one of the areas where their pain was most likely to be overlooked.
Absenteeism from female-specific pain is also costing the economy £11 billion per year.
The burden of being dismissed often leads women to internalize their pain, with one-third reporting deteriorating mental health due to being disregarded.
Addressing the Gender Pain Gap
Nurofen is determined to be part of the solution. The company is working with Plan International UK to deliver peer-led education programs to break down stigma and build young girls' knowledge and confidence in managing their periods and pain. In addition, Nurofen has partnered with Imperial College London on a groundbreaking study into gender pain bias to improve medical training around the issue.
Clare Knox, Founder and CEO of See Her Thrive, an organisation focused on women’s health and the workplace, emphasises the broader implications of this issue:
“The Gender Pain Gap is holding women back from reaching their true potential and climbing the career ladder. We need to start supporting women to thrive in every aspect of their lives, whether that’s helping them manage pain so they can carve out the career they want, or working with organisations to create environments that empower women’s health in the workplace.”
The Road Ahead
The Gender Pain Gap is not just a medical issue—it’s a societal one, rooted in systemic biases that leave women’s pain misunderstood and mistreated. With three years of data, Nurofen is taking a more active role in campaigning for change. By partnering with organisations like Plan International UK and Imperial College London, Nurofen hopes to provide better education for healthcare professionals and empower women to speak openly about their pain.
To see the full report and learn more about the See My Pain campaign, visit Nurofen’s Gender Pain Gap Index Report. https://www.nurofen.co.uk/see-my-pain/
It’s time to listen. It’s time for action. Women deserve to have their pain taken seriously.
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