On 13th March 2025, beloved cleaning influencer Sophie Hinchliffe, better known as Mrs Hinch, took to her Instagram stories to share a frightening health scare with her 4.8 million followers. Just three weeks postpartum, aged 35, she developed a blood clot in her leg - a condition she had previously experienced in 2018.
However, what made this ordeal particularly alarming was the response she initially received from medical professionals. After experiencing concerning symptoms, Mrs Hinch sought medical attention at a hospital where she underwent a CT scan. Despite her worries, she was discharged and told she was fine. But over the following days, her leg continued to swell.
Despite her worries, she was discharged and told she was fine. But over the following days, her leg continued to swell.
Trusting her instincts, she sought a second opinion at a different hospital - where doctors confirmed she did, in fact, have a blood clot. Thankfully, after undergoing surgery to remove it, she has now fully recovered.
Reflecting on the experience, Mrs Hinch admitted it had played heavily on her mind, questioning what might have happened if she hadn’t persisted. Her powerful message to her followers was simple: "Trust your gut. You know your own body."
"Trust your gut. You know your own body."
The Reality of Medical Gaslighting for Women
Mrs Hinch’s experience is, unfortunately, not an isolated incident. Research increasingly highlights how women’s health concerns are frequently downplayed or dismissed by medical professionals - a phenomenon commonly referred to as “medical gaslighting.”
A research study commissioned by Nurofen and its parent company Reckitt, as part of its latest Gender Pain Gap Index Report, found that 81% of young women (aged 18-24) felt their pain was ignored or dismissed by doctors, compared to 73% of men in the same age group. For women aged 45 and over, more than half reported having their pain dismissed, while for men, this figure dropped to 49%. The research also found that 40% of women suffering from menopause-related pain faced delays in diagnosis, with one in six women over 45 waiting more than a year for proper medical attention.
Women are 50% more likely than men to be misdiagnosed when experiencing a heart attack.
Delays in diagnosing serious conditions can have severe consequences. Research data shows that women are 50% more likely than men to be misdiagnosed when experiencing a heart attack, often being told their symptoms are due to anxiety or indigestion rather than a cardiac event. The same report found that conditions such as brain tumours, strokes, dementia, and autism are more frequently misdiagnosed in women, leading to prolonged suffering and, in some cases, fatal outcomes.
Further highlighting this gender bias in healthcare, a 2024 report by PopSugar Health delved into the psychological toll of medical gaslighting. The report cited examples of women with debilitating symptoms being told their issues were “in their heads” or attributed to stress rather than undergoing further medical evaluation. This lack of serious investigation has led to prolonged undiagnosed conditions, particularly in cases of autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, and cardiovascular issues.
Why Mrs Hinch’s Story Matters
Mrs Hinch’s experience serves as an urgent reminder of the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. While medical professionals play a critical role in diagnosing and treating illnesses, patients - especially women - must trust their instincts and push for answers when something doesn’t feel right.
With increasing awareness of gender disparities in healthcare, campaigns and movements are calling for improved medical training and greater research into conditions that disproportionately affect women. In the meantime, Mrs Hinch’s message to “trust your gut” is one that many women may, unfortunately, need to take to heart.
Her story is not just a personal ordeal - it’s part of a larger issue that demands urgent attention.
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