International Women’s Day 2026: Why Health Equity Is the Fight We Cannot Afford to Lose

This year’s International Women’s Day, on 8 March, carries the theme Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls. It is a call that resonates deeply with those of us working in women’s health — because for too many women in the United Kingdom, access to timely, specialist gynaecological care remains a privilege rather than a right.

In my practice, I see the impact of health inequalities every day. Women who have waited months — sometimes years — for answers. Women who have been told their pain is psychological, their bleeding is just something to live with, their perimenopausal symptoms are simply stress. As a French-trained gynaecologist working in London, I have had the privilege of practising in two very different healthcare systems, and that dual perspective has sharpened my understanding of what works, what fails, and what urgently needs to change.

The Reality of Women’s Health Inequality in the UK

According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), more than 743,000 women are currently on NHS gynaecology waiting lists in England alone. That is three quarters of a million women waiting — many for months or even years — for diagnosis and treatment of conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, heavy menstrual bleeding, and menopausal symptoms. The average wait for a gynaecology appointment now exceeds 18 weeks, and in many parts of the country it is considerably longer.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. Behind every statistic is a woman whose daily life, work, relationships, and mental health are being affected by a condition that could be managed or treated. Delayed diagnosis does not just cause frustration; it allows conditions to progress, symptoms to worsen, and the emotional toll to deepen.

The inequalities do not affect all women equally. The MBRRACE-UK confidential enquiry into maternal deaths has consistently shown that Black women in the UK are four times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than white women. Women of Asian heritage face twice the risk. These are not marginal differences — they represent a systemic failure to provide equitable care to all women regardless of ethnicity or background.

The disparities extend well beyond maternity. Women from ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic backgrounds wait longer for referrals, are less likely to receive specialist investigations, and report feeling less listened to in consultations. When I reflect on these figures, I feel both anger and determination. This is not inevitable — it is the result of choices, priorities, and structures that can be changed.

What I See in My Clinic

As a gynaecologist who trained at the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris and now practises in London, I witness the consequences of the gender health gap in almost every consultation. Let me share what I see most frequently:

Endometriosis that has gone undiagnosed for years. The average time from first symptoms to diagnosis of endometriosis in the UK remains seven to eight years. I regularly meet women in their thirties who have been told since adolescence that painful periods are normal. By the time they reach my clinic, many have developed advanced disease that has affected their fertility, their careers, and their sense of self. Earlier referral, earlier investigation, and earlier treatment could have spared them years of unnecessary suffering.

Menopausal women who have been dismissed. I see women in their late forties and fifties who have visited their GP multiple times with symptoms of perimenopause — anxiety, insomnia, joint pain, brain fog, low mood — only to be offered antidepressants without any discussion of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Despite clear NICE guidelines recommending HRT as first-line treatment for menopausal symptoms, too many women are still not being given the information they need to make an informed choice about their own bodies.

Missed cervical screenings. Cervical screening uptake in the UK has fallen to its lowest level in over two decades. Many women tell me they find the experience uncomfortable, embarrassing, or that they simply could not get a convenient appointment. I take cervical screening and HPV management seriously in my practice because I know that this simple test saves lives — and that the barriers to attending are often practical rather than medical.

Contraceptive dissatisfaction. A surprising number of women I see have never had a thorough conversation about their contraceptive options. They have been given a prescription without a discussion of alternatives, side effects, or what might suit their lifestyle and health profile best. Contraception is not one-size-fits-all, and every woman deserves a consultation that treats it as the important health decision it is.

Barriers to Gynaecological Care

The gender health gap is not the result of a single cause. It is the product of intersecting barriers that compound one another:

• Diagnostic delays: Women’s pain is more likely to be dismissed or attributed to psychological causes. The eight-year average for endometriosis diagnosis is one of the starkest examples, but similar delays affect women with adenomyosis, interstitial cystitis, and vulvodynia
• Research underfunding: Conditions that predominantly affect women — endometriosis, PCOS, menopause — have historically received a fraction of the research funding given to conditions of comparable prevalence and severity
• Gaps in medical education: Many doctors in the UK receive minimal dedicated training in menopause management, despite it affecting every woman who reaches midlife. The Women’s Health Strategy for England has acknowledged this gap, but progress in closing it has been slow
• Ethnic and socioeconomic disparities: The MBRRACE-UK data on maternal mortality is the most visible example, but disparities run through every area of gynaecological care — from time to diagnosis to access to specialist treatment
• Cultural and linguistic barriers: Women whose first language is not English, or who come from cultural backgrounds where discussing gynaecological symptoms is taboo, face additional obstacles to seeking and receiving help
• Financial barriers: While the NHS provides care free at the point of use, the reality is that long waiting times effectively create a two-tier system where those who can afford private care receive faster diagnosis and treatment

Having trained in France, where the approach to gynaecological care is structured differently — with women typically seeing a gynaecologist directly for routine care rather than being filtered through a GP — I can see both the strengths and weaknesses of the UK system. The NHS is a remarkable institution, but it is under extraordinary pressure, and women’s health has too often been the area where cuts are felt most keenly.

My Work at the Dispensaire Français

Health equity is not just a concept I write about — it is something I try to practise. I volunteer as a gynaecologist at the Dispensaire Français de Londres, a charity that has provided free medical consultations to the French-speaking community in London since 1867. Many of the women I see there do not have easy access to gynaecological care through other routes. Some are recent arrivals in the UK who are not yet registered with a GP. Others are undocumented, uninsured, or simply unable to navigate a system that was not designed with them in mind.

At the Dispensaire, I provide consultations covering cervical screening, contraceptive advice, menopause management, and general gynaecological assessments — the same quality of care I offer in my private practice, but free of charge. It is one of the most rewarding parts of my work, because it brings me back to the fundamental reason I became a doctor: to help women who need it, regardless of their circumstances.

What I have learned from the Dispensaire is that the barriers to care are often remarkably simple to overcome when the will is there. A consultation in a woman’s own language, in a welcoming environment, with a doctor who has time to listen — these are not luxuries. They are the bare minimum of what equitable healthcare should look like. I have written more about this work and what it has taught me in my article on volunteering at the Dispensaire Français.

What Needs to Change

The UK Government’s Women’s Health Strategy, published in 2022, was a welcome acknowledgement that the system has failed women. But strategy documents alone do not change outcomes. What is needed is sustained investment, accountability, and a fundamental shift in how women’s health is prioritised within the NHS. Specifically:

• Faster access to specialist care: The 18-week referral-to-treatment target is routinely missed in gynaecology. Women with conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, and heavy menstrual bleeding should not have to wait months for a diagnosis that could be reached in a single specialist consultation
• Mandatory menopause training: Every GP and healthcare professional should receive comprehensive training in recognising and managing perimenopause and menopause, in line with NICE guideline NG23
• Addressing ethnic disparities head-on: The findings of the MBRRACE-UK reports must translate into targeted action to reduce maternal mortality among Black and Asian women, including culturally competent care, bias training, and community outreach
• Investing in prevention: A well-woman check-up should be accessible to every woman, not just those who can afford private care. Preventive gynaecological health saves lives and reduces the burden on the NHS in the long term
• Supporting grassroots organisations: Charities like the Dispensaire Français, Endometriosis UK, and The Eve Appeal do essential work in filling the gaps left by the system. They deserve sustained funding and recognition

How I Approach Health Equity in My Practice

I cannot fix the system single-handedly, but I can ensure that every woman who walks into my clinic receives the care she deserves. This is what I commit to in my practice:

• Listening first: I give every patient the time to describe her symptoms fully, without interruption or premature conclusions. A thorough history is the foundation of good medicine
• Taking symptoms seriously: If a woman tells me she is in pain, I believe her. If her periods are affecting her ability to work or live normally, that is not something to endure — it is something to investigate and treat
• Offering the full range of options: Whether it is HRT for menopause, the latest evidence on contraception, or a discussion about surgical versus medical management, I present all the options and support each woman in making the choice that is right for her
• Proactive, preventive care: I encourage every woman to invest in a comprehensive well-woman assessment — not because something is wrong, but because understanding your baseline health is one of the most empowering things you can do
• Cultural sensitivity: Having practised in both France and the UK, and having volunteered at the Dispensaire, I understand that women come to healthcare from very different cultural contexts. I adapt my communication and approach accordingly

What You Can Do

Health equity begins with individual action as well as systemic change. There are steps you can take today:

• Be your own advocate: Know your body, track changes, and do not be afraid to ask questions or request further investigation. If something does not feel right, trust your instinct
• Challenge dismissal: If you are told your symptoms are “normal” but they are affecting your quality of life, you have every right to seek a second opinion. No woman should have to accept suffering as inevitable
• Stay up to date with screening: Cervical screening saves lives. If you are overdue, please book your appointment — it takes minutes and could make all the difference
• Invest in prevention: A well-woman check-up is one of the most powerful steps you can take for your long-term health. It is not a luxury — it is an act of self-care that every woman deserves
• Educate yourself about menopause: If you are approaching your forties or fifties, learn about the signs of perimenopause and the treatment options available. Knowledge is power, and you should never have to navigate this transition without support
• Support organisations making a difference: The RCOG, Endometriosis UK, The Eve Appeal, The Menopause Charity, and the Dispensaire Français are all working to close the health equity gap. They deserve our voice and our support

This International Women’s Day, I want every woman reading this to know: your symptoms matter, your pain is real, and you deserve better than being told to wait. Whether through my private practice, my work at the Dispensaire, or simply through this article reaching the right person at the right time — I will continue to fight for a healthcare system that truly serves all women.