New research highlighted in the Journal of Women’s Health underscores the significant challenges women face in accessing adequate healthcare compared to their male counterparts, especially when dealing with conditions like endometriosis.
At the age of 28, Jordan Guzior, newly diagnosed and undergoing treatment for endometriosis, has finally found an explanation for the medical issues she has endured for most of her life.
Her journey began at the age of 13 when she started experiencing excruciating periods and joint pain, which became so debilitating that she had to give up her beloved sports activities. “I saw multiple doctors about it, and basically, I would get the same answer every time,” Guzior explained. “It was just ‘you’re too young to be having those issues,’ and then that was it.”
With no solutions in sight, both her physical and mental health began to deteriorate. By the time she reached college, her lack of confidence in the healthcare system led her to stop seeking care altogether. Guzior expressed her frustration, saying, “You’re the only person that knows what’s going on inside of you, and if you’re explaining that and you’re constantly being put down and told that it’s nothing or you’re too young to have those problems or all that doesn’t happen, then you really start to believe that.”
Gynecologic surgeon Thomas Cacciola at Albany Medical Center shared that Guzior’s story is all too familiar. He hears similar accounts on a daily basis. Conditions like endometriosis, which manifest in symptoms such as painful periods, infertility, painful intercourse, or chronic pelvic pain, pose diagnostic challenges for several reasons. Until recently, surgery was the primary method for diagnosis. Cacciola lamented, “The idea that we tell people that their abnormal symptoms are normal makes people feel alone, like they’re crazy.”
However, the issue of gender bias in healthcare extends beyond endometriosis. Medical experts emphasize that it is a pervasive problem with serious consequences for women’s health outcomes.
Recent advances in diagnostic tools have made it easier to identify endometriosis. Although the data is not perfect, Cacciola estimates that 1 in 10 women has the condition, yet many remain untreated.
Cacciola stressed the importance of finding the right medical team, asking questions, being prepared, and trusting oneself.
For Guzior, the desire to start a family served as the motivation to give the healthcare system another chance. Approximately a year ago, she underwent surgery to remove a cyst and received her endometriosis diagnosis.
She acknowledged that her journey toward diagnosis and treatment has taken longer than she initially envisioned but remains optimistic. “It’s definitely coming later in life than I originally envisioned,” Guzior said. “But we know it’ll happen when it’s supposed to happen, and we’re excited for that time to come, and we’re just going to keep working towards that goal.”
She emphasized the importance of speaking up for oneself, saying, “Speaking out for yourself is the best thing that you can do. You know, you’re your biggest ally, and women’s health is equally as important, and you know it. It can be hard, but we’re just as important as everybody else.”
