Why Women Need Their Own Path to Wellbeing: Uncovering Medical Bias and Reclaiming Our Health

For too long, women’s health has been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and overlooked in the very systems meant to protect and care for us. From underrepresentation in medical research to biases in healthcare settings, women have faced systemic discrimination in the medical, scientific, and health industries. And the ripple effects are still being felt today.

This isn’t just about statistics. It’s about how our pain has been dismissed, our symptoms labeled “emotional,” and our stress overlooked. It’s about how we've been handed one-size-fits-all health advice—when our biology, hormones, and lived experiences are anything but one-size-fits-all.

It’s time to change that. And it starts with understanding the problem and learning stress management techniques designed for our bodies.

The Hidden Gender Bias in Health & Science

How have we been underrepresented in research?

Historically, women were excluded from clinical trials. It wasn’t until 1993 that the U.S. required women to be included in NIH-funded studies. That’s shockingly recent. As a result, many medications and treatments were developed with male physiology in mind.

What this means: Women are more likely to experience adverse side effects from medications or receive inaccurate diagnoses because the data simply doesn’t reflect us.

Dismissed Symptoms

Women are more likely to have their pain downplayed or misattributed to anxiety or hormones. Studies show that women wait longer in emergency rooms, are less likely to be taken seriously, and are more often prescribed sedatives rather than proper investigations or treatment.

What this means: Conditions like heart disease, autoimmune disorders, ADHD, and chronic fatigue often go undiagnosed—or misdiagnosed—because they present differently in women.

Mental Health Misunderstandings

Stress and burnout often manifest differently in women due to hormonal fluctuations, caregiving pressures, and societal expectations. Yet mental health care has been slow to adapt, often framing symptoms through a male-centric lens.

What this means: We may feel guilt, shame, or confusion about our own needs and responses, thinking we’re “too sensitive” or “not strong enough” when we’re simply not being supported in the right ways.

Why Women Need Their Own Approach to Stress Management

The truth is, our bodies and nervous systems are wired differently, and our stress responses reflect that. Here’s why tailoring stress and wellbeing practices to women is so essential:

Hormones Matter

Our energy, sleep, emotions, and even how we process stress are tied to our menstrual cycles. What works one week might not work the next—and that’s normal. Techniques like cycle syncing, gentle exercise, and mindful nutrition can make a huge difference.

Nervous System Sensitivity

Many women are highly attuned to their environments and relationships. This means relational stress, overstimulation, and overgiving can drain us fast. Learning how to regulate the nervous system with practices like breathwork, grounding, and intentional rest is powerful.

Social Conditioning

We’ve been taught to be “nice,” “helpful,” and self-sacrificing—often at the expense of our own health. Unlearning those patterns and learning to set boundaries and say no is one of the most healing forms of stress management we can practice.

Simple, Science-Backed Techniques That Work With (Not Against) Our Bodies

Here are a few gentle but powerful techniques that can support women’s wellbeing:

1. Cycle-Aware Self-Care – Adjust your exercise, diet, and rest depending on your menstrual phase. Don’t push through fatigue—listen to it.
2. Restorative Yoga or Yin Yoga – These styles help reset the parasympathetic nervous system and are great during high-stress phases.
3. Journaling for Emotional Release – Writing helps process emotions and uncovers patterns we’ve been ignoring.
4. Community Support – Surrounding yourself with women who understand and validate your experience is one of the most effective antidotes to burnout and shame.
5. Breathwork: Even breathwork practices are mostly based on men/male bodies - so make sure to learn simple, effective and female friendly techniques ie balance your inhale and exhale - inhale for 3seconds (pause for 2sec) exhale for 3 seconds (pause for 2sec) repeating this for just 5minutes to experience the calming benefits 

The Bottom Line

Women have been left out of the conversation around health for too long. But we’re not powerless. By learning stress management tools that honour our biology, boundaries, and brilliance, we reclaim our health—on our terms.

This is about more than feeling “less stressed.”
It’s about dismantling the systems that ignored us—and rebuilding trust with our own bodies.

You deserve care. You deserve knowledge. You deserve to feel well - learn more here. 

xo