09/26/2026
“Who treats us shouldn’t determine how seriously we’re taken. Speak up, ask questions and advocate for yourself and the women around you.”
A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that women treated by women doctors were less likely to die or be readmitted to the hospital than women treated by men. Researchers estimated that closing that gap could save 5,000 women’s lives every year.
Why the difference? Research suggests women doctors may spend more time with patients, communicate differently and be less likely to dismiss women’s symptoms and pain.
That matters in a medical system where women’s pain has historically been taken less seriously, contributing to delayed diagnoses and treatment. And these disparities can be even greater for women of color, particularly Black women, who continue to face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality.
Who treats us shouldn’t determine how seriously we’re taken. Speak up, ask questions and advocate for yourself and the women around you.
