Recently the intestinal microbiota has been in the scientific spotlight. People finally recognise its importance and its implication in several diseases. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the vaginal microbiota, despite the fact that its dysbiosis causes a severe and prevalent disease: bacterial vaginosis.
Bacterial vaginosis is an affliction caused by change in the local microbiota. It affects 30 to 50% of reproductive age women. It also increases the chances of preterm birth, acquiring a sexually transmitted disease (such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia), or even infertility. There are studies that aim to treat bacterial vaginosis. One of them is FDA approved for phase three trials. However, the funding remained scarce, thus nothing was achieved yet.
Bacterial vaginosis is not the only female disease that is underfunded and under-researched. Caroline Mitchell, a reproductive biologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, states that women’s reproductive health as a whole is underfunded. “It is really a disservice to women.” In May 2023, the Nature magazine published a visual representation into the research divide of the funding differences between female and male diseases. Please note that by “female” diseases we mean that 60% or more of those affected are women. By “male” diseases, 60% or more of those affected are men. They assessed the burden of the disease – the disability and death caused – and the funding that was received. It was found that the diseases that mainly affect women are underfunded compared to the burden they cause.
The consequences of the research divide
How does that affect women everywhere? Well, according to BC Women’s Health Foundation, “women are more likely to die prematurely from preventable diseases;” “women experience 50-75% of adverse drug reactions, yet many medications prescribed to women have often been tested only on men;” “70% of patients with `medically unexplained symptoms` are women and these symptoms are frequently and incorrectly linked to a psychological origin”. However, it’s not only female health research that is discriminated against, but also female researchers. Women receive less funding than their male counterparts and for shorter terms.
In a world that is swiftly drifting towards equality between sexes, it is appalling how medicine – a field that is supposed to bring innovation – is still a breeding ground for misogyny. As future doctors, it is our duty to acknowledge the unfairness and do our best to mend the wrongs of the past.
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About the author…
Hello 🙂 My name is Ilinca and I am a fourth year medical student that dabbles in a little bit of everything. I have an undying thirst for knowledge and a great talent for procrastination. Oh and I love hairless cats with all my heart!