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Why women are not treated equally in healthcare and what can be done

Nature Reviews Urology (2025)Cite this article

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Despite recognized sex-based differences in healthcare requirements, women continue to experience substantial disparities in treatment, diagnosis and research. This ‘gender health gap’ manifests through increased emergency wait times, dismissal of symptoms and inadequate research prioritization. Patient advocacy groups have emerged as powerful forces for change, successfully lobbying governments and raising awareness through social media. Addressing these disparities requires increased research funding, sex-specific study designs, improved medical education curricula and continued patient advocacy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbial Diseases, Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK

    Rajvinder Khasriya

  2. UCL Centre for Kidney and Bladder Health, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK

    Harry Horsley

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  1. Rajvinder Khasriya
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  2. Harry Horsley
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Correspondence to Rajvinder Khasriya.

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Related links

Chronic UTI Australia: https://www.chronicutiaustralia.org.au/chronic-uti-survey-report-hearing-patient-voices/

Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-medicines-and-medical-devices-safety-review-update-report-on-government-implementation

Paterson inquiry report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/paterson-inquiry-report

Wellbeing of Women: https://www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/

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Khasriya, R., Horsley, H. Why women are not treated equally in healthcare and what can be done. Nat Rev Urol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-025-01063-1

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