A Cambridge University study has found women with autoimmune conditions face stark diagnostic delays and gender-based misdiagnosis. Women are up to 74% more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological or psychosomatic, according to the research. Women also wait considerably longer to receive both a diagnosis and treatment.
Autoimmune conditions affect roughly one in 10 people globally, totalling hundreds of millions. These diseases produce varied symptoms including fatigue, muscle pain and rashes.
The study documents a significant disparity in how clinicians approach patients based on sex. The finding suggests systemic bias in medical assessment, with women's reported symptoms more frequently attributed to psychological causes rather than organic disease.