Are we deprioritising women’s health in the UK at a time when more focus should be on it?

International Women’s Day this past Saturday is an important reminder of the advancements made, but also the challenges that still exist when it comes to women’s rights and health.  

In the UK, telemedicine for early medical abortion, and the move to make some types of contraceptive pills available in pharmacies, are two recent examples of much needed progress. But there is so much more that needs to be done, because this is an issue that impacts all of society. Here are some of our thoughts on the current situation when it comes to women’s health.  

An economic burden and stark inequalities 

Recent research from NHS Confederation found that absenteeism due to severe period pain and heavy periods alongside endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts costs nearly £11 billion a year. There are also social considerations, including ethnic and socioeconomic factors – for example, women living in the most deprived areas of England are expected to live for five fewer years than those in the least.  

Is the Government still committed to women’s health? 

In 2022, the Women’s Health Strategy was heralded as a major moment for this area of policy. It included the expansion of women’s health hubs across the country (framed as a holistic solution for women’s health needs) and the appointment of a Women’s Health Ambassador. 

Two and a half years later, the (now Labour) Government has removed the target for all Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to have at least one hub. While it is true that most areas have met this target, on the ground – it is a mixed picture. The Women and Equalities Committee recently reported challenges with how hub funding is being used locally and called for ‘long-term, ring-fenced funding and resources to embed the hub model and further support its development’. 

And while the Government pledged to prioritise women’s health in their election manifesto, no one knows what that means in practice after nearly a year in power. Time will tell if this commitment translates into action. 

The rise of social media influencers in the battle for ‘natural’ contraception 

Speaking to WA Senior Advisor David Thorne, he described oral contraception as “arguably the most important medicine ever developed for humanity”. This is no understatement – providing women with the choice to decide if, and when, to have children has a huge economic and societal impact, including helping to reduce poverty. 

However, many ICBs are seeing a decline in this type of medicine used and an increase in terminations of pregnancies. While evidence is still emerging, there are concerns that misinformation is leading women to increasingly view ‘natural’ contraception apps as superior to the pill – despite the fact they are only 76% effective with typical use, compared to the most effective types such as the implant (which is 99% effective). Social media has a big role to play here – one TikTok video which falsely claims hormonal birth control can cause infertility and brain tumours has been viewed more than 600,000 times. 

The clinical world is still grappling with the way young people now access information. Worryingly, this means this downward trend isn’t close to stopping. And while women should be supported to make a choice about whatever form of contraception suits them best, this should be an informed choice – based on evidence. 

At a time of increasingly tight budgets and competing priorities across the NHS, we must not lose sight of the value of investing in contraception but we must also be better at communicating its benefits in a way that audiences will engage with. 

More awareness of menopause isn’t equating to better health outcomes 

One area we have seen significantly increased public debate is menopause – not least because of high profile people like Davina McCall becoming a prolific public speaker on it. While this awareness is positive, women are still sharing many disheartening stories of poor access to the care they need, and most importantly, deserve.  

WA Communications has been working with Astellas to understand what women are really experiencing when it comes to menopause care and treatment. Commissioning YouGov to conduct a survey, we delved into the expectations and experiences of 1,680 women – throughout all stages of their reproductive journey. The findings paint a bleak picture for menopause care.  

Of the 1,022 peri-/menopausal and post-menopausal women surveyed, 77% felt they were not offered a choice about their menopause treatment, and only 15% felt the treatment options available to them were very suitable for their needs. 

This is having an impact on productivity; unemployment due to menopause symptoms costs approximately £1.5 billion per year – with approximately 60,000 women in the UK not working due to menopause symptoms. 

We need to focus on translating this positive sentiment into system improvements which still ensure women have access to choice when it comes to their menopause care. 

Advocating for change 

Thankfully, the idea that action on women’s health matters is not controversial. But our advocacy and campaign efforts must strongly communicate that these are major public health issues. Increasing access to contraceptive care or cervical screening uptake must not be positioned as ‘nice to have’. 

These are also issues that directly support the Government’s policy ambitions, including when it comes to getting people back into work, and a laser-focused growth mission. With women making up 51% of the population, this represents a massive opportunity. 

When calling for Government action on women’s health, we need to frame our arguments accordingly. 

We also need to see this as a policy area which requires effective partnership work. There are hugely exciting medical innovations coming into this space – effective engagement with the clinical and patient group community will help ensure these reach women as quickly and easily as possible. 

Increased awareness and activity on social media on issues related to women’s health is one thing, but we are some way off fully delivering for women. We know the gains that can be made, now is the time to make action happen. 

If you’re interested in hearing more about WA Communication’s work in women’s health in the UK or globally, get in touch with a member of the team.