Barriers to Adequate Healthcare for Women in the United States

By Grace Loveless

Published Winter 2025

Special thanks to Maile Villaroel for editing and research contributions.

Viewpoints published by Ballard Brief are not necessarily endorsed by BYU or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Summary+

Barriers to adequate healthcare exist due to a lack of research involving women, gender-based bias in healthcare, and harmful societal norms. One significant aspect of female health that highlights these disparities is the menstrual cycle, a topic unique to women’s health. Menstrual health, defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being—not merely the absence of disease or infirmity—in relation to menstruation and menopause, illustrates the need for more focused attention on reproductive health. Despite its importance, dialogue and knowledge about reproductive health remain limited, exacerbated by societal attitudes of secrecy and shame. These attitudes create a gatekeeping obstacle that prevents many women in the United States from accessing adequate healthcare. As a result, trust in healthcare providers is diminished, further widening the gap in care. The stigma surrounding menstruation and menopause perpetuates the avoidance of sensitive but necessary discussions, leaving many women unprepared for these life transitions. Combined, these barriers can lead to severe consequences, including disproportionate disease effects and, in extreme cases, death. Addressing these issues requires increased education and open dialogue about menopause and menstruation to better equip women for these critical stages of life.

Key Takeaways+

• In 2007, 21% of adults in the United States experienced delayed care among other nonfinancial barriers to healthcare. Approximately 52% of those adults reported delayed healthcare were females.
• In an online survey collected in 2020, 42% of participants with polycystic ovarian syndrome reported feeling dissatisfied with their medical care.
• In an analysis that extracted data from the year 2022, the United States was the leading country in maternal mortality out of 13 highincome nations, with an average of 22 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
• In an analysis of 266 articles where reports on sex differences should have shown significance, 60% of articles reported that no significant sex differences were found.
• At least one in four women experience the need for medical intervention regarding their menstrual pain.
• In a survey released by the Female Founders Fund, 64% of respondents reported feeling unprepared for their menopause transition.

Key Terms+

Menstrual Cycle—a monthly process for females post-puberty, in which hormones fluctuate, stimulating an ovary to release an egg and thicken the lining of the uterus

Menstruation—also known as a period - the discharge of tissue and blood from uterine lining which occurs as part of monthly menstrual cycles in females during and after puberty and before menopause

Eumenorrhea/Eumenorrheic—women who are considered to have a normal menstrual cycle which is classified as having cycle lengths between 21 and 35 days, 10 or more consecutive periods a year, normal ovulation, and regular hormonal fluctuations

Menopause—the stage in a woman’s life in which she stops having menstrual periods and can no longer get pregnant

Gynecology and Obstetrics (OB/GYN)—a subset of medicine that specializes in women’s healthcare - diagnosing and treating diseases of female reproductive organs as well as specializing in other women’s health issues such as menopause, hormone problems, contraception, and infertility

Reproductive Health—medicine that focuses on reproductive systems in the body, which includes sex organs and hormone-producing glands, in all stages of life

The full brief is currently being finalized and will be published shortly. Stay tuned for updates!