The final Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report was released in early November, based on the experiences of 13,000 women and girls aged between 12 and 79, as well as contributions from their carers, clinicians, and peak bodies.
Emphasising that chronic pain disproportionately impacts women, the report found that 90 per cent of those surveyed experienced pain lasting more than 12 months, and 54 per cent experience pain on a daily basis. The most common conditions reported in the findings were menstrual and hormonal (40 per cent), endometriosis (26 per cent), and musculoskeletal problems (26 per cent).
The research also highlighted the multi-layered barriers that women face in accessing adequate health care including financial cost and unmet healthcare needs. Ninety-five per cent of respondents had sought assistance for pain, 71 per cent mentioned dismissal by health professionals, 89 per cent said pain impacted their mental health, and 68 per cent said the cost of seeking healthcare was an obstacle.
As a result of the report’s findings and 27 accompanying recommendations, the Victoria government will set a Women’s Pain Standard across all public hospitals in Victoria and other health services. Aimed at “empowering women to know the standard they should expect when seeking care”, the standard will be created in consultation with clinicians, experts and women.
The government says it will also pilot the use of the ‘green whistle’ (an inhaler-style device for pain relief) for IUD insertion and establish a children and adolescent clinic within the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Several women’s health experts and organisations have responded to the government’s announcement.
“Hearing and holding women’s stories of pain is a privilege and a responsibility that we are pleased to see the Victorian Government taking seriously,” Dr Adele Murdolo, CEO of the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health and Chair of the Women’s Health Services Network, said in an official statement.
“Women, especially those facing marginalisation such as migrant and refugee women and women with disabilities, have courageously shared their experiences of pain being dismissed, minimised and inadequately treated. This report honours those voices.”
In a statement published on Endometriosis Australia’s website, its chair Monica Forlano said the inquiry “validates what millions of women have long known: our health system has failed to listen, invest and respond to the realities of female pain”.
“The evidence is confronting, but it is also a powerful catalyst for change. We urge governments, clinicians and researchers to act swiftly on the recommendations—especially those addressing endometriosis, menstrual pain and systemic bias.”
The organisation’s general manager Natalie Rupil echoed Forlano’s call for widespread change, adding: “Women’s pain isn’t an issue that affects only Victorians – it is a global issue. We need all governments, key policymakers and health organisations to take women’s pain seriously.”
Speaking from the perspective of healthcare practitioners, Dr Anita Muñoz, who is the Chair of The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) welcomed the report’s recommendations as “we have seen a clear lack of funding and support in this area and it is female patients and female GPs who bear the brunt of this under-investment”.
“We commend the report’s recommendation for the Victorian Government to advocate to the Australian Government to increase Medicare rebates for longer consultations with GPs, nurse practitioners and midwives,” Dr Anita Muñoz said in a statement provided to Missing Perspectives.
“The RACGP has been consistently advocating for a 40% increase to Medicare rebates for consultations over 20 minutes, to ensure we reach those most at risk in our society.”
Top photo – stock image from Canva (with additional design by Missing Perspectives)