As conversations around women’s health grow, medical advances and a greater focus on listening to patients are helping women get the care they need at every stage of life.

The field of women’s health presents multiple challenges for patients and physicians that are not seen in other areas of health care due to a number of biological, societal, cultural and historical factors. 

While most people think of women’s health care as pertaining to conditions and procedures that only females undergo, it is actually more comprehensive, as even ailments and treatments that all people sometimes require often occur and present in more complex ways in women than in men or children. 

“The biggest challenge is that women’s bodies rarely present one symptom at a time. Hormonal, immune and nervous system issues overlap constantly—a patient with thyroid dysfunction may also have joint pain, brain fog and anxiety, and each of those symptoms tends to get sent to a different specialist. The conventional system is built around single-organ specialties, but women’s health issues are rarely single-organ problems. On top of that, women have historically been underrepresented in clinical research, so a lot of the evidence base we’re working from was built primarily on male physiology,” says Dr. Zakia Chang, founder and clinical director of Acupuncture of Orlando. 

In addition, women’s health care needs change drastically throughout their lifetimes, as adolescence, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause and menopause all require unique treatments and approaches. 

“One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—is recognizing that women do not always experience health conditions in the same way, and their care should not be one-size-fits-all. Women’s health also goes far beyond pregnancy and having children. As more younger women choose not to become parents, it is increasingly important that we care for women of every lifestyle and at every stage of life, helping them thrive and feel whole,” says Dr. Rizwana Fareeduddin, executive medical director of AdventHealth for Women.

Women are also less likely to seek care for some symptoms they face because they think things like chronic pelvic pain and painful periods are normal. Additionally, several conditions are heavily stigmatized, meaning women are less likely to seek treatment or openly discuss their symptoms in the first place. Not only does this make treatment more difficult, but it also means that some conditions are overlooked by the health care system and can take longer to diagnose and, therefore, treat.

“Some conditions can be overlooked because their symptoms may be subtle or mistaken for stress, aging or hormonal changes. These can include heart disease, thyroid disorders, depression and anxiety, osteoporosis, urinary problems, and symptoms related to perimenopause and menopause. Persistent fatigue, pain, changes in mood, abnormal bleeding or simply not feeling like yourself are worth discussing with your health care provider,” says Community Health Centers, Inc.’s Chief Medical Officer Jocelyn Pichardo, MD.

Endometriosis and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS) are other difficult diagnoses to make, often taking years to be properly identified.

“Accurately identifying and treating these conditions requires a well-trained, experienced gynecologist who can combine a thorough clinical evaluation with appropriate imaging, laboratory testing and other diagnostic tools. Most importantly, it requires taking the time to truly listen. I often say that we do not simply come up with a diagnosis—the patient tells us her diagnosis through her story. Our responsibility is to listen carefully and know the right questions to ask,” says Dr. Jason Worley, office manager for Alliance OB/GYN Group.

While these diagnoses are difficult to make, recent advancements in medicine and research focused on women’s health care have given hope for the future and allowed for procedures to be done with less stress on the patient’s body and quicker recovery time.

“Early diagnosis is key. There are noninvasive tests undergoing study for conditions such as cervical cancer, endometrial cancer and endometriosis. While some of these tests may not be available yet, it won’t be long. For example, there is currently a study to develop a testing method that would use a tampon instead of an invasive endometrial biopsy to screen for endometrial cancer. There is also a blood test called carrier screening that can look for underlying genetic risk before conceiving. If you have declined screening because you are nervous about the test, ask your doctor if there are any new options you could explore,” says Lauren Kendall-Rauchfuss, MD, FACOG, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Shady Grove Fertility.

Hormone therapy has also been advancing, helping to treat multiple conditions and guide women through major biological changes like perimenopause and menopause without the discomfort and stress that have historically accompanied these stages. 

“I address it right away so we can intervene and help them relieve any suffering or symptoms that can be caused by perimenopause. I also have 21-year-olds who are diagnosed with thyroid conditions worrying about their weight, their anxiety, their depression, or they have hormonal issues like PCOS or endometriosis. These are young women going through specific diseases, and [some doctors] would just say, ‘We’re going to monitor the ovaries, or you take these birth control pills.’ But that’s not enough because it also affects their overall stress hormones, their moods and their sleep. So I address all of that,” says Marissa Magsino, MD, FAARM, board-certified physician in functional medicine and founder of Avenir, her own practice based around hormone therapy. 

New surgical techniques also exist to help minimize hospital stays and recovery time, such as vaginal hysterectomies that don’t require a large abdominal incision and the weeks of recovery that were often necessary in the past.

Doctors are also working more to bring care to patients, with AdventHealth launching a Women Mobile Health unit this past summer, offering ultrasounds, lactation consultants and birth care coordination to women who have trouble affording care or are experiencing homelessness. Similarly, to address the disparity in maternal mortality among Black women compared with women of other races, it has also offered its Fourth Trimester program since late 2023, providing care during the critical postpartum period, which can be dangerous for many new mothers.

“Data shows that women of color are three to four times more likely to die during pregnancy and after delivery, and 80% of those deaths are preventable. At AdventHealth for Women, we are committed to changing that. Our Fourth Trimester Program connects these women with a care coordinator to support them for 12 weeks post-delivery. The program has already led to a significant reduction in hospital readmissions and highlighted the importance of more comprehensive, equitable and culturally appropriate postpartum care,” says Fareeduddin.

Beyond advancements in procedures and programs that bring care to patients, another factor that has improved outcomes in women’s health is a greater willingness among doctors and health care teams to listen to patients’ concerns and symptoms and work closely with them to find the best available treatment options.

“In my practice, I spend that time understanding a patient’s full history, not just the symptom in front of me, because chronic and complex conditions almost always have more than one contributing factor. … Providers need to take patient-reported symptoms seriously as data, not as anxiety. When a woman says something is wrong with her body, that needs to be the starting point of an investigation, not the end of the conversation,” says Chang.

Women can also work to improve their own care by learning about the health care system, understanding their own bodies and advocating for themselves when their needs are not being met.

If a woman is told that something is normal or caused by stress or aging but it doesn’t feel right, getting a second opinion may help ensure she has a care team she can trust and that any potential conditions are treated in a timely manner.

“You are your own best advocate and to be your best self, you need to put your health first. Listen to your body. If something doesn’t seem right, ask the question or make the appointment. Don’t skip your screening. Health care requires a team. Find a team you can trust and who meets your needs,” says Kendall-Rauchfuss. 

WOMEN’S HEALTH & WELLNESS Resource Guide

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Acupuncture of Orlando
Orlando (Hunter’s Creek)
(407) 440-2808
AORelief.com

CLINICAL RESEARCH
AdventHealth Research Institute
Orlando
(407) 200-2901
LeadersInResearch.com

DENTAL
Phantastic Smiles
Orlando
(407) 282-749
PhantasticSmile.com

DERMATOLOGY
Associates in Dermatology
13 Central Florida locations
(800) 827-SKIN
DermOrlando.com

FERTILITY
Shady Grove Fertility
Orlando
(689) 500-4016
ShadyGroveFertility.com

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
Marissa Magsino
Orlando (Dr. Phillips)
(407) 292-6778
MarissaMagsino.com

GENERAL HEALTH CARE
Community Health Center
13 Central Florida locations
(407) 905-8827
CHCFL.org

Restora Medical
Orlando (Metrowest)
(407) 794-9791
MyPrivia.com

OB/GYN
Alliance Obstetrics & Gynecology
Winter Park
(407) 960-2112
AllianceOBGynGroup.com

OPHTHALMOLOGY
Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida
8 Central Florida locations
(352) 394-8705
EyesFL.com

Florida Retina Institute
Multiple locations
(877) 357-3846
FloridaRetinaInstitute.com

ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
BioSpine & Joint 
Orlando
(407) 214-6687
BioSpine.com