A new survey by Gallup and Pivotal, a charitable organization founded by Melinda French Gates, has uncovered significant differences in how women and men experience healthcare in the United States. The findings reveal that 51% of women reported negative healthcare experiences over the past five years, compared to 39% of men. Many women said doctors did not take their symptoms seriously—1 in 3 women reported this, compared to 21% of men. Additionally, 33% of women said they were either misdiagnosed or received no diagnosis, a rate higher than that of men. Financial barriers also play a role in women’s healthcare access. Nearly a third (32%) of women said they skipped or delayed care in the past year due to cost, compared to 25% of men. Melinda French Gates, who founded Pivotal, noted that these findings highlight a broader issue: a lack of investment in women’s health and an expectation that women will manage pain or uncertainty without adequate support. The effects of poor healthcare experiences go beyond individual well-being. More than half (54%) of U.S. women reported health-related impacts on their family life or relationships, and 42% said their health negatively affected their careers. About 32% of women said their health limited their ability to participate in civic life. Mental health is also a concern, with 48% of women reporting conditions like depression or anxiety. Socioeconomic disparities are evident, as Black and Hispanic women are more likely to report poor health, and lower-income women are more likely to face career challenges due to health issues. The survey also found that 28% of women said menopause affected their work effort, and 22% said it reduced their community involvement. Nearly 56% of women had to research contraception on their own, and 64% encountered misleading information on social media. Many women—37%—first learned about menopause only after experiencing symptoms. French Gates emphasized that nearly one-third of women said health problems limited their community involvement, and this number doubled when they couldn’t access needed care. Caregiving responsibilities, especially among Hispanic and Black women, often prevent them from seeking medical care, leading to a cycle where they neglect their health and eventually become caregivers themselves. French Gates suggested that policies like affordable childcare, home health support, and paid family medical leave could help break this cycle. She also called for better physician training on menopause and for menopause care to be included in insurance and workplace protections. Investing in research to develop better treatments is another priority. Pivotal is working to improve healthcare by integrating mental and physical health services, especially for pregnant women, and is expanding menopause education for healthcare providers.