For a long time, women have been silenced in their doctor's office. I remember being told to “go home and take a Tylenol.”
Several visits later, I was told I had a spinal fracture.
A Statistics Canada report released last month showed while women live longer, men live a greater number of years in good health. The report looked at life expectancy trends in Canada during 2019, 2020 and 2023.
The report showed 2023 results indicated women at birth had a life expectancy of 84, and a health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) of 68. This means as women age, their life expectancy decreases as their health issues increase. Men at birth have, had a life expectancy of 80 years and a health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) of 65 years.
But I find the most interesting result is the decline in good health.
“By age 65 years old, the percentage of remaining years spent in good health declines to 71 per cent for females and 75 per cent for males,” Statistics Canada said.
Women should be able to advocate for themselves in the doctor’s office and not be turned away due to an indifference of opinion with a health-care provider. The provider should have our best health in mind.
The virtual medical platform, Maple, conducted a survey in 2025 that showed 30 per cent of the women surveyed felt their concerns were not addressed properly, which led to a decline in their physical health.
The report said 55 per cent of women surveyed felt their concerns were dismissed or minimized by their health-care providers.
Communications advisor for Ontario’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, Mickey Cirak said the College sets professional expectations that play a key role in education and training in medical schools and national certifying bodies.
Cirak said the College set clear expectations in its testing policies for follow-ups and continuity of care. Physicians are expected to act diligently, ensuring appropriate investigation, communication, and follow-up on results.
Yet despite these regulations, women still feel their concerns are not being addressed, as is evident from the most recent Statistics Canada report.
When I tell a doctor something is wrong, I want them to listen to me. I do not want a pain pill to fix it. I want examinations, testing, diagnosis, and discussions. As a patient, I want patience.
