Hundreds of millions of people – roughly one in ten globally – are affected by autoimmune conditions, diseases in which the immune system attacks the body instead of defending it. But according to a new study, there is a stark gender divide in how these conditions are diagnosed. Research from Cambridge University and the University of East Anglia found women are 43% more likely than men to receive a psychiatric misdiagnosis, meaning an autoimmune issue is misdiagnosed as a psychiatric problem, and 74% more likely to receive a psychosomatic misdiagnosis, meaning symptoms are considered psychological or stress-induced rather than physical.
Women also reported significantly longer periods between the onset of symptoms and receiving a diagnosis – one to two years, compared to less than three months for men. We want to hear from women with autoimmune conditions: was your autoimmune condition misdiagnosed? If you’re having trouble using the form click here.
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