It is an accepted, irrevocable fact in our society that women have stomach problems. Whether the culprit is dairy, gluten, or (in cases like mine) anything ever, being a girl in this day and age equals inevitable tummy troubles. And if you’re one of the lucky ones, “just wait until you have kids.”
But why does this happen? What biological factors have prevented women from not being able to enjoy some good old-fashioned cow’s milk? There are a few explanations.
These issues stem from a few different factors, the first being hormones. Gastrointestinal issues tend to flare up when on your period, causing more severe stomach issues, including bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. Aside from hormonal issues, women’s stomachs are just slow. When food passes through the stomach, it moves into the large intestine (aka the colon.) The colon then forms stool and, well, we all know how it goes from there!
Women’s stomachs, according to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), tend to empty into the intestines at a slower rate than men’s, which can explain nausea and bloating. Women’s colons are also slower than men’s, which can explain constipation.
Basically, every step of a woman’s digestion process is wonky.
Another factor is the connection between anxiety and gastrointestinal issues. A UChicago Medicine article found that because our brain and stomach are connected through our central nervous system, situations that our brain perceives as anxiety-inducing release hormones that can negatively affect the delicate balance of bacteria in our gastrointestinal system. Moreover, anxiety is proven to be more prevalent in women. A 2011 study published in the National Library of Medicine found that anxious thoughts impact more girls than boys.
When I visited a Gastrointestinologist (GI) in 2021 for my stomach problems, I did a myriad of tests. I did tests for celiac, stomach, and colon cancer, as well as elimination diets where I cut out foods including dairy, gluten, and fructose for months at a time. I did a FODMAP diet, which is essentially where you cut out foods that contain certain sugars.
At the end of this almost six-month-long process with no results, my GI presented me with the diagnosis of IBS, which was inflamed by my chronic anxiety. I was disappointed, to say the least.
Though there are cases of IBS that are extremely severe, I perceive my IBS diagnosis as an explanation for something that no one has bothered to look for the answer to. According to the ACG, women are two to six times more likely to experience Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) than men. As I’ve worked on my anxiety through therapy and medication, the severity of my stomach issues has lessened. But not everyone has the resources or support that I do.
When an issue affects the daily lives of half of the world’s population, you would think that something would be done about it. Why have we as a society accepted the fact that women have to be in pain every time they eat something? If a majority of men in the world experienced pain every time they ate, I feel there would be more urgency about this issue!
Studies have shown that research institutions devote a disproportionate share of their funds toward issues that primarily affect men, at the expense of those that primarily affect women. Women’s research is underfunded, and women are continually underrepresented in studies of diseases that affect both men and women.
Aside from monetary disparity, women’s health concerns are proven to be more often dismissed. Women are seen as emotional, dramatic, and hysterical when in pain. Their concerns are attributed to their next period or a psychological cause. Women’s health issues are undeniably ignored, and aside from the daily impacts that this has, it can be a matter of life or death when it comes to severe diseases that primarily affect women.
“There’s a pain gap, but there’s also a credibility gap. Women are not believed about their bodies — period.”
Anushay Hossain, author of The Pain Gap.
The American healthcare system has an inherent bias towards dismissing the concerns of women. In the doctor’s office, women have to continually reject dismissal. Bring your friends to doctor’s appointments to corroborate your story, support your pre-med girls (we’re going to need them), and most importantly, trust your gut — especially when it hurts.