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“Cancelled plans and absence from life” - Bindi Irwin details her experience with undiagnosed endometriosis
This year, at the annual Blossom Ball held by the Endometriosis Foundation of America, Australia’s own Bindi Irwin has been recognised for her contribution to raising awareness for endometriosis. Supported by her family, Bindi tearfully recalls her “incredibly isolating” journey of diagnosis, sharing that she had felt “unfathomably lost in […] pain”.
Bindi represents just one of the almost 1 in 9 Australian females who live with endometriosis, yet her experiences resonate across the globe. “Drowning in the pain” of endometriosis, it took ten years for Bindi to be diagnosed with the disease. This outcome is far too common for those suffering its symptoms, with an average 6.5 year diagnosis delay in Australia. She calls attention to the urgency of improving knowledge of women’s health issues, having been “dismiss[ed]” by doctors. In one particularly disheartening instance, Bindi was prescribed a nightly cup of tea to address her pain.
A 2024 report conducted by the McKinsey Health Institute examined the global economic and social impact of gender and sex disparities in healthcare. Despite generally having a longer life expectancy, it was found that on average, a woman will spend 25% more of her life in a state of ‘poor health’ as compared to a man.
A multitude of interconnecting factors contribute to this health burden faced by women. In 2019, The University of Copenhagen published a study that analysed health data spanning the entire population of Denmark. In the case of 770 different disease types, women were diagnosed later than men with an average delay of approximately 4 years. Both the McKinsey report and the researchers behind the Danish study identified one of many key causes to be a failure to consider differences in sex in medical studies. Traditionally, these studies have operated under the assumption that differences in medical conditions beyond reproductive systems are insignificant between sexes. Compounding this issue is the underrepresentation of women in senior roles in the health industry. The World Health Organisation reported that globally, the industry dominated by women (making up 70% of workers) saw only 25% of senior roles assigned to women.
The health burden faced by women has significant implications for economic productivity. Poor health can limit an individual’s ability to attend work or maintain employment, a consequence that is particularly damaging in countries for women where paid sick leave is not readily accessible or mandated. For the broader economy, the consequence is lowered labour participation rates. Further, amongst those who maintain employment there may be higher rates of “presenteeism”. Presenteeism is the situation characterised by lost productivity when employees are not able to complete tasks at their full potential, often due to ill-health.
In the health report, McKinsey estimated that for every $1 invested in ending the gender health gap, $3 of economic growth would be generated, contributing to a $1.025 billion increase in global GDP by 2040. This economic benefit would be realised through the impacts of fewer years spent in poor health and less frequent early deaths that allow for broader workforce participation and heightened labour productivity of female workers.
Locally, the 2024/25 state budget identifies 1 in 3 Victorian women report experiencing health conditions that inhibit their productivity at work or their ability to maintain employment. This figure highlights that addressing women’s health issues will not only benefit the global economy but also the Australian economy, and the non-material living standards of Australian women. Thus, it is imperative to campaign for effective policies to close the gender health gap within Victoria.
Importantly, while this article focuses on the economic opportunity in addressing gender healthcare disparities, anecdotal representations of suffering under a discriminatory system such as Bindi’s serve as a profound reminder of the moral responsibility to advocate for greater funding of women’s health research and support services.
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