Study on Women's Health: Men Significantly Less Informed

"Women's health concerns all of us, including us men," said Bipa CEO Markus Geyer at a press conference on Tuesday. The study on the knowledge and attitudes of the population is intended to promote discourse.

For the study, 1,548 people in Austria aged between 14 and 75 were surveyed in February and March. 88 percent of women, but only half of the men, stated that they are interested in the topic of women's health. Men and women assess their level of knowledge differently: In terms of contraception, 85 percent of the women surveyed consider themselves to be rather well or very well informed, while among men it is only 66 percent. A similar picture emerges on the topics of puberty (women: 84 percent, men: 51 percent) and pregnancy (women: 73 percent, men: 51 percent). "This is an area that affects all genders," said Thomas Schwabl, CEO of Marketagent, "but it is still traditionally shifted to the female partner."

As part of the study, participants' knowledge about menstruation, menopause, endometriosis, and gender medicine was also tested. More than half of the men (55 percent) and about a quarter (24 percent) of the women did not know how long a menstrual cycle lasts on average. Every fifth man was also sure that the suggested duration of 21 to 35 days could not possibly be correct.

On the topic of menopause, knowledge about symptoms and treatment options increases with age - especially among women. Among millennials, only about a third feel well or sufficiently informed, while among baby boomers it is 61 percent. Among men, knowledge remains consistently around 30 percent. Gen Z is the best informed about the pelvic disease endometriosis. However, half of the men and 23 percent of the women do not know which characteristics best describe the disease.

Some health topics are still preferred to be kept quiet in Austria, the study showed. About one-fifth stated that they are reluctant to talk about topics such as incontinence, sexuality, and intimacy. Among Gen Z, body image and eating disorders are the biggest taboo.

According to a survey, those who talk to others about their well-being feel significantly better: 40 percent of people who said they have no one to talk to rate their mental health as rather poor to poor. Among those who discuss it with their partner, only 19 percent report the same. "It is our aim to encourage more conversations about these topics," said Eva Paschinger, Commercial Director of Medical Products & Category at Bipa.

The first point of contact for women's health issues for more than half of the respondents are friends and gynecologists (51 percent each). About a third exchange views with family members, followed by partners. Only nine percent would broach these topics at the workplace.

When they want to inform themselves about health topics, some respondents sometimes face difficulties. More than half of the women are unsure whether the information provided is credible. Additionally, 47 percent see incomplete or contradictory information as a problem, and almost as many struggle to understand medical terminology.

Four out of ten women also stated that their health concerns were not taken seriously during doctor visits. Six out of ten respondents knew that women and men have different symptoms for the same illnesses and that medications do not have the same effect on both genders. "It is our task to ensure that we offer the best medical care for all genders," said Miriam Hufgard-Leitner, Senior Physician for Internal Medicine at AKH Vienna and expert in gender medicine.

During the press conference, the Bipa campaign "Honestly Speaking" was also presented, aiming to bring women-specific topics into public discourse. A website is intended to provide information on topics such as women's health, mental load, mental health, and the compatibility of work and family. In the future, there will also be webinars, workshops, and community events. According to the study, 57 percent of women have expressed a desire for these opportunities to exchange views on women's health.

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here .