Why Medicine Still Fails Women with Kaz Twomey

Medicine wasn’t built for women — and today, the consequences show up in every corner of healthcare. From misdiagnosed pain to delayed diagnoses, from biased research to outdated medical training, women around the world are still fighting to be heard, believed, and properly treated. In this episode, Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND sits down with activist and storyteller Karen “Kaz” Twomey for a powerful conversation about the gender data gap and how it continues to shape women’s health outcomes. Together, they explore why conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, perimenopause, and iron deficiency are so often dismissed or overlooked; how historical bias has shaped modern gynecology; and why women still struggle to find accurate information, compassionate care, and timely diagnosis. This episode dives into the cultural, scientific, and systemic roots of medical sexism, the lingering influence of the WHI hormone therapy study, and the growing movement of women reclaiming their own health literacy through social media, advocacy, and community education. If you’ve ever wondered why women’s symptoms are minimized, why diagnostic delays are so common, or why women’s health research lags behind — this conversation pulls back the curtain. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why women’s symptoms are dismissed The gender data gap • Endometriosis & PCOS Pain bias in gynecology Iron deficiency & pregnancy Estrogen fear & the WHI study Ireland’s Repeal movement How culture shapes women’s care What needs to change in medicine TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – The gender data gap 05:00 – Endometriosis, PCOS, & delayed diagnosis 10:00 – Iron deficiency & overlooked symptoms 15:00 – The WHI study & hormone therapy confusion 20:00 – Social media & women reclaiming health literacy 25:00 – Pain bias & gynecology 30:00 – Ireland’s Repeal movement & reproductive rights 40:00 – The roots of medical misogyny 45:00 – What better care looks like TOP REFERENCES Invisible Women (Caroline Criado Perez) https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/610351/invisible-women-by-caroline-criado-perez/ The Menopause Society (formerly NAMS) https://www.menopause.org/ WHI Hormone Therapy Study (JAMA) https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/195120 Endometriosis Diagnostic Delay — Review (NIH / PMC) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6752380/ PCOS Rotterdam Criteria Summary (NIH / PMC) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387639/ IUD Insertion Pain Research (ACOG) https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2016/07/clinical-guidance-for-IUDs This resource page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH Website → https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/ Book a Consult → https://gravityhealth.janeapp.com/ Mint Reproductive Health → https://mintreproductivehealth.com/ FOLLOW US Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/ Dr. Bobby Parmar → https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/ Dr. Paul Maximus → https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/ Kaz Twomey → https://www.instagram.com/kaztwomey/?hl=en Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment. For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit: https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer