Findings from the Victorian government's landmark inquiry into women's pain are staggering, but its resolutions offer a promising step forward for equitable gendered healthcare.

Two weeks ago, Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas released the final Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report – the result of an overwhelming 13,000 submissions from women and girls across Victoria aged 12-79.

The report reaffirmed what women dealing with pain already know and have endured; the current healthcare system needs to do better.

The key areas of concern outlined in the report include unmet healthcare needs, gaps in research and presentation, gender bias in healthcare, and barriers across communities.

Like many other facets, the gender gap extends to the medical sphere as evidenced by submissions, contributing to a culture of sexism and misogyny, driving experiences of medical bias, and leaving women and girls feeling ignored and dismissed.

One of the chief findings was the disproportionate impacts of chronic pain on women, with most participants (90 per cent) citing they have had pain lasting over a year.

Moreover, 89 per cent said their pain had an impact on their mental health, and more than half (54 per cent) reported experiencing daily pain.

Of the types of pain experienced among women and girls, the most common were menstrual and hormonal (40 per cent), endometriosis (26 per cent), and musculoskeletal problems (26 per cent).

A further 71 per cent of participants reported experiencing widespread dismissal by healthcare professionals, and 68 per cent said the costs associated with seeking care are an obstacle.

In the wake of this new data, 27 recommendations have been made to work toward bridging the gender pain gap.

This includes a new Women's Pain Standard to support the consistent delivery of high quality pain counselling and relief, the implementation of the use of a 'green whistle' during the insertion or removal of an IUD, and the launch of a new clinic targeted at those experiencing pelvic pain.

The clinic will also work with Local Health Service Networks to set up clear referral pathways for regional patients.

Women's Health Goulburn North East (WHGNE) has welcomed the release of the report and vows to continue supporting the improvement of women's experiences and engagement with the health system alongside the Victorian government.

"Of the 13,000 responses submitted to the Women’s Pain Inquiry, 41 per cent came from women living in rural and regional Victoria," Mandy Macdonald, CEO of WHGNE, said.

"Women living in rural and regional areas like ours have told us for years, that in addition to feeling like they are not being listened to, they face long wait and travel times, excessive costs and difficulty accessing straightforward information about service navigation and referral pathways when seeking help for their pain.

"These experiences are echoed within the newly released report, which further reveals that rural and regional women’s lives are disproportionately impacted by pain across a number of areas, when compared to their metropolitan counterparts.

“We look forward to working alongside the Victorian government, our nine sister Women’s Health Services across Victoria, our regional stakeholders, and the Goulburn Valley and North East community, to ensure that the Bridging the Gender Pain Gap recommendations are implemented with ongoing input from local women and healthcare professionals.”

What’s next:

One of the key recommendations - A Women's Pain Action plan shaped by inquiry findings - is now in development.

This work will complement the government’s $153 million women’s health package.

This package is already transforming the way women’s healthcare is delivered in Victoria; with 20 sexual and reproductive health hubs now open, 20 new women’s health clinics underway, both virtual and mobile women’s health clinics operating, and a dedicated and first of its kind Aboriginal women’s health clinic.

"Our joint submission as part of the Women’s Health Services Network to the Women’s Pain Inquiry contained many recommendations which we see reflected within the report," Ms Macdonald said.

"The development of a Women’s Pain Action Plan will ensure measurable outcomes are in place to deliver the recommendations in the report, a commitment to accountability that we are thrilled to see.

"WHGNE is also pleased to see recommendations across areas that will benefit our regional communities, like making health information more accessible and culturally appropriate and increasing investment in multidisciplinary care and allied health in rural and regional areas."

To view the Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report in full, please visit health.vic.gov.au/inquiry-into-womens-pain.