A Blind Spot in Women's Health Measurement

Gynecological conditions affect billions

These conditions are common. They shape daily life around the world.

The Global Burden of Disease Study guides health priorities worldwide

Since 1990, the GBD has tracked 371 conditions across 204 countries.

It has famously elevated previously overlooked conditions.

What Gets Counted Gets Funded

Conditions that aren't counted don't get prioritized—and don't get solved.

Global Gynecological DALYs (2021)

Non-cancerous conditions, in millions

GBD 2021, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

Is PMS really the single biggest gynecological condition?

GBD 2021, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

Several common conditions are absent

Urinary incontinence, dysmenorrhea, vulvodynia, and menopause symptoms are missing from these estimates.

of US women over 50 report incontinence

...requiring protective garments. Yet this condition is absent from the Global Burden of Disease estimates.

University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging, 2018

If incontinence were counted, it would exceed all specified conditions

US DALYs comparison (annual)

Assuming a mild disability weight, incontinence alone would represent the largest specified gynecological burden.

Bilinski & Emanuel, The Lancet 2026

Source of Underestimation #1

Electronic health records miss conditions

This contrasts with low back pain and PMS, which GBD quantifies from survey self-reports.

Source of Underestimation #2

Some conditions have no disability weight

Without a disability weight, a condition contributes zero DALYs regardless of prevalence.

Source of Underestimation #3

"Normal" vs. "Unhealthy"

If leaking urine after childbirth is considered normal, it might not be deemed unhealthy—despite its impact on wellbeing.