Why Are Irish Women Hiding Their Pain? The Reality of the Gender Health Gap

Women continue to face pressures that lead them to downplay, conceal, or sacrifice their health – both in everyday life and at work.

11th March 2026 Research by laya healthcare, part of AXA, reveals a deep and ongoing gender health gap in Ireland, where women feel under pressure to minimise, mask, or silently endure their health concerns, particularly in the workplace.

The findings show that many women are caught between societal expectations, professional pressures, and a fear of not being taken seriously, with many avoiding discussing gender-specific health issues even when it affects their wellbeing.

More than 1 in 3 women (35%) feel too embarrassed to raise gender-specific health concerns with their manager.
More than 1 in 3 women (36%) admit to giving other reasons for sick leave to avoid professional judgment.
Two-thirds of women (66%) are self-medicating with painkillers, enduring discomfort and potentially exacerbating health issues, simply to “power through” their workday.
Nearly 1 in 3 women (30%) say their manager’s gender (being male) makes them uncomfortable discussing these issues.
Among women who felt uncomfortable discussing gender-specific health issues with their manager, 1 in 4 (27%) said they “didn’t think it was serious enough to mention”.

The appetite for more accessible, female-focused care is clear from the uptake of laya healthcare’s GP video consultation’s (GPLive) choice-of-female-GP service, which has facilitated almost 7,000 consultations since its launch in June 2025, underlining the demand for trusted, convenient support.

Commenting on the research, Dr. Sumi Dunne, a GP specialising in women's health said “These findings highlight a critical and often invisible layer of the gender health gap. Beyond fearing external dismissal, many women internally question whether their concerns are valid enough to raise, creating a culture of silence. I encourage women to speak up, especially when they feel unheard, and to advocate for their own health. Too often women prioritise others over themselves, but it’s important to seek medical advice if you’re experiencing issues, no matter how small they may seem. Ensuring women feel supported and confident to talk about their health from the outset is key to closing this gap. It’s encouraging to see initiatives like laya introducing tangible supports such as GP specialists in menopause, alongside AXA’s global investment in gender health research.”

Laya healthcare is committed to playing its part in closing the gender health by offering services that make it easier for women to speak up about their health and get care quickly: These include:

Faster access to diagnostics – a scan in five days, results in two
GP Live choice of female GP
GP Live Menopause specialists from the 1^st of April 2026
24/7 Mental Wellbeing Support Programme (MWSP)

This commitment is further underpinned by laya healthcare being part of AXA, which is tackling gender health inequalities through a €3.4m AXA Research Fund investment in over 20 research projects worldwide, reflecting a shared dedication to closing the gender health gap.

Sinéad Proos, Head of Health and Wellbeing at laya healthcare, part of AXA, added: “At laya healthcare, we are investing in practical supports that make it easier for women to seek help early, from faster access to diagnostics to the option to choose a female GP via GP Live and specialist menopause support. Addressing the silence, including its manifestation in the workplace, requires a collective effort to foster environments where women feel validated and confident in prioritising their health and taking meaningful steps towards closing the gender health gap. Our aim is to ensure women feel validated and confident in seeking timely care. We are committed to empowering women to overcome this tendency to self-dismiss their health needs and to creating a more open and understanding culture around women’s health.”