June 9, 2025, 9:27 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Anyone who comes to a doctor’s office with pain hopes for a sympathetic ear, empathy, and a plan for moving forward. However, a survey shows that things often turn out quite differently.
The pain was intense, and the doctor’s appointment was the lifeline one clung to. Experiencing a doctor downplaying the symptoms instead of initiating appropriate treatment can be frustrating. This might lead to hesitance in seeking help next time. A YouGov survey commissioned by Doctolib shows that such experiences in the healthcare system are not uncommon—and doctors are more likely to ignore women’s complaints than men’s.
Overview
- “Reduce Stress, and It Will Get Better”
- Complaints in Women More Often Classified as Psychosomatic Than in Men
- Doctor Ignores Complaints – 57 Percent of Women Had to See Multiple Doctors for a Correct Diagnosis
- The Fear of Not Being Taken Seriously by the Doctor
- What You Can Do Against “Medical Gaslighting”
- Sources
“Reduce Stress, and It Will Get Better”
Whether it’s an inappropriate comment or a misdiagnosis: 31 percent of the women surveyed report having had negative experiences in doctors’ offices or clinics due to their gender. Among men, the percentage is significantly lower (10 percent).
Complaints in Women More Often Classified as Psychosomatic Than in Men
According to the survey, women also more frequently experience their complaints being dismissed as psychosomatic. This means the doctor suspects the cause of an illness lies in the psyche, which is not always the case. Forty-four percent of female respondents report having it suggested once or multiple times that their complaints are psychosomatic. Among male respondents, it’s 28 percent.
Doctor Ignores Complaints – 57 Percent of Women Had to See Multiple Doctors for a Correct Diagnosis
When a doctor ignores complaints and misjudges health problems as exaggerated or mistakenly psychosomatic, it often leads to consequences: A correct diagnosis and/or appropriate therapy is delayed. Fifty-seven percent of women report having had to visit multiple doctors for a correct diagnosis. Among men, it’s 45 percent.
The Fear of Not Being Taken Seriously by the Doctor
The fear of not being taken seriously sometimes leads to not even scheduling a doctor’s appointment—and instead enduring the pain. Women report this more often than men (39 vs. 23 percent).
Nearly One in Three Women Has Had Negative Experiences with Doctors
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What You Can Do Against “Medical Gaslighting”
When a health issue is downplayed by the treating doctor, it’s referred to as “medical gaslighting.” Here’s what you can do if you feel this way:
- Address your feelings and ask how the doctor came to their conclusion without a thorough examination
- Seek a second opinion from another doctor’s office
- Bring a companion to the appointment. They can step in if you find yourself at a loss for words.1
The survey was conducted by the opinion research institute YouGov on behalf of Doctolib. Between May 13 and 15, 2025, 1,037 people were surveyed, including 1,000 women and 1,000 men.