Washington – September 20, 2026 -- More than half of U.S. women, 51%, report at least one negative healthcare experience in the past five years, compared with 39% of men, according to a new Gallup-Pivotal survey released Sept. 18, 2026.
The research, conducted by Gallup in partnership with Pivotal, the organization founded by Melinda French Gates, finds that 42% of women say their health has prevented them from doing everything they wanted to do in life over the past five years. Fifty-four percent report at least one health-related impact on family life or relationships, 42% on work or career, and 32% on community participation.
Women unable to access care report the sharpest life disruptions
Among women who tried but failed to get needed care, 79% report an impact on family life, 66% on work, and 59% on community involvement. One in four women rate their physical health as fair or poor, rising to 35% among Black women and 28% among Hispanic women, versus 22% of White women. Nearly half of all women surveyed, 48%, report a current or past mental health condition such as depression, anxiety or PTSD.
One-third of women say providers dismissed their symptoms
Thirty-four percent of women say a provider minimized or dismissed their symptoms or pain, 33% report misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis, and 31% say they did not receive needed answers or next steps. Thirty percent of women who experienced a health condition say they had to push to be taken seriously or receive treatment.
"Women have been saying for years that the healthcare system is not meeting their needs, but systems don't change without meaningful data," said Melinda French Gates, founder of Pivotal.
Cost blocks nearly one in three women from needed care
Thirty-two percent of women say they skipped or delayed care because of cost in the past year, compared with 25% of men. Among women who sought contraception, 56% say they had to do their own research to make informed decisions, and 41% say providers did not share all available options; nearly 70% of women aged 18-34 encountered contraception information via social media.
Menopause diagnosis gaps persist despite widespread symptoms
Seventy-four percent of women aged 45-54 report current or past menopause or perimenopause symptoms, yet only 51% of those with symptoms received a diagnosis. Among women aged 35 and older who sought menopause treatment, 24% had to push to be taken seriously, 23% saw multiple providers before diagnosis, and 20% could not get the care they felt they needed.
Postpartum and menopause health issues cut into women's work output
Fifty-four percent of women who gave birth in the past 20 years report depression, anxiety or another mental health challenge during pregnancy or the following 12 months; of those, 57% sought care but only 29% called it very helpful. Black women are more likely than White women to return to work before physically ready (38% vs. 24%), change jobs (34% vs. 18%) or reduce hours (29% vs. 22%) after giving birth.
More than half of women in households earning under $50,000, 54%, report a work-related health impact, compared with 33% of women earning $100,000 or more. Black women (49%) and Hispanic women (45%) report work impacts more often than White women (40%).
Six in 10 Americans back government action on women's health
Sixty-one percent of Americans say improving women's health should be a high or top priority for state governments, and 60% say the same for the federal government. Eighty-two percent prioritize safe pregnancy and birth, 81% prioritize access to quality healthcare, and 66% prioritize affordable menopause care.