Women with autoimmune diseases are up to 75% more likely than men to have symptoms dismissed as 'all in their head'

From the Newshound archive · first published 13 October 2026 · last updated 14 October 2026.

A study by Cambridge and the University of East Anglia, drawing on data from more than 6,600 participants, has revealed a pronounced gender gap in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. Some 43% of women were told their symptoms had a psychiatric cause, against 33% of men, leaving women almost 75% more likely to receive a psychosomatic misdiagnosis. Women also typically waited one to two years for a confirmed diagnosis, whereas men were most often diagnosed within three months. Lead researcher Dr Melanie Sloan warned that the erosion of women's trust in doctors and in themselves can be "very long lasting." The findings, appearing in the Lancet eClinicalMedicine journal, covered conditions including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Dr Sloan cautioned that 'psychological explanations can be given too soon' and that women are 'particularly vulnerable' to these misdiagnoses.

Autoimmune thyroid disease — which affected almost one in four of the female respondents — can produce weight gain, hair loss and fatigue, symptoms that closely resemble those of mental health conditions.

The researchers noted that longstanding biases in medical practice remain entrenched, with gender stereotypes surrounding women's emotional responses likely at the root of the disparity.