It’s the bias that affects half of Australia, yet so little is known about the true scope and impact of medical misogyny.

The Herald hopes to help change that with a new series by reporters Aisha Dow, Wendy Tuohy, Emily Kaine and Kate Aubusson that explores a phenomenon rooted in a long history of failures to study and understand female bodies. We have been inundated with hundreds of harrowing stories from readers who have experienced such bias during treatment.

Nikki Purtill says her concerns were dismissed.Credit: Simon Schluter

Women have long reported that their pain has been dismissed or misdiagnosed, while some doctors say the Medicare system gives them insufficient time and funding to manage complex women’s healthcare issues.

The consequences can be fatal. The first........

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