Women's Health Ignored: Fatigue and Anxiety Linked to Undiagnosed Conditions

A recent report highlights a critical issue in women's healthcare, where fatigue and anxiety symptoms are frequently dismissed as normal. According to Hertility's 2026 Workplace Report, 64% of female employees reported an average of five concurrent symptoms, including fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, and low mood. These symptoms often masked underlying conditions such as PCOS, thyroid disorders, and pelvic issues.

Data from nearly 530,000 women indicated that 37% had at least one hormone imbalance affecting their mood, metabolism, and cognitive function. Deirdre O'Neill, co-founder of Hertility, stated that this normalization of symptoms has led to persistent clinical gaps. She emphasized that unmanaged biology costs businesses talent and that addressing these issues is crucial for healthier teams and sustainable growth.

Chronic fatigue affects over half of female employees, while nearly a third show signs of undiagnosed iron deficiency anemia. This treatable condition, often caused by heavy periods or other issues, leads to exhaustion and cognitive dysfunction. Despite private medical insurance being a common benefit, many policies structurally exclude hormonal and reproductive health, forcing women to rely on an overburdened NHS with a gynaecology backlog exceeding 750,000 people.

An NHS spokesperson acknowledged that women's health concerns are sometimes dismissed and stated that the NHS is actively working to improve services. This includes staff education, training, and establishing women's health clinics in communities to provide specialist support closer to home, aiming to speed up diagnosis and treatment.