HEALTH Women's Health September 21, 2025 0 Comments

7 Surprise Health Issues Women 50+ Get Totally Wrong – Could This Be What’s Really Behind Your Symptoms?

Ever feel like your symptoms are getting the medical brush-off, like your concerns are being filed under “just anxiety” or “in your head”? You’re definitely not alone. It’s frustrating — downright maddening — especially when the true cause of your health woes remains undercover. Dr. Sara Gottfried Szal, a Harvard-trained physician and author of The Autoimmune Cure, nails it when she quips, “It’s a health hazard to be female.” That’s not just a catchy line; it’s a reality we need to stop ignoring. From fatigue that’s more than just tiredness, to symptoms mistaken for menopause or stress, women over 50 often face misdiagnoses that can delay the care they deserve. But why is this happening? And what’s really going on beneath the surface of those frustrating symptoms? Let’s dig into the most common misdiagnosed conditions that so many women face — and why it’s time to get your health story heard loud and clear. LEARN MORE

It’s a tale as old as time: A woman goes to the doctor voicing concerns about her symptoms, only to have those symptoms minimized, overlooked or discredited. No wonder Harvard-trained physician Sara Gottfried Szal, MD, author of The Autoimmune Cure, says, “It’s a health hazard to be female.” So we’re here to shine a much-needed light on this medical gaslighting. Here, the most common misdiagnosed conditions in women over 50 and what really might be behind your frustrating symptoms.

Why women’s health concerns are often underdiagnosed

Before we jump to specific medical conditions, it’s important to explain why women may not be getting the help they need in the doctor’s office. One factor is that many conditions have overlapping symptoms. Just think of how many illnesses are linked to something as common as fatigue.

Another reason is that researchers have historically conducted most medical research on men. And that data doesn’t always translate to our ever-evolving bodies. In fact, research on women’s health is severely underfunded compared to men’s health.

Have you ever had a condition that was misdiagnosed?

In addition, women’s complaints have historically, wrongfully been attributed to “hysteria” or being all in our heads. “Across the board, I think the medical establishment writes off women’s problems as emotional instead of physiological. And it gaslights women,” says Kim Howerton, who was misdiagnosed as bipolar years ago when she was really suffering from a thyroid condition. She went on to co-write the book Common Sense Labs and says “I am a fierce defender of women’s health access.” She knows firsthand, “misdiagnosis almost inevitably results in mistreatment.”

7 commonly misdiagnosed conditions in women

Let’s peek through the microscope at some of the most frequently misdiagnosed health conditions in women as we age.

Thyroid conditions

Some 60 percent of all thyroid problems go undiagnosed. “The hormonal shifts from both the thyroid and the ovaries can cause a confusing array of symptoms, including difficulty focusing, anxiety, depression, memory decline, persistent brain fog and weight gain,” says neurologist Romie Mushtaq, MD, author of The Busy Brain Cure. As a result, “an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, is frequently mistaken for [symptoms] of perimenopause or a natural part of aging, leading to a missed [or incorrect] diagnosis and causing women to miss out on effective hormone treatment.”

Dr. Mushtaq adds that “Women who complain of overwhelming fatigue, brain fog and mood swings may be told they have depression or anxiety. At the same time, physical aches can be mislabeled as fibromyalgia or even chronic fatigue syndrome.”

“Your health is too important to settle for being brushed aside.” —Deb Muth, ND

Cardiovascular issues

This is a biggie. “Heart disease is the number one cause of death in women, yet women are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed or delayed in treatment,” says Barbara Johnson, MD, who practices preventative care as the founder of The Johnson Center for Health.

One reason: “Women often present with atypical symptoms—fatigue, shortness of breath, indigestion, jaw or back pain—instead of the classic crushing chest pain,” explains Michael Genovese, MD, chief medical advisor at Ascendant New York. “For women, it is often misdiagnosed as anxiety, acid reflux or musculoskeletal pain.”

If you end up in the hospital with atypical heart attack symptoms, he says, “Advocate for yourself: In the ER, clearly state that you are concerned about a possible heart attack and ask for an ECG and cardiac enzyme testing.”

Menopause

Given how universal perimenopause and menopause are for aging women, it’s surprising how often these issues are overlooked by doctors. Instead, the symptoms are often chalked up as run-of-the-mill anxiety, fatigue, brain fog or joint pain. This can happen when “the few classic symptoms that are associated with menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats may be absent,” says Dr. Johnson. In reality, she says, “almost all new symptoms that women experience during these [midlife] years can be attributed to hormonal dysregulation and loss.”

“Menopause is often overlooked, and millions of patients are paying the price in missed diagnoses, ineffective care and workplace inequities,” says integrative gynecologist and hormone specialist LaKeischa Webb McMillan, MD. She adds, “Black women often face the steepest health and workplace barriers.”

Autoimmune conditions

Autoimmune disease—where the body’s immune system goes rogue and begins to attack itself—is an umbrella term for several hard-to-diagnose illnesses. And no surprise, they are under-identified by the medical community.

Dr. Genovese says, “Autoimmune conditions are more common in women and often flare around menopause. Symptoms like joint pain, fatigue or brain fog mimic menopause or aging. They are often confused with fibromyalgia, stress or osteoarthritis.” (Learn more about silent illnesses affecting women here.)

Lyme disease

Symptoms like joint pain and fatigue are often brushed under the rug as “normal” for women 50 and beyond. But not feeling good is never normal. Naturopathic doctor and nurse practitioner, Deb Muth, ND, author of Seen At Last, is working hard to get to the root causes of women’s suffering. She says, “In my own health journey, doctors gave me antidepressants and narcotics and told me I had fibromyalgia and should prepare for disability.” Spoiler: She really had Lyme disease!

Ovarian cancer

Missed or incorrect diagnoses often happen with gynecological issues. And they can happen to anyone. Even professional athlete Venus Williams was medically gaslit about her uterine fibroids.

Another example: Sometimes the abdominal weight gain that can come with midlife is more than just a harmless muffin top. “Ovarian cancer is commonly misdiagnosed because its early symptoms—bloating, pelvic pain, digestive changes—are vague and mimic irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or menopause symptoms. It’s mistaken for gastrointestinal issues, menopause-related bloating or urinary tract problems,” explains Genovese.

As with any type of cancer, he says, “early diagnosis can make the biggest difference in long-term wellbeing.”

Dementia

“One of the most commonly missed conditions in women over 50 includes early stages of cognitive decline,” says Dr. Muth. “Our current healthcare system often allows issues to fall through the cracks because symptoms are frequently dismissed as burnout.” She shares, “Fatigue and brain fog can be signs of something deeper, but women are often told it’s a regular part of aging.”

Howerton adds, “Depression, Lyme disease, thyroid issues, certain vitamin deficiencies, sleep apnea—they all can mimic dementia without the existing underlying brain changes.” She points out that actor and songwriter Kris Kristofferson was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s years ago, only to later learn it was actually Lyme disease.

Some conditions can’t be diagnosed solo

As if getting a clear diagnosis wasn’t hard enough, some conditions are extra tricky to pin down. Howerton explains, “Several conditions can’t be diagnosed solely by appraising symptoms or from results of a single lab marker. Your doctor must run comprehensive lab tests to exclude other similar conditions.” These ailments include things like arthritis, dementia, multiple sclerosis (MS) and depression.

That process can be a tall order in our rushed healthcare industry. Dr. Muth stresses, “compounding the diagnosis issues are the shorter appointment times, fragmented care between specialists and an outdated medical model that wasn’t designed around women’s biology. Important clues get overlooked.”

How to ensure your concerns are heard

To help prevent a wrong diagnosis and make sure your symptoms are taken seriously, our experts recommend the following advice:

Trust your gut

“To be your own best health advocate, start by listening to your body and trusting your intuition,” says Dr. Mushtaq.

Speak up

“If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t accept ‘your labs look normal’ as the end of the conversation,” says Dr. Muth.

Ask for more tests

“When you see your doctor, ask for a comprehensive hormonal and metabolic workup. You deserve a thorough investigation, not just a quick fix,” says Dr. Mushtaq.

Find a doctor who listens

“Don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion. If the doctor is offended, they’re definitely not the doctor for you,” says Dr. Muth. “The best care comes when you partner with a provider who listens, asks questions and is willing to dig deeper with you.” Bottom line: “Your health is too important to settle for being brushed aside.”

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.