The recently published Women's Health Strategy shines a light on how often women have to advocate for themselves when trying to get the health care they need. In many instances, physical conditions are labelled as psychological or hormonal, resulting in late diagnoses and poor health outcomes. As a result, women can often feel () invisible, in the dark, or brushed off.

More and more information, evidence, and personal stories are emerging suggesting women are not being listened to or believed by health care professionals about their symptoms of physical illness. A consultation that was run to help the development of the Women's Health Strategy reported that nearly 85 percent of women felt there are too many cases where women's voices are not heard, especially in maternity care.