Take a moment to imagine this: You go to your doctor because your nose won’t stop bleeding. But after an examination, your doctor just shrugs and tells you that you’re just “imagining” your nosebleed. Sure, you might have stayed up all night with a wad of tissues to your face, but your gushing nostrils must be all in your head!

That’s what a routine doctor’s office visit can feel like for many women. And it’s not just true of annual visits to our gynecologists — it extends to more general treatment, too.

Overall, there simply isn’t enough research in the field of women’s health. In cardiovascular research, for example, the American Heart Association reports that the results of clinical trials aren’t universally applicable because men make up the majority of patients for these tests.

And — surprise, surprise! — when medical testing is skewed by gender, it affects treatment.