Women in the UK with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) are facing a double whammy of long-term physical suffering alongside mental health problems because of medical misogyny, openDemocracy has found.
Sufferers we spoke to reported developing anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder as a direct result of gaslighting, misdiagnosis and delays to care.
Although short-lived acute or routine UTIs are incredibly common – globally, 404 million people are reported to have experienced an infection in 2019 – long-lasting chronic infections are poorly understood. The NHS only included reference to chronic UTIs on its website last year, following a patient-led campaign.
