by Lindsey Williams
I have a challenge for you. Sit among a group of women and ask a simple question: “Have you ever felt dismissed by a doctor?” The result will reveal a stark truth about our healthcare systems: many hands will likely be raised. There is a troubling reality of medical gaslighting and the dismissal of women’s symptoms. It’s a systemic issue that all too often minimizes women’s physical ailments like sexual dysfunction or painful menstruation as mere ‘figments of their imagination’ or a result of too much stress.
In contrast, posing a similar question to a room full of men about whether their erectile dysfunction or sudden weight gain has been attributed to psychological factors would probably yield few, if any, raised hands. These disparities have significant repercussions, leading to silent suffering and the normalization of genuine health concerns like bladder leaking as simply “part of being a woman.” However, this silence breeds shame and stigma, particularly around topics like menopause, incontinence, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
UTIs, which affect 150 million people globally each year, disproportionately impact women due to our anatomy. Simply having a vulva is actually the number one risk factor for Urinary Tract Infections. Despite the prevalence of UTIs, testing and treatment methods have remained largely unchanged for decades. Dare I wonder if men had infections at this rate, might we have seen a more rapid progression of innovation?
Antibiotics are often prescribed without precise testing, contributing to global antibiotic resistance and leaving women to endure unresolved infections. Women are expected to accept a “best guess” treatment, despite data showing that this is ineffective up to 50% of the time. Additionally, social stigmas surrounding potential UTI triggers (like sexual activity) further exacerbate feelings of shame associated with seeking care, especially when facing frequent or chronic infections. The propensity to blame women’s symptoms on their own actions never ceases.
As founders of MyUTI, our journey with UTIs began with our own experiences accessing care.
We’ve had dismissive doctors who eagerly prescribe antibiotics before you can finish your sentence. We have sat in front of student health center nurses who judgingly eye your sexual activity. And we’ve had the frustration of taking off work, waiting hours in urgent care or days to get a GP appointment just to pee in a cup.
We have felt the pain points, including witnessing the struggles of our grandmothers managing UTIs in their advanced years. We intimately understood the gaps in care and recognized the urgent need for change. Thus, MyUTI was born, not just as a business venture, but as our personal mission to bridge the gap in advanced UTI testing and empower women.
At the core of our mission is the empowerment of women to advocate for their healthcare without shame. Leveraging technology and digital health advancements, MyUTI provides access to advanced testing outside the confines of traditional healthcare models, equipping women with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health. In a world where access to diagnostics is often restricted behind specialist visits, we champion empowerment through access.
Co-Founder of MyUTI
Our message remains unwavering: advocate for your care, raise your voice, and take control of your health. Through our collective efforts, we aim not only to revolutionize the UTI landscape but also to demand the medical respect that women’s health conditions warrant. Together, let us break the silence, dismantle the stigma, and pave the way toward a healthier, more empowered future for all women.
About Lindsey
Lindsey Williams is the co-founder and CEO of MyUTI, and is an accomplished commercial leader specializing in bringing new products, technology and innovation to market.
She has commercialized and led emerging product teams, developed successful corporate and GTM strategies for urology and infectious disease focused diagnostics. She has worked with multiple companies in the molecular diagnostics market within urology and women’s health as an executive consultant.
