Woman's delayed aortic stenosis diagnosis highlights gender bias in heart care

Julia Ferris, a 57-year-old retired nurse, suffered persistent fatigue, dizziness and breathlessness despite multiple GP appointments and a course of antibiotics. A different GP later heard a heart murmur with a stethoscope and referred her for an echocardiogram, which confirmed severe aortic stenosis. After a four-month wait, she underwent life-saving valve replacement surgery, paying roughly £35,000 privately.

Research by Heart Valve Voice and others reveals that only 28% of women with severe aortic stenosis receive treatment, compared with 51% of men, and that women account for a minority of valve-replacement operations. Experts attribute the gap to outdated beliefs that heart disease is a male issue, limited use of stethoscopes, and diagnostic criteria based on male anatomy. The story illustrates the broader risk that delayed diagnosis poses to women’s health and the need for better education and gender-aware guidelines.