Why We Wait: A Question I’ve Been Thinking About

DEEP THOUGHTS

What We Pay Attention To and What We Don’t

Hi everyone,

I’ve spent the past month at a number of women’s health conferences and community events, and something has been staying with me. Instead of my usual newsletter, I want to take a step back this week and ask you a question that keeps resurfacing in my conversations.

First, I was excited that the room was packed at last week’s Investing in Our Brains: The Hidden Story of Women's Brain Health event at the Museum of Science in Boston! Menopause events tend to draw big audiences too. But when organizations host sessions on heart health—an area where women face significant risk—the turnout is noticeably smaller. I’ve seen versions of this pattern for years.

It reminded me of something from early in my women’s health journey. I incubated a fertility startup, and during my customer interviews, I repeatedly saw the same behavior: retrospectively, people wished they’d had access to what I planned to build; prospectively, no one believed they needed it. That disconnect was ultimately why I didn’t move forward.

Since then, after more than 200 interviews with clinicians, founders, researchers, and patients, I’ve realized this isn’t limited to fertility. It’s part of a broader human pattern: even when people know the healthcare system is confusing or slow, even when they’re frustrated, and even when they understand that early action matters… many still wait.

But why do we wait?

• Why do we wait to make the appointment?

• Why do we wait to ask the question?

• Why do we wait to push for a second opinion?

• Why do we wait to prioritize our health until symptoms force us forward?

And in women’s health in particular—where symptoms are often dismissed, information is inconsistent, and care pathways are unclear—those delays have real impact.

But I don’t think this is only a “women” issue. It shows up in clinicians who are overwhelmed by time constraints. In innovators trying to understand user behavior. In caregivers who put others first. In people who simply have full lives and limited bandwidth.

So I want to ask you:

• Why do you think people wait to seek care, even when they know something is off?

• What prompts someone to finally take action?

• Are there topics you personally consider important but still push aside?

• Are there health topics you don’t think about often — or don’t think that matter — but deep down you suspect maybe they should?

I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts. This community is full of people who see health from very different angles, and your perspective helps shape where Fempower Health focuses next.

👉 Hit reply to share one thing you’ve noticed.

Thanks, as always, for being here.

— Georgie