The data: Just 14% of women fully trust healthcare institutions like medical centers, clinics, and hospitals to understand women’s health needs, according to a new Langrand survey of 1,000 women ages 18 to 44. Another 57% somewhat trust them, while 24% are skeptical and 4% actively distrust them.

Why it matters: Negative healthcare experiences may be eroding women’s trust in the healthcare system and contributing to their decisions to delay or skip care. While cost is the leading reason women delay or skip care (66%), 30% cite past negative experiences and an equal share point to having to repeat symptoms to multiple providers. Women (34%) are also more likely than men (21%) to report having their symptoms or pain dismissed in the last five years, per a July Gallup-Pivotal survey.

Traditional healthcare's struggle to earn women's trust could create opportunities for services offering personalized support, digital guidance, and symptom management. Fifty-six percent of women use options outside traditional medical care, per Langrand. Among them, 43% use women-focused apps or services and 34% use alternative medicine.

Implications for healthcare systems and providers: Healthcare systems can no longer assume traditional care alone will meet women's needs. Earning women’s full trust and keeping them as patients requires more than treating their symptoms and pain seriously.

Providers also need to consider how well their services meet women's needs, particularly when patients are willing to pay for alternatives. The Langrand survey found 28% of women would pay out of pocket for women-focused services that insurance doesn't cover, suggesting potential demand for more tailored care. Traditional providers can take a page from women's health and direct-to-consumer specialists like Maven Clinic and Midi Health, whose care models emphasize validating women's experiences. Longer appointments give women more time to discuss their concerns, while multidisciplinary care teams address health needs across conditions and life stages.