28/05/2025
On this International Day of Action for Women’s Health, we’re celebrating the role osteopaths play in caring for patients across various life stages, including areas specific to women’s health.
📊 Global Snapshot: More Women Seek Osteopathic Care
Evidence from various international surveys indicates that more females than males seek care from an osteopath. Specifically, surveys showed that:
🇨🇦 Canada: 62% of patients were female
🇪🇸 Spain: 61% were female
🇩🇪 Germany: 61% were female
🇨🇭 Switzerland: 57% were female
🇬🇧 UK: 58% were female (a separate UK study reported 61.1%)
🇧🇪 BeNeLux: Even gender split reported by osteopaths in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg
💡 Conditions and Areas of Focus Addressed by Osteopaths
While musculoskeletal conditions like low back and neck pain remain the most common reasons for seeking osteopathic care, many osteopaths also address issues related to women’s health, including:
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Low back and pelvic pain during and after pregnancy
- Menstrual disorders such as dysmenorrhea
- Menopause-related symptoms
- Conditions relevant to breast cancer care, such as upper extremity lymphatic drainage
🔬 What the Evidence Shows
A recent systematic review specifically on osteopathic care in gynaecology and obstetrics showed potential effectiveness in these fields (Ruffini et al., 2022).
While the studies included were too heterogeneous for pooled analysis or firm clinical recommendations, the review highlighted an increase in both quantity and quality of published research, as well as a broader array of conditions explored compared to earlier literature.
Notably, limited evidence suggests osteopathic care is safe when used as a complement to traditional gynaecological treatment.
💜 Why It Matters
The osteopathic profession is rapidly growing worldwide. In countries where it is regulated, osteopaths act as primary contact health professionals, offering hands-on, person-centred care.
The consistent trend of more women seeking osteopathic care, along with a growing body of research addressing women’s health conditions, reflects a meaningful engagement of the profession with this demographic. It also signals a promising area of future practice and research aimed at supporting women across all stages of life.
