Research shows that eight out of every 10 women believe they possess a sixth sense (77%).
A recent survey of 2,000 women examined the strength of their intuition and revealed that more than half of the participants have a high level of trust in their intuition (56%), especially among those who are mothers (74%).
On average, this gut feeling leads them correctly about 68% of the time, particularly when it comes to meeting new people (65%), making major life decisions (46%), and concerning their health (37%).
Conducted by Talker Research for MD Live, the survey found that 81% of women trust their own “ill-tuition,” which is the sense that something feels off with their health before receiving confirmation.
However, women often ignore their feeling that something isn’t right (59%) and fail to act on it (66%) until their symptoms disrupt their daily activities, instead of being proactive at the first signs of something being off.
The symptoms that would prompt them to seek immediate medical attention are unusual pain (41%), shortness of breath (35%), and heart palpitations (31%).
Women would wait a week before seeking medical care if they suspect they have a respiratory issue (44%) or an infection (48%).
Even more concerning is that they would delay seeing a doctor for gynecological issues (57%) or mental health concerns (58%) for at least a month.
In fact, they tend to overlook feelings of ill-tuition related to itchiness (19%), bloating (17%), and fatigue (17%).
One-third of women admit to being in denial about their symptoms when something doesn’t feel right (34%), and 63% confess to not seeking immediate medical attention when their ill-tuition signals that something is off.
Women’s intuition and health: trusting the ‘sixth sense’
Dr. Vontrelle Roundtree, associate chief medical officer for MD Live by Evernorth, explains, “Many common symptoms like unusual pain, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations can be early signs of an underlying health condition. Ignoring your body’s signals can prevent timely diagnosis and treatment. Trusting your intuition and acting on it early can make all the difference in managing your health.”
45% of women admit to ignoring their ill-tuition during the workday, with another 37% unwilling to take time off work based on the feeling that something is wrong.
Instead of seeking professional care, many respondents prefer to search for information about their symptoms online (38%) or try home remedies (37%).
The reason behind delaying seeking medical care usually stems from previous experiences where their symptoms were dismissed as trivial (30%), with 4 in 10 sharing instances of “medical gaslighting,” where medical professionals disregarded their concerns.
Barriers to seeking medical care despite health concerns
Additional factors preventing women from seeking professional care include the associated costs (24%), fear of a potential diagnosis (23%), feeling like a burden, or being perceived as overly dramatic (22%).
Despite waiting, the worrying continues for 41% who often wonder if their gut feeling about something being off is more serious than they realize.
Ignoring their ill-tuition has led to worsening health concerns for 43% of respondents.
Dr. Roundtree advises, “If you feel something is off with your health, seek medical advice promptly. Medical professionals are there to help you get to the bottom of your symptoms. With virtual care, you can quickly connect with a board-certified doctor, getting the support and reassurance you need without unnecessary delays.”
Survey Methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 women; the survey was commissioned by MD Live and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Sept. 10 and Sept. 16, 2024.
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