Increase your understanding around the latest facts, research and advice on equality, diversity and inclusion in women’s health. Read more about health inequalities, inclusive language and intersectionality.

• Women’s health equity, diversity and inclusion

Intersectionality explains how discrimination and disadvantages impact individuals or groups. It takes into account peoples’ overlapping identities and experiences to understand health inequalities and prejudices (King's Fund, 2022).

• Intersectional approach
• Further resources

Sexual orientation and gender identity should not affect access to the right health care, but some people may face extra challenges in getting the right help and information.

• Sexual orientation gender identity and access to health care
• Further resources

Implementing approaches that are anti-oppressive, intersectional, and culturally and contextually adapted can address many factors contributing to the sexual health of LGBTQIA+ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, or asexual).

• Sexual and reproductive health
• Further resources

Anyone who produces oestrogen and progesterone may experience declining hormone levels. Transgender, non-binary and intersex people may also experience the menopause, either due to age-related hormonal changes or hormone treatments and surgeries.

• Menopause
• Further resources

NHS screening programmes aim to prevent ill health, save lives and allow people to make informed choices about their health. But eligible people are not being invited, causing inequalities to remain.

• NHS screening
• Further resources

• Learning disabilities
• What is a learning disability or intellectual disability?
• Health inequalities
• Reasonable adjustments – cervical screening
• Mental Capacity Act / Best Interest process
• Accessible Information Standards across health care organisations
• How to ask questions in a positive way

Neurodiversity is a term used to describe a range of neurological differences.

• Neurodiversity in womens health
• Further resources

Reasonable adjustments are a legal requirement to ensure that health services are accessible to people with disabilities.

• Equality Act and reasonable adjustments
• Further resources

Minority ethnic groups include people from Black, Asian, mixed ethnicity groups and other backgrounds such as Gypsy, Traveller or Roma communities.

• Minority ethnic groups including Gypsy and Roma communities
• Menopause and women from minority ethnic groups
• What can nurses do?
• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller ethnic groups
• Further resources

Although there is no internationally accepted legal definition of a migrant, a migrant may move countries to work, study, and for humanitarian purposes. They may feel they have no other choice due to gang violence, poverty, natural disasters, political unrest or other serious circumstances.

• Migrants asylum seekers and refugees
• Principles of good practice: How services adapt to cater for specific needs
• Individual support and service provision
• Further resources

Many homeless or displaced women, including those living in temporary accommodation experience problems and stigma when trying to access health care, in particular primary care services.

• Homeless or displaced women
• Further resources