Cleveland Clinic‘s Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center has released a national report on the state of women’s health in the U.S., surveying 2,000 women aged 18 and older. The headline finding: nearly half of women (45%) say their biggest concern as they age is not having enough money to take care of their health – more than those who cite cancer, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s as their primary concern.
The full report reveals gaps across financial access, preventive care engagement, and health literacy that are shaping real decisions about when and how women seek care.
On finances and caregiving: 45% of women rate their financial health as fair or poor. Women who provide unpaid care report higher levels of stress (53% vs. 46%), fatigue (49% vs. 42%), and guilt about prioritizing their own health (34% vs. 21%) compared to non-caregivers.
On preventive care by generation: about half of Gen Z and Millennial women reported seeing a gynecologist or women’s health specialist in the past year, compared with just 23% of women aged 60 and older. Yet comfort discussing sexual health with an OB-GYN increases with age, from 36% among Gen Z to 70% among women 60 and older.
On knowledge gaps: 42% of women are unaware that menopause can affect the heart, brain, and bones, and more than half (52%) say it is not discussed enough. Only 19% of women know they are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s despite accounting for nearly two-thirds of cases – but those who are aware are more likely to take preventive steps, underscoring the direct connection between knowledge and action.
“This report makes one thing clear: women’s health is in crisis with persistent and consequential gaps in how women understand and manage their health across the lifespan,” said Maria Shriver, founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic. “Too many women lack clear information about their health risks, and too many are unsure whether they can afford the care they need.”
The findings were shared at the Global Women’s Health + WAM Forum, where Cleveland Clinic also announced the establishment of a new endowed chair in bone health.
