(MIS)Treated is back for season 2. Join host Nam Kiwanuka as she continues explores how medicine has – and still is – failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference.

This season we explore why women make up 80% of autoimmune patients, what it's like to access care for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and we speak to award winning journalist Cynthia Mulligan about why she chose to reveal her breast cancer diagnosis and how its impacted her career. We also have conversations with Dr. Gabor Maté, Clara Hughes and speak to Dr. Mathew Leonardi about adenomyosis and the advances being made in endometriosis awareness.

(MIS)Treated is back for season 2. Join host Nam Kiwanuka as she continues explores how medicine has &ndash; and still is &ndash; failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference.
This season we explore why women make up 80% of autoimmune patients, what it's like to access care for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and we speak to award winning journalist Cynthia Mulligan about why she chose to reveal her breast cancer diagnosis and how its impacted her career. We also have conversations with Dr. Gabor Mat&eacute;, Clara Hughes and speak to Dr. Mathew Leonardi about adenomyosis and the advances being made in endometriosis awareness.

(MIS)Treated, a TVO podcast, explores how medicine has – and still is – failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference. Join host Nam Kiwanuka to hear real life stories and expert interviews on how the mistreatment and misdiagnosis of women affects us all.

(MIS)Treated, a TVO podcast, explores how medicine has &ndash; and still is &ndash; failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference. Join host Nam Kiwanuka to hear real life stories and expert interviews on how the mistreatment and misdiagnosis of women affects us all.

(MIS)Treated

(MIS)Treated: Season 2 Trailer

Intro

What Chronic Pain Is and Why It Matters

The Gender Gap in Pain Research

Jennifer's Journey: Living With Chronic Pain

Endometriosis, Period Pain & Being Dismissed

The History of Bias in Pain Treatment

What Science Is Learning About Women's Pain

Disability, Self-Advocacy & Cost of Waiting

Managing Pain: Treatment, Care & Hope

Future of Pain Research & Advocacy

Unlike a broken arm, you can't see chronic pain. This makes it complicated to treat or diagnose because it's subjective. This has led chronic pain to be called a "silent epidemic" and while 70% of chronic pain sufferers are women, historically the majority of pain studies have been done on men or male mice. Many people with conditions like endometriosis, PMOS, migraines, fibroids and painful periods, live with chronic pain. And the World Health Organization officially classified it as a disease in 2022.

On the final episode of season 1, Nam Kiwanuka take a deeper dive on the history of pain research, what it is, the implicit bias towards women in medicine, and the research that's being done to combat that right here in Canada.

Nam speaks with Dr. Tania Di Renna, the president of the Canadian Pain Society (CPS) and Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI) and Jennifer Daly-Cyr who has lived with chronic pain for more than a decade and is also co-chair of the Person with Lived Experience committee at the CPS.

Research links

Being A Woman Doesn’t Have To Be A (Chronic) Pain https://www.forbes.com/sites/evaepker/2023/04/05/why-is-being-a-woman-a-chronic-pain/

Women and pain: Disparities in experience and treatment: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/women-and-pain-disparities-in-experience-and-treatment-2017100912562

Mi'kmaw nurse explains how Indigenous pain often misunderstood: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mi-kmaw-nurse-1.5130067

Myths about physical racial differences were used to justify slavery — and are still believed by doctors today: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/racial-differences-doctors.html

Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1516047113

Sex differences in the transition to chronic pain: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12126234/

“Brave Men” and “Emotional Women”: A Theory-Guided Literature Review on Gender Bias in Health Care and Gendered Norms towards Patients with Chronic Pain: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2018/6358624

Yale psychologists find that adults take girls’ pain less seriously: https://news.yale.edu/2019/01/24/yale-psychologists-find-adults-take-girls-pain-less-seriously

Pain medication finally recommended in U.S. for IUD use. What about Canada?: https://globalnews.ca/news/10687785/iud-insertion-pain-management-guidance/

The science that changed how we study pain: https://www.mcgill.ca/science/channels/news/science-changed-how-we-study-pain-372651

Action On Pain podcast takes a closer look at the implementation of An Action Plan for Pain in Canada: https://redcircle.com/shows/action-on-pain

Unlike a broken arm, you can't see chronic pain. This makes it complicated to treat or diagnose because it's subjective. This has led chronic pain to be called a "silent epidemic" and while 70% of chronic pain sufferers are women, historically the majority of pain studies have been done on men or male mice. Many people with conditions like endometriosis, PMOS, migraines, fibroids and painful periods, live with chronic pain. And the World Health Organization officially classified it as a disease in 2022.
On the final episode of season 1, Nam Kiwanuka take a deeper dive on the history of pain research, what it is, the implicit bias towards women in medicine, and the research that's being done to combat that right here in Canada.
Nam speaks with Dr. Tania Di Renna, the president of the Canadian Pain Society (CPS) and Medical Director of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI) and Jennifer Daly-Cyr who has lived with chronic pain for more than a decade and is also co-chair of the Person with Lived Experience committee at the CPS.
Research links
Being A Woman Doesn&rsquo;t Have To Be A (Chronic) Pain <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/evaepker/2023/04/05/why-is-being-a-woman-a-chronic-pain/">https://www.forbes.com/sites/evaepker/2023/04/05/why-is-being-a-woman-a-chronic-pain/</a>
Women and pain: Disparities in experience and treatment: <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/women-and-pain-disparities-in-experience-and-treatment-2017100912562">https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/women-and-pain-disparities-in-experience-and-treatment-2017100912562</a>
Mi'kmaw nurse explains how Indigenous pain often misunderstood: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mi-kmaw-nurse-1.5130067">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mi-kmaw-nurse-1.5130067</a>
Myths about physical racial differences were used to justify slavery &mdash; and are still believed by doctors today: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/racial-differences-doctors.html">https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/racial-differences-doctors.html</a>
Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites: <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1516047113">https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1516047113</a>
Sex differences in the transition to chronic pain: <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12126234/">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12126234/</a>
&ldquo;Brave Men&rdquo; and &ldquo;Emotional Women&rdquo;: A Theory-Guided Literature Review on Gender Bias in Health Care and Gendered Norms towards Patients with Chronic Pain: <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2018/6358624">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2018/6358624</a>
Yale psychologists find that adults take girls&rsquo; pain less seriously: <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2019/01/24/yale-psychologists-find-adults-take-girls-pain-less-seriously">https://news.yale.edu/2019/01/24/yale-psychologists-find-adults-take-girls-pain-less-seriously</a>
Pain medication finally recommended in U.S. for IUD use. What about Canada?: <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10687785/iud-insertion-pain-management-guidance/">https://globalnews.ca/news/10687785/iud-insertion-pain-management-guidance/</a>
The science that changed how we study pain: <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/science/channels/news/science-changed-how-we-study-pain-372651">https://www.mcgill.ca/science/channels/news/science-changed-how-we-study-pain-372651</a>
Action On Pain podcast takes a closer look at the implementation of An Action Plan for Pain in Canada: <a href="https://redcircle.com/shows/action-on-pain">https://redcircle.com/shows/action-on-pain</a>

Why do women make up 70% of chronic pain cases?

Who is Julie Green & why write 'Motherness'?

What do 'motherness' & 'otherness' mean?

Raising an autistic child before awareness

How a late autism diagnosis reshapes life

Why are girls with autism misdiagnosed?

What is masking & how girls present autism

Autism myths that persist & why they matter

What to do if parents suspect autism

A recent study shows that autism is almost as prevalent in girls as it is in boys - so why have we been led to believe that autism is something that mostly impacts boys and men? The February 2026 study suggests that the difference, in part, is that girls are often diagnosed much later in life.

On today's episode, host and producer Nam Kiwanuka speaks with Julie M. Green about what it was like to be diagnosed with autism as a mother at age 44, while also raising a child on the spectrum. She documents this experience in her book, "Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood and Radical Acceptance."

Links:
Towards the equal recognition of autism in girls and women https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s120.full
Everyone thought autism mostly affected boys. This study says otherwise https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260210082921.htm
“I was always on the outside, watching quietly”: Autistic women reflect on school experiences https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-024-03632-y
Hans Asperger 'collaborated with Nazis' in WWII https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43820794
About Autism https://www.autismontario.com/about-autism
Finding the True Number of Females with Autistic Spectrum Disorder by Estimating the Biases in Initial Recognition and Clinical Diagnosis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8870038/
From the CDC: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8214927/
Camouflaging and suicide behavior in adults with autism spectrum condition: A mixed methods systematic review https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050656525000124
8 Health Conditions Commonly Linked to Autism https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-autism-spectrum-disorder/202108/8-health-conditions-commonly-linked-autism
10. A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Neurodiversity and Psychosexual Functioning in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10243356/ 

A recent study shows that autism is almost as prevalent in girls as it is in boys - so why have we been led to believe that autism is something that mostly impacts boys and men?&nbsp;The February 2026 study suggests that the difference, in part, is that girls are often diagnosed much later in life.
On today's episode, host and producer Nam Kiwanuka speaks with Julie M. Green about what it was like to be diagnosed with autism as a mother at age 44, while also raising a child on the spectrum. She documents this experience in her book, "Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood and Radical Acceptance."
Links:
<ol>
<li>Towards the equal recognition of autism in girls and women <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s120.full">https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s120.full</a></li>
<li>Everyone thought autism mostly affected boys. This study says otherwise <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260210082921.htm">https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260210082921.htm</a></li>
<li>&ldquo;I was always on the outside, watching quietly&rdquo;: Autistic women reflect on school experiences <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-024-03632-y">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-024-03632-y</a></li>
<li>Hans Asperger 'collaborated with Nazis' in WWII <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43820794">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43820794</a></li>
<li>About Autism <a href="https://www.autismontario.com/about-autism">https://www.autismontario.com/about-autism</a></li>
<li>Finding the True Number of Females with Autistic Spectrum Disorder by Estimating the Biases in Initial Recognition and Clinical Diagnosis <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8870038/">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8870038/</a></li>
<li>From the CDC: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8214927/">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8214927/</a></li>
<li>Camouflaging and suicide behavior in adults with autism spectrum condition: A mixed methods systematic review <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050656525000124">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050656525000124</a></li>
<li>8 Health Conditions Commonly Linked to Autism <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-autism-spectrum-disorder/202108/8-health-conditions-commonly-linked-autism">https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-autism-spectrum-disorder/202108/8-health-conditions-commonly-linked-autism</a></li>
<li>10. A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Neurodiversity and Psychosexual Functioning in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10243356/">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10243356/</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

How girls and women with autism were missed

A bill looking to establish a national framework for women's health is making its way through the Senate. What does Bill S-243 look to implement?

In Canada women represent 50% of the population, nearly half of the labour workforce, and make up 75% of health care professionals. But somehow when it comes to women's health, it's considered to be a niche topic. Not only has women's health been historically under researched, underfunded, and misunderstood, women working in healthcare also face additional barriers.

Under the leadership of Senator Danièle Henkel, a coalition of professionals in healthcare, FemTech, and research have come together to try to address gaps in women's health with this new bill.

Today, host and producer Nam Kiwanuka speaks with Dr. Jennifer Blake from the Pan-Canadian Women's Health Coalition about the bill, why Canada needs a national framework for women's health, the gaps that currently exist, and why women's health continues to be seen as niche.

Links:
‘It’s not my bill, it’s our bill’: Senator Henkel and 50 advocacy groups push for law calling for women’s health framework https://www.hilltimes.com/2026/03/01/its-not-my-bill-its-our-bill-senator-henkel-and-50-advocacy-groups-push-for-law-calling-for-womens-health-framework/493464/
New study finds female family doctors spend more time caring for patients, yet earn less https://www.oma.org/newsroom/news-releases/2026/january/new-study-finds-female-family-doctors-spend-more-time-caring-for-patients-yet-earn-less/ 
Health workforce in Canada: Overview https://www.cihi.ca/en/health-workforce-in-canada-overview 
What’s the plan? New bill before Senate aims to provide a framework for women’s health https://canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca/whats-plan-new-bill-senate-aims-provide-framework-womens-health 
Federal health minister to launch strategy on men’s and boys’ health in 2026  https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/federal-health-minister-to-launch-strategy-on-mens-and-boys-health-in-2026/
Opinion: Canada’s blind spot on drug safety in pregnancy https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/op-eds/opinion-canadas-blind-spot-on-drug-safety-in-pregnancy/

A bill looking to establish a national framework for women's health is making its way through the Senate. What does Bill S-243 look to implement?
In Canada women represent 50% of the population, nearly half of the labour workforce, and make up 75% of health care professionals. But somehow when it comes to women's health, it's considered to be a niche topic. Not only has women's health been historically under researched, underfunded, and misunderstood, women working in healthcare also face additional barriers.
Under the leadership of Senator Dani&egrave;le Henkel, a coalition of professionals in healthcare, FemTech, and research have come together to try to address gaps in women's health with this new bill.
Today, host and producer Nam Kiwanuka speaks with Dr. Jennifer Blake from the Pan-Canadian Women's Health Coalition about the bill, why Canada needs a national framework for women's health, the gaps that currently exist, and why women's health continues to be seen as niche.
Links:
<ol>
<li>&lsquo;It&rsquo;s not my bill, it&rsquo;s our bill&rsquo;: Senator Henkel and 50 advocacy groups push for law calling for women&rsquo;s health framework <a href="https://www.hilltimes.com/2026/03/01/its-not-my-bill-its-our-bill-senator-henkel-and-50-advocacy-groups-push-for-law-calling-for-womens-health-framework/493464/">https://www.hilltimes.com/2026/03/01/its-not-my-bill-its-our-bill-senator-henkel-and-50-advocacy-groups-push-for-law-calling-for-womens-health-framework/493464/</a></li>
<li>New study finds female family doctors spend more time caring for patients, yet earn less&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oma.org/newsroom/news-releases/2026/january/new-study-finds-female-family-doctors-spend-more-time-caring-for-patients-yet-earn-less/">https://www.oma.org/newsroom/news-releases/2026/january/new-study-finds-female-family-doctors-spend-more-time-caring-for-patients-yet-earn-less/</a><a href="https://www.oma.org/newsroom/news-releases/2026/january/new-study-finds-female-family-doctors-spend-more-time-caring-for-patients-yet-earn-less/">&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>Health workforce in Canada: Overview <a href="https://www.cihi.ca/en/health-workforce-in-canada-overview">https://www.cihi.ca/en/health-workforce-in-canada-overview</a><a href="https://www.cihi.ca/en/health-workforce-in-canada-overview">&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>What&rsquo;s the plan? New bill before Senate aims to provide a framework for women&rsquo;s health&nbsp;<a href="https://canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca/whats-plan-new-bill-senate-aims-provide-framework-womens-health">https://canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca/whats-plan-new-bill-senate-aims-provide-framework-womens-health</a><a href="https://canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca/whats-plan-new-bill-senate-aims-provide-framework-womens-health">&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>Federal health minister to launch strategy on men&rsquo;s and boys&rsquo; health in 2026 <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/federal-health-minister-to-launch-strategy-on-mens-and-boys-health-in-2026/">&nbsp;https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/federal-health-minister-to-launch-strategy-on-mens-and-boys-health-in-2026/</a></li>
<li>Opinion: Canada&rsquo;s blind spot on drug safety in pregnancy <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/op-eds/opinion-canadas-blind-spot-on-drug-safety-in-pregnancy/">https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/op-eds/opinion-canadas-blind-spot-on-drug-safety-in-pregnancy/</a></li>
</ol>

(MIS)Treated: Season 2 Trailer

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