An author who wrote a book about the 'gender health gap' is coming to Oldham for a special talk and book signing.

Sarah Graham, the author of Rebel Bodies: A Guide to the Gender Health Gap Revolution, is staging a talk and book signing event at Oldham Library on Saturday (April 29).

Sarah will explore and discuss the impact of gender inequality in healthcare on women and their families at the library while discussing her book.

Rebel Bodies explores what the author describes as "systemic and deep-rooted sexism" within the medical field and offers ways for women to advocate for a diagnosis and better treatment.

Sarah herself is an award-winning freelance health journalist and founder of the Hysterical Women blog which discusses health, gender and feminism.

But her book, dubbed "revelatory" and "crucial" by critics, seeks to expose "medical misogyny" and shine a light on the prevalence of the "daily and dangerous disparities" both men and women receive in the field.

It focuses on the voices of real patients as well as the history and research on medical sexism.

The novel also searches for ways forward and investigates what it will take to bridge such inequalities.

The blurb of Rebel Bodies reads: "Have you ever been to a doctor and felt like you were being fobbed off? Did they belittle or overlook your concerns about your health? You are not alone.

"Women make up 51 per cent of the population and are the biggest users of healthcare services – for themselves and as mothers and carers.

"But all the research shows there are critical gender differences when it comes to men and women’s healthcare.

"Unsurprisingly, the data backs up the suspicion that women’s suffering has been disbelieved.

"We are ignored, misdiagnosed, given tranquilisers when we need painkillers, antidepressants when we need HRT, not trusted to make informed choices about our own bodies and worse, as revealed in this book."

The discussion comes as the Oldham-based charity, Endometriosis Awareness North, reveals most women are starved of a formal diagnosis of the disease until they are 27 years old.

The charity founder and GP from Oldham, Dr Anita Sharma said: “Curbing endometriosis is one of the world’s biggest unmet medical challenges and some of my fellow clinicians do not know how to spot it and/or deal with it.

"Ignorance and lack of awareness fuels this, but health prejudice towards women also plays a part.

"If this were a condition that rendered ten per cent of men incapacitated, I wonder how long it would take to find a cure?”

The talk and book signing event with Sarah will take place from 2pm to 3pm at Oldham Library.

Tickets cost £3 and can be booked via the Eventbrite page here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/author-event-and-book-signing-rebel-bodies-by-sarah-graham-tickets-578593046377