"It's probably stress": Why women wait longer for a coeliac diagnosis.
If you have ever left a GP appointment feeling unheard, you are not imagining it. New research from the University of Cambridge shows that women with autoimmune diseases are more likely than men to have their symptoms put down to anxiety or stress, and they wait longer for the right diagnosis. I read it last week and nodded the whole way through, because that was my coeliac story too.
What did the Cambridge study find?
The study, published in October 2026 in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine, looked at the diagnostic experiences of 6,607 people with autoimmune diseases. It was led by the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia.
The headline findings:
- 43% of women said their symptoms had been wrongly put down to a psychiatric cause, compared with 33% of men.
- 34% of women were told their symptoms were psychosomatic, compared with 22% of men.
- After adjusting for age, disease and other factors, women were almost 50% more likely to get a psychiatric misdiagnosis and nearly 75% more likely to get a psychosomatic one.
- The most common time to diagnosis for men was under three months. For women, it was one to two years.
Women also reported more appointments before getting answers. The researchers are now asking doctors to rule out autoimmune disease before reaching for a psychological explanation, and to listen to patients when symptoms persist.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition. When someone with coeliac eats gluten, their immune system attacks the lining of their own gut. So while this study looked at autoimmune disease broadly, its message lands hard for our community.
What does research say about coeliac diagnosis delays?
A 2022 study from Denmark looked at coeliac disease specifically, and its findings tell the same story. Researchers surveyed 1,392 people with coeliac disease through the Danish Coeliac Society. Like the NHS, Denmark's system routes people through their GP first.
- On average it took 5.8 years from first symptoms to a coeliac diagnosis.
- Most of that wait came after people had already seen a doctor: an average of 4 years, compared with 1.8 years before they first sought help.
- Almost 1 in 5 (18.6%) waited more than 10 years.
- Women waited longer than men: an average of 6.1 years compared with 4.5 years. The gap came from the time after their first doctor's visit.
- Among the most common reasons people gave for the delay were not being taken seriously, and their doctor not thinking of coeliac disease.
- Before diagnosis, 68% reported tiredness and 65% abdominal pain. Symptoms that are all too easy to brush off.
- Among people diagnosed since 2000, those diagnosed aged 40 to 59 waited longest, nearly 9 years on average.
The researchers concluded that GPs, as the first point of contact, need far greater awareness of coeliac disease. Put simply, the problem is rarely that people don't ask for help. It's what happens after they do.
My road to a coeliac diagnosis took years
For me, it took 6 years and more GP visits than I can count.
It started with extreme fatigue and bloating. I went to my GP, and I left with its probably IBS, or blood tests don’t show any problems. So I went home and tried to get on with it.
But it didn't go away. I went back. And back again. Each time I felt a little less sure of myself, and a little more like I was making a fuss.
In the end it was a new GP at the surgery, said that he couldn’t think of anything else, so he’d send me for a Coeliac blood test, but it’s unlikely to be positive. And then, finally, an answer.
The relief was enormous. So was the frustration of knowing how much of those years I had spent feeling unwell, and second-guessing myself, when a simple test was available all along.
I'm not alone, and neither are you
When I read the Cambridge findings, I recognised myself in them. And I know from our customers that so many of you have a version of this story.
Coeliac UK has long reported that it takes adults an average of 13 years from first symptoms to a coeliac diagnosis. It also estimates that around 1 in 100 people in the UK has coeliac disease, yet only about 1 in 3 of them has been diagnosed. That is roughly half a million people in the UK living with it and not knowing.
Coeliac UK research has also found that around 1 in 4 adults diagnosed with coeliac disease had previously been told they had IBS.
That is a lot of people being told it's in their head, or their gut, or their stress levels, when it's actually their immune system.
What to do if you think you might have coeliac disease, or advice for someone you know who might be suffering:
If any of this sounds familiar, here is what I wish someone had told me sooner.
- Ask your GP for a coeliac blood test. It is a simple test and it is the first step to a diagnosis. You can name it directly.
- Keep eating gluten until you've been tested. Cutting it out beforehand can give a false negative result. Your GP will advise you on this.
- Write your symptoms down. Note what they are, when they happen and how long they have been going on. A clear record is harder to brush aside.
- Mention family history. Coeliac disease is more common in close relatives of people who have it.
- If you've been told it's IBS, ask whether coeliac has been ruled out. NICE guidance recommends that people with IBS-type symptoms are tested for coeliac disease.
- Trust yourself. If something still feels wrong, go back, ask for a second opinion, or bring someone with you.
Coeliac UK has a free online assessment, , which you can print and take to your appointment.
Why this matters to us at My Gluten Free Bakery
My diagnosis is a big part of why our bakery exists. Once I knew, I wanted bread that was safe, and also genuinely good. Real sourdough, made slowly, that nobody has to make allowances for.
But great bread is only part of it. Getting diagnosed should not take years of being doubted. Studies like this one help shift that, and so does every one of us who shares our story.
If you have your own diagnosis story, I'd love to hear it. Reply to our emails or find us on Instagram. You are not making a fuss.
Rana x
This post shares personal experience and is not medical advice. If you're worried about your symptoms, please speak to your GP.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get diagnosed with coeliac disease in the UK? Coeliac UK reports that adults wait an average of 13 years from first symptoms to diagnosis. Many people see their GP several times before being tested.
Are women less likely to be believed about autoimmune symptoms? A 2026 study led by the University of Cambridge found women with autoimmune diseases were more likely than men to have symptoms put down to psychiatric or psychosomatic causes, and waited longer for a diagnosis.
Do women wait longer for a coeliac diagnosis? A 2022 Danish study of 1,392 people with coeliac disease found women waited an average of 6.1 years from first symptoms to diagnosis, compared with 4.5 years for men. Most of the difference came after their first doctor's visit.
Is coeliac disease an autoimmune disease? Yes. In coeliac disease, eating gluten causes the immune system to attack the lining of the small intestine. It is not an allergy or an intolerance.
Can coeliac disease be misdiagnosed as IBS? Yes. Coeliac UK research found around 1 in 4 adults diagnosed with coeliac had previously been told they had IBS. NICE guidance recommends testing for coeliac disease in people with IBS-type symptoms.
How is coeliac disease diagnosed? It usually starts with a blood test from your GP. You need to keep eating gluten before the test for an accurate result. Your GP will explain any next steps.
