How much does the gender health gap cost? For Alyse, it’s $400,000

Alyse Bradley started experiencing symptoms from severe conditions as a teenager but did not receive a diagnosis until she was 27. Photograph: David Kelly/The Guardian

Alyse Bradley has done the maths. The cost of living with multiple chronic health conditions has left her at least $400,000 out of pocket over the past two decades.

Each year the 37-year-old pays $600 for regular GP visits, $2,000 for specialist appointments, $1,000 for scans, $4,800 for ongoing pain treatments including physiotherapy, $1,400 for a variety of medications and $1,200 for vitamins.