Background Discrimination can affect health outcomes and increase health inequalities. There is also growing evidence to suggest that discrimination disproportionately affects women’s health, but qualitative and UK-specific research is sparse. Adolescence and young adulthood are critical periods for laying the foundations for improving health outcomes, with girls and young women experiencing specific inequalities. This qualitative research focuses on how young women in Scotland experience discrimination and the extent to which that impacts on their mental and physical health. It was developed to support evidence needs of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.

Methods Four online focus groups scoped out population groups. We then used semi-structured interviews with women aged 16–25 in Scotland, using a semi-structured topic guide. Transcripts were thematically analysed using NVivo. We practiced reflexivity using research diaries and reflecting on our positions as researchers.

Results To date, we have generated four themes from our sample of young women (n=26). (1) Mental health is key to young women’s understanding of ‘health’. Many experienced sexism while seeking mental health support through school or health services, including their symptoms being invalidated (and dismissed) as wholly down to menstruation. (2) Several young women described their experiences of discrimination related to contraception. They experienced a lack of information about side effects, alternative options to hormonal technologies and felt the sole responsibility for contraception is placed on women. Participants faced resistance from practitioners when wanting to change contraception when experiencing poor mental health and other symptoms. They saw this as related to broader societal sexism and ageism. (3) Participants recognised that the intersection of age and gender led to a particular experience of gendered ageism. This intersection led to harmful stereotypes such as the ‘hormonal, overdramatic teenage girl’, resulting in disrespectful healthcare, and long waits for referrals and diagnosis. (4) Structural racism and ableism within and outside of the health system were highlighted as impacting some participants’ healthcare access, treatment and mental health. This research illuminates the embedded and interconnected experiences of sexism, ageism, ableism, racism and other forms of discrimination within the health system and wider society and the complex ways in which these impact on young women’s health.

Conclusion Discriminatory experiences are often intersectional, but regularly relate to sexism, manifesting in specific ways for adolescents and young adults. Policies to reduce systemic and intersectional discrimination have the potential to improve young women’s health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.