Women’s Health: Beyond the Lady Bits

In "Why We Know So Little About Women's Health," the AAMC sheds light on the historical neglect of women in medical research. Highlighting systemic biases and gender disparities, the article explores how traditional research practices have failed to adequately address women's health concerns. It navigates the complexities of gender bias in healthcare, revealing the absurdity of overlooking half the population in medical studies. (Spoiler alert: It’s not just female humans that are under studied. Many medical researchers even steer clear of conducting studies on female mice due to the higher costs involved in purchasing and housing both sexes and concern that the fluctuating hormones and reproductive systems of female mice could potentially impact the study results).

It underscores the urgent need for more inclusive research practices and emphasizes the importance of bridging the gender gap in healthcare to ensure better outcomes for all.

Question of the Week: While there is an increase in attention on women’s health, how do we encourage science beyond the mere reproductive aspects of women’s health? (Add your comments to the post!)