The Intricacies of Female Sex Hormones Demand Further Research.

In 1977, the FDA prohibited women of childbearing age from participating in early drug trials due to the adverse effects caused by medications like thalidomide, which resulted in birth defects.

Prior to the ban (lifted for non-pregnant women in 1993), females and female animals were often excluded from research studies. Female data has typically been derived from studies conducted on male subjects.

The repercussions of this exclusion are evident. It has skewed our understanding of health and diseases, particularly those that predominantly affect women.

A notable example occurred in 2013, more than two decades after the sleep medication zolpidem was approved. The FDA reduced the recommended dosage for women after findings indicated they experienced greater daytime drowsiness than men, resulting in a higher number of driving incidents.

There is some progress. Researchers are increasingly recognizing gender as a significant biological factor, leading to important findings, such as women being twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression and having a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Low blood pressure levels.

However, there is still much to be accomplished. Presently, many funding bodies claim to study two genders but often focus on conditions that impact women, such as migraines, endometriosis, and severe premenstrual disorders (see “Amazing insights on the causes of better treatments”). These receive significantly less funding relative to their societal impact. The complexity of researching these conditions due to hormone influences should motivate increased investment.

If these conditions primarily affected men, it is evident that there would be more available treatments. The experiences of individuals living with PMDD highlight the severe consequences of such inequalities.