Gender Equity Issues in Clinical Research

Abstract

Past research on the health of women has focused primarily on reproductive concerns such as breast cancer, infertility, contraception, menstrual disorders, and menopause. Today, the notion of women's health research includes such diverse areas as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, osteoporosis, mental health and substance abuse, obesity, and diabetes. In effect, the emphasis on women's health has changed from that of diseases which only affect women to include diseases which also affect women. Although the amount of research on women's health has increased since 1970, gender equity issues in clinical research are still in existence. This article describes why changes are occurring in the national research agenda on women's health. Gender differences in health statistics and examples of problem areas in women's health research are presented. Current changes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Public Health Service (PHS) and potential changes in the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the pharmaceutical industry are also discussed.