Women's Healthcare and Research

Question 1

What was the rationale behind why women were excluded from clinical trials up until the early 1990s?

Answer 1

• They might be pregnant (unborn babies are vulnerable, post thalidomide scandal)
• Hormonal fluctuations may produce less reliable results

Question 2

What are the implications on women of under-representation in clinical research/

Answer 2

• More side effects in treatment
• It’s less likely that treatments will work (often tested on men instead of women)

Question 3

What is the stereotypical approach towards treating pain (esp chronic pain) in men vs in women (according to the angry feminist lady)

Answer 3

• In men, we often view them as strong and brave (hmm…. really?)
• In women, we view them as hormonal and hysterical

Question 4

What are some strategies to improve equitable pain management between the two genders?

Answer 4

• Education of clinicians
• Improved screening for causes of pain like endometriosis
• Having broad differentials (less likely jumping to wrong conclusion)

Question 5

What are three broad strategies to ensure gender-sensitive healthcare across men and women?

Answer 5

• Sex-specific health histories (alter differentials, screen for things like endo)
• Adjust clinical assessment (sensitive exam, alter differential, chaperones too)
• Address potential bias (pain mgmt, bias in data, drug efficacy in women etc)

{Essentially, alter Hx and Exam, then stop doing all the wrong things that other people did. Simple, right?}