Incorporating Gender and Sex Dimensions in Medical Research

Abstract

Sex differences have been ascribed mainly to hormonal and life-span factors, while neglecting chromosomal and socio-cultural determinants. Science is now reviewing the disregard for sex and gender as a potential explanation for the lack of expected outcomes in whole populations from clinical research. The medical research process begins with a hypothesis that is applied, generating results that can be disseminated. Many factors impact on this process that can be ascribed to sex, as a biological construct, and gender, as a psychosocial process involving experimental subjects, researchers, funders and the public. Drug trial data analysis and publication of data from women and men have recently been scrutinized and found lacking, because expected clinical outcomes from ‘evidence-based’ guidelines are not being achieved. Hence visibility of sex and gender in all aspects of medical research is considered essential if personalized therapies are to bring benefits to both men and women.

Keywords: Clinical research, Life-span factors, Personalized therapies, Clinical outcomes, Sociocultural determinants, Sex differences