Sex and Gender in Biomedical Research : Sex and Gender in Biomedical Research
Biological and sociocultural differences between women and men influence their health status and outcomes. This recognized fact is critical to biomedical research. Because of that recognition, recent studies of sex-based differences in biology have yielded information beneficial to the health of both females and males.
After World War II, clinical research was conducted primarily with men. For decades it was assumed that males, particularly Caucasian males, provided the "norm" or "standard"—even in studying diseases that affect both sexes. It was believed that there were no differences in health conditions except that accounting for hormonal fluctuations in women was problematic; the study of men alone was considered to be sufficient. Unfortunately, although some research reports now acknowledge females and males as being different but equally normal, the tradition of viewing the male as the norm or baseline can still be found in current medical literature.6
