Women’s Health: Do We Know Enough To Call It That?

 Madison Kidd Due 09/24/2024


Women’s Health facilities. Gynecology appointments. Contraceptives. Menstrual protections including tampons and pads. Bi-annual Breast Cancer screenings. These reflect the multitude of specific resources available for women, but the information behind them is so much more under researched. Despite comprising 51% of the population, biological females remain significantly underrepresented in medical research and healthcare. Although historical biases in healthcare research stem from patriarchal systems that prioritized men’s health, modern medical practices have little justification for continuing to marginalize women’s health. A professor at medical school says that the curriculum she must follow to teach her students is that the male biology is the “default” while women’s care is considered “special interest.” [1]  51% of the population is a special case? Even with all of the “special care” women receive, these facilities are built on clinical trials for drugs, and outdated practices that have not changed for years. 

What is the issue with these clinical trials? In theory, if properly conducted, the data should provide a comprehensive understanding. Well, in 1977 the FDA passed a policy that did not allow women with any desire or potential to procreate to participate in Phase 1 or 2 clinical trials unless they had a life threatening condition. [1] This was due to a concern in a critical trial conducted in the 1960s using the drug thalidomide where thousands of pregnant women who took the drug as a relief to morning sickness, resulted in birth defects and even the death of their unborn child. [1] It was not until 1986 that this policy was revisited and finally overturned in 1993. According to a study done in 2019, women’s participation in clinical trials including those for cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and psychiatric disorders only reached up to 40%. [1] This exclusion resulted in a significant gap in data, making it difficult to understand the effects of various drugs on women’s bodies. From 1977-1993, any women who wanted to have a child in the future, had much less information about how their health was affected by any drug use. Even if they didn’t plan on it, any women who had the ability to produce a child had no concrete studies on their health. 

It may seem like many advancements have been made in women’s health, and although that is true, in a lot of ways there has not been enough focus on it. The best example is that of birth control or ‘the pill.’ If a woman enters a doctor’s office stating issues with acne, inconsistent or heavy menstrual cycles, increased pain or even mental issues, 9 times out of 10 the first thing they will ask is if they are on the pill and sure enough, if they aren’t they will be prescribed it. Birth control is thought to help with these issues due to its chemical makeup of the hormones estrogen and progestin, which are naturally occurring released in the uterus. [2] The estrogen and progestin levels are managed so that it prevents a woman’s ovary from releasing an egg during her menstrual cycle, heightening these levels so the body thinks it is already pregnant. [3] It is treated as a ‘wonder pill’ of sorts for women, making their hormone levels change to fix copious amounts of problems, but with changing hormone levels in the body, other side effects can occur. 

When you open up the birth control packet, there is a huge pamphlet inside describing risks, side effects, daily use instructions, and reasons to stop taking it. The front page shown below is simply the side effects and risks. And yes, this is all in English. And yes, there are multiple pages. 

Figure 1: Pamphlet Inside Birth Control Prescription

With all of this information coming straight from the provider, one would assume the research behind it is sound and has been studied extensively. This is not entirely true. According to Medical New Today, citing multiple sources as the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, there is a lack of studies on the long-term effects of birth control including if it is linked to cancers. It is explicitly determined that there is mixed evidence if there is a correlation. [4] Everything written on the pamphlet is just a list of things that could happen. There is such a small amount of information out there regarding the exact correlation between birth control and specific cancers or other health related issues. How can we know so little about a drug prescribed to almost every 14 year old girl experiencing pain or acne? 

With such a lack of information, there are a few things we do know for sure. The American Cancer Society has linked birth control users to higher risks of both breast cancer and cervical cancers. In addition to this, it has been proven that it can also cause blood clots in women, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks. [4] Out of the things we do know, it sounds scary. So why not other forms of birth control? Or even ones that do not involve altering hormone levels? There are some options. One of the popular alternative methods is IUDs. Some IUDs operate without releasing hormones into the bloodstream and are effective from 3-12 years at a time depending on the type. Great! Let’s use this instead! However, the insertion and removal of IUDs is often done without anesthesia, so you are awake during the entire procedure, and are not provided more than over the counter drugs for pain relief although most women describe it as being the second most painful procedure behind childbirth. In comparison, for men when getting a colonoscopy, a procedure that does not elicit any excruciating pain, just discomfort going through your colon, they are placed under anesthesia for the entire procedure. 

It is difficult to see the world of women’s health moving in a positive direction when we are treated so carelessly compared to men and have much less research on our bodies. The almost medieval process of IUD insertions is a perfect reflection on how we are under researched and seemingly under cared for. These changes need to begin at the medical school level. Women and men should be treated as equals and the same amount of learning should be taught about all genders. Women can not be taught as “special cases” if they make up most of the world's population. 



[1] https://www.aamc.org/news/why-we-know-so-little-about-women-s-health 

[2] https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill/how-safe-is-the-birth-control-pill 

[3] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007460.htm#:~:text=These%20hormones%20are%20made%20naturally,natural%20hormones%20the%20body%20makes

[4]https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322762#long-term-side-effects

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