Why do we treat women as if they were men? Rethinking sex and gender in biomedical research and healthcare. Commentary.

Authors

Massimo D'Archivio, Anna Ruggieri, Elena Ortona

Published in

Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita. Volume 62. Issue 3. Pages 214-216.

Abstract

Modern medicine largely relies on a male-default model, incorrectly assuming that findings from male bodies can be universally generalized. This paradigm results in structural biases that lead to diagnostic delays, inadequate treatments, and inequitable health outcomes for women. Although sex involves biological attributes and gender reflects sociocultural roles, both dimensions are frequently overlooked in research design and data interpretation. Significant differences exist at cellular levels and in disease manifestations, yet studies often fail to provide sex-stratified analyses, obscuring unique symptoms and mechanisms. Furthermore, women face higher risks of adverse drug reactions because pharmacological guidelines often ignore sex-specific metabolic profiles. Moving toward precision healthcare requires structural changes, such as mandatory sex-disaggregated reporting and the integration of gender-responsive variables. Ultimately, acknowledging that women are not simply smaller versions of men is a scientific necessity for ensuring an accurate and inclusive healthcare system.

PMID:
42742238
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Sep 2026.

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