Sex Cells: The Fight to Overcome Bias and Discrimination in Women’s Healthcare

This book gives listeners access to the wide world of sex-specific medical issues as they play out in the research labs and doctor’s offices—and how women pay the price, with a close look at the impact that has on minority populations. It has been challenging to get individual researchers and practitioners to accept this, as well as research and medical institutions and manufacturers of medications and devices. The journey towards equal treatment and the understanding of sex and gender differences in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment is still unfolding. This book is the story of that journey—why it was, and still is, so important to do research specific to women/females. The story is told by Phyllis Greenberger—the woman who is recognized as the driving force for change over the past 25 years—and her allies in government, NGOs, academia, medical research, the US government, and public-health advocacy. The array of experts who have contributed to the book offer an insiders’ up-close view of the battle to have female cells, lab animals, and humans brought into medical research so that women can receive treatment that is appropriate and effective for a wide range of conditions. Told with humor, ferocity, and passion, Sex Cells is sure to appeal to anyone interested in health, women’s rights, and public-health policy.