Women's Health Updates — March 2020
Learn about recent developments in women's health as well as SWHR's activities that promote the study of sex differences and serve our mission to eliminate imbalances in care for women through science, policy, and education.
SWHR IN THE NEWS
Although women with endometriosis have been increasingly vocal about the disease, the government has been allocating less money for endometriosis research, not more. This Cosmopolitan article quotes SWHR's paper on gaps in endometriosis research and care as well as talks to SWHR Endometriosis and Fibroids Network members Drs. Stacey Missmer and Hugh Taylor about the funding and research challenges.
Join SWHR at our 30th Anniversary Annual Awards Dinner on April 30 to honor three leaders in science and medicine who have significantly contributed to the advancement of women's health. Sponsor the event or buy tickets today!
SCIENCE AND HEALTH
The survival rate for ovarian cancer patients changes drastically based on how early they are diagnosed. However, more than three-fourths of women are not diagnosed until later stages. Learn why this cancer is so hard to detect and the problems with unreliable, outdated screening tests in SWHR's blog series:
SWHR recently assembled researchers and clinicians for a roundtable discussion to identify unmet needs and knowledge gaps in understanding osteoarthritis (OA) in women. Read the expert recommendations on future directions for OA research, policy, and education.
Artificial intelligence has great potential to transform women's health and aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. But first we must overcome the propensity of AI to unintentionally amplify biases that already exist against women and people of color. Learn more on SWHR's blog.
There is very little research on why sex can be painful for women, despite the fact that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that 3 in 4 women will experience painful sex at some point during their life. It can happen for all kinds of different reasons — endometriosis, vaginismus, vulvodynia, and menopause. Read more.

While women and men have been infected by the coronavirus, or COVID-19, in roughly equal numbers, researchers report the death rate is 2.8% for men, compared to 1.7% for women. Experts say a number of biological and lifestyle factors may be working against men. Learn more in this New York Times article.

POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Last year women made up 72% of study participants for all FDA-approved new drugs. That's amazing news considering that 30 years ago, when SWHR was founded, it was the norm in research to simply exclude women from studies altogether. Learn more on our blog.
SWHR attended the Headache & Migraine Policy Forum's policy panel as part of the 2020 Headache on the Hill advocacy day. Thanks to the many migraine researchers, clinicians, and patients, including SWHR Migraine Network member Jamie Sanders (left), who spoke on the panel. See tweets from the event.
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) released its final report assessing the value of three new acute treatments for migraine after holding a public meeting in January in which SWHR participated . Read ICER's policy recommendations and the final evidence report .
EVENTS AND DEADLINES
The 14th annual meeting of the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences will take place from May 4-7 in Southern California at the Marina del Rey Marriott. The theme is "Sex Differences Across the Lifespan." Register now.
The Health of Women 2020 agenda caters to the learning needs of primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, and other health care professionals focused on women’s health in family practice, internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology. Register today!