Women have unique health needs, and most diseases and conditions affect women differently than men.

The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) is the thought leader in promoting research on biological sex differences in disease and improving women’s health through science, policy, and education. We are making women’s health mainstream.


Work that matters

Biological differences between the sexes exist, from a single cell to the entire body. SWHR is bringing attention to sex and gender differences in health and disease in order to address unmet needs and research gaps in women’s health.


IT time to… Read My Lips

SWHR is kicking off the Read My Lips 👄 campaign this September – activating around Healthy Aging Month and World Heart Day, on September 29. The forefront of this campaign message is emphasizing the importance of women knowing their risk factors for heart disease and understanding and the critical role cholesterol screening – and specifically, lipid panel testing, the most comprehensive way to measure cholesterol – for women’s heart health. Learn more about #ReadMyLips and join us on social media to share the message. 


UPCOMING SWHR EVENTS

Join us for expert conversations on women’s health research and care, hosted by SWHR and featuring SWHR leaders.

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Upcoming Events › SWHR Event

October 2023

On My Heart: Women Share Personal Journeys with Heart Disease

Hosted by SWHR

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women (and men) in the United States, accounting for nearly 500,000 deaths in U.S. women each year. Despite its impact, a significant number of women are not aware that cardiovascular disease is a major health risk. During this joint webinar hosted by the Society for Women’s Heart Research and WomenHeart, hear from women about their personal journeys with heart disease, including what their diagnosis and treatment journeys have entailed, how they…

October 26 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EDT

November 2023

Clearing the Air About Lung Cancer in Women

Hosted by SWHR

Diagnostic tests and procedures offer opportunities to detect diseases, monitor disease progression, guide treatments, and evaluate treatment effectiveness. Some diagnostic tests are invasive, such as a biopsy or endoscopy; whereas others are noninvasive, such as x-rays and ultrasound imaging procedures. Innovations in diagnostics provide access to health information, helping women make informed decisions about their health care at every stage of their lives. Screening and diagnostic testing can lead to earlier detection of disease, improve health outcomes, and contribute toward…

November 17 @ 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm EST

December 2023

Inaugural SWHR Winter Social 2023

Hosted by SWHR

The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) is excited to host its Inaugural Winter Social this year, to celebrate the season and the women’s health research community. The evening of festivities will take place at Teddy and the Bully Bar, 1200 19th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, on Thursday, December 7 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Contact Development Director, Julie Miller at 202-496-5001 or julie@swhr.org with questions or to confirm your sponsorship level.

December 7 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm EST
Teddy and The Bully Bar, 1200 19th Street, NW 
Washington DC, DC 20036 United States
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WHAT WE’RE DOING

The Women’s Health Equity Initiative

The Women’s Health Equity Initiative highlights statistics on women’s health in the United States and aims to engage communities on solutions to improve health equity across multiple disease states, conditions, and life stages. SWHR newly added lupus as a focus area to the Women’s Health Equity Initiative Dashboard in May 2023!

To learn more, visit www.swhr.org/healthequity.

The Women’s Health Dashboard

The SWHR Women’s Health Dashboard offers a platform to explore the latest national and state data on diseases and health conditions that have significant impacts on women’s health across the lifespan. Five women’s health issues emerged as the focus areas of the Dashboard: Alzheimer’s Disease, Breast Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Depressive Disorders, Ischemic Heart Disease.

Explore the full Dashboard at swhr.org/womenshealthdashboard.

Issues Affecting Health Care Coverage and Access for Women with Autoimmune Diseases and Conditions

This series of policy documents highlight the ways policy and research can close gaps and improve health outcomes for women living with autoimmune diseases.

Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide

This toolkit helps prepare individuals for life through and following the menopause transition, and how to embrace wellness during the journey.

Prevent Cancer with the HPV Vaccine Fact Sheet

This provider fact sheet shares tips for discussing the HPV vaccination with caregivers and teens, vaccination recommendations by age, and HPV-associated cancer risks.

Noninvasive Prenatal Screening Resource Guide for Women

Genetic screenings can be done using a number of different methods and across many times in a person’s life. Learn more about Noninvasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) in this personal toolkit. 


LATEST SWHR RESOURCES

Publications
The Importance of Caring for Your Bones Early and Often
SWHR published the Women’s Bone Health: The Importance of Caring for Your Bones Early and Often Fact Sheet to share steps that women and their providers can take to achieve optimal bone health.  
Closing the Gaps in Endometriosis Research & Care
SWHR published this fact sheet to highlight the role that policy can play in improving outcomes for individuals living with endometriosis.
Publications
Value of Diagnostics within Women’s Health: Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, with one in five female deaths due to CVD each year. Innovations in diagnostics and screenings can provide access to critical health information and can help women make informed decisions about their heart health. In recognition of World Heart Day... Read more »