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.
JOIN US FOR THE 33rd Annual Awards Gala
Supporters of SWHR will gather in-person, together for SWHR’s 2023 Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 to honor leaders who have significantly advanced women’s health throughout their careers. Learn more about the 2023 Annual Awards Gala here.
DISCOVER THE Women’s Health Equity Initiative
Women in the United States experience health disparities throughout their lifespans as a result of their gender, historic health inequities in the health care system, and socioeconomic conditions.
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. To learn more, visit www.swhr.org/healthequity.
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 because they were the leading causes of death or disease burden for women, and/or they were the most disproportionate causes of death for women compared to men: Alzheimer’s Disease, Breast Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Depressive Disorders, Ischemic Heart Disease
SWHR aims to bring attention to these issues, highlight current opportunities to address these disparities in women’s health, and track progress regarding science, education, and health care policy outcomes.
UPCOMING SWHR EVENTS
Join us for expert conversations on women’s health research and care, hosted by SWHR and featuring SWHR leaders.
December 2022
Addressing Concerns and Considerations Surrounding the Inclusion of Pregnant and Lactating Populations in Research
https://youtu.be/OChZmjqP08w Pregnant and lactating women have historically been excluded from clinical trials. Federal policies from the 1970s that excluded “women of childbearing age” from research led research to use male participants, limiting our knowledge base. Although a 1994 report from the Institute of Medicine recommended that pregnant women be presumed to be eligible to participate in clinical studies and that lactating women not be excluded from clinical studies, concerns remain about including pregnant and lactating populations in research. During this…
January 2023
The Growing National Burden of Autoimmune Diseases and the Role of Policy in Improving Outcomes
Autoimmune diseases are a group of more than 80 chronic and often disabling diseases that develop when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy organs, tissues, and cells. Women are disproportionately affected by autoimmune diseases, representing 80% of patients diagnosed with autoimmune diseases. Women also experience greater expectations when it comes to caregiving for those who may suffer from these chronic conditions. The Society for Women’s Health Research hosted a public forum on January 17, 2023, where panelists…
Friends of ORWH Congressional Reception
The Friends of the Office of Research on Women’s Health invite you to a congressional reception in celebration of Women’s Health Research Day, which commemorates the implementation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Policy on Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) in January 2016. The day aims to raise awareness of the historical underrepresentation of women in clinical trials, the importance of designing basic, preclinical, and biomedical research studies in females and males, and the need to disaggregate and…
Pregnant and Lactating Populations in Research: How Leaving These Populations Out Leaves Them Behind
https://youtu.be/LaVyovDuxEk Pregnant and lactating populations are routinely left out of clinical trials, leaving these populations and their health care providers with a dearth of information about which vaccines or diagnostic devices may be safe and effective for both mother and baby. The lack of information about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant and lactating populations—due in part to poorly justified concerns about the safety of medications and vaccines during pregnancy—led to a significant delay in getting…
February 2023
Coverage and Access Issues Affecting Women Living with Autoimmune Diseases
https://youtu.be/TXiZWWqfC7s The rate of autoimmune diseases and conditions in the United States is rising—and women are disproportionately affected. Generally, autoimmune diseases cannot be cured, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms and slowing the progression and impacts of the disease. However, utilization management (UM) tools, such as prior authorization and step therapy, are increasingly being used by payers and can cause delays in care, which can be devastating for patients, resulting in disease progression and higher costs over time. In this…
Taking it to Heart: Addressing Cardiovascular Disease in Women
https://youtu.be/MGtRswPLaWI 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…
PRGLAC Then and Now: Where We Are and Where We’re Going
https://youtu.be/LynEQnV6gjU The 21st Century Cures Act established the Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and Lactating Women (PRGLAC) to advise the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding gaps in knowledge and research on safe and effective therapies for pregnant women and lactating women. The Task Force’s work culminated in a set of recommendations based on information gleaned during four open meetings and a public comment period. The central theme of those recommendations was…
The Impact of Menopause on Women’s Health: A Workplace Initiative
An estimated 6,000 women in the United States reach menopause daily, with 51 being the average age. For many individuals, the hormonal changes that take place during the menopause transition are associated with physical and psychological symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood fluctuations, sleep disruptions, and cognitive challenges. These highly variable symptoms are commonly misdiagnosed, resulting in inappropriate management and disruption of day-to- day activities. With approximately 44% of women in the workforce being older…
The Impact of Menopause on Women’s Health: A Workplace Initiative
An estimated 6,000 women in the United States reach menopause daily, with 51 being the average age. For many individuals, the hormonal changes that take place during the menopause transition are associated with physical and psychological symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood fluctuations, sleep disruptions, and cognitive challenges. These highly variable symptoms are commonly misdiagnosed, resulting in inappropriate management and disruption of day-to- day activities. With approximately 44% of women in the workforce being older…
March 2023
The Role of Federal Agencies in Supporting Women with Autoimmune Diseases and Conditions
https://youtu.be/Lmpe_vvvFyY According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, autoimmune diseases—a group of more than 80 chronic diseases that develop when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy organs, tissues, and cells—are a leading cause of death and disability, and their treatment costs are estimated to be greater than $100 billion annually. Autoimmune diseases take a disproportionate toll on women, who represent 80% of patients diagnosed with autoimmune diseases. During this national webinar, panelists discussed how…
WHAT WE’RE DOING
Issues Affecting Health Care Coverage and Access for Women with Autoimmune Diseases and Conditions
This policy brief highlights coverage policies, such as prior authorization and step therapy, can affect women’s health and shares how policy recommendations could improve these outcomes.
Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
This toolkit helps prepare individuals for life through and following the menopause transition. Being prepared for menopause can help women embrace wellness during the journey.
Prevent Cancer with the HPV Vaccine Fact Sheet
This fact sheet guides providers in the HPV vaccine conversation and recommendation process, with tips for discussing vaccination effectively, vaccination recommendations by age, and HPV-associated cancer risks.
Noninvasive Prenatal Screening Resource Guide for Women
Screening for genetic conditions can be done using a number of different methods and at different time points in a person’s life. Learn more about the role of Noninvasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) in this personal toolkit.
SHARE YOUR STORY
SWHR is asking women to share their personal health journeys, to be posted on the SWHR website and other SWHR-branded material, as appropriate. In addition to patient stories, SWHR is interested in the stories of those who serve as caregiver for a family member (parent, spouse, child, etc.). Your story is powerful and we hope to share with policymakers, researchers, providers and most importantly, other women.
Your story could help educate and inform other women who may be going through a similar experience.
who we are
Learn more about SWHR’s science, policy and education efforts to make women’s health mainstream.
Learn more about SWHR’s mission, vision, and strategic map.
Learn more about our science programs.
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.
we’re leading the way
