Medical researchers need to understand that the biological differences between men and women are so fundamental that scientists almost need two sets of instruction books, according to a panel of researchers. It's not just our reproductive systems.
Sex differences extend down to the cellular level.
Like a jigsaw puzzle missing certain pieces, these differences have become more clear as biotechnology has enables scientists to peek inside the human body with an array of new imaging devices, she said. The panel of researchers gathered to mark the release of the IOM report, which confirmed that differences between genders exist in the prevalence and severity of a wide range of diseases, disorders and medical conditions. Among the differences between women and men that need to be examined are the prevalence of heart disease in women, which kills 50,000 more women than men each year, especially later in life. Women are also more likely to have a second heart attack within a year of their first one, said Dr. Sally Shaywitz, co-director of the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, and a professor of pediatrics at Yale University. Shaywitz, who also served on the special IOM panel, noted that there are other significant yet poorly understood differences.