On March 8, in commemoration of the International Women’s Dayit is essential to reflect on the importance of adopting a gender perspective in the field of medicine. Throughout history, the androcentric approach has prevailed in medical practice, relegating the specific needs of women and perpetuating a gender bias that affects the health and well-being of millions of people around the world.
If we were asked to imagine someone who had suffered a heart attack a few decades ago, the description would be that of a businessman, smoker, successful and stressed. However, in the 21st century, this perception has evolved considerably, challenging the gender stereotypes ingrained in society.
WHAT IS ANDROCENTRISM IN MEDICINE?
Androcentrism in medicine refers to a biased approach that places men as the universal standard or measure in all aspects of health and medical practice. This approach, which has prevailed throughout the history of medicine, has led to a lack of attention and understanding of the specific needs of women and other gender identities in the health field.
In the medical context, androcentrism manifests itself in different ways:
Human-based research and diagnostics
Many studies and clinical trials have focused on male subjects, leading to a limited understanding of how diseases affect women and other groups differently. For example, the symptoms of some diseases, such as heart attackmay vary between men and women, which can lead to misdiagnosis or delays in treatment in women.
Design of treatments and therapies
Medical treatments are often designed and tested with their effectiveness in men in mind, which can result in less effective therapies for women. This may be due to biological and hormonal differences between the sexes that are not taken into account in treatment development.
Stigma and discrimination
Androcentrism in medicine can also manifest itself in how mental health issues and other aspects of health care are approached. For example, men may face stigma and discrimination when seeking help for mental health issues because of gender expectations that they should be strong and self-reliant.
GENDER BIAS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSIS
Androcentrism in the medical field manifests itself in different ways, from the way diseases are studied to the way treatments are designed. A clear example is the case of heart attack, where for years it has been based on symptoms typical of men, ignoring the different manifestations that can be presented by women. While in men chest pain and irradiation to the left arm are common, in women the symptoms can be more vague, with anxiety and general malaise.
This androcentric approach has led to misdiagnosis and delays in treatment, highlighting the need for a gender perspective in medicine. The exclusion of women from clinical trials and the lack of differentiated research have perpetuated this bias, ignoring women’s biological and health particularities.
SYMPTOMATIC DIFFERENCES AND DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS
The gender perspective in medicine encompasses a wide range of diseases and conditions. From infectious diseases to mental disorders, symptomatic differences between men and women can lead to delays in diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Lack of attention to these disparities has perpetuated stigma and bias, relegating women’s health to the background.
ANDROCENTRISM AS A DISCIPLINE
Androcentrism is not limited to the clinical field, but is also reflected in academia and research. The representation of the male body as a universal norm has neglected biological and cultural diversity, ignoring the contributions of women throughout the history of medicine. It is time to overcome this biased approach and give voice to all people, regardless of their gender, in medical research and practice.
GENDER BIAS IN COVID-19 VACCINE
An example to understand this would be during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has once again highlighted gender disparities in medicine. Although vaccine clinical trials included women, the androcentric design did not take into account hormonal variations specific to women. This has generated uncertainty about potential side effects, such as menstrual disruption, which have not been properly studied.
Having a gender perspective in medicine is important to ensure equitable and appropriate care for all people. Overcoming androcentrism and recognizing the biological and health differences between men and women is a crucial step toward a more inclusive and equitable medicine to promote the health and well-being of all people, regardless of their gender.