For decades, medicine treated the body of a 70-kg man as the default standard, assuming that women were simply smaller versions of men. Today, we know that this approach does not reflect the real biological differences between the sexes.

During a lecture by Dr Kinga Szydłowska, we will look at the consequences of this “unisex” approach and at why some commonly used medicines may be less well suited to female biology. Using examples such as sleeping pills and cardiovascular drugs, we will see why the same dose can work differently and cause more serious side effects in women.

The lecture will also explore how sex can affect the risk and course of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. It will show that differences between women and men are not limited to hormones and the reproductive system, but can be seen at the level of individual cells.

We will also look at some of the gaps in medical research, including the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials. We will learn how modern science is trying to address these gaps and why medicine is increasingly moving away from a “one size fits all” approach towards care that is better tailored to the individual patient.

The lecture will take place on 24 September, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Nencki Institute, 3 Pasteura Street, Warsaw, as part of the Science Festival.

Join us!