Sex Cells is a clear-eyed report on the still-pitched battle to get the scientific and medical world to recognize that women are not small men.
The idea that our biological sex impacts our health seems like such a simple concept. Unfortunately, it has proven to be anything but that. Phyllis Greenberger's battle cry has been: Women/females need to be treated equitably in relationship to men/males. They are equal, but they are not the same.
It has been challenging to get individual researchers and practitioners to accept this, as well as research and medical institutions, and manufacturers of medications and devices. The journey towards equal treatment and the understanding of sex and gender differences in prevention, diagnosis and treatment is still unfolding. This book is the story of that journey--why it was, and still is, so important to do research specific to women/females.
Sex Cells gives readers access to the wide world of sex-specific medical issues as they play out in research labs and doctor's offices, and how women pay the price, with a close look at the impact on minority populations.
The story is told by Phyllis Greenberger--the woman who is recognized as the driving force for change over the past 25 years--and her allies in government, NGOs, academia, medical research, the US government, and public health advocacy. The array of experts who have contributed to the book offer an insiders' up-close view of the battle to have female cells, lab animals and humans brought into medical research, so that women can receive treatment that is appropriate and effective for a wide range of conditions.
Told with humor, ferocity and passion, Sex Cells is a manifesto that will appeal to anyone interested in health, women's rights, and public health policy.
Industry Reviews
"Equitable health, health research, and health care for women-it's everyone's job! This elegant volume presents the reader with both challenges and opportunities."-Nanette K. Wenger, MD, Professor of Medicine Emeritus, Emory University School of Medicine
"Advocating for research and resources to help patients make informed health decisions is something that Phyllis has been doing for decades. This volume exquisitely presents research data in an accessible manner to help patients appreciate what we know, and what research is still left to accomplish, in our quest for health equity. Phyllis's book is a must read for patients, advocates, researchers, and clinicians, alike."-Sabra L. Klein, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
"Phyllis does a masterful job of not only educating us about what we know about sex differences, but also showing us what we still don't know. She gives us the roadmap on how to advance research and provides much needed information to the public on the importance of understanding sex differences."-John Whyte, M.D., MPH, Chief Medical Officer, WebMD
"A powerful book by a powerful woman. Phyllis Greenberger was a trailblazer and stills works tirelessly to bring about health equity for Women. A must read for all to know where we have been and where we need to go to achieve equitable healthcare for all."-Nieca Goldberg, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, author of Women are not Small Men and host of the Beyond the Heart podcast
"It is my hope that this book will inspire you to become an advocate for women's health in your own life, in your interaction with your healthcare providers, in your community, and on a national level by letting your representatives know how much you care about this issue. The Society for Women's Health under the leadership of Phyllis Greenberger led the charge starting in the 1990s that brought the issue of sex differences to the attention of many of us in government. Since then, great strides have been made, but there is much to be done, and the progress we have made is now being threatened by those who want to take control of women's health out of women's hands. Read this book, talk about this book, and keep fighting for the healthcare that women deserve, need, and demand."-Marsha Henderson, former Associate Commissioner for Women's Health at the Food and Drug Administration
