Women Were Left Out of Research—And We're Still Paying the Price
- maryrburrell
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention.
Before 1993, most women weren’t included in medical research.
Not because we weren’t sick.Not because we didn’t care.But because we were purposely left out.
A quick history lesson:
In the 1970s, a drug called thalidomide caused birth defects.So in 1977, the FDA told researchers not to include most women of childbearing age in early drug trials—even if they weren’t pregnant.
It was meant to protect women… but instead, it shut us out.
The result?
For years, medical research was based mostly on white men.And those results? Doctors just assumed they would work for women too.
But women’s bodies work differently.We can have different symptoms, different reactions to medicine, and different outcomes.
Then came 1993...
A law called the NIH Revitalization Act finally said that women and people of color had to be included in research funded by the government.
That was a big step—but the change has been slow.
Then vs. Now
Back then: Women made up only 13–22% of drug trial participants.
Now: We’re around 40–45%, depending on the study.
Better… but still not equal. Especially in heart disease, cancer, and mental health—areas where women are just as likely (or more likely) to be affected.
💔 Why this matters to me:
I was placed in hospice.I had no options left.And then a clinical trial—the kind that often leaves women out—saved my life.
Let that sink in.
🗣️ So what can we do?
✅ Ask your doctor: “Was this tested on women?”
✅ Support research that includes all kinds of women—Black, brown, young, older, moms, caregivers.
✅ Share the truth and speak up.
We deserve care made for our bodies.
We are not too emotional.
We are not too complex.
We’re just long overdue to be seen, heard, and included.
✨ Want stories like this in your inbox?Sign up for my newsletter and join a growing community of women and caregivers who are raising their voices, asking the hard questions, and fighting for better care.
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