Sex Differences in Health Awareness Day 2023: Date, History, Diseases of Women

On the Tuesday of National Women’s Health Week, Sex Differences in Health Awareness Day is celebrated. This year, the date is May 16. This day was established to remind the public and medical professionals of the various health issues that affect men and women differently, and to increase awareness and education about these disparities. For instance, ovarian and cervical malignancies only affect females. Similarly, testicular cancer affects only males. Other maladies and health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, affect men and women differently, and this day aims to bring attention to this fact. The day should be observed not only by medical professionals but also by the general public in order to create a healthier world.

The background of Sex Differences in Health Awareness Day

On the Tuesday of National Women’s Health Week, which begins on the second Sunday of May, Sex Differences in Health Awareness Day is observed. The Office on Women’s Health of the federal government created National Women’s Health Week to encourage all women to make healthy decisions.

As women’s bodies differ from men’s, many health issues such as osteoarthritis and urinary tract infections (UTIs) impact men and women differently. In light of this, it is not surprising that maladies, medications, and medical devices used for treatment can affect women differently. Therefore, a universal approach to preventing, managing, and treating diseases and medical conditions cannot be effective.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) instituted a policy to include women in clinical research in 1986, marking the beginning of federal efforts to address sex differences in health. The policy required researchers to investigate the differential effects of medications, procedures, and maladies on women and men. The following year, in 1988, the Demographic Rule was implemented, requiring manufacturers to demonstrate the drug’s safety and efficacy by gender, age, and race prior to approval. This ensured that everyone who was to ingest the drug was healthy enough to do so. Inclusion of women in clinical research has resulted in new advancements that are beneficial to women over the years.

In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a smaller left ventricular assist device, which marked yet another significant milestone in this voyage. Patients with severe heart failure who are not candidates for a heart transplant use the device. The smaller variant of the device accounts for gender-related differences in body size and expands access to life-saving treatment for women.

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5 DISEASES OF WOMEN THAT ALSO AFFECT MEN

Osteoporosis

One in three women and one in five males are at risk for osteoporosis (a disease that weakens bones and increases their susceptibility to fractures).

ovarian cancer

Approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases are male.

Thyroid concerns

Five to eight times more likely to develop thyroid disorders than men.

Urinary infections

Bladder infections can occur in men with an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, or an aberrant narrowing of the urethra.

Lupus

This autoimmune disorder can affect men, but approximately 90% of diagnosed lupus patients are female.

SEX DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH AWARENESS DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2022	May 10	Tuesday
2023	May 16	Tuesday
2024	May 14	Tuesday
2025	May 13	Tuesday
2026	May 12	Tuesday