The Need

Every time women seek medical treatment, the quality of their care is alarmingly compromised. That’s because, no matter how excellent your doctor is, she is limited by current medical knowledge and basic understanding of women’s health is scarce. In fact, until recently men and women were considered the same when it came to healthcare. Two-thirds of all diseases afflicting both sexes have been examined exclusively in men. Only in the last decade have women been required to participate in clinical trials and drug studies affecting all adults, and still there is difficulty with compliance.

Today we know that gender differences pervade everything from disease causes and accurate diagnoses to effective treatment and prevention techniques. For example, many common drugs act very differently in women than men. Disease symptoms and immune systems vary dramatically between the sexes. And many medical tests designed for the male body aren't accurate for females.

Research focused on females is the only way to improve medical information for women and current funding is inadequate. Private sources spend less than one-fifth of their total health funding on medical research, and women’s health receives only a fraction of this amount. Government funding is primarily for multi-center, long-term studies, leaving a significant gap in resources for short-term, smaller studies that improve today’s medical understanding, and also prompt larger investigations.

In addition, there is a significant need to bring new and clarifying health findings directly to women. Physicians have less time than ever to talk with patients about the inherent complexities of medicine and how it applies to each unique person.

Foundation for Women’s Wellness targets this tremendous void in women’s medicine by funding groundbreaking research and disseminating clarifying information to physicians and patients alike. As a small public charity, Foundation for Women’s Wellness funnels maximum support to under-funded areas critical to women’s health.