For decades, the world has been designed to the measure of men. Women's health and safety have been an afterthought. When half of the world's population is treated as a special case rather than the norm, the result is more than inconvenient. It can be life-threatening.
The dangerous "Default Male" standard
From the cars we drive to protective gear at work: many products are designed for the average male body.
For years, crash test dummies were modeled after the male body. The consequence: women have a 73% higher risk of injury in a car accident.
The situation is similar with personal protective equipment and vests, such as those worn in healthcare and by the police. They are often just scaled-down men's versions that do not fit women properly, leaving them unprotected.
A gap in medical research
Historically, women have been excluded from clinical drug trials in medicine. Some guidelines still expressly recommended this exclusion as late as 1977. The result is a dangerous lack of data.
Because recommended dosages are frequently based on male biology, women face a significantly higher risk of side effects.
A clear example is the sleep aid Ambien. It remained effective in the bodies of women for much longer than in men. This led to an increased number of traffic accidents the morning after until the dosage was finally adjusted.
Contaminants in hygiene products
Perhaps the most neglected area is the safety of products that women use every day.
Recent studies show that common feminine hygiene products such as tampons and pads are a hidden source of phthalates and toxic metals.
Phthalates are suspected of being toxic to reproduction. They were detected in up to 98% of the pads tested. A recent pilot study also found 16 different metals in various tampon brands, including lead and arsenic.
Despite these risks, there has historically been no legal requirement to test these products for chemical contaminants.
The pain gap
The unequal treatment affects not only products but medical care itself.
Studies show that women's pain is systematically underestimated by medical personnel. It is often dismissed as "emotional" rather than taken seriously as physical.
In emergency rooms, women with chest pain wait 29% longer to see a doctor than men with the same symptoms.
This structural bias leads to women receiving diagnoses and treatment less frequently. For Black women, the situation is even more severe because racism and sexism intersect in medicine.
A new era of women's health
The situation is beginning to change. More and more researchers and companies are turning their focus to the specific biological needs of women.
Modern science is now also examining supplements and products designed to specifically support female longevity and cellular health.
One example is NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide). It is gaining attention in the wellness sector because it can support NAD⁺ levels—an approach linked to healthy aging and energy metabolism. It is precisely these research fields that are increasingly being viewed from the perspective of female physiology.
Conclusion
Closing the women's health gap is not a "women's issue." It is an economic and scientific necessity.
When research considers biological sex as a distinct variable, it leads to better outcomes for everyone.
It is time to leave the "Default Male" behind and ensure that every product is safe and effective for the 50% of the population that has been overlooked for so long. From life-saving medications to daily hygiene.