Primary and Preventive Care of Women

Women’s health can be defined as diseases or conditions that are unique to women or that involve gender differences that are particularly important to women. This definition acknowledges the increasing scientific evidence supporting a focus on sex and gender and expands the concept of women’s health beyond the traditional focus on reproductive organs and their function. Over time, the definition has come to include an appreciation of wellness and prevention, the interdisciplinary and holistic nature of women’s health, the diversity of women and their health needs over the life span, and the central role of women as patients and as active participants in their health care. This broader interdisciplinary perspective has important implications for clinicians providing care to women. In addition to understanding basic female physiology and reproductive biology, clinicians need to appreciate the complex interaction between the environment and the biology and psychosocial development of women. When dealing with conditions that are not specific to women, clinicians need to be aware of those aspects of disease that are different in women or have important gender implications. The ability to apply this information requires that clinicians adopt attitudes and behavior that are culturally and gender sensitive. Figures visualize female life expectancy, age-adjusted death rates, female breast cancer incidence and death rates, trends in female cigarette smoking, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for preventive primary care in women. This review contains 5 figures, 6 tables and 56 references.