Why women are more likely to have dodgy hip implants
Medical devices are not always designed with women in mind
The past year has seen wide concern about the safety of medical implants. Some of the worst scandals have involved devices for women, such as textured breast implants with links to cancer and transvaginal mesh implants, which were the subject of a Senate inquiry.
But women are harmed not only by “women’s devices” such as breast implants and vaginal mesh. Women are also more likely to be harmed by apparently gender-neutral devices, like joint replacements and heart implants.
In recently published research, I explored the reasons for this. I found gender biases at all stages of design and use of medical implants.
