Many of the medicines today, even common drugs like aspirin, were only ever tested on men. Yet the unknown side effects for women can be dangerous, even deadly.

In this fascinating TED talk, emergency doctor Alyson McGregor lucidly explains the differences between male and female patients, and what both sexes need to do to get the right care for their bodies – but particularly women.

A recent study revealed that 80 percent of the drugs withdrawn from the market are due to side effects on women.

Sleep aid Ambien (zolpidem) was released to market over 20 years ago, with hundreds of millions of prescriptions written for women, because women suffer more sleep disorders than men.

Yet, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only just recommended cutting the dose in half for women. Why?

They have just realised that women metabolise the drug at a slower rate than men, which causes them to wake up in the morning with more of the active drug in their system. This can lead to drowsiness, so they are more at risk for motor vehicle accident when driving.

How many other things need to be analysed by gender? What else are we missing?

An overwhelming amount of evidence has come to light that shows us just how different men and women are. Women have their own anatomy and physiology that deserves to be studied with the same intensity.

Isn’t it high time that today’s research takes this into account?