Women weren’t
required in U.S. clinical research until June 10,

1993

In 2024,
we’re still decades behind.

That’s why Evvy made June 10 into Equal Research Day.

A day to promote inclusive research, tell our stories, and raise awareness for the gender health gap.

About Evvy

Our mission at Evvy is to close the gender health gap by researching & leveraging overlooked female biomarkers, starting with the vaginal microbiome. 

Our vaginal healthcare platform, powered by our groundbreaking vaginal microbiome test, is the first to combine state-of-the-art vaginal health testing, precision clinical care, and empathetic 1:1 coaching to give women and people with vaginas the care they deserve. 

How can you help?

I.  Shop to donate.

100 Effed Facts About The Gender Health Gap—The Book.

$59 — Proceeds benefit Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM)

Our limited-edition coffee table book features 100 shocking truths about gender disparities in healthcare research, access, and treatment.

Edition II. Printed softcover with cut & foil stamped jacket, 8.5 by 10.5 in., 2 lb, 240 pages. All book sales final.

Quantity:
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Free shipping. All book sales are final.

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II.  Share to donate.

For every post in June that tags @Evvy and #EqualResearchDay, we’ll donate $1* to Women’s
Health Access Matters.

Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM) is dedicated to funding women’s health research and investment to transform women’s lives.

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What does it mean to be left
out of clinical research?

Until 1993, women weren’t
required in U.S. research for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, vaccines, prescription drugs,
mental health conditions, and
 much more.
Why were women left out?

What happened in 1993?

On June 10, 1993, Congress passed the NIH Revitalization Act, requiring the inclusion of women in clinical research for the
first time.
But on June 10, 2024, we still haven’t reached parity.
Who is still underrepresented?

Women1 are diagnosed on average 4 years later than men across 770+ diseases.2

We’re more likely to die from heart attacks, react poorly to prescription drugs, and have our pain and symptoms dismissed by doctors.

  1. Wherever we cite scientific research, we match the exact language of every study we cite to ensure accuracy (i.e. if the study uses the term “female” or “women” then so does this campaign.) We note that most research to this day does not take an intersectional approach to sex and gender.  However, the intent of the Equal Research Day campaign is to shine a light on all groups who have been underrepresented in clinical research — trans and non-binary people, people of color, people with disabilities, older adults, pregnant people, and more.
  2. See all our sources in our op-ed for Fortune.

More to learn and do—

Read the op-ed
Learn from the Evvy founders how deficient research manifests as the gender health gap.
Read on Fortune.com →
Explore the history
From 1747 to 2023, explore the full history of women in clinical research.
See the timeline →
The Evvy mission
We’re pioneering precision healthcare for people with vaginas, starting with the vaginal microbiome.
Learn more
Evvy clinical care
Get innovative and integrative vaginal healthcare, powered by our state-of-the-art vaginal microbiome test.
Learn more
2024 Equal Research Day collaborative

Why were women left out of research in the first place?

In 1977, a Food and Drug Administration policy recommended excluding "women of childbearing potential" from Phase I and early Phase II drug trials.

This was partly a safety measure after the use of thalidomide to treat morning sickness in the 1950s unknowingly caused thousands of birth defects. Even though thalidomide was never approved for use in the U.S. for anyone, after what happened, researchers thought it was safest not to include any women of childbearing age in studies.

However, researchers also had biased concerns that female hormone fluctuations made women too “difficult” to study and made research more expensive.

Because of those reasons, women and people with vaginas were not just left out but actively excluded from U.S. clinical research from 1977 to 1993.

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Who is still under-represented?

While some strides have been made since 1993, particularly with the representation of white women, there are many groups that remain under-represented — including women from non-white racial and ethnic communities.

Additionally, older adults, pregnant and lactating people, people from the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities remain under-represented and even excluded from clinical research.

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