Medical products for half the world: medicines for women are not a minor issue

New book provides reliable, evidence-based information for healthcare professionals and women

London | Heidelberg, 5 March 2015

Women’s medicines are an area of female health that have often made headline news: pill scares, hormone replacement therapy, herbal medicines, contraceptive devices and HPV vaccines. “Approximately ninety percent of women take at least one medication and the health of women determines the health of their families and the wider community,” underlines Dr. Mira Harrison-Woolrych refering to the opening chapter of her newly edited book Medicines For Women. Published by Springer’s imprint Adis, the book appears just in time for International Women’s Day 2015.

Along with international experts, Dr. Harrison-Woolrych has brought together evidence-based information which prescribers, healthcare professionals and women themselves need to know about the major medicines, devices and vaccines used by women worldwide.

For the first time, Medicines For Women covers in one single volume a comprehensive summary of all key areas of women’s health. In the first part, issues relating to female drug exposure and prescribing to subgroups of women – for example during pregnancy and lactation, and to adolescent women – are presented in the context of contemporary clinical practice.

In the second part, specific groups of medicines are reviewed, including oral contraceptives (with an additional chapter on venous thromboembolism), emergency contraception, contraceptive devices, treatment of chronic pelvic pain, hormone replacement therapy, bisphosphonates, herbal medicines for women, and human papilloma virus vaccines. Every chapter reviews and summarizes the efficacy and safety of each group of products and concludes with a useful set of clinical ‘take-home’ messages.

In the third part of the book, broader perspectives are presented – from a primary care overview of prescribing for women, through to regulatory, political and religious aspects, including issues in developing countries. The two final chapters focus on communicating the benefits and risks of medicines for women.

This book is aimed at prescribers, other healthcare professionals and students of women’s health throughout the world. It is also a valuable resource for women worldwide who seek more information about the medical products they take (or decide not to take) to support their health and major life decisions.

Mira Harrison-Woolrych
Medicines For Women
Adis. 2015, 623 p., 38 illus., 25 illus. in color
Hardcover € 39,99 | £ 35.99 | $ 49.99
ISBN 978-3-319-12405-6
Also available as an eBook