Why weren't women included in clinical trials?

Women were excluded from clinical trials until 1993 in the United States and until 1997 in Canada. Nam Kiwanuka speaks to Dr. Michelle Cohen, a family physician and an assistant professor of medicine at Queen's University, about why women were excluded and the historical harms that were caused by not including women in clinical trials. Got a question or comment? Email us at: [email protected] If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health, visit any of the following resources for support: Canada.ca/mental-health Kids Help Phone Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868. The Government of Ontario's Mental Health Support Resources: https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support Follow TVO on social: https://www.youtube.com/theagenda https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo Join our newsletter: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters Visit the TVO Today website for current affairs journalism, documentaries and podcasts: https://www.tvo.org Research links Closing the women’s health gap: Canada’s $37 billion opportunity: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/closing-the-womens-health-gap-canadas-37-billion-dollars-… Cuts, uncertainty over NIH grants disrupt innovation in health fields, researchers say:https://marylandmatters.org/2025/09/15/cuts-uncertainty-over-nih-grants-disrupt-innovation-in-healt… Gender Equity in Clinical Trials in Canada: Aspiration or Achievement?: https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3576&context=scholarly_works History of Women’s Participation in Clinical Research: https://orwh.od.nih.gov/toolkit/recruitment/history Guidance Document: Considerations for Inclusion of Women in Clinical Trials and Analysis of Sex Differences: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/applications-su…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.