Abstract
This opening chapter of Medicines for Women presents an editorial overview of all key issues covered in this fascinating book. Beginning with the historical and social perspectives which provide the backdrop for how medicines (including medical devices, vaccines and herbal products) for women are used today, Dr Harrison-Woolrych then focusses on the main points identified from each of the following 18 chapters. This chapter provides a summary of the whole book, with additional (and sometimes controversial) editorial comment. Amongst the evidence-based information presented on the benefits and risks of medicines for women, there are many fascinating stories – some familiar, some less so – and important themes emerge throughout. In the latter part of this chapter, general principles for prescribing medicines to women are presented from a clinical viewpoint. This section challenges prescribers to re-evaluate how they consult with women about medicines and other treatment options. A series of questions are proposed and the advice given is supplemented by information provided in the other chapters.
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Acknowledgement Many thanks to Dr Jonathan Woolrych (general practitioner, Mornington Health Centre, Dunedin, New Zealand) for his clinical advice and peer review of this chapter, especially for the section “How to Prescribe Medicines for Women”.
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Harrison-Woolrych, M. (2015). Medicines for Women: Medicines for Half the World. In: Harrison-Woolrych, M. (eds) Medicines For Women. Adis, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12406-3_1
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