Women’s Health Considerations in Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Purpose of Review Biological sex differences are an important factor to consider when treating TBI, as there can be a disproportionate manifestation of symptoms and recovery process when comparing females to males. Historically, these differences have not been well studied, and there is still much to be understood as to why these differences exist. Recent Findings A number of factors are thought to contribute to disparities with women who have a TBI, including lack of well-designed research studies focused on women, hormonal fluctuations at the time of and as a result of a TBI, psychosocial comorbidities, and societal norms/expectations. While these factors have been documented in recent studies, there are a number of contradictory findings with regard to this, leaving gaps in our current level of knowledge. Summary More research with special emphasis on women is warranted to better understand the biological sex differences in TBI symptoms and recovery and to help guide more effective management strategies for this population.