Simply female – does not do justice to the dynamic female reproductive system
Recognition of the sex-based disparity in COVID19, has further highlighted the need for research into sex differences at the most fundamental levels of biomedical services. As we progress, researchers and policy makers must articulate a critical need to go beyond just recording sex and age as a covariate and reflect that women and their flexible hormonal milieu are highly dynamic across their lifecourse. Clarification of the stage of reproductive lifecourse, their menstrual cycle characteristics and use of hormonal modifying medication is fundamental. Only then can we begin to delineate which features are associated with clinical disease progression and prognosis and increase our pace to a healthier population.