Men are still often the standard in medical research. Women sometimes respond differently to medicines than men, experience side effects more often, and conditions that mainly affect women, such as endometriosis or menopausal symptoms, receive too little attention. As a result, healthcare does not always suit them well. Researchers at the UMCG want to change that. That is why they are stepping outside the familiar walls of the academic world and talking about their research at public events, such as Noorderzon. Because, as they emphasise: science concerns us all.
Earlier this year, these researchers received a special grant from the UMCG, one of five so-called seed grants. These grants give promising projects on gender differences a head start, with the potential for larger studies that can make a real difference in healthcare.
The performance opens with a quiz and the fictional ‘Noorderzon Health Centre’. The audience travels through different stages of life, each of which clearly shows how sex and gender influence health. Researchers Paola Mian and Daan Touw demonstrate that boys and girls often process medicines differently. Yet they usually receive the same dose. For parents, this raises questions such as: “Is this amount safe for my child?” Paola explains: “During puberty, hormones, weight and metabolism change. This can mean that a medicine works differently or that the dose needs to be adjusted. By explaining my research in understandable language, I hope to give parents more insight and confidence.”
Then the focus shifts to adulthood. Women may experience endometriosis, hormonal issues, or a desire to have children that is not always easy to fulfil. Researcher Hannah Holstein explains that women with endometriosis have to wait an average of 7.4 years for a diagnosis. That is a very long time. Inflammation and stress may play a role, but there is still much we do not know. More research could help to identify symptoms more quickly and treat them more effectively.
Because women often have to wait longer for a correct diagnosis, doctors are more likely to tell them that their symptoms are caused by stress or are “all in their head”. Aranka Ballering and Sieta de Vries then make the audience laugh and think. They discuss what we actually mean by “it's all in your head” and explain that symptoms always have physical, psychological and social aspects. Because women often receive a diagnosis later, they look for solutions themselves and try alternative therapies sooner. Because there is still little research, it is often unclear whether these remedies really help or are actually harmful. With a quiz, Ballering and De Vries show that the difference between healthy and harmful is sometimes small. For example, St. John's wort can affect the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill or HIV medication.
The menopause and its impact on mental health are also addressed in a simulated consultation between Franciska de Beer and Iris Hamers. They investigate the mental health problems women experience during the menopause and how often these occur. Many complaints are still under-recognised. Their research helps women better understand what to expect and supports healthcare providers in tailoring care. When the conversation shifts to implants, it becomes clear how deeply ingrained the male standard still is. Danielle van Veldhuizen shows that a standard implant for a broken pelvis often does not fit women well, while it fits men better. She is investigating which other bone structures this applies to and what the long-term impact of a poor fit is. This research emphasises that care must be more personalised: each implant must fit the individual patient as well as possible.
All five studies are presented in less than 45 minutes. The pace is fast, but the audience remains captivated. Afterwards, several visitors say that they were particularly moved by the stories about implants and medication. ‘It's strange that some treatments are actually only designed for men,’ says one visitor. Another visitor adds: ‘It's nice to see that so much effort is being put into addressing these differences. Sometimes research seems so far removed from your everyday life, but by showing and explaining it, it suddenly becomes a lot more understandable.’
For the researchers, that is exactly the intention. By sharing their work, they hope to make science feel tangible and accessible. About real women, real families and better care. The conversation with the public also provides new inspiration: surprising ideas often arise outside the scientific bubble.
Astrid Cantineau, a gynaecologist at the UMCG and involved in the same research project as Holstein, says: ‘Many policymakers are men, which is precisely why they need to hear this too.’ Although the audience was largely made up of women, there were also a few men present. The performance was completely sold out. 'So there is interest, but it remains important that not only women become aware of these issues,“ Cantineau emphasises. 'How can we fill even more auditoriums, with men included, so that they too can better understand the impact of sex and gender in healthcare?”
Aranka Ballering has been nominated for the title of Science Talent 2025 by science platform New Scientist. Voting is open until 8 September and can be done here.
In the Science next door section, we show you that science is not a closed world. We bring knowledge to places where people can use it. To understand, recognise and make healthier choices. Researchers listen to what is going on in society and incorporate those stories into their research. Because where research and society meet, new insights arise. In this way, we work together to build more healthy years.
