Genome and Hormones: Gender Differences in Physiology: Invited Review: Gender issues related to spaceflight: a NASA perspective

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 91; no. 5; p. 2374
• Main Authors: Harm, Deborah L, Jennings, Richard T, Meck, Janice V, Powell, Michael R, Putcha, Lakshmi, Sams, Clarence P, Schneider, Suzanne M, Shackelford, Linda C, Smith, Scott M, Whitson, Peggy A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Am Physiological Soc 01-01-2001
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.2001.91.5.2374

1  Human Adaptation and Countermeasures Office, NASA Johnson
Space Center, Houston 77058; 2  Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555; and
3  Astronaut Office, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
77058
This minireview provides an overview of known and
potential gender differences in physiological responses to spaceflight. The paper covers cardiovascular and exercise physiology, barophysiology and decompression sickness, renal stone risk, immunology,
neurovestibular and sensorimotor function, nutrition,
pharmacotherapeutics, and reproduction. Potential health and functional
impacts associated with the various physiological changes during
spaceflight are discussed, and areas needing additional research are
highlighted. Historically, studies of physiological responses to
microgravity have not been aimed at examining gender-specific
differences in the astronaut population. Insufficient data exist in
most of the discipline areas at this time to draw valid conclusions
about gender-specific differences in astronauts, in part due to the small ratio of women to men. The only astronaut health issue for which
a large enough data set exists to allow valid conclusions to be drawn
about gender differences is orthostatic intolerance following shuttle
missions, in which women have a significantly higher incidence of
presyncope during stand tests than do men. The most common observation
across disciplines is that individual differences in physiological
responses within genders are usually as large as, or larger than,
differences between genders. Individual characteristics usually
outweigh gender differences per se.
physiological responses; health issues