A classical depiction of Queen Niobe grieving her child, intertwined with symbolic antibodies and red blood cells to represent Rh incompatibility. Credit: Amin Mohajeri In Greek mythology, Queen Niobe’s pride led to her children’s death, and her endless grief turned her into stone. The human body, too, can be undone by its own devotion: A … Continue reading Protecting Pregnancy When Blood Types Differ
Women’s Health
Why Do You Need Protein (And How Much) In Menopause?
Credit: iStock Protein is the building block for all the muscles in our body. We rely on protein to maintain structural support and aid in nearly all cellular processes. Our muscles are necessary for breathing, walking and balance, all of which allow us to maintain our normal activities. Loss of muscle mass (called sarcopenia) is … Continue reading Why Do You Need Protein (And How Much) In Menopause?
The Gender Gap in Medicine: Why Drugs Must Be Developed with Women in Mind
Credit: iStock/blackCAT As a scientist, I’ve often wondered: Why do women report more severe side effects from medications? The answer isn't a medical mystery; it’s historical oversight. For decades, medical research and drug development disproportionately focused on men, disregarding the unique biological and physiological complexities of women. This singular focus created a significant and lasting … Continue reading The Gender Gap in Medicine: Why Drugs Must Be Developed with Women in Mind
2025 American Physiology Summit: My Week in Photos
Welcome to the American Physiology Summit. Credit: Casey Derella The 2025 American Physiology Summit took place at the Baltimore Convention Center April 24–27. Eager scientists, educators and trainees from a variety of fields within physiology travel from all over the world to connect and share ongoing science with others. Credit: Casey Derella I’m excited to … Continue reading 2025 American Physiology Summit: My Week in Photos
The Vascular Clock: Understanding Female Vascular Aging
Credit: iStock/FatCamera Many of us fear wrinkles, gray hair and other signs of aging. But not as many people seem to worry about aging associated with our vascular system, the network of vessels that circulate blood throughout our body. Years of blood flowing to and from the heart can lead to some consequential changes that … Continue reading The Vascular Clock: Understanding Female Vascular Aging
Spotlight On: The Menstrual Cycle
Credit: iStock/aga7ta The menstrual cycle is a remarkable biological process that plays a crucial role in human reproduction. The cycle involves a series of complex interactions between hormones and the body’s reproductive organs with the primary goal of preparing the body for pregnancy. Understanding these processes can provide insights into health, fertility and how birth … Continue reading Spotlight On: The Menstrual Cycle
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Credit: iStock/gustavofrazao It’s been another “ph-un” filled year of physiology on the I Spy Physiology blog! We’ve featured posts ranging from marijuana research and bone cancer in children to how many steps do we really need to take per day and if alkaline water lives up to the hype. To complement our Women’s Health Research … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
The Physiology of Transgender Health Care
Credit: iStock/angelp Transgender people have a gender identity that is different from the gender associated with their assigned sex at birth. A transgender man may have been raised as a girl but later identifies as a man. A transgender woman may have been raised as a boy and now identifies as a woman. There are … Continue reading The Physiology of Transgender Health Care
Spotlight On: Breast Cancer
Credit: iStock/tunpungato Breast cancer is the most diagnosed invasive tumor type in women. One in 8 women living in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Men can also get breast cancer, but the number of cases is much smaller. How does breast cancer begin? Breast cancer begins when breast cells … Continue reading Spotlight On: Breast Cancer
Spotlighting Women’s Heart Health on World Heart Day
Credit: iStock/FatCamera Scientists used to believe that men and women had the same physiology. With that line of thinking, if a physiological change was found in men, it just had to be the same in women. We now know this to be far from true. Unfortunately, until recently, most of the heart research has been … Continue reading Spotlighting Women’s Heart Health on World Heart Day