Women often suffer from health problems that are specific to their gender, and are afflicted by many other diseases with greater frequency and severity than men. examines the biological and environmental underpinnings of these gender differences. The chapters are organized to cover biologic (hormonal, anatomic, immunologic, and pregnancy-related), social, behavioral/ psychological and lifestyle influences. They highlight observations that may lead to a better understanding of how such influences account for gender variations in health and disease. The book thus addresses questions such as: 1) Why do women bear more of the reproductive morbidity after sexually transmitted diseases than men, 2) Why is depression more common in women, 3) What is the evidence that cardiovascular disease is strongly influenced by hormonal milieu, 4) What are the competing risks and benefits associated with various methods of contraception? Densely referenced and packed with data, the chapters also provide methodologic insights that will guide research on women's health in the future.