Contraception in Research:A Policy Suggestion

The article discusses the reasons for exclusion of women from participation in pharmacological research. There have been two prime concerns that have contributed to this exclusion, firstly, the difference in women's physiology introduces an added variable to the study, and secondly, harm might come to a fetus should the woman become pregnant while on the study. One solution to the dilemma of including women of childbearing potential in research and protecting potential fetuses from harm is to require women of childbearing age to use contraception while enrolled in a study.