Inclusivity and terminology

The Reproductive Genomics Group recognises that the term ‘women’ must recognise individuals in a full sense of inclusivity, diversity and sensitivity, and it is our aim to support this in our research.

In our genomic studies we generally define ‘women’ and ‘females’ based on genetic markers, i.e. having two X chromosomes and no Y chromosome. Although these terms refer to a much broader range of individuals, we often use this narrower definition as it is most appropriate to the study design. However, these criteria may vary depending on the individual study and we aim to be as transparent as possible to define the terms we use in our research.