Introduction: Philosophy of Sex and Gender in Gender Medicine

In the last few decades, the relevance of the two variables of sex and gender in influencing health and diseases, not only those clearly sex- and gender-related, has been increasingly acknowledged. Sex and gender differences, it has been recognised, are not confined to genital organs and reproductive functions, but pertain to almost all bodily systems, and cover the entire life cycle of the human being, from the antenatal period and birth, through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, to old age and death. Moreover, the sex of single cells can make a difference from a medical point of view. Given this understanding, a new field of medicine or, maybe, a new perspective on medicine—that is, gender medicine or gender-specific medicine—recently emerged and has rapidly advanced. Emphasising the relevance of the variables of sex and gender in influencing health and diseases, gender medicine similarly contributed to creating a novel, fascinating, and still largely unexplored framework for philosophical reflection. The eight contributions to this special issue, which are briefly summarised below, are relevant and original examples of how gender medicine has inspired new, stimulating, and wide-ranging philosophical discussions.