Women’s Health Research During Ramadan: A Narrative Review

The scientific study of Ramadan fasting has grown considerably in recent years, yet women remain a systematically underrepresented population within this literature. This underrepresentation points to a broader historical tendency in biomedical and psychological research to default to male-centric models, which have repeatedly demonstrated poor generalizability to women across a range of health outcomes. This narrative review argues that this gap is significant in the context of Ramadan fasting, where sex-based differences in hormonal regulation, circadian biology, metabolic and immune functioning, and psychological vulnerability may create meaningfully distinct fasting experiences for women. Although women are frequently included as participants in Ramadan research, women’s health outcomes are rarely the central organizing focus. Drawing from previous empirical literature, this review synthesizes current evidence on the effects of Ramadan fasting on physiological and mental health in women, while situating these findings within the broader context of sex differences in relevant medical and psychological research. Implications for the inclusion of women-specific health considerations in fasting research are discussed.