Understanding sex-related variation in health and illness requires rigorous and precise approaches to revealing underlying mechanisms. A first step is to recognize that sex is not in and of itself a causal mechanism; rather, it is a classification system comprising a set of categories, usually assigned according to a range of varying traits. Moving beyond sex as a system of classification to working with concrete and measurable sex-related variables is necessary for precision. Whether and how these sex-related variables matter—and what patterns of difference they contribute to—will vary in context-specific ways. Second, when researchers incorporate these sex-related variables into research designs, rigorous analytical methods are needed to allow strongly supported conclusions. Third, the interpretation and reporting of sex-related variation require care to ensure that basic and preclinical research advance health equity for all.

中文翻译：

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实验室研究中的性别情境主义：提高性别相关变量研究的严谨性和精确度

了解健康和疾病中与性别相关的变化需要严格而精确的方法来揭示潜在的机制。第一步是认识到性本身并不是一种因果机制。相反，它是一个包含一组类别的分类系统，通常根据一系列不同的特征进行分配。超越性别作为分类系统，转而使用具体的、可测量的与性别相关的变量，对于精确性来说是必要的。这些与性别相关的变量是否重要以及如何重要，以及它们造成的差异模式如何，将因具体情况而异。其次，当研究人员将这些与性别相关的变量纳入研究设计时，需要严格的分析方法来得出强有力的支持结论。第三，对性别相关变异的解释和报告需要谨慎，以确保基础和临床前研究促进所有人的健康公平。