In both men and women, there was an approximately 70 percent increase in the risk of bleeding associated with the taking of aspirin. And it is known that the bleeding risk associated with aspirin is dose-related.

The specific types of benefits differ in important ways … in women, by reducing the risk of ischemic stroke, and in men, by reducing the risk of heart attack.

The specific types of benefits differ in important ways & in women, by reducing the risk of ischemic stroke, and in men, by reducing the risk of heart attack.

Aspirin affects platelets differently in men and women.

In women, aspirin prevents strokes and doesn't have any real effect on heart attack, and in men aspirin prevents heart attacks but has no effect on the prevention of strokes. So there appears to be a gender-based difference in the beneficial effect of aspirin.

In other words, 81 milligrams a day gives as much benefit as higher doses with potentially less risk of bleeding.