Despite efforts in prevention and intensive care

trauma and subsequent sepsis are still associated with a high mortality rate. Traumatic injury remains the main cause of death in people younger than 45 years and is thus a source of immense social and economic burden. In recent years

the knowledge concerning gender medicine has continuously increased. A number of studies have reported gender dimorphism in terms of response to trauma

shock and sepsis.However

the advantageous outcome following trauma-hemorrhage in females is not due only to sex. Rather

it is due to the prevailing hormonal milieu of the victim. In this respect

various experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of estrogen for the central nervous system

the cardiopulmonary system

the liver

the kidneys

the immune system

and for the overall survival of the host. Nonetheless

there remains a gap between the bench and the bedside. This is most likely because clinical studies have not accounted for the estrus cycle. This review attempts to provide an overview of the current level of knowledge and highlights the most important organ systems responding to trauma

shock and sepsis. There continues to be a need for clinical studies on the prevailing hormonal milieu following trauma

shock and sepsis.