Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States and has now become a public health problem of first importance (Stroke 2006, 37:2387-2399). The incidence of stroke in women is growing, but it is important to highlight that there is sometimes a delay in the treatment of symptoms of stroke (Stroke 2006, 37:1248-1253) and that there is a greater disability and a worse quality of life in women after stroke (Lancet Neurol 2008; 7:915-926; Circulation 2006, 114:168-182). The authors identified all patients with an age ≥ 21 years admitted to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center between 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2004 with a neurologist confirmed diagnosis and residing in the metropolitan area of Boston. The authors excluded for further analysis in patients with transient ischemic attack and with in hospital stroke. Presenting symptoms occurred within 24 hours of incident stroke admission and prodromal symptoms occurred ≥ 24 hours of admission. The authors analyzed 1107 patients (n = 608 women 54.9%, n = 499 men 45.1%) with an average age of 73 ± 14.5 years; the patients were predominantly Caucasians (62.7%) and women. Women hospitalized were found to be statistically older than men (75.8 ± 14.5 years vs 69.7 ± 13.8 years). Women were more likely to have cardioembolic stroke, while men were more likely to have large or small vessel stroke. On admission there was not a gender difference in blood pressure. Women were statistically less likely to have a history of dyslipidemia, diabetes, coronary disease or myocardial infarction, and were more likely than men to have atrial fibrillation. Presenting symptoms didn’t differ by gender (weakness, clumsiness, numbness, convulsions, difficulty speaking, difficulty walking, headache, change in behavior, difficulty understanding, nausea, changes in vision, fatigue, malaise). Even in classic symptoms there was not a difference by gender (numbness, weakness, difficulty speaking, change in vision, difficulty walking, headache, or difficulty understanding). 35% of patients had prodromal symptoms and there was no gender difference. The numbness was found more frequently in men, while headache was more commonly reported by women as a prodromal symptom. Women were less likely to receive aspirin and statin. The women do not differ significantly in prevalence of traditional symptoms of stroke, but have more prodromal symptoms. The authors found no differences in prodromal symptoms, making it difficult to talk about gender differences in symptoms of alarm. All this means that we must continue to raise awareness among women to the common risk factors for stroke.