Correct specification of a number of definitions and problems is essential for realistic and useful research in health economics. Societal values with regard to women's status and roles are reflected in current concepts, which need review. For example, health status is a concept with many applications. Two areas of health status are discussed: (i) Definitions of severity for adult males, children and adult females all reflect the female role as caretaker. (ii) Reproductive efficiency should be incorporated into a life-cycle-oriented concept of health status for women. The evaluation of patient time as an input into health care is conditioned by women's labor force participation and the extent of the earnings diffrential by sex. Additionally, a concept of a block of time as capital that is available for optimal reproduction or optimal career investment would be useful in tracing important effects of improved fertility-related health care and for other purposes. Specifications for a health care service and financing system that is responsive to women's health needs must include an appropriate definition of comprehensiveness in relation to fertility conirol and pregnancy, relative financial burdens for women based on their utilization, need, income und other characteristics, and compatibility of payment methods with health care objectives.