It is merely a physical mode of relieving inflammation of the joint. But, it will in anyway modify the disease process in both females and males

Short wave diathermy is reducing inflammation and so is improving the pain of all individuals, male and female. According to literature has the ability to reduce the degree of synovitis for short period. Literature also mentioning about the effect on women patients but it is not differentiate or compare the two sexes. Here is some literature about the subject.

Jan MH1, Chai HM, Wang CL, Lin YF, Tsai LY. 2006. Effects of repetitive shortwave diathermy for reducing synovitis in patients with knee osteoarthritis: an ultrasonographic study. Phys. Therapy 86(2):236-44

Laufer Y, Ziberman R, Poat R, Nahir AM. 2005. Effect of pulsed short-wave diathermy on pain and function of subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee: a placebo-controlled double blind clinical trial. Clinical Rehabilitation; 19:255-263.

Atamaz FC, Durmaz B, Baydar M, Demircioglu OY, Iyiyapici A, Kuran B, Oncel S, Sendur OF. 2012. Comparison of the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical stimulation, interferential currents, and shortwave diathermy in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind, randomized controlled, multicenter study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; 93(5):748-756.

Fukuda TY, Alves da Cunha R, Fukuda VO, Rienzo FA, Cazarini C, Carvalho NAA, Centini AA. 2011. Pulsed shortwave treatment in women with knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter, randomized, placebo- controlled clinical trial. Physical Therapy; 91(7):1009-1017

Tubach F, Ravaud P, Baron G, Falissard B, Logeart I, Bellamy N, Bombardier C, Felson D, Hochberg D, Van der HeijdevD, Dougados M. 2005. Evaluation of clinically relevant changes in patient reported outcomes in knee and hip osteoarthritis: the minimal clinically important improvement. Ann Rheum Dis: 64:29–33.

Laufer, Dar G. 2012 Effectiveness of thermal and athermal short-wave diathermy for the management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis  Osteoarthrits and cartilage 20, 9, 957–966

Hope you find this helpful

thanks mr.George Zafiropoulos for your detailed refferences....it will help me in my further research....

regards....

shadab