Does the word 'confrère' in English also apply to women sharing the same profession?

Solution 1:

The definition of confrere is gender-free in American dictionaries (AHED, Merriam-Webster, and Dictionary.com, to name three).

Note that the usage example given by MW is this:

Many of the judge's confreres on the Fifth Circuit bench don't feel as she does on the issue

So, yes, confrere (or confrère) is used for either gender in English.

(A French confrère tells me that lawyers in France start letters to fellow lawyers with "Cher Confrère" regardless of the gender of their addressee.)

Solution 2:

I've only heard colleague used in English instead of confrère or consoeur. Colleague does not imply gender in any way. It is not at all unusual for a male and female to be colleagues and that does not signify anything more than a professional association.