Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines
Posted by on February 3, 2013 - 9:20am

According to recent studies, many women are receiving unnecessary Pap tests, or smears, to screen for cervical cancer, while others are not receiving the appropriate tests. The guidelines for how often women should receive Pap tests were recently changed. Previously, physicians typically administered Pap tests to women 3 years after they became sexually active, or when they turned 21. After that, women were advised to receive a Pap test once every one or two years.

In March 2012, physicians’ groups released new Pap test guidelines. These recommend that most women do not need a Pap test before age 21, and that between ages 21 and 65, women should typically be tested once every 3 years. However, some women ages 30 to 65 may receive a Pap test in intervals of 5 years, as long as they are being tested for the human papillomavirus (HPV) as well. After age 65, women do not need to receive a Pap test unless they are at a high risk of cervical cancer. Additionally, testing is not recommended for women who have received a hysterectomy and have no history of cervical cancer or abnormal test results. These changes were made because cervical cancer is rare for young women, and grows at such a slow rate, that longer intervals between tests is not harmful.

Recent data shows that although some of these guidelines are being followed, others are not. Looking at positive trends first, the percentage of women aged 18 to 21 who have not received a Pap test has increased from 26% in 2000 to 48% in 2010. Additionally, the percentage of women over age 65 (who have not had a hysterectomy) that have recieved a Pap test has gone down slightly, from about three-quarters in 2000 to two-thirds in 2010.

However, there are also several negative trends visible. The percentage of women between ages 21 and 30 who have never received a Pap test has increased from 7% in 2000 to 10% in 2010. Another shocking statistic indicates that about 60% of women who have had a total hysterectomy, which means they no longer have a cervix, are still receiving Pap tests. While unnecessary tests cost money, they can also produce false results, anxiety, and additional tests and procedures. With increased dissemination and awareness of Pap test guidelines, physicians can work with their patients to provide appropriate care.

Sources:

 

New Report on Interpersonal and Sexual Violence by Sexual Orientation
Posted by on February 1, 2013 - 10:03am

The majority of women who reported experiencing sexual violence, regardless of their sexual orientation, reported that they were victimized by male perpetrators.
Nearly half of female bisexual victims (48.2 percent) and more than one-quarter of female heterosexual victims (28.3 percent) experienced their first rape between the ages of 11 and 17 years.

Bisexual women (61.1%) reported a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner when compared to both lesbian (43.8%) and heterosexual women (35.0%).

On January 25, 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the first of its kind report on the national prevalence of intimate partner violence, sexual violence and stalking victimization by respondents’ sexual orientation. This report highlights the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence (SV), and stalking of respondents who self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual at the time of the survey and describe violence experienced with both same-sex and opposite-sex partners, using 2010 data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS).

The findings in the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation Report underscore the importance of prevention efforts. NISVS provides data that can help inform policies and programs aimed at the specific needs of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) communities, state and national organizations, and also a way to monitor and measure these efforts. The combined efforts of public health, criminal justice, service providers, and other stakeholders can improve our knowledge about IPV, SV, and stalking in LGB communities and improve the availability of prevention programs and services for those affected by violence.

More information:   Access the report

Binge drinking a women's health issue
Posted by on January 31, 2013 - 9:55am

 Binge drinking is a major public health concern among American women with nearly 14 million overindulging in alcohol, government researchers said.

About 12.5% of adult women in the U.S. reported binge drinking in 2011, downing four drinks or more in one sitting, Robert Brewer, MD, of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and colleagues reported online in a Vital Signs report in Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.

The proportion is even higher among high school girls, with about 20% reporting that they consume alcohol excessively. While it is an even more prevalent problem with men and boys, it is an under recognized problem in women and girls.

In 2011, more than 13.6 million U.S. adult women binge drank an average of three times a month, Brewer and colleagues reported. During each of those binge sessions, women consumed an average of six drinks, he said. Bingeing is most common among women ages 18 to 34, and then gradually falls off with age. About 24% of women, ages 18 to 24, and 20% of those, ages 25 to 34, reported bingeing on alcohol.

White women and women with a household income of $75,000 or more were more likely to binge, they found.   Among high school students, white and Hispanic girls were more likely to binge than African-American girls (about 22% for each versus 10%) and 12th graders were about twice as likely to drink as freshmen (27% versus 13%).

Women are typically at greater risk from the harms of alcohol than men because they metabolize it differently. It puts them at higher risk of breast cancer, sexually transmitted disease, heart disease, and unintended pregnancy.  And drinking during pregnancy -- particularly among women who continue to binge not knowing they're pregnant -- can lead to severe birth defects.

Among the 23,000 women who die every year in the U.S. from excessive alcohol intake, about half are related to binge drinking, whether it's alcohol poisoning, motor vehicle crashes, or interpersonal violence.

Recent FDA Approvals for Overactive Bladder
Posted by on January 29, 2013 - 9:52am

Overactive bladder affects an estimated 33 million Americans, the majority of whom are older women. Two treatments have recently received FDA approval.

On January 25, FDA approved Oxytrol for Women, the first over-the-counter treatment for overactive bladder in women ages 18 years and older. Oxytrol for Women is a patch that is applied to the skin every four days. Oxytrol for Women contains oxybutynin, a medicine that helps relax the bladder muscle. Oxytrol will remain available for men with overactive bladder by prescription only.     Read the News Release

FDA approves Botox to treat overactive bladder

On February 18, 2013, FDA expanded the approved use of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) to treat adults with overactive bladder who cannot use or do not adequately respond to a class of medications known as anticholinergics. When Botox is injected into the bladder muscle, it causes the bladder to relax, increasing the bladder’s storage capacity and reducing episodes of urinary incontinence.

Read the News Release

Antibiotic overuse can lead to resistance
Posted by on January 26, 2013 - 11:03am

If you're suffering from a cold, the flu, or another virus, there are things you can do to help relieve the symptoms, but taking antibiotics will not help. Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections, such as strep throat.  Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem that is primarily being caused by the repeated and improper use of antibiotics.

You can help prevent antibiotic resistance by taking these actions:

Don't take antibiotics for viral infections, such as colds or the flu.
If you are prescribed antibiotics for a bacterial infection, take the full course of treatment even if you begin to feel better after a few days.
If you need to stop taking a course of antibiotics for some reason, discard leftover medication--do not save it for a future illness.
Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else.
If your healthcare provider determines that you do not have a bacterial infection, ask about ways to relieve your symptoms.  Don't pressure your provider to prescribe antibiotics.

Berries may be good for women's hearts
Posted by on January 23, 2013 - 10:29am

Young and middle-age women whose diet included high levels of anthocyanins -- the flavonoids present in red and blue fruits such as strawberries and blueberries -- had a significantly reduced risk for myocardial infarction (MI), a large prospective study found.

Women whose anthocyanin intake was in the highest quintile had a 32% decrease in risk of MI during 18 years of follow-up, according to Eric B. Rimm, ScD, of Harvard University, and colleagues.

And in a food-based analysis, women who consumed more than three servings of strawberries or blueberries each week showed a trend towards a lower MI risk, with a 34% decrease compared with women who rarely included these fruits in their diet, the researchers reported online in Circulation.

"Growing evidence supports the beneficial effects of dietary flavonoids on endothelial function and blood pressure, suggesting that flavonoids might be more likely than other dietary factors to lower the risk of [coronary heart disease] in predominantly young women," they observed.

A number of preclinical experiments have demonstrated cardioprotective effects of anthocyanins, including anti-inflammatory effects, plaque stabilization, and inhibition of the expression of growth factors.   While studies have suggested that MI risk is increased in young and middle-age women who smoke or use oral contraceptives, little is known about the influence of diet in this population, whose risk may differ from that in older women.

The younger women may have a greater likelihood of endothelial dysfunction and coronary vasospasm and less obstructive disease.

Because dietary flavonoids -- found in vegetables, fruits, wine, and tea -- are recognized as benefiting endothelial function, the researchers looked at outcomes for 93,600 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study II who reported their consumption of various foods and their lifestyle factors every 4 years.

To read more visit:
Cassidy A, et al "High anthocyanin intake is associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction in young and middle-aged women" Circulation 2013; DOI:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.122408.

 

Let's Talk About Vaginas
Posted by on January 22, 2013 - 10:50am

On January 7, the U by Kotex brand, with the help of Ogilvy and Mather, launched a new campaign titled “Generation Know” aimed at addressing vaginal health myths. The campaign consists of short TV spots, longer more candid online videos, and a website providing a forum for frank and honest vaginal health discussion. A representative of the brand has stated that the campaign is meant to inform and empower young girls and women by allowing them to feel comfortable having conversations about their vaginas.

One video in the campaign tackles myths that women have heard about their vaginas and periods. Some of these myths are more common and serious, such as women losing their virginity from a tampon, and the possibility of losing tampons inside the body. Others, including the risk of a bear attack while camping with your period, are more humorous. The video takes these and other myths into consideration, and dispels them while encouraging women to seek out answers to questions they may have.

Another video focuses on how vaginal health is viewed as a taboo subject, and that many women have difficulty finding answers to questions they have about their vaginas. By approaching women in the street and beginning discussions about vaginal health, video blogger Kat Lazo finds that many women feel uncomfortable discussing their vaginas. In fact, one woman likened getting her first period to joining a secret society that every woman is a member of, but no one talks about. Lazo states that this culture of silence, “affects young girls’ self esteem, because if you fear talking about it, then you actually fear your vagina itself.”

These videos, along with other aspects of the “Generation Know” campaign highlight the fact that there is a significant amount of misinformation regarding vaginal health being spread around, and that many women are not comfortable discussing this topic. By encouraging women to ask questions and talk to one another, U by Kotex hopes to change the way our society feels about vaginal health. For more information on this campaign, visit the website at www.ubykotex.com.

 

Source: Neff, Jack. "Kimberly-Clark: Can We Talk...About Vaginal Myths?" Advertising Age. 4 January 2013. 

Breast feeding, get the facts about breast pumps
Posted by on January 18, 2013 - 10:28am

These days, many new mothers return to the workplace with a briefcase in one hand—and a breast pump kit in the other.

For those moms working outside the home who are breastfeeding their babies (and those who travel or for other reasons can’t be with their child throughout the day), using a breast pump to “express” (extract) their milk is a must.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the safety and effectiveness of these medical devices.

New mothers may have a host of questions about choosing a breast pump. What type of breast pump should they get? How do they decide ahead of time which pump will fit in best with their daily routines? Are pumps sold “used” safe?

To learn more, click HERE.

Hormone related depressions in women a growing concern
Posted by on January 16, 2013 - 3:07pm

Mental disorders are the cause of more than 37% of disabilities worldwide, with depression being the leading cause of disability among people aged 15 and older, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease and Risk Factors (2006).  Compared to men, women have twice the rate of depression, with a specific risk at puberty, premenstrually, postpartum, and in the perimenopause.  A striking 21% (1 of 5) women and 12% of men will have at least one episode of major depressive disorder in their lifetimes. 

About 5% of women experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a recurrent period of marked irritability and mood instability in the 1-2 weeks before menses.  Depression during pregnancy and after birth occurs in about 14% of mothers.  During the menopausal transition, depression affects between 12-23% of women 40-59 years old.  Many treatment options are available to restore stable mood and reclaim function.  The Assessing Stress, Health, Emotion, and Response (ASHER) Registry Clinic at Northwestern University is targeting  this problem.  Their initial focus will be on the clinical care of women with reproductive related depressive episodes.

Source:  Asher Center for Research and Treatment of Depressive Disorders
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

 

Beating the Winter Blues
Posted by on January 16, 2013 - 2:57pm

You might feel blue around the winter holidays, or get into a slump after the fun and festivities have ended. Some people have more serious mood changes year after year, lasting throughout the fall and winter when there’s less natural sunlight. What is it about the darkening days that can leave us down in the dumps? And what can we do about it?

NIH-funded researchers have been studying the “winter blues” and a more severe type of depression called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, for more than 3 decades.  Still, much remains unknown about these winter-related shifts in mood.

“Winter blues is a general term, not a medical diagnosis. It’s fairly common, and it’s more mild than serious. It usually clears up on its own in a fairly short amount of time,” says Dr. Matthew Rudorfer, a mental health expert at NIH. The so-called winter blues are often linked to something specific, such as stressful holidays or reminders of absent loved ones.

“Seasonal affective disorder, though, is different. It’s a well-defined clinical diagnosis that’s related to the shortening of daylight hours,” says Rudorfer. “It interferes with daily functioning over a significant period of time.” A key feature of SAD is that it follows a regular pattern. It appears each year as the seasons change, and it goes away several months later, usually during spring and summer.

SAD is more common in northern than in southern parts of the United States, where winter days last longer. “In Florida only about 1% of the population is likely to suffer from SAD. But in the northernmost parts of the U.S, about 10% of people in Alaska may be affected,” says Rudorfer.   “Some people say that SAD can look like a kind of hibernation.  People with SAD tend to be withdrawn, have low energy, oversleep and put on weight. They might crave carbohydrates,” such as cakes, candies and cookies. Without treatment, these symptoms generally last until the days start getting longer.

Shorter days seem to be a main trigger for SAD. Reduced sunlight in fall and winter can disrupt your body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm. This 24-hour “master clock” responds to cues in your surroundings, especially light and darkness. During the day, your brain sends signals to other parts of the body to help keep you awake and ready for action. At night, a tiny gland in the brain produces a chemical called melatonin, which helps you sleep. Shortened daylight hours in winter can alter this natural rhythm and lead to SAD in certain people.

NIH researchers first recognized the link between light and seasonal depression back in the early 1980s. These scientists pioneered the use of light therapy, which has since become a standard treatment for SAD. “Light therapy is meant to replace the missing daylight hours with an artificial substitute,” says Rudorfer.

In light therapy, patients generally sit in front of a light box every morning for 30 minutes or more, depending on the doctor’s recommendation. The box shines light much brighter than ordinary indoor lighting.

Studies have shown that light therapy relieves SAD symptoms for as much as 70% of patients after a few weeks of treatment. Some improvement can be detected even sooner. “Our research has found that patients report an improvement in depression scores after even the first administration of light,” says Dr. Teodor Postolache, who treats anxiety and mood disorders at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Still, a sizable proportion of patients improve but do not fully respond to light treatment alone.”

Once started, light therapy should continue every day well into spring. “Sitting 30 minutes or more in front of a light box every day can put a strain on some schedules,” says Dr. Teodor Postolache of U of Maryland. So some people tend to stop using the light boxes after a while. Other options have been tested, such as light-emitting visors that allow patients to move around during therapy. “But results with visors for treating SAD haven’t been as promising as hoped,” Postolache says.

Light therapy is usually considered a first line treatment for SAD, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Studies show that certain antidepressant drugs can be effective in many cases of SAD. The antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating SAD and for preventing winter depression. Doctors sometimes prescribe other antidepressants as well.

Growing evidence suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy—can also help patients who have SAD. “For the ‘cognitive’ part of CBT, we work with patients to identify negative self-defeating thoughts they have,” says Dr. Kelly Rohan, a SAD specialist at the University of Vermont. “We try to look objectively at the thought and then reframe it into something that’s more accurate, less negative, and maybe even a little more positive. The ‘behavioral’ part of CBT tries to teach people new behaviors to engage in when they’re feeling depressed, to help them feel better.” A preliminary study by Rohan and colleagues compared CBT to light therapy. Both were found effective at relieving SAD symptoms over 6 weeks in the winter. “We also found that people treated with CBT have less depression and less return of SAD the following winter compared to people who were treated with light therapy,” Rohan says.

If you’re feeling blue this winter, and if the feelings last for several weeks, talk to a health care provider. “It’s true that SAD goes away on its own, but that could take 5 months or more. Five months of every year is a long time to be impaired and suffering,” says Rudorfer. “SAD is generally quite treatable, and the treatment options keep increasing and improving.”

Source:  NIH News in Health

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