‘Diet’ Beverage Consumption Linkage to Incontinence in Older Women
Postmenopausal women who consumed 1 or more servings of artificially sweetened beverages per day had 10% greater odds of having…
news
‘Fourth Trimester’ Focus Is Pushed to Prevent Maternal Deaths
For several weeks a year, the work of nurse-midwife Karen Sheffield-Abdullah is really detective work. She and a team of…
‘They Treat Me Like I’m Old and Stupid’: Seniors Decry Health Providers’ Age Bias
The assumption that older people aren’t resilient and can’t recover from illness is implicitly ageist.
$78 Million Awarded to Grow Nursing Faculty in 17 States
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded $78 million in grants for 25 institutions to increase nursing faculty and diversity.…
1 in 3 Had Postpartum Depression During Early Covid
One in three mothers experienced postpartum depression during the early stages of the Covid pandemic and one in five screened positive for major depressive symptoms.
1 in 5 have a sexually transmitted infection, CDC says
Nearly 68 million Americans had a STI in 2018 and half of the 26 million new cases were people aged 15 to 24.
1 in 5 Women Report Mistreatment During Maternity Care
One in five mothers said they were mistreated during their maternity care, according to a survey conducted by the Centers…
2022 Survey Reveals Women’s Perimenopause Knowledge Gaps
71% don’t know how to manage symptoms, 64% don’t know when to speak to a provider
5 Ways Rachel Levine and Biden’s Team Can Help Rural Health Care
One strategy: special maternity care payments that would allow rural hospitals to hire dedicated obstetrics nurses.
9 Most Sobering Statistics in Women’s Health
Making women’s health, physical, psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing a priority, has never been more important. During National Women’s Health…
A New RSV Shot Could Help Protect Babies This Winter — If They Can Get It in Time
The CDC is now asking prenatal care providers to warn their patients about potential nirsevimab supply shortages, with the hope that driving up the maternal vaccination rate could help ease the demand for nirsevimab.
A Third of Schools Don’t Have a Nurse. Here’s Why That’s a Problem.
Students were sent home 18% of the time when evaluated by an unlicensed school employee while only 5% went home after being seen by a school nurse, according to a study from the Journal of School Nursing.
Abortion Pill Given Based on Patient Medical History as Safe as After an Exam: Study
Shifting toward remote screening means primary care providers who work in rural, low-income and other marginalized communities could conduct medication abortion screening and increase equitable access to abortion care.
Abortion Restrictions Confuse Care for Miscarriages
It’s an emotional and legal dilemma that potentially faces not just obstetricians and midwives, but also nurse practitioners, family physicians, emergency physicians, pharmacists, and anyone else who might become involved with pregnancy care.
Acne bacteria trigger cells to produce fats, oils and other lipids essential to skin health – new research
The skin is the largest organ of the body, and it plays a crucial role as the first line of…
Add This Intervention to Cut Preeclampsia Risk
Black Women Show Even Greater Benefit, AHA Journal Study Finds
Addiction Treatment Proponents Urge Rural Clinicians to Pitch In by Prescribing Medication
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — Andrea Storjohann is glad to see that she’s becoming less of a rarity in rural America. The…
ADHD Brains Present Unique Challenges, but the Condition Is Highly Treatable − a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner With ADHD Explains the Science
“My brain has way too many tabs open.” “Why can’t I complete tasks?” “Why do I lose track of time?”…
AI-Aided Mammogram Screening Detected 20% More Breast Cancers, Swedish Study Finds
Using artificial intelligence (AI) to help read mammograms resulted in 20 percent more cancer detections and cut radiologists’ workload in…
Alcohol use disorder can be treated with an array of medications – but few people have heard of them
More than 29.5 million Americans ages 12 and up had alcohol use disorder – the medical term for the disease…
Alcohol use is widely accepted in the US, but even moderate consumption is associated with many harmful effects
This month, millions of Americans are taking part in “Dry January” in an effort to forgo alcohol for a month…
American Academy of Pediatrics Updates Breastfeeding Guidelines
Breastfeeding is a public health imperative, according to a newly updated American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement. The AAP…
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
For Alcohol Awareness Month, we’ve compiled several of the resources that we’ve published to help you and your patients,…
Are At-Home Test Kits Reliable?
Among the more remarkable legacies of the covid-19 pandemic is how quickly federal regulators, the health care industry, and consumers…
As eastern equine encephalitis spreads, a neurologist explains how to stay safe during this latest outbreak of the ‘triple E’ virus
The 2024 outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis – known as triple E or EEE – has caused six reported and…
As More Patients Email Doctors, Health Systems Start Charging Fees
“It’s been a frustration for many physicians for many years that we weren’t reimbursed for our ‘pajama-time’ work,”
Beyond PMS: A Poorly Understood Disorder Means Periods of Despair for Some Women
For the most part, Cori Lint was happy. She worked days as a software engineer and nights as a part-time…
Black Maternal Health Week
This week (April 11-17) is Black Maternal Health Week 2023 (BMHW) and this year’s theme is “Our Bodies Belong to…
BMI: The Mismeasure of Weight and the Mistreatment of Obesity
People who seek medical treatment for obesity or an eating disorder do so with the hope their health plan will…
Body dysmorphic disorder is more common than eating disorders yet few are aware of its dangers
While eating disorders have been widely publicized for decades, far less attention has been given to a related condition called…
Boost Now or Wait? Many Wonder How Best to Ride Out Covid’s Next Wave
The rapidly mutating virus has created a conundrum for the public and a communications challenge for health officials.
Breast density and mammograms: New FDA rule will ensure all women have more information after cancer screenings
The Food and Drug Administration implemented a rule to go into effect on Sept. 10, 2024, requiring mammography facilities to…
Breastfeeding benefits mothers as much as babies, but public health messaging often only tells half of the story
Four babies are born every second in the world, and there are only two options for their first food at…
Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health
Wealthy nations must do much more, much faster.
Can Routine Mammograms Hold Clues to Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the #1 cause of death among US women according to the American Heart Association (AHA)’s Heart…
Can Vitamins Impact Uterine Fibroid (UF) Risk and Treatment?
Lit Review Finds ‘An Innovative Approach to Treating these Tumors’
Cannabis legalization has led to a boom in potent forms of the drug that present new hazards for adolescents
Eventually, most adults reach a point where we realize we are out of touch with those much younger than us.…
Clinicians Often Miss Depression Symptoms for Certain Groups
Depression is a costly and debilitating condition that profoundly influences a person’s quality of life. In 2020, more than 21…
Clinicians Often Overlook Vitamin B12 Deficiency
For several months during the summer of 2022, my dog Scout vomited at 3 a.m. nearly every day. If you…
Consider Trauma in Your Menopausal Patients
Psychological trauma has the potential to suppress ovarian function and reduce ovarian estrogen secretion. However, the relationship between trauma and…
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery (CABG) Still Riskier for Women Than Men
~30-40% Higher Mortality Risk Following CABG
Counseling Your Patients on Dementia (Quick Quiz Included)
How to Spark the Talk Patients May Dread, Allay Fear, and Take Proactive Steps
COVID-19 Vaccines for Children: How Parents Are Influenced by Misinformation, and How They Can Counter it
How can pediatricians and other health care professionals empower parents to feel confident in the choice to get their children vaccinated for COVID-19?
COVID-19 vaccines: CDC says people ages 65 and up should get a shot this spring – a geriatrician explains why it’s vitally important
In my mind, the spring season will always be associated with COVID-19. In spring 2020, the federal government declared a…
Deadly fungus Candida auris is spreading across US hospitals – a physician answers 5 questions about rising fungal infections
In late March 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted the threat posed by a rapidly spreading…
Disproving Penicillin Allergy in Low-Risk Pregnant Women
New Data on Safety—and Best Reasons to Advocate De-labeling
Do hormonal contraceptives increase depression risk? A neuroscientist explains how they affect your mood, for better or worse
More than 85% of women – and more than 300 million people worldwide at any given time – use hormonal…
Doctors often aren’t trained on the preventive health care needs of gender-diverse people
Preventive health care – such as cancer screening – is a critical tool in the early detection of disease. Missed…
Early Breast Cancer Mortality Risk Drops
Most can expect to become ‘long-term survivors’
Early Menopause, Late HRT May Up Alzheimer’s Risk
‘When it comes to hormone therapy, timing is everything’
Early Pregnancy BP Patterns Can Predict Preeclampsia Risk
Six routine blood pressure (BP) patterns recorded in the first half of pregnancy—when used in conjunction with other risk factors—may…
Eating Alone May Contribute to Heart Disease in Older Women
Older women who eat alone are at a higher risk of heart disease, according to a study published this month…
Eating disorders among teens have more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic – here’s what to watch for
The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with worsening mental health among teens, including increasing numbers of patients with eating disorders.…
Evidence murky for pregnant transgender men and nonbinary people to stop testosterone therapy
When I talk about our research team’s work on pregnancy in transgender people, people often recall Thomas Beatie, a pregnant…
Evidence-based Ways to Help Patients With Long Covid
A patient of mine, once a marathon runner, now gets tired just walking around the block. She developed COVID-19 during…
Extreme ‘Morning Sickness’ Form Linked to ~50% Chance for CV Event Hospitalization
CVD Risk Persists Up to 30 Years Post-Partum
FDA Accepts Submission of New Drug BREXAFEMME That Prevents Vaginal Yeast Infections
SCYNEXIS has announced that the FDA has accepted the submission for their ibrexafungerp tablets BREXAFEMME. SCYNEXIS’s submission has been granted…
FDA adds warning about rare Veozah risk of liver injury
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that Veozah, a drug used to treat hot flashes…
FDA Approves Brexafemme For Recurrent Yeast Infections
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Brexafemme (ibrexafungerp) for a second indication for reduction in incidence of recurrent…
FDA approves first daily over-the-counter birth control pill, Opill – a pharmacist and public health expert explain this new era in contraception
it is important to note that over-the-counter access to hormonal birth control does not replace the importance of regular office visits or discussion about reproductive health with clinicians.
FDA Approves First Pill for Postpartum Depression
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved Zurzuvae as the first oral treatment for postpartum depression (PPD).…
FDA approves Pfizer and Myovant’s Endometriosis Drug Myfembree After Delay
After a delay, the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer and Myovant drug Myfembree. Myfembree is…
FDA Panel Backs Pfizer RSV Vaccine for Pregnant Patients
Update: The FDA approved the vaccine for prevention of RSV in newborns on Aug. 21, 2023. Pfizer’s vaccine designed to…
FDA Receives Application for First OTC Birth Control Pill Approval Expected as Soon as Mid-2023
Perrigo Company (PRGO.N) announced last week that its unit, HRA Pharma, has asked the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
FDA’s approval of the world’s first vaccine against RSV will offer a new tool in an old fight
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the world’s first vaccine to prevent the respiratory infection RSV, short for respiratory…
FDA’s greenlighting of maternal RSV vaccine represents a major step forward in protecting young babies against the virus
With the Food and Drug Administration’s Aug. 21, 2023, approval of the first vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV,…
Federal Panel Prescribes New Mental Health Strategy to Curb Maternal Deaths
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Milagros Aquino was trying to find a new place to live and had been struggling to get…
Fermented foods sustain both microbiomes and cultural heritage
Many people around the world make and eat fermented foods. Millions in Korea alone make kimchi. The cultural heritage of…
First OTC Birth Control Pill Wins FDA Approval
UPDATE: FDA gave Opill full approval on July 13, 2023. Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have voted…
First-in-kind Yeast Infection Med Gets FDA Nod
And we have an app tool for dxing and treating these patients
For decades, mothers have borne the brunt of scrutiny for alcohol use during pregnancy − new research points to dad’s drinking as a significant factor in fetal alcohol syndrome
Until clinicians start asking the father about his drinking, we will never fully know the contributions of paternal alcohol exposure to birth defects and child health.
For Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Fertility Care Is About Reproductive Justice
Teonna Woolford has always wanted six kids. Why six? “I don’t know where that number came from. I just felt…
Free NPWH Membership for WHNP Students
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) students can get a free membership to Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) thanks to…
Free preventive care under the ACA is under threat again
Many Americans breathed a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court left the Affordable Care Act in place following the…
Genetic Screening Results Just Got Harder to Handle Under New Abortion Rules
Ann was 15 weeks pregnant with her fourth child when the results of her prenatal genetic test came back last…
Ginny Moore and Shelagh Larson Named AANP Fellows
Dr. Ginny Moore and Dr. Shelagh Larson have been inducted as American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) fellows in recognition of…
Guide to Migraines and Menopause
For patients approaching menopause, the National Migraine Centre has a factsheet available for download to help them understand why they…
Half of Women Said They Needed Mental Health Services in Past 2 Years
Half of all women surveyed said they needed mental health services the last two years, but only six in 10…
Health Worker for a Nonprofit? The New Ban on Noncompete Contracts May Not Help You
Many physicians and nurses are happy about the Federal Trade Commission’s new rule banning the use of noncompete agreements in…
Healthcare for Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals
Hanne Harbison discusses the Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health’s Position Statement on Healthcare for Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals, approved May 2022,…
Hispanic women are less likely to get PrEP treatment − new intervention could change that
In the U.S., Hispanic women have been disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic in recent years. Yet they’ve been less…
How bird flu virus fragments get into milk sold in stores, and what the spread of H5N1 in cows means for the dairy industry and milk drinkers
The discovery of fragments of avian flu virus in milk sold in U.S. stores, including in about 20% of samples…
How does fever help fight infections? There’s more to it than even some scientists realize
When you’re sick with a fever, your doctor will likely tell you it’s a sign that your immune system is…
How frontotemporal dementia, the syndrome affecting Bruce Willis, changes the brain – research is untangling its genetic causes
Around 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, the actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with…
How Important Is the COVID-19 Booster Shot for 5-to-11-Year-Olds?
COVID-19 case numbers are rising again in the U.S. – including among children. In mid-May 2022, the Food and Drug…
Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is filling ICUs this spring
In the year 2000, Dutch scientists went on a mission of exploration – not to discover lands or riches, but…
Hundreds of thousands of US infants every year pay the consequences of prenatal exposure to drugs, a growing crisis particularly in rural America
Nearly 1 in 12 newborns in the United States in 2020 – or about 300,000 infants – were exposed to…
Hysterectomy May Increase Women’s Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Women who had had a hysterectomy—especially before the age of 50—had an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes in a…
Increased Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Psoriasis: Study
Providers Should be Aware Risk Factors in this Cohort
Infants Can’t Get Covid-19 Vaccine, But Their Moms Should: CDC
Hospitalization rates for infants with Covid-19 increased with the onset of Omicron, but severity did not, the Centers for Disease…
Ketamine can rapidly reduce symptoms of PTSD and depression, new study finds
The drug ketamine can reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and symptoms of depression in patients as…
Ketamine Therapy for Mental Health a ‘Wild West’ for Doctors and Patients
In late 2022, Sarah Gutilla’s treatment-resistant depression had grown so severe, she was actively contemplating suicide. Raised in foster care,…
Lack of diversity in clinical trials is leaving women and patients of color behind
It’s a great day when you find a piece of clothing that fits perfectly. A good shirt, the right pair…
Latest Data on Body Composition, Obesity, and the Odds of Developing PCOS
Plus, Evidence-Based PCOS Practice Tools for You and Your Patients
Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling
Since 2020, the condition known as long COVID-19 has become a widespread disability affecting the health and quality of life…
Lung cancer is the deadliest of all cancers, and screening could save many lives − if more people could access it
Many medical organizations have been recommending lung cancer screening for decades for those at high risk of developing the disease.…
Lung cancer rates have risen steeply for young women – an oncologist explains why
When many people think of an average lung cancer patient, they often imagine an older man smoking. But the face…
Many Autoimmune Disease Patients Struggle With Diagnosis, Costs, Inattentive Care
After years of debilitating bouts of fatigue, Beth VanOrden finally thought she had an answer to her problems in 2016…
Many Ob/gyns Not Using Recommended Tools to Dx Depression, New Survey Finds
Few Reported Adequate Training in Suicide Risk Assessment
Many women uncertain about legality of abortion pill
Half of women are unsure whether abortion pills are still legal in their state, according to a survey by the…
Maternal Mortality Rates Continued to Rise in 2021
More than 1,200 women died of maternal causes in 2021, nearly doubling since 2018, according to statistics released by the…
Mean salary for NPs $124,680 latest report says
The mean annual salary for Nurse Practitioners was $124,680 in 2022 with California leading the way in both number of…
Menopause Survey Reflects Need for Education
A quarter of women with menopause symptoms felt dismissed by their healthcare provider, a survey of 2,000 women, ages 40-64,…
Menopause treatments can help with hot flashes and other symptoms – but many people aren’t aware of the latest advances
Menopause used to be a taboo topic in many quarters. Now, it’s frequently in the news. In March 2024, the…
Mental Health Disorders in Women Associated with Increased Risk for Broken Heart Syndrome New Data Finds
More than 90% of cases of broken heart syndrome, clinically referred to as Takotsubo syndrome (TS), affect postmenopausal women. Some…
More adults than ever have been seeking ADHD medications – an ADHD expert explains what could be driving the trend
As a woman in my 30s who was constantly typing “ADHD” into my computer, something interesting happened to me in…
More than a quarter of patients now see an NP or PA
The number of patients who see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant has increased from 14 percent in 2013 to…
More Women Are Drinking Themselves Sick. The Biden Administration Is Concerned.
When Karla Adkins looked in the rearview mirror of her car one morning nearly 10 years ago, she noticed the…
Most NPs aware of risks of antibiotic resistance, study finds
A survey of nurse practitioners (NP) found almost all appreciate the risks of antibiotic resistance (AR) and most were confident…
Most NPs embrace telehealth, with some reservations, survey finds
Nurse Practitioners (NP) have generally embraced telehealth since the start of the pandemic, though they have some reservations about quality…
Mounting research points to health harms from cannabis, THC and CBD use during pregnancy
Cannabis is a widely used psychoactive drug worldwide, and its popularity is growing: The U.S. market for recreational cannabis sales…
New Guidelines Expand Lung-Cancer Screening
The American Cancer Society has expanded its annual screening guidelines for lung cancer to include younger former smokers regardless of…
New HPV Infections Fall More Than 80 Percent
Even women not vaccinated against HPV appear to be benefitting as signs of herd immunity emerge.
New research suggests estrogen and progesterone could play role in opioid addiction and relapse
As opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. rose dramatically from 2014 to today, both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey,…
New thinking about urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be tricky in older age. They’re not always as easy to spot or treat as…
New treatment for postpartum depression offers hope, but the stigma attached to the condition still lingers
Postpartum depression can affect anyone, and it often sneaks in quietly, like a shadow in the corners of a new…
New treatments offer much-needed hope for patients suffering from chronic pain
Hundreds of millions of people around the world experience chronic pain – meaning pain that lasts longer than three months.…
No Bed Sharing with Infants Among New AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines
First Update since 2016 Applies to Children up to 1 Year
NP Best Job in America, U.S. News Says
Nurse Practitioner (NP) is now the best job in America, according to U.S. News and World Report. The ranking, one…
NPs Prescribe as Safely as Physicians, Another Study Finds
Nurse Practitioners (NP) prescribe as safely as physicians, a large study of the prescribing records of more than 73,000 primary…
NPWH news & updates
Gay Johnson, CEO Message from the CEO For almost 23 years, I have had the joy of working for the…
NPWH news & updates | June 2019
Message from the CEO One of my favorite tasks as CEO of NPWH is to present two special awards during…
NPWH President-elect to Appear Before FDA at OTC Contraception Hearing
NPWH’s President-elect will be offering oral arguments this week during an FDA hearing on making a contraception pill available over-the-counter…
Number of NPs grows by 8.5% in last year
The number of Nurse Practitioners (NP) grew by 8.5 percent in the last year, from 355,000 to 385,000, according to…
Nurse Midwives Step Up to Provide Prenatal Care After Two Rural Hospitals Shutter Birthing Centers
Midwives can provide many other types of care for women and for babies.
Nurse Practitioner Again Ranked Top Healthcare Job
Nurse Practitioner has once again been ranked at the top healthcare job and second best of any job in the…
Nurse Practitioner Fastest Growing Job in the Country
Nurse Practitioners are expected to be the fastest growing job in the country over the next ten years, the U.S.…
Older Women Are Different Than Older Men. Their Health Is Woefully Understudied.
Medical research has shortchanged women for decades. This is particularly true of older women, leaving physicians without critically important information…
Online Data Could Be Used Against People Seeking Abortions if Roe v. Wade falls
Anyone in a state where abortion becomes illegal who relies on the internet for information, products and services related to reproductive health would be subject to online policing.
Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill, will be on shelves soon − here are some key things to know
The Food and Drug Administration’s 2023 approval of the first over-the-counter birth control pill, called Opill, broadened the options for…
Oral sex is now the leading risk factor for throat cancer
Over the past two decades, there has been a rapid increase in throat cancer in the west, to the extent…
Over 38% of Young Women Iron Deficient, New Research Finds
Routine Screening May Miss Over Three-Quarters of Cases
Pandemic Highlights Need for Urgent Care Clinics for Women
Urgent care OB-GYN clinics have begun popping up around the country in recent years, and the covid pandemic has increased demand.
Parkinson’s Risk Higher in Younger Women Who Have Had Bilateral Oophorectomy
Surgical removal of both ovaries in women under the age of 43 is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s…
Poll Explores Sex and Menopause
More than half of the women between age 50 and 64 reported being sexually active but nearly a third of them said menopause symptoms interfered,
Poll: Should Patients be Charged for Emailed Questions?
We asked readers of this story to tell us whether they believed should patients be charged for emailed questions. Here…
Position Statement: Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment
Approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancers and 20% to 25% of ovarian cancers are associated with a hereditary predisposition from an inherited pathogenic variant
Position Statement: Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women
The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) affirms that women’s health nurse practitioners (WHNPs) and other advanced…
Potassium-rich Foods Counteract High Salt Intake in Women: Study
Women who eat bananas, avocados, salmon, and other potassium-rich foods can reduce the negative effects of salt in the diet…
Preeclampsia Risk Test Gets FDA Nod
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the first blood-based biomarkers assay for risk assessment and clinical management of…
Pregnancy With Infertility Treatments May Increase Risk of Vascular Complications
Researchers advise clinicians to educate patients about the risks associated with ART when they provide pre-pregnancy counseling
Prenatal supplements fall woefully short in providing crucial nutrition during pregnancy – and most women don’t even know it
If there’s one thing doctors agree on, it’s that all of their pregnant patients should take prenatal supplements. As a…
PrEP Is Supposed to Be Free. Why Are Some Patients Still Paying?
Women remain a neglected group when it comes to PrEP education and treatment.
Prescriptions for fruits and vegetables can improve the health of people with diabetes and other ailments, new study finds
The health of people with diabetes, hypertension and obesity improved when they could get free fruits and vegetables with a…
Preventive Care May Be Free, but Follow-Up Diagnostic Tests Can Bring Big Bills
When Cynthia Johnson learned she would owe $200 out-of-pocket for a diagnostic mammogram in Houston, she almost put off getting…
Prior Migraines May Mean Riskier Pregnancy
Women with a history of migraines are at a higher risk for certain pregnancy complications, according to a new study…
Privacy Rights in State Constitutions May Protect Their Abortion Access
In states where courts ruled their constitutions’ privacy rights extend to abortion rights, it could be legal even if Roe is overturned.
Progesterone to Prevent Preterm Birth Effective Only in Women with Short Cervix, Study Finds
A systematic review and meta-analysis just published in the September 2022 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology…
Rare ‘Flesh-Eating’ Bacterium Spreads North as Oceans Warm
Debbie King barely gave it a second thought when she scraped her right shin climbing onto her friend’s pontoon for…
Rare and tragic cases of postpartum psychosis bring renewed attention to its risks
Lindsay Clancy, a labor and delivery nurse at the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, is the latest tragic and…
Raw milk health risks significantly outweigh any potential benefits − food scientists and nutritionists explain why
Despite an ongoing outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows, the popularity of raw milk has only risen. Advocates claim…
Reassurance for Your Pregnant Patients on Antidepressants, Study Shows
Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Does Not Raise Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children
Recognizing the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer Could Reduce Misdiagnosis
Without screening tests, many physicians wrongly assume that early diagnosis for ovarian cancer isn’t possible.
Registration Opens for 26th Annual NPWH Women’s Healthcare Conference
Registration has opened for the 26th Annual NPWH Women’s Healthcare Conference to be held in San Diego, CA, Oct. 29…
Rush for Covid Vaccines Left the Pregnant Behind
“Our failure as a society to vaccinate women in pregnancy will be remembered by the children and families who lost their mothers to this disease.”
Screening Patients on a Tablet Detected 2X as Many at Risk
The lead researcher believes the accuracy of oral screening is hampered by patients’ hesitation to reveal sensitive information and providers’ time pressure or discomfort with the questions.
Screening women under 50 for colorectal cancer cuts risk in half
A new study has found that screening women for colorectal cancer (CRC) starting at age 45 reduced their risk 50 to 60 percent.
Seeing the human in every patient − from biblical texts to 21st century relational medicine
Patients frequently describe the U.S. health care system as impersonal, corporate and fragmented. One study even called the care delivered…
Self-compassion Reduces Heart Risk for Middle-aged Women
Middle-aged women who practice self-compassion may have a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Seniors With Anxiety Frequently Don’t Get Help. Here’s Why.
Anxiety is the most common psychological disorder affecting adults in the U.S. In older people, it’s associated with considerable distress…
Sex Trafficking Isn’t What You Think
Frontline workers inconsistently define and apply the label “trafficking victim” – especially when it comes to sex trafficking. That makes it harder to get trafficked people the help they request.
Shorter Hospital Stays, Milder Illness for Breastfed Babies
First Study to Measure Breastfeeding Effect on Disease Prognosis, Duration of Hospitalization
Single dose of LSD highly effective at treating anxiety
LSD was accidentally discovered by Albert Hofmann at the Sandoz pharmaceutical company in Switzerland in 1938. It was apparently useless,…
Skin Cancer May Be Overlooked in People With Dark Skin.
Skin cancers may appear different on fairer skin than on darker skin, and because clinicians may have been trained only with fair-skin depictions, the chance for misdiagnosis in people with dark skin increases.
Skin cancer screening guidelines can seem confusing – three skin cancer researchers explain when to consider getting checked
Protecting oneself from the summer sun and its damaging ultraviolet rays is often not straightforward. And public health messaging around…
Snap Quiz on Migraines and Hormones
Plus Resources for Your Patient Discussions and Their FAQs
Special Risks of Psoriasis in Your Patients
Red Flag for Alcohol Concerns and Other Care Considerations
STD resources for testing, diagnosing and treating sexually transmitted infections
One in five people had a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in 2018, the CDC estimates, adding that the number continued…
STDs Increased During Pandemic in 2020, CDC Says
The lockdowns and social isolation prompted by Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 did not halt the rise in Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
Study: Azithromycin Protects Against Maternal Sepsis, Death from Vaginal Delivery
Low-cost, Generic Antibiotic Could Prevent Sepsis in up to 2 Million Women Per Year
Suicide has reached epidemic proportions in the US − yet medical students still don’t receive adequate training to treat suicidal patients
Why do so many Americans take their lives shortly after seeing a primary care provider?
Supreme Court sidesteps case on whether federal law on medical emergencies overrides Idaho’s abortion ban
On June 27, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a case brought by the federal government regarding whether Idaho’s abortion…
Supreme Court unanimously concludes that anti-abortion groups have no standing to challenge access to mifepristone – but the drug likely faces more court challenges
On June 13, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED TO UPHOLD ACCESS to mifepristone, ONE OF…
Survey: Americans Want Weight Loss Drugs Despite High Cost
Many Americans really want to lose weight — and a new poll shows nearly half of adults would be interested…
Syphilis cases surged in 2021, CDC Says
Cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis continued to increase in 2021, with more than 2.5 million sexually transmitted infections (STI)…
Tea, Coffee, Protein May Reduce Hip Fracture Risk in Some Women
A study recently released in the journal Clinical Nutrition examining associations between nutrition and hip fracture risk in women determined…
Test Your Knowledge: New FDA Guidance on Mammography and How it Impacts You
Are you aware that, on March 9, the FDA updated its mammography regulations requiring mammography facilities to notify patients about…
The FDA’s rule change requiring providers to inform women about breast density could lead to a flurry of questions
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized a regulation in early March 2023 that updates mammography reporting requirements. The new…
The New Covid Vaccine Is Out. Why You Might Not Want To Rush To Get It.
The FDA has approved an updated covid shot for everyone 6 months old and up, which renews a now-annual quandary…
The Whys of the Menstrual Product Shortage and Resources to Share with Patients
COVID’s lingering impact on worker shortages, manufacturing shutdowns, and disruptions in global supply chains that sent parents scrambling for baby…
Tick Bite Meat Allergy Not Recognized by Nearly Half of Healthcare Providers
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is warning that alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is widely undiagnosed, with one study finding nearly…
Timing and Cost of New Vaccines Vary by Virus and Health Insurance Status
Those who get one of the new RSV vaccines now should take a brief pause of at least two weeks before getting any other vaccination because there isn’t much data on whether they interact with other shots when received concurrently. Both covid and flu shots are worth getting, but it might be a good idea to wait a little bit.
Toxoplasma is a common parasite that causes birth defects – but the US doesn’t screen for it during pregnancy
“In countries that perform prenatal screening for toxoplasmosis, the severity of congenital toxoplasmosis is far less than what is routinely observed in the U.S.”
Urinary Incontinence Often Goes Undiagnosed
Urinary incontinence (UI) is so uncomfortable for some women to talk about that only 40 percent seek treatment, some waiting years before discussing it with a primary care provide.r
US Maternal Mortality Rate Worsens
State-by-State Analysis Shows Surge Across Racial and Ethnic Groups
USPSTF Issues First-Ever Advice on Anxiety Screening
New Guidelines Alert Primary Care Providers to Screen Adults, Including Pregnant and Postpartum Women
USPSTF Updates Starting Age for Mammography
Calls for mammograms at age 40 for low-risk patients amid rise in breast cancer in younger women
Vaginal ring to treat VMS sees positive efficacy, safety results
A vaginal ring that releases estrogen and progestogen hormone therapy to treat vasomotor symptoms due to menopause was safe and…
Vegetarian Diet May Increase Risk of Hip Fracture in Women, Study Finds
A vegetarian diet increased the risk of hip fracture in women by 33% in a study recently published in BMC…
Vitamin D Supplementation in Pregnancy May Reduce Eczema in Babies
Antenatal cholecalciferol (Vitamin D) supplementation may protect infants from developing infantile atopic eczema, according to a UK study just published…
West Nile virus season returns − a medical epidemiologist explains how it’s transmitted and how you can avoid it
West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the continental U.S., with an average of 2,464 reported cases…
What are HeLa cells? A cancer biologist explains
Cancer-causing viruses like HPV can cause cells to divide indefinitely and, in the case of Henrietta Lacks, become immortal. Tom…
What does weight-inclusive health care mean? A dietitian explains what some providers are doing to end weight stigma
People with larger bodies often experience weight stigma as discrimination, prejudice, negative stereotypes and judgments from others – including their own doctors and other health care providers
Which Patients Should Take Paxlovid?
Even as specialists in infectious diseases praise the treatment’s effectiveness, many practitioners say they have questions about prescribing the drug and want better data
WHNP examines the patchwork of abortion care since the fall of Roe v. Wade
In the year since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson ruling struck down the constitutional right to abortion, society…
Why are migraines worse during your period? Research in mice points to a hormone called progesterone, offering a new treatment target
Migraines are throbbing headaches often accompanied by nausea and increased sensitivity to light, sound and touch. Nearly 30 million Americans…
Why Millions Are Trying FDA-Authorized Alternatives to Big Pharma’s Weight Loss Drugs.
Illustration credit: Oona Tempest/KFF Health News Pharmacist Mark Mikhael has lost 50 pounds over the past 12 months. He no…
Will omicron-specific booster shots be more effective at combating COVID-19? 5 questions answered
On Aug. 31, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of updated COVID-19 booster shots that are specifically…
With Its Two Doctors Planning to Retire, an Alabama Town Patches Together Health Care Options
Rickey Whitlow stepped into the telehealth kiosk, pressed a button, and saw a nurse practitioner appear on a large vertical video screen positioned at eye level.
Women and Minorities Bear the Brunt of Medical Misdiagnosis
Charity Watkins sensed something was deeply wrong when she experienced exhaustion after her daughter was born. At times, Watkins, then…
Women Less Likely to Get CPR from Bystanders Than Men
Bystanders, especially in public spaces, are less likely to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on women than men, a study presented…
Women Using Cannabis to Manage Menopause, Study Finds
Women are using cannabis to manage their menopause symptoms, a new study found, highlighting the need to determine its effectiveness.…
Women With Heart Disease Do Better With Female Doctors, Review Finds
The review found that women with cardiovascular disease have better outcomes with female physicians compared to male providers
Women with PMDD at Higher Risk of Suicide
Women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are at an almost seven times risk of suicide attempt.
Women with Preeclampsia have 4-Fold Higher Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke within 7 Years of Delivery
Risks Remain Elevated for >20 Years
Women with T2 Diabetes at Greater Risk for VTE Than Men with Diabetes
VTE Risk Especially High During Perimenopause
Women’s Health Week Programs on Menopause, Aging and Rural Health
Three virtual programs will highlight aging, menopause and rural healthcare as part of National Women’s Health Week, May 14-20. On…
WPSI Issues New Clinical Guidelines for Obesity Prevention in Women 40 to 60
Advocates Preemptive Intervention to Address Obesity Risk Before Weight Gain
Your body already has a built-in weight loss system that works like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro – food and your gut microbiome
Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are weight loss and diabetes drugs that have made quite a splash in health news. They…
Your Older Patients Would Like to Talk About Their Medications
Most patients over 50 are receptive to talking with their healthcare provider about taking fewer medications, but some are doing…
Youth Underestimate STI Risk of Oral Sex: Study
Young people are largely unaware of the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, through oral sex.