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EVERYTHING
Gathering in Gloria's Living Room to Talk Women's Health
What: At 91 years old, Gloria Steinem hosted nearly 30 women in her NYC apartment to discuss the lack of research funding for women’s health. The gathering included figures like Lupita Nyong’o, Ashlyn Harris, Lauren Bush Lauren, Jenna Lyons, and was led by advocate Alex Taylor and journalist Danielle Robay. Steinem’s home has long been a space for such conversations.
Key Line: "As introductions began, each woman shared her name and something she wished she had known earlier about women’s health, with stories that were both personal and political. One woman revealed her miscarriage cost more than giving birth to her two children. Topics wove between misinformation, insurance challenges, menopause and convincing men that women’s health deserves attention and funding."
Source: New York Times
Radical Hysterectomies Have Plummeted Since 2004
What: Looking at US data from 2004 to 2020, researchers found that radical hysterectomies (removing the uterus and tissues around it) dropped nearly 7% per year. The average number of surgeries dropped from 4.5 per oncologist in 2004 to 1.5 in 2020 -- meaning there are fewer doctors who know how to perform the operation.
Key Line: “The increasing rarity of radical hysterectomy may pose a challenge to those seeking to acquire and maintain competency in this complex operation."
Source: Obstetrics & Gynecology
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
Pregnancy and Birth Come With Steep Medical Bills, Even With Insurance
What: A KFF analysis of US insurance claims from 2021-2023 found the average costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care in the US were $20,416, including $2,743 paid by patients out-of-pocket. Infants under three months had average health costs of $5,820, with families paying $475 out-of-pocket. The data come from employer-sponsored health plans.
Key Line: "On average, pregnant women enrolled in employer health plans incur $2,743 more in out-of-pocket costs over the course of their pregnancy compared to similar women who are not pregnant. These costs are more than many families can afford. In fact, roughly one third of multi-person households and half of single-person households lack the liquid assets necessary to cover typical out-of-pocket costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth under private health plans."
Source: KFF
CARDIOVASCULAR
The Hidden Causes of Heart Attacks, Especially Younger Women
What: A Mayo Clinic study found more than half of women under 65 had heart attacks that were not caused by "traditional" means, a.k.a. clogged arteries. Instead, they were caused by problems like a tear in a heart artery (called SCAD) or a blood clot that travels to the heart (embolism), among other conditions. Overall, women get heart attacks less often than men, but when they do, doctors frequently miss the real cause, which can lead to misdiagnosis.
Key Line: "'This research shines a spotlight on heart attack causes that have historically been under-recognized, particularly in women,' says Claire Raphael, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., an interventional cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and first author of the study. 'When the root cause of a heart attack is misunderstood, it can lead to treatments that are less effective — or even harmful.'"
Source: MayoClinic
METABOLISM + WEIGHT LOSS
WHO Says Obesity Is a Health Issue, Not a Failure
What: The World Health Organization officially said weight-loss medicines should be offered to people with obesity as part of standard care, and stressed that obesity is not a personal weakness but a chronic health condition. WHO urged governments to rethink stigma and update treatment guidelines, noting that lifestyle changes alone often are not enough.
Key Line: "It recommended using the drugs to treat obesity for the first time, calling it a critical step toward developing a global standard of care. It is developing separate guidelines for treating children and adolescents."
Source: Reuters
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