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MENSTRUATION
Healthy Diet (Not BMI) Linked to Later Menstrual Periods in Girls
What: A study of just under 7,000 girls found those who ate healthier diets as children started their menstrual periods later, *regardless* of their BMI or height. This matters because starting periods early in life is linked to diabetes, obesity, and heart disease later in life.
Key Line: "The researchers believe that these results suggest the type of food eaten by girls during childhood and adolescence and its impact on inflammation may be what is influencing the time of menarche, rather than height and BMI."
Source: European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
Study Finds Syphilis Treatment During Pregnancy Critical for Good Birth Outcomes
What: Syphilis increased 80% from 2018 to 2022 in the United States, prompting this study to examine how women with syphilis and their babies do in labor and delivery. Researchers found women who weren't treated for syphilis during their pregnancy had higher rates of stillbirth, low birth weight, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions.
Key line: "Increased attention and systematic strategies are needed to address gaps in screening and treatment before and during pregnancy to reduce adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes."
Source: Obstetrics & Gynecology
ABORTION ACCESS
The Flawed Study Behind Calls for Abortion Pill Restrictions
What: Right-leaning Reason magazine explains why an anti-abortion group's study of the abortion pill has major flaws. For example, the authors appear to have included women who took the pill while miscarrying, and included every ER visit reported, even if it did not result in serious treatment.
Key Line: "It would be silly to argue that medication abortion is 100 percent safe. But to put the serious complications in perspective, we should also look to complication rates in pregnancy and in miscarriages. No matter how a pregnancy ends, a pregnant woman incurs some risk."
Source: Reason
Trump Administration Wants to Protect FDA Power Over Abortion Pill
What: The Trump administration asked a federal judge to dismiss a case from Republicans states against the abortion pill -- but only because they don't think states should be able to challenge the FDA. They left their position on the pill itself vague, and advocates think it could be a set up for future attacks on access to the abortion pill.
Key Line: "[Nicole Huberfeld, a health law professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health,] believes the administration may try to change mifepristone access through the FDA, and that the legal reasoning in Monday’s filing could be used against a future lawsuit by blue states against new restrictions. 'They’re basically saying that the states don’t get to just challenge FDA policy because they want to,' Huberfeld said. 'Which, in my view, is a set-up for anticipating that blue states may try to challenge any changes on mifepristone rules.'
Source: The Guardian
MENOPAUSE
Most Women Enter Menopause in the Dark: New Survey Reveals Stark Gaps in Hormone Health Education
What: A of 1,000 US women ages 45 through 60 found 86% of women are not fully confident in their understanding of menopause and 84% say they don’t feel adequately informed about available treatments. The survey was sponsored by the HRT Club, which sells hormone therapy direct to consumers.
Key Line: “'We’re witnessing a healthcare blind spot,' said Lauren Darisse, COO and General Counsel of The HRT Club. 'Menopause impacts half the population, yet it’s often ignored, mischaracterized and left out of mainstream medical conversations. We believe women deserve better and we’re here to make that happen.'”
Source: Business Wire
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