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EVERYTHING
Life Expectancy for Women *Stagnant* in Southern States
What: Life expectancy for Americans overall has increased over the past 100 years -- except for women in the South. Researchers from Yale study analyzed death data of millions of people and found women in general saw life expectancies go from around 73 years to 84 years from 1900 to 2000. But in states like Kentucky and West Virginia, women went up only one year, from around 74 to around 75 years life expectancy.
Key Line: “'What was surprising to me was that for some states, especially for women, there’s basically no change,' said study co-author Theodore Holford, a senior research scientist in biostatistics at Yale University. 'Over 100 years, in some of these Southern states, they improved less than two years in the framework of all of the medical advances that we have seen during the 20th century.'”
Source: NBC News
Trump Administration Proposes Major Cuts to Women’s Health Research
What: The Society for Women's Health Research released a policy update on where things stand with women's health research in Washington. They warn the Trump administration has proposed cutting NIH's budget from $47 billion to $27 billion, reducing the CDC budget by 44%, and eliminating funding entirely for HHS subagencies like HRSA and SAMSA.
Key Line: "It’s important to remember that the president’s budget — of which this document is a part — serves as a guidance document, outlining how the president would like funding to be allocated in the coming fiscal year. It does not carry the force of law and is not binding on Congress. Ultimately, Congress directs federal spending and appropriations, and SWHR continues to work with both Congress and the administration to further investment in the health of women."
Source: Society for Women's Health Research
MENSTRUATION
Flu Shot May Slightly Affect Menstrual Cycle
What: A study of 1,501 participants found that getting the flu vaccines, either alone or with the COVID-19 vaccine, could cause the menstrual cycle to increase by a small amount (for most, less than one day).
Key Line: "The increase in cycle length we observed appears to be based on individuals vaccinated in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. This is in line with previous work from some of the investigators of the present study, which found an approximately 1-day increase in cycle length for individuals vaccinated for COVID-19 during the follicular phase, but no change for those vaccinated in the luteal phase or for an unvaccinated control group. Our results support the current hypothesis that the immune response triggered by vaccination temporarily impacts the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, although it is unclear whether this is a series of temporary responses or 1 primary change and at what level of the axis this occurs."
Source: JAMA Network Open
ABORTION ACCESS
Massachusetts Volunteers Pack Thousands of Abortion Pills
What: WBUR profiles the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, which has volunteers in the state packing and mailing thousands of pills to states with abortion bans. The group has helped fill nearly 11,000 orders.
Key Line: "A woman in her 70s, whom WBUR agreed to identify by the initial I., adds a sheet of detailed instructions about when to take the pills, what to expect and how to call physicians at The MAP with questions or concerns. She heard about the organization from a friend. 'I knew people back in the day who had botched abortions,' I. said. 'We worked for years to change the law of the land, and now we’re going backwards. So I want to support women who need these pills.'”
Source: WBUR
MENOPAUSE
Menopause Study Reveals Urinary Health Overlooked
What: A study of over 3,000 women found bladder health and lower urinary tract issues in perimenopausal and menopausal women are often ignored, despite being common symptoms. Researchers also found that systemic hormone use (i.e. through the blood stream) was linked to increased incontinence in postmenopausal women, while localized therapy improved genitourinary symptoms.
Key Line: “'This study highlights the changes in bladder health across the menopause transition. The relationship of hormone therapy with bladder health and lower urinary tract symptoms is more complex and requires a nuanced and individualized approach,' says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society."
Source: Menopause
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