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PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
My Secret Pelvic Prolapse
What: Kailyn McCord writes for The Cut about her months-long struggle with pelvic prolapse postpartum, and having clinicians dismiss it as the normal recovery process, even though she was experiencing daily incontinence (and many other symptoms) months after delivery.
Key Line: "On one level, I was relieved to finally get a diagnosis; not only was this provider listening to me, but she was trained in treating what I had. On another, I was devastated. Here was a medical professional confirming what I had suspected for nearly half a year — that I had a permanent, lifelong condition. In the months to come, I would learn that my reaction to this news was extremely common, that prolapse is something of women’s health’s last best-kept secret, and that isolation, shame, depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide can plague women far more than the physical effects of POP."
Source: The Cut
Maternal Comorbidity Index Validated for Predicting Severe Maternal Morbidity
What: An analysis looking at over 20,000 women at 17 US hospitals found that an existing "risk score" system to flag severe maternal morbidity, based on things like high blood pressure or asthma, accurately predicted serious issues.
Key Line: "The expanded maternal comorbidity index for prediction of SMM was externally valid, and findings support the ongoing use of this tool."
Source: Obstetrics & Gynecology
ABORTION ACCESS
Americans’ Abortion Views Vary by State
What: Pew Research Center broke out survey results to look at abortion opinions for each state. They generally mirror the political leanings of the state--Democratic states have majorities saying abortion should be legal, Republican states are the opposite. But there were a few interesting outliers: Iowa, Montana, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio all had support for legal abortion above 60%.
Key Line: "Meanwhile, people in Arkansas are more likely to say abortion should generally be illegal (57%) rather than legal (41%). Arkansas is the only state where the balance of public opinion is against abortion by a statistically significant margin."
Source: Pew Research Center
Evidence Supports Removing Restrictions on Mifepristone
What: An op-ed from two physicians in JAMA outlines how the abortion pill, mifepristone, is more than 95% effective and has a proven safety record. They argue that unnecessary barriers to access the pills still exist. For example, a "prescriber certification" is required to dispense the medication, which the authors say "is a meaningless self-certification process requiring attestation of fundamental skills of any clinician caring for patients in early pregnancy."
Key Line: "Instead of benefiting patients, the Prescriber Agreement Form is a barrier to provision. In one study, 9% of obstetrician-gynecologists who did not provide medication abortion but had patients seeking abortion reported that the form requirement was a reason they did not offer the service."
Source: JAMA
MENOPAUSE
Global Study Reveals Major Health Changes in Menopause
What: Health tracking device company Withings looked at data from over one million women users their products and found (not shockingly!) significant shifts in sleep quality, body composition, and cardiovascular health during menopause. They found a 33% increase in nighttime wakings, a nearly 400% increase in sleep disorders like insomnia, and an increase in blood pressure that pushed up cardiovascular disease risk nearly 300%
Key Line:"Menopause is a pivotal but under-researched stage of a woman's life. Understanding the lasting impact of hormonal changes on key health indicators is crucial to addressing long-term health risks," said Dr. Lidia Derieu, a researcher in women's health. "Ongoing research, supported by insights from connected health devices, offers a unique opportunity to track daily changes and provide more personalized, effective care during this transition."
Source: Withings
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