Below are the top women’s health stories for the rest of this week: big data that COVID vaccines don’t affect fertility and more evidence that postpartum care gaps and sex-blind research still put women at risk.
POSTPARTUM HEART CHECKS NEEDED // An editorial in an American Heart Association journal says the postpartum period is a prime but often missed chance to check new mothers for heart disease risks, especially if they had pregnancy-related high blood pressure. One study found nearly 40% of women did not have their blood pressure checked in the months after delivery, despite recommendations.
MOLECULAR MATTERS BY SEX // A research team in Spain analyzed data from nearly 9,000 patients and found that diseases tend to show up in different molecular patterns in women and men, thanks to sex differences long ignored in research. For example, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers are linked through different biological pathways in women versus men, meaning a treatment or prevention strategy that works for one sex may be less effective (or miss risk entirely!) in the other.
PERIMENOPAUSE AROUND THE WORLD // The Menopause Society reports that a global study of more than 17,000 Flo app users found that while most women associated hot flashes with perimenopause, they most commonly experience exhaustion, irritability, and mood dips. TLDR: The world still needs better perimenopause education.
COVID VACCINE DOESNT HURT FERTILITY // A Swedish study of nearly 60,000 women found no link between COVID-19 vaccination and fertility problems. When researchers looked at childbirth and miscarriage rates, they found no statistically significant difference between women who did get vaccinated and those who did not.
LACTATION CONSULTANTS + MEDICAID // A bipartisan group of Arizona legislators are backing bills that would require the state Medicaid program cover lactation support (i.e. help with breastfeeding). About half of all births in Arizona are paid for by Medicaid, meaning thousands of new mothers currently miss out on lactation care that private insurers have covered for years.