Hear are the top things to know in women’s health and wellness so far this week:
KFF Health News has a detailed piece on one of the most overlooked stories in women’s health: the backdoor shuttering of federally-funded clinics that serve nearly 3 million Americans with family planning and basic care.
PCOS can be a catch-all diagnosis for women. This JAMA Oncology study finds four subtypes that could lead to more precise treatment.
The New York Times chronicles perimenopause treatment that required a whisper network.
JUMP TO…
EVERYTHING
What: KFF Health News has a deep dive on how the country's reproductive health safety net is collapsing. The federal office for Title X family planning programs has effectively shut down, cutting a funding lifeline for clinics serving millions of low-income patients. Maine Family Planning recently closed three rural sites, and experts warn that combined funding freezes across Medicaid, the CDC, and HRSA will leave many without contraception, STI testing, or basic preventive care. The article traces how a bipartisan public-health success built over 50 years is now unraveling through neglect and stalled federal action.
Key Line: "Marcella, the former OPA leader, warned of a “backdoor dismantling. 'If there aren’t people to administer the grants, then the administration can later argue the program isn’t working and redirect the funds elsewhere,' she said. 'This is a functional elimination, done quietly.'”
My Take: This is an excellent piece that on what is likely one of the biggest issues in women's health in America and is getting lost in the shuffle.
Source: KFF Health News
What: A study of nearly 12,000 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) found four distinct subgroups based on hormone and metabolic profiles, confirmed across five global cohorts. Each subgroup showed different risks for issues such as miscarriage, metabolic disease, or IVF complications, suggesting the need for more individualized treatment. The team also developed an online tool, PcosX, to help classify patients into these groups for better care planning.
Key Line: "This international collaboration has provided robust evidence that could change how we diagnose, treat, and follow up on women with PCOS. It also emphasises that treatment can be tailored to the PCOS subtype to better capture the biological variation in PCOS,“ says Elisabet Stener-Victorin."
My Take: Women's health deserves precision!
Source: Nature Medicine
BIRTH CONTROL
What: A large observational study tracked more than two million women ages 13–49 from 2006–2019 and found that some hormonal contraceptives were tied to a higher risk of breast cancer than others. Products with the hormone desogestrel showed the greatest increase—about 50% higher with long-term use—while others, such as drospirenone-containing pills and certain injections, showed little or no increase. The study emphasizes that hormonal contraception remains effective and beneficial but understanding risk differences helps people and clinicians choose safer options.
Key Line: “'Not all hormonal contraceptives have the same effect on the risk of breast cancer,' says Professor Åsa Johansson, research group leader at Uppsala University and SciLifeLab and the study’s senior author. 'Our results indicate that some progestins – particularly desogestrel – are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, while others, such as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injections, showed no increase.'”
My Take: This information is important and certainly warrants more investigation but will almost certainly be weaponized to scare more women about contraceptives. (That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done, though!)
Source: JAMA Oncology
MENOPAUSE
What: The New York Times has a deep dive into the challenges women face getting treatment for perimenopause symptoms. One woman profiled had symptoms around age 40, but found her doctors dismissive, saying she was too young. She eventually turned to an herbalist who listened but recommended an expensive specialist who didn’t take insurance. The story highlights how many women rely on informal networks and personal referrals to access care for hormonal changes that mainstream medicine often overlooks.
Key Line: "It was not until her friend, an art gallerist, shared Ms. Ellenberg’s story on a WhatsApp group chat, that Ms. Ellenberg learned of a medical practice that offered comprehensive hormonal consultations, took insurance and did not make patients wait more than a year to be seen. 'Perimenopause is firmly in the cultural zeitgeist,' Ms. Ellenberg said — but the care does not feel like it’s caught up."
My Take: This is why we need a good, evidence-based guide for women to understand the basics and work the system we've got now, not the one we may have in 10 years. (More on that.)
Source: The New York Times
What: A recent study reviewed over 120 million patient records and found that people who used estrogen during perimenopause for at least 10 years had roughly 60% lower rates of breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke compared with other groups. The 19th talks with the lead author on what more information is needed -- and how some in the media exaggerated the findings.
Key Line: “Pope said she’s excited about the online conversations about her research but noted that the amount of misinformation about it gets at what is so complicated about the menopause content landscape right now. 'I love that awareness of perimenopause and menopause is happening through social media. I appreciate seeing physicians and health care providers out there giving people information and empowering women to come in and seek care,' Pope said. 'What I try to caution people about is that you should not stop there. You can’t take advice for your individual health care from a social media post.'”
My Take: Ditto to my last take above. :)
Source: The 19th