Women's Health

A substudy of the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes trial, which compared 3 highly effective, reversible methods of contraception, concluded that women assigned either a copper intrauterine device or the levonorgestrel implant may have had condomless sex more frequently than women assigned to intramuscular depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate.

In the last 2 years, half of women reported needing mental health services compared with only 35% of men. Women who needed mental health care cited provider availability and cost, especially for those who are uninsured, to be 2 major barriers to receiving care.

Our top coverage from this year’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) included updated data on tamoxifen and trastuzumab deruxtecan, treatments long proven effective in the breast cancer space.

This year’s most-read articles on women’s health surrounds racial inequalities, barriers to care, and other topics that affect a woman’s quality of life.

Bipartisan lawmakers aim to pass bill that could incentivize development of new antibiotics; the right to use in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be enshrined in law; CDC director says that vaccine misinformation is a public health threat.

The recently published study may shed light on a potential connection between sleep quality and IVF success.

Infertility and mental health have a complex relationship, with the impact of mental distress in evaluating for infertility and fertility treatments being quite significant.

No difference was shown regarding pregnancy and childbirth outcomes among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who receive oocytes from women with or without PCOS.

The population-level, mutigenerational study found that both near and distant relatives of women with primary ovarian insufficiency were at a higher risk of the condition compared with matched controls.

Infertility and mental health are intertwined, and individuals and couples trying to conceive should have support, according to a recent review.

Researchers underscore a need for prospective data, noting that women with chronic kidney disease (CKD) tended to have higher rates of preterm delivery and lower birthweight.

The risk of experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression may be higher in women who give birth after unintended pregnancies vs those who get pregnant intentionally, according to a recent study.

Although there is a clinically recognized association between endometriosis and infertility, the mechanisms behind the association are not fully understood.

A new study found that an imbalance of 2 placental proteins, serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and placental growth factor, could predict the risk of a severe form of preeclampsia.

Female physicians identified cost and access barriers to fertility care, which are especially relevant as more US women are choosing to delay childrearing.

Exclusions from Medicaid eligibility based on immigration status may be linked with increased health care disparities among immigrant women compared with US-born women, a study suggested.

Hormonal and metabolic differences between Alabama and California women living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) suggest that environment may impact the disease.

Experts advised the FDA to withdraw a preterm birth treatment from the market; the Novavax booster for COVID-19 was approved by US regulators on Wednesday; allergy medication was found to be commonly present in those who died of an opioid overdose.

The White House launched a national biodefense strategy to protect the country from future pandemics and biological threats; researchers found racial disparities in infant deaths following fertility treatments; global leaders pledged a total of $2.6 billion toward the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s 2022-2026 Strategy.

Menopause symptoms are not being recognized, leading to misdiagnosis and improper treatment.

Efficacy of biologics was observed in both men and women with psoriasis, although female patients reported a greater impact from the disease on quality of life (QOL) and lower treatment satisfaction.

Risk of ectopic pregnancy, the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the first trimester of pregnancy, was significantly associated with psoriasis in Danish women, especially those with moderate to severe disease.

To achieve health equity, experts from CVS Health discuss why we must invest in programs that improve access to health care for historically marginalized communities, address social determinants, boost health education, increase representation in all levels of health care delivery, widen access to clinical trial research, and more.

A significant increase has been observed in Texas residents traveling out of state for abortion care; nearly a third of people who previously had COVID-19 cited lingering symptoms up to 1 year after infection; muscle strengthening exercises linked with lower risk of disease and early mortality.

Results of a nationwide retrospective cohort study show maternal infection with syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.

Discussions regarding health equity and access to care have long been implicated in breast cancer. Here, key opinion leaders discuss the latest progress in clinical trial access, digital therapeutics, and other efforts that aim to ameliorate these care gaps.

Low- and middle-income countries that hosted completed COVID-19 vaccine trials received disproportionately fewer doses than high-income counterparts; mental health apps indicated to increase uptake in underserved men; CDC report finds notable stillbirth risk in pregnant women with COVID-19.

Analysis finds significant spike in deaths among nursing home residents due to the Delta variant; hospitalization charges for patients with COVID-19 vary widely; spotlighting the threat of heat waves and extreme weather conditions for pregnant women.

Women with poor sleep quality were found to be at more than 2 times greater risk of obesity, with this association occurring only in those who did not meet recommended dietary standards.

The findings of this study suggest possible poor communication about human papillomavirus infection (HPV), the authors said, since they do not align with epidemiologic evidence.