Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2020
Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds and Use of Feminine Hygiene Products Among Reproductive-Aged Women in the United States.
Background: Feminine hygiene products (FHPs) are personal care products widely used by women. A few studies have detected some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in FHPs, but no previous epidemiological studies have linked use of these products to human exposure to VOCs using biomarkers. Therefore, we evaluated whether the use of FHPs was associated with VOC exposures among reproductive-aged women in the United States. Materials and Methods: Data on 2432 women aged 20-49 years from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2004 were utilized. ⋯ Compared with never users, women with occasional use (≤1 time/month) of vaginal douching had 18% (95% CI: -12% to 59%) higher concentrations, and those with frequent use (≥2 time/month) had 81% (95% CI: 2% to 221%) higher concentrations of 1,4-DCB (p for trend = 0.04). Use of feminine powder in the past month was significantly associated with 36% (95% CI: 0.4% to 83%) higher concentrations of ethylbenzene. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that differences in whole blood VOC concentrations might be explained by feminine hygiene practices. The presence of environmental chemicals in FHPs warrants further examination.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialIncreased Likelihood of Pregnancy Using an App-Connected Ovulation Test System: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Background: Women trying to conceive are increasingly using fertility-tracking software applications to time intercourse. This study evaluated the difference in conception rates between women trying to conceive using an application-connected ovulation test system, which measures urinary luteinizing hormone and an estrogen metabolite, versus those trying without using ovulation testing. Materials and Methods: This home-based study involved 844 volunteers aged 18-40 years seeking to conceive. Volunteers randomized to the test arm were required to use the test system for the duration of the study while those randomized to the control arm were instructed not to use ovulation testing. ⋯ The proportion of women pregnant after one cycle was significantly greater in the test arm (25.4%) compared with the control arm (14.7%; p < 0.001). After two cycles, there continued to be a greater proportion of women pregnant in the test arm compared with the control arm (36.2% vs. 28.6%; p = 0.026). In the test arm, volunteers had intercourse less frequently per cycle compared with those not using ovulation testing (9 [range: 1-60] vs. 10 [range: 1-50]; p = 0.027), but were more likely to target intercourse to a particular part of their cycle compared with those not using ovulation testing (88.5% vs. 57.8%; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Using the test system to time intercourse within the fertile window increases the likelihood of conceiving within two menstrual cycles.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2020
Association of Dietary Magnesium Intake with Fatal Coronary Heart Disease and Sudden Cardiac Death.
Background: Postmenopausal women represent the highest population-based burden of cardiovascular disease, including sudden cardiac death (SCD). Our understanding of the etiology and risk factors contributing to fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and SCD, particularly among women, is limited. This study examines the association between dietary magnesium intake and fatal CHD and SCD. Materials and Methods: We examined 153,569 postmenopausal women who participated in the Women's Health Initiative recruited between 1993 and 1998. ⋯ In age-adjusted quartile analysis, women with the lowest magnesium intake (189 mg/day) had the greatest risk for fatal CHD (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.40-1.69) and SCD (HR 1.70, 95% CI 0.94-3.07). This association was attenuated in the fully adjusted model, with HRs of 1.19 (95% CI 1.06-1.34) for CHD and 1.24 (95% CI 0.58-2.65) for SCD for the lowest quartile of magnesium intake. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of a potential inverse association between dietary magnesium and fatal CHD and a trend of magnesium with SCD in postmenopausal women. Future studies should confirm this association and consider clinical trials to test whether magnesium supplementation could reduce fatal CHD in high-risk individuals.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2020
#MedToo: A Large-Scale Examination of the Incidence and Impact of Sexual Harassment of Physicians and Other Faculty at an Academic Medical Center.
Background: A landmark National Academies report highlighted the need for rigorous evaluation of sexual harassment in medicine. We examined the prevalence and impact of sexual harassment using the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire, the standard for measurement of sexual harassment, but which has not been previously applied within academic medicine. Materials and Methods: A 20-minute online survey was administered to all faculty who had been working at University of Michigan Medical School for at least 1 year (n = 2723). We assessed sexual harassment within the past year from insiders (i.e., from staff, students, and faculty) and from patients and patients' families. ⋯ The most frequently experienced dimension of sexual harassment for women and men was sexist gender harassment. Increased experiences of harassment were independently associated with lower mental health, job satisfaction, and sense of safety at work, as well as increased turnover intentions, with no significant interactions by gender. Conclusions: Sexual harassment against medical faculty is alarmingly common at an institution that is not expected to be atypical. Interventions must address sexual harassment, which affects mental health and career outcomes of male and female physicians.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2020
Preeclamptic Women Are at Significantly Higher Risk of Future Cardiovascular Outcomes Over a 15-Year Period.
Background: Preeclampsia (PE) may lead to maternal and infant mortality and severe medical complications. Understanding future short- and long-term cardiovascular (CV) outcomes of PE is important to women's health. Materials and Methods: A retrospective matched case-control study assessed the risks of CV outcomes over a 15-year period (1999-2013) in pregnant case women, with gravidity and parity of one, diagnosed with PE, compared to pregnant primiparous control women who were not diagnosed with PE. The New Jersey Electronic Birth Certificate (EBC) database and the Myocardial Infarction Data Acquisition System (MIDAS), a database of all hospital admissions in New Jersey with longitudinal follow-up, were used to conduct the analysis. ⋯ Main outcome measures postpregnancy and over this 15-year period were myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, CV death, and all-cause death. Results: Women with PE (N = 6,360) were more likely to suffer MI, stroke, CV death, and all-cause death than controls (N = 325,347). After matching cases to controls for demographics and comorbidities, hazard ratios of PE cases for the outcomes of MI (p adjusted for comorbidities and demographics = 0.0196), CV death (adjusted p = 0.007), and all-cause death (adjusted p = 0.0026) were significantly higher than 1 compared to matched controls. Women with PE had 3.94 (95% CI: 1.25-12.4) times higher hazard for MI, 4.66 (95% CI: 1.52-14.26) times higher hazard of CV death, and 2.32 (95% CI: 1.34-4.02) times higher hazard for all-cause death than matched controls. Conclusions: This 15-year study indicates that women who have PE with their first pregnancy have a significantly higher risk of adverse CV outcomes compared to controls and suggest a heightened and continued CV monitoring after birth for this population of women.