Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2022
Impact of Stress on Menstrual Cyclicity During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Survey Study.
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced acute and persistent psychosocial stressors for many individuals, with emerging gender differences that suggest women may be at greater risk for poorer mental health outcomes. This may have unintended consequences for women's overall health and well-being, including disruptions to reproductive function as elevated stress is often associated with menstrual cycle irregularities. The objective of this study was to determine if and how the COVID-19 pandemic and its related stressors have impacted women's menstrual cyclicity. ⋯ These included changes in menstrual cycle length (50%), the duration of menses (34%), and changes in premenstrual symptoms (50%). Respondents with high perceived stress scale (PSS) scores during Covid were more likely to experience a longer duration of menses (p < 0.001) and heavier bleeding during menses (p = 0.028) compared with those with moderate Covid PSS scores. Conclusions: By uncovering a trend in increased menstrual cycle irregularities during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study contributes to our understanding of the implications that the pandemic may have on women's reproductive health.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2022
Need for Awareness and Training in Women's Gastrointestinal Health: A Call to Action.
Women's gastrointestinal (GI) health is a topic that is not well understood nor taught in most training programs. In this article, we highlight the importance of proper training in women's GI health among gastroenterologists and fellows, and identify some common conditions to provide the best possible treatment for their female patients.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2022
Improving Access to and Quality of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Adolescents in the United States.
Equitable access to high quality adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services can help reduce unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and disparities in these outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Reproductive Health, has a long history of working to improve access to and quality of ASRH services through applied research and public health practice. ⋯ We conclude by discussing future directions. In disseminating key strategies and resources from this work, we aim to support broader public health and clinical efforts to strengthen ASRH care in the United States in ways that promote health equity.