Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2015
Working with State Health Departments on Emerging Issues in Maternal and Child Health: Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives.
Immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) are highly effective in preventing unintended pregnancy. State health departments are in the process of implementing a systems change approach to better apply policies supporting the use of immediate postpartum LARC. ⋯ To effectively implement policies on immediate postpartum LARC, states must engage a number of stakeholders in the process, raise awareness of the challenges to implementation, and communicate strategies across agencies during policy development.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2015
Prevalence of Food Addiction Among Low-Income Reproductive-Aged Women.
Hyperpalatable foods (i.e., high in salt, sugar, or fat) have been shown to have addictive properties that may contribute to overeating. Prior studies conducted on food addiction behaviors are mostly based on white and middle-aged women. Data are not available, however, on reproductive-aged women from other races/ethnicities or low-income women. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of food addiction among multiethnic women of low socioeconomic status. ⋯ These findings demonstrated a low prevalence of food addiction among low-income, reproductive-aged women. Racial differences were observed in the YFAS symptom count score, but not in the overall prevalence of food addition. Additionally, women with food addiction had higher levels of depression than women without food addiction.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2015
Comparative StudyThe Association Between Vulvovaginal Atrophy Symptoms and Quality of Life Among Postmenopausal Women in the United States and Western Europe.
Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a condition associated with decreased estrogenization of the vaginal tissue, which can result in vaginal dryness, irritation, and dyspareunia. This study quantified the burden associated with VVA symptoms across the United States and Europe and compared this burden with other chronic conditions. ⋯ VVA symptoms are associated with clinically meaningful decrements in quality of life that may be comparable to serious conditions such as arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome. Improved management of VVA symptoms may be required to alleviate the impact of VVA on the quality of life of affected women.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2015
Comparative Study Observational StudyGender Influences Radicular Pain Perception in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation.
Previous studies have demonstrated gender differences in pain perception in quantitative sensory testing. Thus, we hypothesized that there are differences in men and women with lumbar disc herniation awaiting lumbar sequestrectomy. To elucidate the differences in pain perception between men and women, we carried out a prospective clinical monocentric trial using quantitative sensory testing. ⋯ Our results clearly indicate that sex differences in pain perception not only exist in healthy subjects, but also in patients with lumbar disc herniation. Therefore, it is essential to provide different treatment modalities to women and men.
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Two studies have reported that young women with breast cancer face increased risk of early mortality if their first child was male rather than female. An immunological mechanism has been suggested. We sought to confirm these results in a larger, historical cohort study of 223 parous women who were aged <45 years at breast cancer diagnosis during 1983-1987. ⋯ The survival advantage remained for at least 13 years in women with a male firstborn. Thus, previous studies were not confirmed. Mortality risk in young women with breast cancer is not increased by having borne a male first child rather than a female first child.