Top 10 women’s health stories of 2019: Marijuana use during pregnancy, managing PCOS and more
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Healio Primary Care looked back at 2019 and compiled a list of the most popular stories on women’s health, leading with CDC data that showed 16.2% of pregnant women reported using marijuana almost every day.
Other top stories from the year included a presentation on managing polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting, as well as news that the FDA revised its guidance on fish and shellfish consumption for pregnant women.
Marijuana use during pregnancy: What clinicians need to know
CDC data show that 16.2% of pregnant women aged 18 to 44 years reported using marijuana nearly every day. These findings recently prompted U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, to issue a warning to pregnant women, along with teenagers and young adults, about the dangers associated the drug. Read more.
Tips in managing PCOS
Despite being extremely prevalent, polycystic ovary syndrome remains a challenging condition to diagnose and manage, in part due to variations in presentation, according to a speaker at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting. Read more.
FDA revises fish consumption advice for pregnant, breastfeeding women
The FDA has revised its 2017 advice on fish and shellfish consumption for pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children to help ensure they consume the recommended amount of seafood, according to a press release. Read more.
Urological group’s first-ever recurrent UTI guidelines encourage responsible evaluation, antibiotic, cranberry juice use
The American Urological Association has issued guidelines for the management of recurrent UTI for the first time, providing clinicians with recommendations for the evaluation and management of female patients with the condition, according to an article recently published in the Journal of Urology. Read more.
Forced sexual initiation linked to adverse health outcomes in women
Women who were physically forced or coerced into their first sexual intercourse were at increased risk for adverse outcomes in reproductive, gynecologic and general health, according to a study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers said one in 16 women in the United States experience forced sexual initiation. Read more.
USPSTF: Screen women with increased risk for BRCA1, BRCA2 mutations
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that primary care physicians screen women with a familial risk assessment tool if they have family history of breast, ovarian, tubal or peritoneal cancer, or if they have an ancestry associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Read more.
‘Message worth repeating’: Maternal exposure to household products can impact offspring IQ
Children who are exposed to chemicals in the womb may face a range of neurodevelopmental and other health risks as they mature. For example, new research shows that prenatal exposure to common household products can negatively impact a child’s IQ. Read more.
Bremelanotide improves sexual desire in women
The investigational drug bremelanotide enhanced sexual function in women regardless of the contraceptive used and its duration of use, according to data from two different abstracts presented at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting. Read more.
Title X gag rule banned nationwide, AMA declares ‘victory’
A federal district judge ruled that the Trump administration’s gag rule regarding physician- patient family planning discussions can be lifted nationwide, according to a court order filed Monday. Read more.
Estrogen therapy may contribute to delaying Alzheimer’s disease
Estrogen therapy in women ages 50 to 63 has been shown to affect the metabolic processes associated with later development of Alzheimer’s disease and may offer an opportunity to prevent or delay the disease, according to a presenter at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting. Read more.