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September 21, 2023
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Top in women’s health: Vague ovarian cancer symptoms; Massachusetts sees rise in abortions

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By understanding their bodies, women can identify some of the vaguer symptoms of ovarian cancer at the earliest and most treatable stages of the disease, according to Melissa Simon, MD, MPH.

A Q&A with Simon, the director of the Center for Health Equity Transformation at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, was the top story in women’s health last week.

3d illustration of ovarian cancer
An expert told Healio that health care providers and women should learn how symptoms of ovarian cancer present, particularly because it is one of the most challenging cancers to diagnose. Image: Adobe Stock

The second top story was about a 6.2% increase in abortions performed in Massachusetts after the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. The number of women who reported traveling from out of state for abortion care in Massachusetts has increased by 37.5% — despite the fact that neighboring states have not passed abortion restrictions.

Read these and more top stories in women’s health below:

Q&A: Understanding one’s own body important in identifying vague ovarian cancer symptoms

Because ovarian cancer is one of the more difficult cancers to diagnose, it is important for health care providers and women to understand how symptoms present, how to mitigate risk and how to prevent disease progression. Read more.

Rise in number of women seeking abortion care in Massachusetts after Dobbs

After the Dobbs decision in June 2022, the number of women traveling to Massachusetts for abortion care increased even though neighboring states did not have abortion restrictions, researchers reported in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

Providing iron supplements during prenatal visits improves anemia rates

Providing iron supplements during prenatal visits improved hematocrit levels and anemia rates and reduced transfusions for acute blood loss anemia among women with Medicaid insurance, researchers reported. Read more.

Telehealth medication abortion services ease access to care for underserved US communities

Telehealth medication abortion services help make abortion care access more convenient and accessible for underserved communities in the U.S., according to a cross-sectional study published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

At Issue: Access among benefits of nonprescription OTC contraceptive pill

In July, the FDA approved norgestrel as the first nonprescription, over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive to prevent pregnancy. Healio spoke with experts in women’s health about the importance of the approval and the possible challenges of having a nonprescription OTC oral contraceptive. Read more.