Top in women’s health: Toxic metals in tampons; shared decision-making crucial for PCOS
Researchers said that toxic metals, including lead, cadmium and arsenic, were found in 100% of the tampons they tested in a recent study.
They evaluated tampons from 14 different brands across 18 product lines. The specific brands were not named in the study, but the researchers selected top-selling products from major online retailers and store brand products from large chain retailers.
“I want to emphasize that we do not yet know if metals can leach out of the tampon and whether they are absorbed by the body,” Jenni A. Shearston, PhD, MPH, a postdoctoral scholar with the Sustainability and Health Equity Lab at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health, told Healio. “We therefore cannot yet assess to what extent — if any — metals in tampons contribute to any health problems. We need more research on this severely understudied area because millions of people could be affected.”
It was the top story in women’s health last week.
Another top story was about the importance of shared decision-making and patient preferences for treating polycystic ovary syndrome, highlighting key speakers from an educational webinar hosted by the Society for Women’s Health Research.
Read these and more top stories in women’s health below:
Metals, including toxic lead, detected in tested tampons
Researchers confirmed the presence of toxic metals, including lead, cadmium and arsenic, in each of 60 tampon samples tested, though they cautioned more studies are needed on whether the detected metals can leach into the body, according to findings published in Environment International. Nathaniel DeNicola, MD, MSHP, FACOG, an environmental health expert and OB/GYN who was uninvolved in the study, weighed in on the findings. Read more.
Shared decision-making critical for managing polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome presents in many forms with many manifestations, which is why providers must work with patients to treat the condition while factoring in their preferences and top concerns. Anuja Dokras, MD, MHCI, PhD and Ali Chappell, PhD, MS, RD spoke about PCOS during and after an educational webinar hosted by the Society for Women’s Health Research. Read more.
Uterine fibroids raise risks for adverse pregnancy, obstetric outcomes
Uterine fibroids increase risks for adverse pregnancy and obstetric outcomes with size, not number, tied to breech presentation, postpartum hemorrhage and placenta previa risks, according to a meta-analysis published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. Read more.
One in five pregnant women report using CBD-only products
Twenty percent of pregnant women reported using CBD-only products during pregnancy despite limited available data on potential adverse outcomes of CBD, according to findings published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Read more.
Novel 3D imaging model for blastocyst evaluation helps predict IVF success
A novel 3D imaging model that identifies blastocyst features may help to improve embryo selection for IVF success, according to findings presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting. Read more.