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PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
Rates of Postpartum Depression Doubled in the Last Decade
What: Researchers found postpartum depression more than doubled, going from 9% in 2010 to 19% in 2021. The largest increases were seen among Asian and Island Pacific women (280% increase) and Black women (140% increase).
Key line: “While rising PPD may reflect improved screening and diagnosis practices, the persistently high rates highlight the need to develop and implement interventions to prevent the condition while expanding efforts to mitigate the impact of PPD on maternal and child health.”
Source: JAMA Network Open
Increased Risk of Miscarriages Tied to Gene Variant
What: Researchers have identifed a gene variant tied to a higher risk of early miscarriages in women. The variant accelerates reproductive aging, leading to a greater number of abnormal eggs. The findings could help improve reproductive planning and fertility treatments.
Key line: “’From this, we can say that this is more than a correlation; it’s a causal relationship,’ said Leelabati Biswas, the study’s co-first author and a student in the university’s joint M.D.-Ph.D. program in the Department of Genetics and the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. ‘The results gave us a powerful validation of our computational data.’”
Source: Rutgers University
ABORTION ACCESS
RFK Jr Could Appoint Anti-Abortion Hardliners to Get Confirmation
What: In addition to being a vaccine skeptic who wants to shut down medical research, RFK Jr. has also held multiple positions on abortion access, from being fully pro-choice to supporting a federal ban on abortion. That means anti-abortion groups aren’t thrilled about his nomination, and they are demanding that he commit to hiring anti-abortion leaders at HHS and publicly commit to antiabortion policies during his confirmation hearings.
Key line: “The negotiations come amid growing recognition from Kennedy’s inner circle and the broader Trump transition team that he needs to appease anti-abortion groups and those alarmed by his views on vaccines to secure the 50 votes needed for Senate confirmation. Trump’s health secretary will play a key role in shaping abortion access, including through access to abortion pills, making the decision pivotal to anti-abortion advocates.”
Source: Politico
Georgia Fires Entire Maternal Mortality Committee
What: Georgia state officials shut down an entire committee dedicated to reviewing maternal mortality in the state, after ProPublica reported in September on the deaths of two women as a result of the state’s abortion ban. The state’s top public health official said they investigated the committee for leaking information, but because they could not identify anyone responsible, they fired everyone.
Key line: “Reproductive rights advocates say Georgia’s decision to dismiss and restructure its committee also could have a chilling effect on the committee’s work, potentially dissuading its members from delving as deeply as they have into the circumstances of pregnant women’s deaths if it could be politically sensitive.”
Source: ProPublica
MENOPAUSE
Some Experts Warn Menopause Doc Misstates HRT Risks
What: A recent documentary on menopause made a big splash, but some experts are criticizing it for overstating the risks of cancer and heart disease associated with hormone replacement therapy. They argue that the film ignores substantial evidence indicating that hormone therapy can be safe and beneficial for many women when used appropriately.
Key line: “The Federation of State Medical Boards, a nonprofit that represents dozens of state boards around the US, accredited the film for physicians. This means they can gain needed continuing medical education credit if they watch the film along with a webinar that includes a discussion of the subject.”
Source: Stat News
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