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EVERYTHING
Interview: The $1 Trillion Women’s Health Problem/Opportunity
What: Forbes does a deep dive on McKinsey’s recent finding that there’s a $1 trillion opportunity in improving women’s health, sitting down with Lucy Perez, one of the authors of the report. Perez emphasized that the majority of issues they found were from conditions that effect both men and women, but they impact women “differently or disproportionately” than men, like cardiovascular disease.
Why it matters: Women’s health is not just reproductive care, and women need specific, tailored treatment and research.
Source: Forbes
PREGNANCY
Flame Retardant Chemicals Linked to Premature Birth
What: Chemicals used to make items flame retardant, known as Organophosphate esters or OPEs, are associated with premature birth and higher birth weights, according to a new study. Researchers looked at urine samples from 6,646 women and measured OPE biomarkers. Several were correlated with premature labor and higher birth weights.
Why it matters: It will take regulations to reduce OPE exposure.
Source: UC Davis
MENSTRUATION
Jen Gunter: Get Rid of Sanitary Period Language
What: Jen Gunter, an OBGYN with a major social media following, is out with a new book on menstruation. And in an op-ed for New Scientist, she makes the case for getting rid of the term “sanitary” for any products related to menstruation: “Menstruation isn’t unhygienic. When someone menstruates, they aren’t dirty or unsanitary; they are menstruating. If we can say toilet paper – a product literally designed to wipe away faecal matter – without bringing up hygiene or sanitary concerns, surely we can do the same with menstrual products.”
Why it matters: Gunter is right that these terms give the impression that menstruation is dirty. Words shape how we understand our world.
Source: New Scientist
ABORTION ACCESS
Nearly 65,000 Pregnancies Caused By Rape in States that Banned Abortion
What: An OBGYN wondered how many pregnancies were caused by rape in the United States, now that abortion is banned in 14 states. So he and other researchers developed an estimate, based off a CDC survey and FBI statistics. Using that information, they projected that 520,000 rapes happened since Roe was overturned in states that have banned abortion. And of that group, they estimated 12.5% had become pregnant.
Why it matters: Their analysis, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that nearly 65,000 pregnancies have been caused by rape since abortion was banned.
Source: NPR
Biden Invites Texas Mom Who Sought Abortion Exception to State of the Union
What: Kate Cox, the mom who asked Texas courts to grant her access to an abortion after her fetus was diagnosed with a fatal condition, was invited by President Biden this week to attend the State of the Union. The president and First Lady Jill Biden spoke to Cox privately on Sunday.
Why it matters: Who the president invites to the State of the Union is a signal of what is important to that administration, and what will get attention during the speech. Expect to hear about abortion access.
Source: ABC News
MENOPAUSE
Women Swim In Cold Water to Relieve Menopause Symptoms
What: A study of 785 women going through menopause who also swim in cold water found that many reported a chilly dip helped relieve anxiety, mood swings, and hot flashes. A majority of them said they were swimming in cold water to specifically relieve menopause symptoms.
Why it matters: Take this finding with a big grain of salt, as it is only looking at women who were already swimming in cold water. But its an interesting nugget that future studies could build on.
Source: University College London
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