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EVERYTHING
Pain Options at the OBGYN Need to Go Beyond IUD Insertions
What: The Associated Press digs into recent CDC recommendations that doctors provide options to alleviate pain for IUD insertions, finding that it goes beyond just that specific procedure for many patients. “(In obstetrics and gynecology,) there is that culture of: ‘Women are strong. We can do this without pain medicine.’ But why? Why is that?” said Sarah Friedberg, a Massachusetts mother of three who first experienced pain at the gynecologist since she got an IUD insertion 20 years ago — despite taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.”
Why it matters: Friedberg went to the OB to prep for a hysterectomy, only to find out the appointment would require removing uterine tissue. She rescheduled and “read up on what the biopsy would generally entail. The internet told her she had an option — lidocaine spray — and she asked her doctor for it. It took a search, but her doctor found some. Her advocacy paid off. She didn’t have extreme pain.”
Source: AP via ABC
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
The Poor State of Miscarriage Data in America
What: Stat News has a deep dive into the lack of research around miscarriages, particularly recurrent miscarriage. Sadia Rafiquddin writes that “lack of research into miscarriage in the U.S. — its prevalence, its causes, and how best to treat people who’ve experienced pregnancy loss — has helped to reinforce what has long been a culture of silence and shame around miscarriage. That knowledge gap means that people who miscarry, and miscarry repeatedly, like Hanson, aren’t given the emotional support they need at a time when they are most vulnerable. Equally important, they aren’t given the medical treatment, screening, and support from the health care system that might help them avert future miscarriages.”
Why it matters: “Researchers like Mak, Eapen, and Lathi say there is potential for more research in the U.S. But collaboration among researchers, which involves coordinating efforts across multiple universities, requires significant resources. The U.S. would have to vastly increase funding for women’s health — which has been historically deprioritized — to produce the type of large-scale clinical trials on miscarriage and recurrent miscarriages involving thousands of participants like their European counterparts, they said.”
Source: Stat News
First of Its Kind Data on Premature Water Breaking Outcomes
What: A study of 300 women whose water broke before 23 weeks found that “with good care, around a quarter of the babies survived to go home.”
Why it matters: “Dr Laura Goodfellow, one of the lead investigators of the study, said they wanted to present future women and healthcare professionals with ‘more robust numbers’ about what the chances were of the baby being born alive, leaving the hospital alive and the chances of disability were. She said conflicting information given to those experiencing this complication added to psychological distress. ‘We cannot understate the gravitas of the decision to end a wanted pregnancy for women and their families,’ she said.”
Source: BBC
ABORTION ACCESS
Why the DNC Had a Mobile Planned Parenthood
What: Planned Parenthood set up a mobile clinic outside the DNC convention in Chicago, offering free vasectomies and abortion medication for patients who registered ahead of time. They were fully booked for their two days of operation, but also attracted some negative attention from right-leaning press. So why did they do it?
Why it matters: “Dr. Colleen McNicholas, the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, was at the clinic both days. She said organizers knew that tens of thousands of people would be coming from across the country for the DNC, including policymakers and those who influence policy. That offered an opportunity to showcase how Illinois has stepped in to fill abortion care gaps left by other states.”
Source: The 19th
MENOPAUSE
Menopause Is the Time for Building Muscle
What: The New York Times looks at menopause and exercise, finding that it can “act as a buffer against these changes and bolster your long-term health. Historically, there hasn’t been much fitness advice tailored to women in their 40s, 50s and 60s because of the relative lack of research on women, particularly within exercise science. But researchers now understand that women need to train strategically during menopause to accommodate their shifting physiology.”
Why it matters: “When it comes to exercise during menopause, ‘we need to talk about muscle,’ said Abbie Smith-Ryan, a professor of exercise physiology and nutrition at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Smith-Ryan’s research has found that maintaining muscle mass may help mitigate menopause-related symptoms like hot flashes and sleep problems.”
Source: New York Times
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