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EVERYTHING
Why Funding Women’s Health Shouldn’t Be Up for Debate
What: Alex Taylor of Perelel and Kathryn Schubert of the Society for Women’s Health Research argue that investing in women’s health is not only a moral imperative, but also an economic one. They highlight that women are the primary healthcare decision-makers and spenders, controlling 80% of healthcare-buying decisions in the U.S. Despite this, only 2% of overall venture funding in health companies is directed toward women’s health startups.
Key line: “Those who signed our nonpartisan petition to Congress represent diverse backgrounds, experiences, and views. But we’re united in the idea that it shouldn’t take a decade to receive a diagnosis for a debilitating condition that impacts 1 in 10 women, like endometriosis; that when we’re pregnant and postpartum, basic access to obstetric care should be a given; and that women shouldn’t be more prone to treatment side effects simply because medications were only ever trialed on white men. As lawmakers continue to negotiate the federal budget, let’s join our voices and be clear: In 2025 and beyond, funding women’s health should no longer be up for debate.”
Source: Fast Company
MENSTRUATION
Depression Can Cause Period Pain
What: After analyzing genetic data from over 600,000 people, researchers found that depression likely causes period pain–rather than resulting from it. The study also suggests that sleep disturbances, common in depression, may exacerbate menstrual pain, highlighting the importance of addressing mental health and sleep issues in managing severe period pain.
Key line: “[Lead author Shuhe Liu:] ‘Our results provide evidence of a link between our neurological systems and the rest of the body. By exploring and understanding these relationships better, we can make a real difference to the millions of people experiencing period pain and mental health issues.’”
Source: Briefings in Bioinformatics
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
Woman’s Saliva Could Offer Clues to Stress and Mental Health During Pregnancy
What: A study published in BMJ Mental Health found that the oral microbes in pregnant women are linked to their stress levels and mental health symptoms. Researchers noted women experiencing recent life stress had more proteobacteria, while those with elevated depression symptoms had more spirochaetes. These findings suggest that saliva analysis could serve as a non-invasive method to assess and monitor mental health during pregnancy.
Key line: “’Successful targeting of the gut microbiome with probiotic treatment to improve maternal mental health could be extended in future studies to target oral cavity microbes through dietary changes, making recommendations for improving oral health, and probiotic treatments that might benefit mothers struggling with high life stress and poor mental health,’ the team of researchers said.”
Source: BMJ Mental Health
ABORTION ACCESS
Number of US Abortions Fell by Only 2% After Wave of State Bans, CDC Report Reveals
What: Despite state-level abortion bans following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, the number of abortions performed in the U.S. decreased by only 2% that year, according to a CDC report. Researchers found over 613,000 abortions were conducted in 2022, a slight drop from nearly 626,000 in 2021. This suggests the increased availability of abortion pills among other measures have helped maintain overall abortion numbers.
Key line: “The CDC report also does not include data on abortions performed outside of the US healthcare system. Past research has indicated that, in the six months after Roe fell, roughly 26,000 more Americans used pills to induce their own at-home abortions than would have done so if Roe had not collapsed.”
Source: The Guardian
WELLNESS + BEAUTY
Is Beef Tallow Good for Your Skin?
What: The Washington Post explores using beef tallow as a natural moisturizer, highlighting its popularity on social media platforms like TikTok. Proponents claim that beef tallow, rich in fatty acids, can hydrate the skin and treat conditions such as eczema and acne. However, dermatologists caution that while it may offer moisturizing benefits, beef tallow could clog pores, potentially leading to acne, especially in individuals with oily or acne-prone skin. They advise consulting a dermatologist before incorporating it into a skincare routine.
Key line: “But there’s no evidence to show beef tallow is better than conventional moisturizers, said Bruce Brod, a clinical professor of dermatology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.”
Source: Washington Post
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