Hear are the top things to know in women’s health and wellness so far this week:

• Mother Jones points out that abortion was indirectly on the ballot in many states today. So far, the results are looking good, most notably in Pennsylvania which maintained a Democratic majority in the state’s highest court.
  

• Inflammation is a health influencer buzzword. The Atlantic looks at how that’s affecting treatment, particularly of autoimmune diseases (where the majority of patients are women.)
  

• Postpartum psychosis needs its own entry in the handbook doctors use to treat mental health issues, so women suffering from it can get faster, more precise care.

JUMP TO…

• Everything

• Pregnancy and Postpartum

• Abortion Access

• Menopause

EVERYTHING

When “Inflammation” Stops Meaning Anything

What: The Atlantic digs in to how the word “inflammation” has drifted from its medical meaning into vague wellness-speak, creating confusion between real autoimmune illness and everyday discomforts. One doctor shares the story of treating patients with severe autoimmune disease and how it muddies understanding and delays proper care.

Key Line: "One recent study showed that, among people with an autoimmune condition, more than 80 percent have tried some form of complementary and alternative medicine. In my experience, most patients gravitate toward interventions on the milder end of the spectrum, such as acupuncture and herbal remedies, but even these can be problematic if taken to the extreme. One patient of mine told me that, at a certain point, he was consuming 60 supplements a day, putting him at risk of adverse interactions with his prescription medications.'

My Take: The vast majority of patients with autoimmune diseases are women. 

Source: The Atlantic

Cuts to Lab Test Payments Threaten Women’s Health Access

What: The president of the American Clinical Laboratory Association warns that Medicare payment cuts that start next year could reduce access to hundreds of diagnostic tests vital to women’s health, including those for breast cancer, heart disease, thyroid disorders, and diabetes. The cuts stem from a 2014 law that based Medicare rates on incomplete private lab data.

Key Line: "Protecting women’s health requires access to the tests that provide important and actionable insights to improve care and save the lives of our mothers, sisters, and daughters. Absent action by Congress, reimbursement cuts will go into effect that could jeopardize early detection, prevention, and treatment for millions of women nationwide."

My Take: Another important issue, flying under the radar. But also one that seems like it could have a shot if it gets attached to a big "must pass" bill in Congress.

Source: SWHR

PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM

Experts Urge Reclassification of Postpartum Psychosis to Improve Care

What: A review in Biological Psychiatry called for postpartum psychosis to be recognized as its own mental illness category in the DSM-5, the official handbook for diagnosing mental health conditions. They argue that clearer classification would speed diagnosis, enable proper treatment, and save lives, since the condition can lead to suicide or infanticide if untreated.

Key Line: "The experts argue that postpartum psychosis does not fit into the existing categories of mental illness in the two billing and coding resources. The current descriptions only recognize 'peripartum onset,' meaning the illness strikes during the period around childbirth. This, the authors say, incorrectly describes how postpartum psychosis can set in weeks or months after delivery."

My Take: A good reminder how the arcane elements of medical bureaucracy can affect real life treatment. 

Source: Biological Psychiatry

ABORTION ACCESS

The Hidden Abortion Fights on Tuesday’s Ballots

What: The article explains how state elections in California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia—though not directly about abortion—could heavily influence reproductive access nationwide. From California’s redistricting measure that could reshape who runs Congress next year to Texas’s “Parents Bill of Rights” amendment and Virginia’s battles over a constitutional abortion-rights amendment, the threat to abortion access exists through many elections.

Key Line: “In five states, the results will also have major statewide and even national implications for access to reproductive care."

My Take: I've got the benefit of writing this after some election results have come in, and we can consider New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia safe for now. The results in California will take much longer -- and have the greatest potential consequence for the nation.  

Source: Mother Jones

 MENOPAUSE

Most Midlife Women With Menopause Symptoms Aren’t Getting Care, Mayo Clinic Finds

What: A Mayo Clinic survey of nearly 5,000 women ages 45–60 found that over 75% experience menopause symptoms, yet more than 80% never seek medical help. About one-third reported moderate to severe issues that affected their daily life, including sleep problems and weight gain. Researchers say the findings show a major care gap and urge more proactive, accessible menopause management in primary care.

Key Line: "While many women said they preferred to manage symptoms on their own, others said that they were too busy or unaware that effective treatments exist."

My Take: None of this is shocking, but more data is always better to get treatments we deserve. 

Source: Mayo Clinic

Hear are the trends we spotted this week in women’s health, and as always, scroll for the top clicked stories.

• 💊 Women’s health systems are fracturing in plain sight — from family-planning clinics losing federal funding to widening gaps in contraception and menopause care, access is quietly collapsing even as awareness grows.
  

• 🧬 Precision is replacing one-size-fits-all medicine — studies on exercise, PCOS, and hormonal contraceptives show how sex-specific and subtype-based research is reshaping prevention and treatment.
  

• 🌍 Women are building their own information networks — whether it’s fertility tourism or WhatsApp menopause referrals, patients are turning to global and peer-to-peer routes to fill the care void.

TOP CLICKED STORIES THIS WEEK

• Men Need Twice as Much Exercise as Women to Lower Heart Disease Risk // The Guardian
  

• The Perimenopause Whisper Network // The New York Times
  

• America’s Family Planning Network Is Quietly Falling Apart // KFF Health News
  

• Four PCOS Subgroups Identified for More Tailored Care // Nature Medicine
  

• Protein Powders Still Contain High Lead Levels // Consumer Reports

Hear are the top things to know in women’s health and wellness so far this week:

• KFF Health News has a detailed piece on one of the most overlooked stories in women’s health: the backdoor shuttering of federally-funded clinics that serve nearly 3 million Americans with family planning and basic care.
  

• PCOS can be a catch-all diagnosis for women. This JAMA Oncology study finds four subtypes that could lead to more precise treatment.
  

• The New York Times chronicles perimenopause treatment that required a whisper network.

JUMP TO…

• Everything

• Birth Control

• Menopause

EVERYTHING

America’s Family Planning Network Is Quietly Falling Apart

What: KFF Health News has a deep dive on how the country's reproductive health safety net is collapsing. The federal office for Title X family planning programs has effectively shut down, cutting a funding lifeline for clinics serving millions of low-income patients. Maine Family Planning recently closed three rural sites, and experts warn that combined funding freezes across Medicaid, the CDC, and HRSA will leave many without contraception, STI testing, or basic preventive care. The article traces how a bipartisan public-health success built over 50 years is now unraveling through neglect and stalled federal action.

Key Line: "Marcella, the former OPA leader, warned of a “backdoor dismantling. 'If there aren’t people to administer the grants, then the administration can later argue the program isn’t working and redirect the funds elsewhere,' she said. 'This is a functional elimination, done quietly.'”

My Take: This is an excellent piece that on what is likely one of the biggest issues in women's health in America and is getting lost in the shuffle.

Source: KFF Health News

Four PCOS Subgroups Identified for More Tailored Care

What: A study of nearly 12,000 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) found four distinct subgroups based on hormone and metabolic profiles, confirmed across five global cohorts. Each subgroup showed different risks for issues such as miscarriage, metabolic disease, or IVF complications, suggesting the need for more individualized treatment. The team also developed an online tool, PcosX, to help classify patients into these groups for better care planning.

Key Line: "This international collaboration has provided robust evidence that could change how we diagnose, treat, and follow up on women with PCOS. It also emphasises that treatment can be tailored to the PCOS subtype to better capture the biological variation in PCOS,“ says Elisabet Stener-Victorin."

My Take: Women's health deserves precision!

Source: Nature Medicine

BIRTH CONTROL

Different Hormonal Contraceptives Carry Different Breast Cancer Risks, Swedish Study Finds

What: A large observational study tracked more than two million women ages 13–49 from 2006–2019 and found that some hormonal contraceptives were tied to a higher risk of breast cancer than others. Products with the hormone desogestrel showed the greatest increase—about 50% higher with long-term use—while others, such as drospirenone-containing pills and certain injections, showed little or no increase. The study emphasizes that hormonal contraception remains effective and beneficial but understanding risk differences helps people and clinicians choose safer options.

Key Line: “'Not all hormonal contraceptives have the same effect on the risk of breast cancer,' says Professor Åsa Johansson, research group leader at Uppsala University and SciLifeLab and the study’s senior author. 'Our results indicate that some progestins – particularly desogestrel – are linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, while others, such as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injections, showed no increase.'”

My Take: This information is important and certainly warrants more investigation but will almost certainly be weaponized to scare more women about contraceptives. (That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done, though!)

Source: JAMA Oncology

MENOPAUSE

How Women Rely on Word-of-Mouth for Perimenopause Care

What: The New York Times has a deep dive into the challenges women face getting treatment for perimenopause symptoms. One woman profiled had symptoms around age 40, but found her doctors dismissive, saying she was too young. She eventually turned to an herbalist who listened but recommended an expensive specialist who didn’t take insurance. The story highlights how many women rely on informal networks and personal referrals to access care for hormonal changes that mainstream medicine often overlooks.

Key Line: "It was not until her friend, an art gallerist, shared Ms. Ellenberg’s story on a WhatsApp group chat, that Ms. Ellenberg learned of a medical practice that offered comprehensive hormonal consultations, took insurance and did not make patients wait more than a year to be seen. 'Perimenopause is firmly in the cultural zeitgeist,' Ms. Ellenberg said — but the care does not feel like it’s caught up."

My Take: This is why we need a good, evidence-based guide for women to understand the basics and work the system we've got now, not the one we may have in 10 years. (More on that.)

Source: The New York Times

Influencers Overstated a Study Linking Estrogen in Perimenopause to Lower Disease Risk

What: A recent study reviewed over 120 million patient records and found that people who used estrogen during perimenopause for at least 10 years had roughly 60% lower rates of breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke compared with other groups. The 19th talks with the lead author on what more information is needed -- and how some in the media exaggerated the findings.

Key Line: “Pope said she’s excited about the online conversations about her research but noted that the amount of misinformation about it gets at what is so complicated about the menopause content landscape right now. 'I love that awareness of perimenopause and menopause is happening through social media. I appreciate seeing physicians and health care providers out there giving people information and empowering women to come in and seek care,' Pope said. 'What I try to caution people about is that you should not stop there. You can’t take advice for your individual health care from a social media post.'”

My Take: Ditto to my last take above. :)

Source: The 19th

Here are the top things to know in women’s health and wellness so far this week:

• CBS looks at the growing number of Americans joining the fertility “global tourism” market, which grew by $50 billion last year. They are typically seeking lower costs.
  

• One place where women have a leg up over men? How much exercise is needed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. 
  

• Consumer Reports looked at the amount of lead in protein shakes and other products. It has actually gone up in the past 15 years.

JUMP TO…

• Everything

• Fertility

• Pregnancy and Postpartum

• Abortion Access

EVERYTHING

Men Need Twice the Exercise for Same Heart Gains

What: A study on over 80,000 people in the UK Biobank and found women needed about half as much exercise as men to lower their risk of heart disease by the same amount. Women saw a 30% drop in risk with about 250 minutes of weekly activity, while men needed 530 minutes for that effect. Researchers say the results show the need for sex-specific exercise advice.

Key Line: “The most striking result emerged from data on more than 5,000 men and women who already had coronary heart disease. Here, the researchers found that the risk of dying during the follow-up period was three times lower for women who met the weekly exercise target than for similarly active men.”

My Take: Another entry in the log that studying women in addition to men can be good for both sexes.

Source: The Guardian

Protein Powders Still Contain High Lead Levels, Consumer Reports Finds

What: Consumer Reports tested 23 popular protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes and found that about 70% contained more than 120% of the organization’s daily safety limit for lead, with some plant-based versions exceeding it by over tenfold. Lead contamination was highest in pea protein–based products, while dairy and beef varieties had lower levels but were still concerning. They also added that using the products occasionally would lead to levels "far below" the amount needed to cause harm.

Key Line: “For more than two-thirds of the products we analyzed, a single serving contained more lead than CR’s food safety experts say is safe to consume in a day—some by more than 10 times. 'It’s concerning that these results are even worse than the last time we tested,' said Tunde Akinleye, the CR food safety researcher who led the testing project."

My Take: A good reminder that the US does not review or test any supplement products, from protein powders to vitamins. 

Source: Consumer Reports

FERTILITY

Americans Head Overseas for Cheaper Fertility Care

What: A CBS News segment follows a Florida couple who went to Colombia for lower-cost fertility treatments, showing how high US prices are driving patients abroad. The piece notes the global fertility tourism market grew by over $50 million in the past year and could hit $800 million by 2030. The story highlights cost barriers and how international options are becoming a practical choice for many.

Key Line: "At the clinic, called Inser, the couple met with Dr. Juan Luis Giraldo, who treats patients from around the world. He said nearly half of his clients come from outside Colombia, and about 15% are from the United States. 'From the U.S., they mainly come for two things,' Giraldo said. 'The first is cost, and the second is personalized treatment. It's really common that patients there feel they don't have a close relationship with their doctor.'"

My Take: That market projection for global fertility tourism isn't going to budge, even with the recent cuts to some fertility drugs in the US. 

Source: CBS News

PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM 

Stillbirths in the United States Still a (Underfunded) Mystery

What: A JAMA study found 21,000 families in the US face stillbirth each year, with a rate of nearly 6 per 1,000 births. But that rate is nearly twice as high among Black families. Nearly half of stillbirths at full term are thought to be preventable, yet national rates have barely improved in decades. In response, the federal government created a Stillbirth Working Group in 2023 to address the gap.

Key Line: "Moreover, no clinical risk factors were identified in 27.7% of all stillbirths and in 40.5% of stillbirths at 40 or greater weeks’ gestation. This suggests a need to improve risk stratification and screening beyond current paradigms for all patients, especially for later-gestational-age deliveries.”

My Take: For a country that supposedly cares so much about babies, the authors don't note if any new screenings for stillbirth are being funded. 

Source: JAMA

ABORTION ACCESS

Anti‑Abortion Pregnancy Centers Expand as Planned Parenthood Clinics Close

What: After an influx of state funding, anti‑abortion pregnancy centers are adding services like STI testing, basic medical care, and even family medicine amid Planned Parenthood closures tied to Medicaid funding changes. Supporters say they’re filling health‑care gaps, while critics argue the centers often reject birth control, lack medical oversight, and promote unproven treatments. Their growth—now more than 2,600 centers nationwide—comes as abortion clinics shrink in number and some states channel millions in taxpayer money their way.

Key Line: “'We ultimately want to replace Planned Parenthood with the services we offer,'” said Heather Lawless, founder and director of Reliance Center in Lewiston, Idaho. She said about 40% of patients at the anti-abortion center are there for reasons unrelated to pregnancy, including some who use the nurse practitioner as a primary caregiver.

My Take: State subsidies for anti-abortion pregnancy centers could be the end of abortion access (and for many, contraception access), even in states where there aren’t full out abortion bans.

Source: Associated Press