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Uninsured U.S. women more likely to struggle with medical bills and go without needed care

Twenty percent of U.S. women (18.7 million) ages 19-64 were uninsured in 2010, up from 15 percent (12.8 million) in 2000, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report on women's health care. An additional 16.7 million women were underinsured in 2010, compared with 10.3 million in 2003.

16 Jul 2012

Ariz. abortion law challenged in lawsuit; Mo. Gov. vetoes contraception bill

News outlets look at these developments in states and also assess overall efforts this year by state legislatures to restrict abortions as some states to continue to press against the Obama administration's contraceptive coverage mandate.

14 Jul 2012

Health risks of egg donation for young females

News is just breaking in India about Sushma Pandey, a 17-year-old young woman who died in 2010, two days after her third "egg donation." Her death is being attributed to the procedures used to extract eggs from healthy, desirable young females like Ms. Pandey. These eggs are often resold to affluent westerners for use in commercial production of their children. Her post-mortem report states she had "one abrasion, four contusions and a blood clot in the head, plus six injection marks" as well as "congestion in the ovaries and uterus."

14 Jul 2012

Blog posts examine how family planning money will be spent, who will oversee program

The Center for Global Development's (CGD) "Global Health Policy" blog on Thursday published two posts addressing family planning funding. In one, Amanda Glassman, director of global health policy and a research fellow at CGD, examines "what organization will actually allocate and spend these additional resources" pledged at the recent London Summit on Family Planning.

14 Jul 2012

Study examines link between phthalates and diabetes in women

A study lead by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) shows an association between increased concentrations of phthalates in the body and an increased risk of diabetes in women. Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals that are commonly found in personal care products such as moisturizers, nail polishes, soaps, hair sprays and perfumes.

14 Jul 2012

FDA approves Watson's ANDA for Next Choice ONE DOSE emergency contraceptive

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its subsidiary Watson Laboratories, Inc., has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Next Choice ONE DOSE (Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg), the generic equivalent to Teva Women's Health's Plan B One-Step. Watson plans to launch the product immediately.

13 Jul 2012

International AIDS Conference must focus on combination prevention strategies to fight AIDS among women

Highlighting statistics showing how HIV affects more women than men worldwide, Serra Sippel, president of the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), writes in a Huffington Post "Global Motherhood" blog post, "The XIX International AIDS Conference is coming to Washington, D.C., in two weeks and it must be different from its predecessors for one reason: HIV is now a woman's plague."

13 Jul 2012

International community commits to boosting family planning services at London Summit

"Voluntary family planning services will reach an additional 120 million women and girls in the world's poorest countries by 2020 thanks to a new set of commitments announced [at the London Summit on Family Planning on Wednesday] by more than 150 leaders from donor and developing countries, international agencies, civil society, foundations and the private sector," a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation press release reports (7/11).

13 Jul 2012

Breast cancer patients who undergo breast conserving surgery often have a reoperation

One in five women with breast cancer who opt for breast conserving surgery rather than a mastectomy have a reoperation, according to a national study published on bmj.com today. This information on the risk of reoperation should help women in making the decision about whether to undergo breast conserving surgery or mastectomy.

13 Jul 2012

Opinion pieces, blog posts address family planning issues ahead of London summit

On World Population Day, observed on Wednesday, July 11, the U.K. Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are co-hosting the London Summit on Family Planning.

12 Jul 2012

Guardian holds roundtable discussion on key family planning issues ahead of London summit

As part of its "Young people's sexual health matters" series, the Guardian reports on a recent roundtable discussion hosted by the newspaper, in association with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), during which experts discussed key family planning issues ahead of the July 11 London Summit.

12 Jul 2012

Lifestyle behaviour in adolescents may adversely affect BP and cardiovascular risk in adulthood

Lifestyle behaviour in adolescents may adversely affect blood pressure and cardiovascular risk in adulthood, according to results from a large pregnancy follow-up study in Australia. In particular, alcohol consumption among boys, use of the Pill among girls, and high salt intake and increasing body mass index (BMI) in both sexes were important factors linked to blood pressure levels in late adolescence.

12 Jul 2012

Low-fat, high fruit and vegetable diet may help reduce menopausal symptoms

Weight loss that occurs in conjunction with a low-fat, high fruit and vegetable diet may help to reduce or eliminate hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause, according to a Kaiser Permanente Division of Research study that appears in the current issue of Menopause.

12 Jul 2012

Moderate alcohol intake may reduce risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol as part of a healthy lifestyle may benefit women's bone health, lowering their risk of developing osteoporosis.

12 Jul 2012

Gates Foundation, U.K. Government expected to announce additional funding for family planning at London summit

The U.K. Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with UNFPA and other partners on Wednesday, July 11, are hosting the London Summit on Family Planning, which aims "to raise $4 billion to expand access to contraception for 120 million women in the developing world by 2020," according to Reuters. At the summit, the Gates Foundation "is set to unveil funding a sum in the hundreds of millions of dollars for a campaign to improve access to contraception in the developing world," the news service notes.

12 Jul 2012

Merck announces update on odanacatib Phase III trial for osteoporosis

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today an update on the Phase III trial assessing fracture risk reduction with odanacatib, Merck's investigational cathepsin K (cat-K) inhibitor.

12 Jul 2012

WHO commits to fast-track assessment of new and existing quality contraceptives

WHO today committed to fast-track its assessment of new and existing quality contraceptives so more women in low- and middle-income countries can obtain and use a broader range of safe and effective contraceptive products.

12 Jul 2012

Guardian columnist examines family planning in Nepal

In a Guardian opinion piece, part of the series "The politics of family planning," columnist Zoe Williams examines family planning Nepal. Noting her trip to the country with Save the Children, Williams discusses a number of barriers to family planning for Nepalese women -- including the practice of child marriage, stigma surrounding menstruation, and cultural beliefs about contraception -- and writes, "In Nepal, opportunities for women are not all they should be, and child pregnancy is a big issue."

11 Jul 2012

Giving up smoking associated with weight gain

Giving up smoking is associated with an average weight gain of 4-5 kg after 12 months, most of which occurs within the first three months of quitting, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

11 Jul 2012

Anemia prevention in pregnancy works just as well with fewer iron supplements

Taking iron supplements one to three times a week instead of every day is just as effective at preventing anaemia in pregnant women, according to the findings of a new Cochrane systematic review. The authors of the review also showed that women experienced fewer side effects when taking iron supplements intermittently rather than daily.

11 Jul 2012

Women's Health News

Uninsured U.S. women more likely to struggle with medical bills and go without needed care

Ariz. abortion law challenged in lawsuit; Mo. Gov. vetoes contraception bill

Health risks of egg donation for young females

Blog posts examine how family planning money will be spent, who will oversee program

Study examines link between phthalates and diabetes in women

FDA approves Watson's ANDA for Next Choice ONE DOSE emergency contraceptive

International AIDS Conference must focus on combination prevention strategies to fight AIDS among women

International community commits to boosting family planning services at London Summit

Breast cancer patients who undergo breast conserving surgery often have a reoperation

Opinion pieces, blog posts address family planning issues ahead of London summit

Guardian holds roundtable discussion on key family planning issues ahead of London summit

Lifestyle behaviour in adolescents may adversely affect BP and cardiovascular risk in adulthood

Low-fat, high fruit and vegetable diet may help reduce menopausal symptoms

Moderate alcohol intake may reduce risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Gates Foundation, U.K. Government expected to announce additional funding for family planning at London summit

Merck announces update on odanacatib Phase III trial for osteoporosis

WHO commits to fast-track assessment of new and existing quality contraceptives

Guardian columnist examines family planning in Nepal

Giving up smoking associated with weight gain

Anemia prevention in pregnancy works just as well with fewer iron supplements

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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