Link Between Childhood Abuse And Food Addiction In Adult Women

Link Between Childhood Abuse And Food Addiction In Adult Women

Women who experienced severe physical or sexual abuse during childhood are much more likely to have a food addiction as adults than women who did not experience such abuse, according to a new study published in the journal Obesity. The study's findings provide valuable new information regarding potential causes and treatments for food addiction and obesity.

National surveys indicate that more than a third of American women experienced some form of physical or sexual abuse before they reached 18 years of age. Also, research shows that such childhood abuse has consequences not only for women's mental health, but also for their physical health. In particular, many studies have documented a link between childhood abuse and later obesity, possibly because stress may cause one to overeat high-sugar and high-fat "comfort" foods in an uncontrolled manner.

Because of these findings, Susan Mason, PhD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and her colleagues looked for a link between childhood abuse and addiction-like eating behaviors in women. The researchers studied 57,321 adult participants in the Nurses' Health Study II, which ascertained physical and sexual child abuse histories in 2001 and current food addiction in 2009. (Food addiction was defined as three or more addiction-like eating behaviors severe enough to cause significant distress or loss of function.)

The analysis revealed that addiction-like eating behaviors were relatively common among women in the study, with eight percent meeting the criteria for food addiction. Women who had experienced physical or sexual abuse before the age of 18 years were almost twice as likely to have a food addiction in middle adulthood compared with women without a history of childhood abuse. The likelihood of food addiction was increased even further for women who had experienced both physical and sexual abuse in childhood. The food addiction prevalence varied from six percent among women without a history of physical or sexual abuse to 16 percent among women with a history of both severe physical and sexual abuse. Also, women with a food addiction were generally heavier than women without a food addiction.

Dr. Mason and her co-authors caution that the study's findings are exploratory and will need to be replicated before any conclusions can be drawn about a causal link between childhood abuse victimization and addiction-like overeating. If enough evidence of this association accumulates, the next step will be to find ways to reduce the risk of addiction-like overeating among women who experienced childhood abuse. "Women with histories of trauma who show a propensity toward uncontrolled eating could potentially be referred for prevention programs, while obese women might be screened for early trauma and addiction-like eating so that any psychological impediments to weight loss could be addressed," said Dr. Mason. "Of course, preventing childhood abuse in the first place would be the best strategy of all, but in the absence of a perfect child abuse prevention strategy, it is important that we try to head off its negative long-term health consequences," she added.

New Study Enables Women To Calculate Their Chances Of A Live Birth After Egg Freezing

New Study Enables Women To Calculate Their Chances Of A Live Birth After Egg Freezing

Researchers from New York Medical College and the University of California Davis have for the first time codified age-specific probabilities of live birth after in vitro fertilization (IVF) with frozen eggs. A team of researchers led by Kutluk Oktay, M.D., a New York Medical College physician/scientist who specializes in preserving the fertility of female cancer patients, conducted a meta-analysis of oocyte cryopreservation cycles using individualized patient data to report the probability of live-birth from IVF cycles.

The study, "Age-specific probability of live birth with oocyte cryopreservation: an individual patient data meta-analysis," was published in the online May issue of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's journal Fertility and Sterility.

Egg freezing is a relatively recent technique which enables women to preserve their fertility for medical or elective reasons. Until now, women who were undergoing oocyte cryopreservation, or egg freezing, were unable to predict their chances of a live birth once the eggs were reimplanted. Oktay and his team collected raw data from 10 previously published studies on egg freezing, allowing them to amass what may be the world's largest database on pregnancy outcomes after egg freezing. Using this database, which included data from 2,265 egg freezing cycles in 1,805 women in the U.S. and Europe, the researchers generated norms which can be used to determine egg freezing success rates based on a woman's age, the number of eggs frozen, and the method of egg freezing.

"Because of this breakthrough, women and fertility doctors will now be able to use a live pregnancy rate estimator to calculate their individual chances and to make a well-informed decision about the procedure," said Dr. Oktay.

The study also showed that while egg freezing success rates decline with age as expected, there is a sharper drop after age 36. Though pregnancies can result from frozen eggs implanted as late as age 44, the success rates are less promising after age 42.

How Domestic Violence Can Affect Perinatal Mental Health

How Domestic Violence Can Affect Perinatal Mental Health

Women who have mental health disorders around the time of birth are more likely to have previously experienced domestic violence, according to a study by UK researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine.

The researchers, led by Louise Howard from King's College London, found that high levels of symptoms of perinatal* depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder were linked to having experienced domestic violence either during pregnancy, the past year, or over a woman's lifetime.

The researchers (also the authors of the published study) reached these conclusions by reviewing 67 relevant studies (in a systematic review) and combining the results.

They found that around 12-13% of postnatal depression (i.e. high levels of postnatal depressive symptoms) is linked with experiences of domestic violence during pregnancy. In a further analysis, the authors found that women with antenatal and postnatal depression were three times more likely to have experienced domestic violence in the past year and 5 times more likely to have experienced domestic violence when pregnant. Women with antenatal anxiety disorders were also three times more likely to have experienced domestic violence over her lifetime but this figure was less in women with postnatal anxiety disorders.

However, it is important to note that these findings cannot prove that domestic violence can cause perinatal mental health disorders or provide evidence that perinatal mental health disorders can lead to subsequent domestic violence, and there is no information on other perinatal mental disorders, such as eating disorders and puerperal psychosis.

The authors say: "Our finding that women with high levels of symptoms of a range of perinatal mental disorders have a high prevalence and increased odds of having experienced domestic violence both over the lifetime and during pregnancy highlights the importance of health professionals identifying and responding to domestic violence among women attending antenatal and mental health services."

They continue: "Further data is... needed on how maternity and mental health services should best identify women with a history or current experience of domestic violence, respond appropriately and safely, and thus improve health outcomes for women and their infants in the perinatal period."

New Innovative Combined Oral Contraceptive Launched In The UK

New Innovative Combined Oral Contraceptive Launched In The UK

Zoely ® (nomegestrol acetate/17beta-estradiol) - new combined oral contraceptive that contains an innovative combination of hormones launches in the UK

MSD (known as Merck in the United States and Canada) (NYSE:MRK) today announced that Zoely (nomegestrol acetate 2.5 mg/17beta-estradiol 1.5 mg) is now available in the UK for the prevention of pregnancy.

Nomegestrol acetate/17-estradiol (NOMAC/E2) is a combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill containing a monophasic combination of two hormones: nomegestrol acetate, a highly selective progesterone-derived progestogen that has a 46-hour half-life, and 17-estradiol, an oestrogen that is structurally identical to endogenous human 17-estradiol.[1] This innovative combination of contraceptive hormones is delivered through a 24-day active tablet and four-day placebo tablet dosing regimen.1

In a double-blind randomised clinical trial designed to investigate potential dosing regimens women aged 18-38 years were randomised to receive either 24-day active NOMAC/E2 tablets with a 4-day placebo interval (n=40) or 21-day active NOMAC/E2 tablets with a 7-day placebo interval (n=37) over three cycles. The 24/4 NOMAC/E2 regimen was found to be associated with greater inhibition of follicular growth (largest mean follicle diameter: cycle 2: 24/4 regimen 9.0mm vs. 21/7 regimen 11.3mm, p=0.02; cycle 3: 24/4 regimen 9.2mm vs. 21/7 regimen 11.5mm, p=0.04) and a shorter duration of withdrawal bleeding (mean withdrawal bleeding duration after cycle 1: 24/4 regimen 3.5 days vs. 21/7 regimen 5 days, p=0.002; after cycle 2: 24/4 regimen 3.9 days vs. 21/7 regimen 4.8 days, p=0.03) than the 21/7 regimen.[2]

COCs are one of the most commonly used contraceptive methods in the UK.[3] A large review of national survey data in the USA reported that when contraceptive pills are used 'perfectly', as advised, 0.3% of women are estimated to experience an unintended pregnancy within the first year of use.[4] However, with typical use (actual use including inconsistent or incorrect use) 9% of women are estimated to conceive in the first year of pill use.4

Dr Diana Mansour, Consultant in Community Gynaecology and Reproductive Health Care, Head of Sexual Health Services, Newcastle Hospitals Community Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, said: "The combined oral contraceptive pill is still the most popular method used by women in the UK today. Women are always looking for choice and a method which provides effective contraception but with lighter and shorter periods sounds very attractive."

Proven efficacy of NOMAC/E2

The efficacy and tolerability of NOMAC/E2 in a 24/4 regimen has been demonstrated in two randomised, open-label comparative trials in women aged 18-50 years.[5],[6] In the clinical trial performed in Europe, Asia and Australia, 1,591 women were randomised to receive NOMAC/E2 in a 24/4 regimen and 535 women randomised to receive a COC containing 3mg drospirenone and 30g ethinylestradiol (DSRP/EE) in a 21/7 regimen for up to 13 cycles.6

The Pearl Index (PI) for women aged 18-35 years was estimated to be 0.38 for NOMAC/E2 (95% CI 0.10-0.97, n=1315) and 0.81 for DSRP/EE (95% CI 0.17-2.35, n=442). This calculation was based on pregnancies that occurred after the onset of treatment and within two days after the last pill intake.6 NOMAC/E2 demonstrated a high level of contraceptive efficacy and was shown to deliver withdrawal bleeds of shorter duration (3-4 vs. 5 bleeding/spotting days,6 p<0.0001[7]) and lighter intensity (2 vs. 3 bleeding days,6 p<0.0001[8]) when compared to DRSP/EE. A higher incidence of absent withdrawal bleeding occurred with NOMAC/E2 ranging from 22% (cycle 4) to 31% (cycle12) (p<0.05 vs. DRSP/EE for cycles 2-12).6 Twenty eight per cent (28%) of women missed one or more withdrawal bleeds in at least one of cycles 2, 3 or 4. Of these women, the incidence of absent withdrawal bleeding in cycles 5-13 ranged from 51% to 62%.1

The mean weight increase for subjects on NOMAC/E2 was 1kg over one year (p=0.001 vs. DRSP/EE; mean weight increase 0.35kg). Most women reported no impact on weight for both products (NOMAC/E2; 91.3% did not report weight gain or loss, 7.9% reported weight gain, 0.8% reported weight loss: DRSP/EE; 93.6% did not report weight gain or loss, 6.2% reported weight gain, 0.2% reported weight loss).[9]

Most women reported no impact on skin. There was no change in acne severity reported at last measurement for approximately 75% of women in both treatment groups both with or without acne at baseline.6 For NOMAC/E2 and DRSP/EE respectively improvement in acne was observed in 15.9% and 20.1% of women. Worsening or development of new acne was observed in 9.9% of women taking NOMAC/E2 and 4.0% of those randomised to DRSP/EE.6

Safety and tolerability of NOMAC/E2

51.2% of women receiving NOMAC/E2 and 37.0% of women randomised to DRSP/EE experienced adverse events (AEs) that were determined by the investigator to be treatment-related.6 The most frequently reported NOMAC/E2 treatment-related AEs (related incidence 5%) were acne (15.3% vs. 7.1% for DRSP/EE); irregular withdrawal bleeding (11.7% vs. 0.4% for DRSP/EE); increased weight (7.9% vs. 6.2% for DRSP/EE); and headache (6.6% vs. 6.2% for DRSP/EE).6

Serious AEs (SAEs) were reported for 2% of participants and were evenly distributed between the two treatment groups.6 Three SAEs were deemed as (possibly) treatment-related by the investigators, one in the NOMAC/ E2 group (severe menorrhagia) and two in the DRSP/EE group (deep vein thrombosis and systemic lupus erythematosus with concomitant patellar tendon bearing).6

The effect of NOMAC/E2 on parameters of haemostasis10,11 lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, sex hormone binding globulin and c-reactive protein11 have been studied in clinical trials but conclusions regarding the clinical relevance of the observed effects cannot be drawn.

Combined oral contraceptives

Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) contain an oestrogen component and a progestogen component. The type and amount of progestogen and oestrogen varies between different COCs. Although different types of progestogens have been developed, the oestrogen component in most COCs since their introduction in the 1960s is ethinylestradiol (known as EE).

For further information about NOMAC/E2 please refer to the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC).

Common Mental Health Problems In Women May Be Related To Their Monthly Menstrual Cycle

Common Mental Health Problems In Women May Be Related To Their Monthly Menstrual Cycle

Women at a particular stage in their monthly menstrual cycle may be more vulnerable to some of the psychological side-effects associated with stressful experiences, according to a study from UCL.

The results suggest a monthly window of opportunity that could potentially be targeted in efforts to prevent common mental health problems developing in women. The research is the first to show a potential link between psychological vulnerability and the timing of a biological cycle, in this case ovulation.

A common symptom of mood and anxiety problems is the tendency to experience repetitive and unwanted thoughts. These 'intrusive thoughts' often occur in the days and weeks after a stressful experience.

In this study, the researchers examined whether the effects of a stressful event are linked to different stages of the menstrual cycle. The participants were 41 women aged between 18 and 35 who had regular menstrual cycles and were not using the pill as a form of contraception. Each woman watched a 14-minute stressful film containing death or injury and provided a saliva sample so that hormone levels could be assessed. They were then asked to record instances of unwanted thoughts about the video over the following days.

"We found that women in the 'early luteal' phase, which falls roughly 16 to 20 days after the start of their period, had more than three times as many intrusive thoughts as those who watched the video in other phases of their menstrual cycle," explains author Dr Sunjeev Kamboj, Lecturer in UCL's Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology. "This indicates that there is actually a fairly narrow window within the menstrual cycle when women may be particularly vulnerable to experiencing distressing symptoms after a stressful event."

The findings could have important implications for mental health problems and their treatment in women who have suffered trauma.

"Asking women who have experienced a traumatic event about the time since their last period might help identify those at greatest risk of developing recurring symptoms similar to those seen in psychological disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)," said Dr Kamboj.

"This work might have identified a useful line of enquiry for doctors, helping them to identify potentially vulnerable women who could be offered preventative therapies," continued Dr Kamboj.

"However, this is only a first step. Although we found large effects in healthy women after they experienced a relatively mild stressful event, we now need to see if the same pattern is found in women who have experienced a real traumatic event. We also need further research to investigate how using the contraceptive pill affects this whole process."

Female Psychological Disorders Linked To Hormone Levels

Female Psychological Disorders Linked To Hormone Levels

Women are more susceptible to some of the psychological effects linked to stressful experiences at specific stages in their monthly menstrual cycle, scientists from University College London reported in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.

The authors believe common mental health problems that develop in women might be prevented if specific dates during the menstrual cycle are targeted. They say their study is the first to demonstrate a possible association between psychological vulnerability and a specific moment during the menstrual cycle - which in this case was ovulation.

Repetitive and undesirable thoughts

Repetitive and unwanted thoughts are common symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders. These intrusive thoughts typically occur after a stressful experience; sometimes for a few days, and even weeks or longer.

Dr Sunjeev Kamboj and team set out to determine how vulnerable women are to a stressful event during different stages of their menstrual cycle. The study involved 41 females aged from 18 to 35 years. They all had regular menstrual cycles, and none of them were on the contraceptive pill.

Each participant was asked to watch a 14-minute "stressful" movie which contained death or injury. Saliva samples were taken immediately afterwards so that their hormone levels could be assessed. They were then asked to write down whether they had unwanted thoughts about the video over the next few days, when they had them, and how often.

Intrusive thoughts more common during the early Luteal phase

Sunjeev Kamboj said:

"We found that women in the 'early luteal' phase, which falls roughly 16 to 20 days after the start of their period, had more than three times as many intrusive thoughts as those who watched the video in other phases of their menstrual cycle. This indicates that there is actually a fairly narrow window within the menstrual cycle when women may be particularly vulnerable to experiencing distressing symptoms after a stressful event."

The researchers say that their findings may influence how health care professionals deal with mental health problems in females, especially those who have suffered trauma.

Dr Kamboj said:

"Asking women who have experienced a traumatic event about the time since their last period might help identify those at greatest risk of developing recurring symptoms similar to those seen in psychological disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

This work might have identified a useful line of enquiry for doctors, helping them to identify potentially vulnerable women who could be offered preventative therapies.

However, this is only a first step. Although we found large effects in healthy women after they experienced a relatively mild stressful event, we now need to see if the same pattern is found in women who have experienced a real traumatic event. We also need further research to investigate how using the contraceptive pill affects this whole process."

Studies have linked phases of the menstrual cycle to several mental and physical issues, including:

Severity of respiratory symptoms - researchers from Norway reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine that a female's respiratory symptoms may be affected by her menstrual cycle, including asthma symptoms. They tend to get worse during the mid-luteal to mid-follicular phases.

Premenstrual syndrome - symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) are usually worse for women who feel stressed early on during their menstrual cycle, a team from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and the State University of New York, Buffalo, reported in the Journal of Women's Health.

Knee injuries - researchers from the University of Texas-Austin, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, suggest that changes across the menstrual cycle in nerves that control muscle activity make female athletes more susceptible to knee injuries, especially anterior cruciate ligament tears and chronic pain. They believe knee injuries are closely linked to the menstrual cycle.

Impulsive spending - as their monthly period approaches, women's spending tends to become more impulsive and less controlled. A team from the University of Hertfordshire, England, reported at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference (April 2009) that hormonal fluctuations may lead to women spending more than they can afford, buying stuff they do not really want, and feeling out of control with money.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Do You Want To Know How Effective Pregnancy Test Strips Are?

If you really want to know how pregnancy test strips are effective to determine your pregnancy, this article is just meant for you. After a long research and analysis this test has been evolved keeping in mind of today's busy lifestyle. If you don't want to go out of your home to know whether you are pregnant or not, pregnancy test strips are the right choice. Even you don't need to go to the doctor every month to get the test done. This test is sensitive enough to know the result even four day prior to period. These tests are generally inexpensive and affordable to know the pregnancy compared to outside clinical test.

These strips include very simple and user friendly method. The hormone, for which you are about to know regarding your pregnancy is known as HCG. These strips measure the hormone in your urine and determine the results. In the period of pregnancy the fertilized ova implants itself in the uterus. Then the placenta forms by secreting HCG from the cells of uterine. This HCG can be detected in the urine after two weeks from conception. After this the hormone level increases rapidly in the blood stream. The best time to conduct this test is one week after you missed the period.

In today's market (online/offline) there are different pregnancy test strips available to choose from. There are two methods available to define pregnancy. One is by colour identification and other is by LCD display mentioning pregnant.

Some things to remember about the test:

Drinking excess fluid before the test can dilute the HCG level in urine.

As the first urine of morning is most concentrated, try to take the test with first urine in the morning.

This pregnancy test can't take more than five minutes of your time to give the accurate results.

It is advisable to conduct the test from the date of menstruation.

The result is accurate as compared to any laboratory tests.

Please read the instructions carefully written on the test kit. If you followed them accurately and the HCG level is sufficiently high, then these tests can be accurate as compared to any clinical test for pregnancy. If the result is positive, you need to consult the physician so that it can be confirmed with appropriate clinical tests. To ensure a healthy pregnancy as well as healthy baby, prenatal care has to be started in early pregnancy. So it is important to ensue your pregnancy early at home.

Adrenal Fatigue: Health Questions for Women

Feeling energy less and stressed all the time is the sign of adrenal fatigue and it is one of the most important health questions for women. While performing the simple task, some individuals feel the adrenaline rush and then the feeling of exhaustion takes over. If the person feels weakness all the time, it is the sign of adrenal fatigue and people need to take steps to counter it.

Adrenal glands are the two glands which sit above the kidney and they secrete stress related hormones. If the person is suffering from brain fog and experiences pangs of tiredness frequently, it's the time to go to the doctor. People can't accomplish the routine task according to their requirements and specifications.

It is considered to be one of the most important Health questions for women. By consuming Vitamin C, it is possible to get the immune support in the long run. When the stress increases the adrenaline glands store the vitamins to ward off the free radicals. One should consume fruits that are full of Vitamin C. It will go a long way in giving the best results to the users.

L tyrosine is a possible answer to the Health questions for women because it is an amino acid designed to create the response of the body during the stressful situations. If it is deficient in the body, people might face lots of issues related to fatigue. Cheese along with the yogurt is known to captivate the imagination of the users. Although they are poor substitutes, they can be consumed along with the normal food. Amino acid supplement is the best option for the people who are suffering from the issues of adrenalin.

Natural remedy for the problems could be the herbal extract directly sourced from northern china. Root of the plant contains compounds which helps in the production of the adrenaline hormones. It is a wonderful supplement and provides one of the best treatments to the patients. Apart from the plants, Vitamin B is known to be quite important to the users. Pyridoxal is a form of Vitamin B6 which helps the person to feel good about the environment. By increasing the intake of pantothenic acid, it is possible to enhance the secretion of chemicals. It works by creating cellular energy from the fat.

DHEA is the chemical which is an important component of adrenaline and would go a long way in generating energy for the body. One should take proper supplements to revitalize the brain and the body. There are many medicines that could act as a substitute to accomplish the task. Licorice is one of the major extracts that will help to slow down the breakage of the adrenaline hormone. It is available to the body and people do not feel tired any more. Women should take care of their health because there are different phases of the life which require them to be vigilant about the body. Adrenaline extract is the best natural source of medicine which acts as a charger for the body in the long run.

Link Between Calcium Supplements And Longer Lifespans In Women

Link Between Calcium Supplements And Longer Lifespans In Women

Taking a calcium supplement of up to 1,000 mg per day can help women live longer, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

Calcium, an essential nutrient for bone health, is commonly found in dairy products as well as vitamins. Although calcium is an essential nutrient for bone health, past studies have linked calcium supplements to heart disease risk. Researchers analyzing data from the large-scale Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos) sought to clarify this issue and found moderate doses of calcium supplements had a beneficial effect in women.

"Our study found daily use of calcium supplements was associated with a lower risk of death among women," said the study's lead author, David Goltzman, MD, of McGill University in Montreal, Canada. "The benefit was seen for women who took doses of up to 1,000 mg per day, regardless of whether the supplement contained vitamin D."

The longitudinal cohort study monitored the health of 9,033 Canadians between 1995 and 2007. During that period, 1,160 participants died. Although the data showed women who took calcium supplements had a lower mortality risk, there was no statistical benefit for men. The study found no conclusive evidence that vitamin D had an impact on mortality.

"Higher amounts of calcium were potentially linked to longer lifespans in women, regardless of the source of the calcium," Goltzman said. "That is, the same benefits were seen when the calcium came from dairy foods, non-dairy foods or supplements."

Gender Differences In The Prescribing Of Analgesics In Spain

Gender Differences In The Prescribing Of Analgesics In Spain

Regardless of pain, social class or age, a woman is more likely to be prescribed pain-relieving drugs. A study published in Gaceta Sanitaria (Spanish health scientific journal) affirms that this phenomenon is influenced by socioeconomic inequality between genders in the Autonomous Community in which the patient resides.

In 1999, a researcher at the University of Harvard, Ishiro Kawachi, observed that in the states of the USA with a larger proportion of women with a high social class, mortality in both genders was lower.

Inspired by Kawachi's studies, experts at the University of Alicante have identified how social and economic inequalities between men and women - known as gender-related development - influence the prescription of analgesics by area of residence.

"In Spain, as well as in other countries, women suffer from pain more frequently than men, therefore it is logical that they are prescribed more analgesics," Elisa Chilet Rossell, main author of the study recently published in the Gaceta Sanitaria, explains to SINC.

However, this analysis goes one step further and affirms that, regardless of pain, social class and age, being a woman increases the probability of being prescribed analgesics. "It also depends on whether the patient lives in an Autonomous Community with lower gender development, regardless of whether the patient is male or female," Chilet notes.

For this research, the authors used as their main source of information the 2006 Spanish National Health Survey and the United Nations' Gender-related Development Index (GDI), which distinguishes between the development indices of men and women according to life expectancy at birth, education and income.

With this information, they performed a logistic regression analysis to compare the prescription of analgesics by sex in the areas with higher and lower GDIs than the Spanish national average. The results confirmed a gender gap of 29% in the prescription of these medicines.

"The gender bias found could be a way in which inequalities in treatment with analgesics negatively affects women's health," the researcher highlights. "In this way, women receive treatment for symptomatic pain more frequently than men, treatment which can be unspecific and blind to the causes of the pain."

Women are less often seen by specialists

The authors also found that women who suffer pain and live in a context of lower gender-related development are less likely than men to be seen by specialists and tend to be seen only in primary care.

For these experts, by considering GDI this research contributes a new layer of context to the analysis of inequalities in the prescription of analgesics, and demonstrates that political and economic factors in society influence health problems and their treatment.

"Research on the suitability of analgesics and the medicalisation of women should take account of factors within this environment, as it entails a high cost in terms of women's health and increases pharmaceutical costs, an important consideration in the current climate of economic recession," Chilet concludes.

Identifying Women Who Should Be Screened For High Cholesterol

Identifying Women Who Should Be Screened For High Cholesterol

National guidelines recommend that at-risk women be screened for elevated cholesterol levels to reduce their chances of developing cardiovascular disease. But who is 'at risk?' The results of a study by investigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to estimate the proportion of women young and old who have cholesterol levels that meet the definition of being at-risk are reported in an article in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available on the Journal of Women's Health website.

In 'Cholesterol Screening for Women: Who is 'At Risk?'* Cheryl Robbins, Patricia Dietz, Shanna Cox, and Elena Kuklina, from the CDC, Atlanta, GA, analyzed data for a representative sample of 1,781 U.S. women not previously diagnosed with elevated cholesterol.

More than half (55%) of younger women (ages 20-44 years) and 74.2% of older women (>45 years) were at-risk for high cholesterol as defined by U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. Nearly all of the women in both age groups had at least one risk factor that would make them candidates for cholesterol screening according to the American Heart Association risk definition. The authors suggest the need for future research to determine whether screening and treatment of young women with high cholesterol will help to decrease subsequent deaths due to cardiovascular disease.

"The high prevalence of dyslipidemia reported in this study even among younger women is striking and supports the need for increased education about the risks for cardiovascular disease in women," says Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health, Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA, and President of the Academy of Women's Health.

Gender Differences In Access To Trauma Centers

Gender Differences In Access To Trauma Centers

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Women are less likely than men to receive care in a trauma center after severe injury, according to a new study of almost 100,000 Canadian patients.

"Gender-based disparities in access to healthcare services in general have been recognized for some time and evidence is emerging that these disparities extend to the treatment of severe injuries in trauma centers," says lead author Andrea Hill. MSc, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada. "Our study confirms and expands on these earlier findings by evaluating the relationship between gender and trauma center care in a large cohort of patients from across Canada."

The study results were presented at the ATS 2013 International Conference in Philadelphia.

The retrospective cohort study included 98,871 adult patients with severe injury (Injury Severity Score>15 or death within 24 hours of hospital admission).

Of the 33,080 women in the cohort, 49.6% received care in a trauma center, compared to 63.2% of males, a statistically significant (p<0.0001) difference. In the subgroup of patients aged 65 or older, 37.5% of women received trauma center care, compared with 49.6% of men, again a significant (p<0.0001) difference.

After adjusting for the effects of clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic variables, severely injured womenremained less likely to be treated in a traumacenter than men (odds ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.76 - 0.82). Separate analyses of women with fall-related injuries and women with motor vehicle-related injuries revealed that they were also less likely to receive trauma center care than men.

This pattern of gender differences in access to trauma center care was consistent across different mechanisms of injury, different income levels and among both urban and rural patients.

"Our study provides yet more evidence of important gender differences in access to trauma center care for people with severe injuries," said Dr. Hill. "Future research should focus on the factors underlying these differences and on the effects of these disparities on patient outcomes."

Female College Student Drinkers Exceed NIAAA Guidelines For Weekly Drinking More Frequently Than Their Male Counterparts

Female College Student Drinkers Exceed NIAAA Guidelines For Weekly Drinking More Frequently Than Their Male Counterparts

In order to avoid harms associated with alcohol consumption, in 2009 the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism issued guidelines that define low-risk drinking. These guidelines differ for men and women: no more than four drinks per day, and 14 drinks per week for men, and no more than three drinks per day, and seven drinks per week for women. A study of how well college students adhere to these limits has found that female college student drinkers exceed national drinking guidelines for weekly drinking more frequently than their male counterparts.

Results will be published in the October 2013 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View.

"Recommended drinking limits are lower for women than for men because research to date has found that women experience alcohol-related problems at lower levels of alcohol consumption than men," explained Bettina B. Hoeppner of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Addiction Medicine, an assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School as well as corresponding author for the study.

"It is always important to take gender into account when studying health or risk behaviors," added Melissa A. Lewis, associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington. "Even if you hold weight constant, there are differences in terms of how alcohol affects men and women. For example, men have more of an enzyme in the stomach - a gastric alcohol dehydrogenase - that lowers the amount of alcohol that makes it into the bloodstream. Also, women have less blood going through the bloodstream than a man at the same weight, so alcohol gets more concentrated in the bloodstream."

For this study, Hoeppner and her colleagues asked 992 college students (575 females, 417 males) to report their daily drinking habits on a biweekly basis, using web-based surveys throughout their first year of college.

"We found that female college-student drinkers exceeded national drinking guidelines for weekly drinking more frequently than their male counterparts," said Hoeppner. "Weekly cut-offs are recommended to prevent long-term harmful effects due to alcohol, such as liver disease and breast cancer. By exceeding weekly limits more often than men, women are putting themselves at increased risk for experiencing such long-term effects."

"In addition," said Lewis, "men's weekly drinking declined over time whereas women's weekly drinking did not. This finding is concerning. If women continue to exceed weekly drinking recommendations over time, it puts them at greater risk for health issues, such as liver or heart disease and certain forms of cancer."

"These findings contribute to our understanding of how populations adhere to national drinking guidelines," said Hoeppner. "Specifically, it examines college student drinkers, where adherence to weekly drinking limits has not been examined before. Generally, 'binge drinking' receives more attention when examining college student drinking, however, for long-term health, it is also important to examine the establishment of drinking patterns that may lead to long-term harmful effects, not just short-term effects."

"These findings highlight the need for prevention efforts to focus on both daily and weekly limits to reduce harm from short- and long-term negative consequences related to alcohol use," said Lewis. "Current preventative interventions often do not focus on weekly drinking recommendations, which is important and a warranted area of future research.

Hoeppner agreed. "Our results might motivate clinicians to address weekly drinking limits and the potential for long-term alcohol related harm with their patients," she said. "The reasons that many college students exceed these weekly limits are unclear. It is possible that lack of awareness of the guidelines and possible consequences of exceeding them contributes to these high rates. If so, clinicians might reduce harm by educating their college-student patients about the guidelines and the harm they seek to prevent, especially their female patients. Similarly, researchers and clinicians designing prevention/intervention programs might find it useful to address weekly drinking limits in their programs, both to reduce incidence rates thereof, and to identify the reasons for exceeding these guidelines."

Immune System Status May Affect A Women's Reproductive Ability

Immune System Status May Affect A Women's Reproductive Ability

New research indicates that women's reproductive function may be tied to their immune status. Previous studies have found this association in human males, but not females.

The study appears in the American Journal of Human Biology.

An animal's energetic resources must be carefully allocated, said University of Illinois anthropology professor Kathryn Clancy, who led the new research. The body's first priority is maintenance, which includes tasks inherently related to survival, including immune function, she said. Any leftover energy is then dedicated to reproduction. There is a balance between resource allocation to maintenance and reproductive efforts, and environmental stressors can lessen available resources, said Clancy, who co-directs the Laboratory for Evolutionary Endocrinology at Illinois.

The study participants were a group of healthy, premenopausal, rural Polish women who participate in traditional farming practices. The researchers collected the women's urine and saliva samples during the harvest season, when physical activity levels are at their peak. This physical work constrains available energetic resources. In previous studies, the highest levels of ovarian suppression occurred during the harvest season.

Researchers measured participants' salivary ovarian hormone levels daily over one menstrual cycle. They also tested urine samples for levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a commonly used marker of inflammation.

"Depending on the other factors that you look at alongside it, CRP can tell you about immune function or it can tell you about psychosocial stress, because CRP has been correlated to both of those things in other populations," Clancy said.

The researchers observed a negative relationship between CRP and progesterone in the Polish women - in women with high CRP, progesterone was low. Further, the researchers found that estradiol and the age of first menstruation were the strongest predictors of CRP levels.

Clancy noted that it is too early to tell whether these correlational relationships indicate a causal relationship in which inflammation suppresses ovarian hormones. However, she believes that there are two possible pathways that explain these results.

"One is that there is an internal mechanism, and this local inflammation drives higher levels of CRP, and that is what's correlating with the lower progesterone," she said. "The other possibility is that there is an external stressor like psychosocial or immune stress driving allocation to maintenance effort, which in turn is suppressing ovarian hormones."

Clancy believes that her research will help women "understand their bodies better."

"From an anthropological perspective, these trade-offs are really important because they help us understand the timing of different life events: Why does someone hit puberty when they do, why do they begin reproducing when they do, why do they space babies the way they do?" Clancy said.

"It's really interesting to see the interplay between a person's intentions about when and why to have children, and then their own body's allocations to reproduction or not," Clancy said.

View drug information on Estradiol Transdermal System.

An Overview of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

There are approximately 20 percent of all pregnancies that end in loss or miscarriage. Miscarriage is medically defined as the loss of a pregnancy before twenty weeks gestation. Within the first 12 weeks of gestation is when most miscarriages occur.

Recurrent pregnancy loss is defined as 2-3 or more miscarriages occurring in the past. There are a number of factors that may be causing the miscarriages. Underlying causes such as a genetic defect, uterine fibroids or other problems may result in recurrent miscarriage. Hormonal imbalances such as elevated levels of prolactin in non-nursing women or thyroid hormone shifts may result in recurrent pregnancy loss.

Diagnostic Tests for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

A complete medical history, pelvic exam and one or more diagnostic test may be required to determine the possible causes of recurring pregnancy loss.

Some of the most common diagnostic tests include:

Antibodies test to determine immune system response

Blood hormone level tests

Endometrial biopsy

Glucose screening

Vaginal ultrasound

A vaginal ultrasound is among the most common test recommended if female issues are suspected. The vaginal scan detects abnormalities within the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, which may result in recurrent pregnancy loss.

Blood hormone level tests reveal certain hormone levels in the blood to assess if there is an imbalance that is triggering the miscarriage. Elevated levels of prolactin, thyroid and progesterone may impact recurrent miscarriage.

Risk Factors Associated with Recurrent Miscarriages

As a woman ages, there is an increased possibility of miscarriage. This is especially true in women over the age of 35. Increased risk of recurrent miscarriages can be caused by smoking, excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol. Some medications may increase the risk of pregnancy loss.

A fertility specialist can help identify risk factors that may be affecting viable pregnancy and assist you in eliminating the contributing problems.

Available Treatments Based on Findings

Treatments are available based on the findings from diagnostic testing. Fibroids and problems with the uterine shape may be corrected with surgery. When hormone imbalances are the cause, medication may be administered.

There are times when no cause for the miscarriage is identified. Even when the cause remains unknown, a fertility specialist can help increase the chance of you getting pregnant by offering strategies, treatment and help. There is still a high likelihood that a woman will become pregnant and deliver a healthy child even when three miscarriages have occurred. In fact, nearly 60% of women who have had three miscarriages deliver a healthy baby.

Couples who are fertile but have experienced recurrent miscarriages should be evaluated for genetic and chromosomal abnormalities. Either partner may be a carrier for a genetic disorder causing the recurrent pregnancy loss.

Which IUD Is Best For You?

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs for short) offer the best chance for safe, reversible, long-term birth control. When choosing between the hormonal IUD and the non-hormonal IUD you should remember that while both have distinct advantages and disadvantages, neither will protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You should be responsible and always have condoms at home and take some with you; be prepared and you'll be safer. This article will help you to choose the best IUD for your body and health.

How Long Do You Want Birth Control?

Hormonal IUDs only last for 5 years while the non-hormonal ones last for up to 10. Both offer over 99% effective birth control and you can have either removed whenever you want up to the end of their effective life-span. Both types of IUDs have a 2-10% chance of being expelled from the uterus into the vagina within the first year. This is more common amongst women who haven't given birth before. It often happens unnoticed and as soon as it does you are no longer protected against unplanned pregnancy.

How Are Your Periods?

Hormonal IUDs have the effect of reducing menstrual bleeding both by volume and duration. Up to 20% of women report that their periods stop altogether but the most common side-effect is reduced bleeding. This alone is enough for hormonal IUDs to be used just to reduce the pain and discomfort for women who suffer from heavy periods.

If you haven't yet had an IUD fitted and already suffer in some way during your periods, you need to know that non-hormonal IUDs (the copper ones) have the common side-effect of increasing menstrual bleeding and cramping. While the hormonal IUDs reduce menstrual cramping and bleeding, the copper ones significantly increase menstruation problems for the majority of women. Some women even report spotting between periods.

Are You Happy With Your Weight?

It's hard enough to stay slim without starting birth control so the last thing you want is to jeopardize your dieting efforts. The hormonal IUDs don't cause weight-gain so that can be a deciding factor for many women when choosing between the two types of IUDs. Women who are concerned about the side-effects of having hormonal IUDs are thinking about the levels of progesterone the device is feeding into the cervix. It is important to balance these concerns with the advantage of the devices not leading to weight gain.

Are IUDs A Good Choice For You?

This article has focused on the benefits of IUDs because they are long-lasting, over 99% effective and completely reversible. To balance this, there are a range of considerations that you should think over. IUDs aren't a good choice for you if you aren't willing to use condoms to protect yourself against SDIs. Neither type of IUD is suitable if you have had an SDI in the past 3 months or if you have an infection or inflammation of your vagina, cervix or pelvis. Although IUDs take just 5 minutes for a Clinician to insert, you will be asked all of these relevant questions before being advised which method of birth control is most suitable.

Do You Need a Breast Reduction?

Getting a breast reduction can seem a bit intimidating. It is a medical procedure, after all. It is just a very necessary one. Carrying too much weight due to your chest can cause incredible amounts of back pain. There are many women that have to go through this without having an actual enhancement initially. There are many more that have had the initial enlargement procedure and decided that going smaller is a better idea for whatever their reasoning is.

Why to do This

Carrying heavy weight on the front upper torso can cause serious pain in the back and neck area. This leads to discomfort and chronic issues, which can be avoided simply by having a procedure to fix it. If this is the case for you, you should look into having a breast reduction. You do not have to live a life of agony. You can find resolution. It may be a hard decision to make, but if there is that much pain, then you really aren't going to be losing out on much in the way of size, anyway. Just think about being able to do everything that you love for the rest of your life.

Think about what is going to happen when you have children, as well. The milk production alone is going to cause a change in the size and elasticity of your chest. They may sag more, become much heavier, and cause further complications. A breast reduction would be beneficial after having a child, so that a professional can make them look more youthful and shaped more naturally.

If you went too far on an augmentation and would like to dial it back a few sizes, breast reduction is perfect for that. Sometimes people decide that they want some huge change, but then they learn that it can be uncomfortable or hard to cover up when they need to. Many women who get the absurdly large augmentations often have to figure out how to cover them up in public and even still they are stared at. They may not be comfortable with that. This could lead to having a procedure to make them more "modest."

Picking the Right Doctor for the Job

If you live in an area where many of your peers had augmentation, you simply can rely on word of mouth. There are great doctors out there that provide the highest quality of service and then there are doctors that you really need to avoid. Take the time to know who is in control of one of the most important parts of the woman's anatomy. Pick a doctor who can cut back on the scarring and not dial it back too far. Pick a doctor who is so skilled that he or she knows exactly what you need and how to provide that for you.

Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Not Increased By Hysterectomy

Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Not Increased By Hysterectomy

Having a hysterectomy with or without ovary removal in mid-life does not increase a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease compared to women who reach natural menopause, contrary to many previously reported studies, according to research published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

"Middle-aged women who are considering hysterectomy should be encouraged because our results suggest that increased levels of cardiovascular risk factors are not any more likely after hysterectomy relative to after natural menopause," said Karen A. Matthews, PhD, lead author of the study and a distinguished professor of psychiatry and professor of epidemiology and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of a woman's uterus; it is sometimes accompanied by the removal of the ovaries to decrease the risk of ovarian cancer. Hysterectomy is a common surgical procedure for women, but the benefits must be weighed against potential long-term related health consequences. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women and many studies have shown increased risk of cardiovascular disease to be a health risk associated with hysterectomy, especially accompanied by ovary removal. Researchers in those studies usually evaluated cardiovascular disease risk factors years after hysterectomy and/or ovary removal and did not assess individual risk factor levels pre-surgery.

For this study, investigators followed 3,302 premenopausal women between the ages of 42-52 for 11 years who were enrolled in the Study of Women's Health across the Nation (SWAN). Researchers compared cardiovascular disease risk factors in women prior to and following elective hysterectomy with or without ovary removal to the risk factors prior to and following final menstrual period in women who underwent natural menopause.

This is the only multiethnic study that has tracked prospective annual changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors relative to hysterectomy or natural menopause.

Investigators found that several cardiovascular disease risk factor changes differed prior to and following hysterectomy, compared to changes prior to and following a natural menopause, but those changes did not suggest an increased cardiovascular disease risk following hysterectomy, independent of body mass index, which did increase after hysterectomy with removal of ovaries. These effects were similar in all ethnic groups in the study.

Dr. Matthews said it is unclear why this study's findings differed from other studies exploring hysterectomy and cardiovascular risk, but likely factors include the age of participants since hysterectomy that occurs earlier in life may present more cardiovascular risk. Also, earlier studies included women who had hysterectomy for any reason, whereas the SWAN study excluded women who had hysterectomy because of cancers.

"This study will prove very reassuring to women who have undergone hysterectomy," said American College of Cardiology CardioSmart Chief Medical Expert JoAnne Foody, MD, FACC. "As with anything, if a woman is concerned about her risk for heart disease she should discuss this with her health care provider."

Change In Tactics Means Health Visitors May Be Able To Identify Child Abuse

Change In Tactics Means Health Visitors May Be Able To Identify Child Abuse

New research at The University of Nottingham is calling for changes to a government scheme which engages community nurses in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in the home as part of a maternal and child health care programme.

The study, published online by the Journal of Public Health, has found that despite being set up to help reduce the numbers of child abuse cases, the 10 million Family Nurse Partnership will only be able to tackle around 10% of families involved in child maltreatment.

And, the researchers say, by using different, less common risk factors to identify vulnerable children, the scheme could reach three times the number of abusive families using a similar number of health visitors.

The research was carried out by Professor Kevin Browne, Professor of Forensic Psychology and Child Health, and Vicki Jackson, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, at the University's Centre for Forensic and Family Psychology

Exaggerated claims

Professor Browne said: "The claims made about FNP to reduce child maltreatment in England have been over exaggerated. Careful consideration needs to be given to other prevention programmes that are tailored to the needs and vulnerabilities of the family."

The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) was an American idea adopted by the past two UK governments who invested 10 million in a pilot scheme in ten areas of England. It was a response to the increasing numbers of children being maltreated or neglected. A year ago nearly 170,000 children in England were registered as 'children in need' because of abuse or neglect.

The scheme is designed to offer disadvantaged new parents tailored help and support from a specialist nurse in the home in the weeks and months after childbirth. The aim has been to give many more vulnerable children across the country a better start in life and to teach new parents the skills to cope with parenthood and childrearing.

The Government recently published a national review on health visiting and families at risk, as well as revisions in primary health-care services to promote child health and welfare. The report, Early Intervention: The Next Steps, authored by Nottingham North MP Graham Allen, acknowledged that a proactive approach is crucial to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. He championed the use of the American-style FNP on the basis that in the States there was evidence to suggest that it leads to a reduction in child abuse and neglect and improves outcomes for children in vulnerable families. Families 'in need'

The evaluation of the impact of the FNP scheme by the researchers in the Centre for Forensic and Family Psychology, based in the University's School of Community Health Sciences, found that there are currently around 315 health visitors implementing the programme, a figure which is set to rise to around 585 by 2015.

However, with Government figures suggesting that the true number of families 'in need' is close to 30,000 every year, in reality around 1,350 health visitors would be needed, close to two and a half times projected targets.

By targeting first-time, young vulnerable mothers with low socio-economic status - the current criteria for the FNP - the programme is only reaching around one-quarter of families likely to benefit and the study estimates that it is missing 90% of child abuse and neglect cases.

The authors claim that using specific known risk factors, such as a history of domestic violence or where parents had themselves been abused as a child, would be far more effective in identifying vulnerable children than targeting just first-time mums from poorer backgrounds.

Data from a previous study involving Professor Browne, which looked at an English population of 14,252 families, showed that families with a history of domestic violence were 23 times more likely to abuse their child under 5 years of age.

Highest relative risk

It also revealed that 2% of parents in the general population reported that they had been abused or neglected as a child, yet one in five (20%) of abusive parents reported this characteristic. This compares to young, first-time mothers with socio-economic problems who were present in 30% of the population but just 10% of abuse cases.

Using information from these more predictive risk factors, combined with national birth rates, could allow the Government to implement a modified FNP using less health visitors to reach double the number of abusive families or an almost equal number to those currently in place to detect 30% of child abuse and neglect cases.

Professor Browne added: "It is vital that families with a history of domestic violence are not ignored by health professionals as it regularly presents the highest relative risk for child maltreatment. It is also cited in 46% of child abuse and neglect referrals to police child protection units."

Improving Food Security In Africa By Educating Women

Improving Food Security In Africa By Educating Women

The author of the thesis, Simon Wagura Ndiritu, has studied gender-related issues concerning agriculture and food management in Kenya and Tanzania. He found significant differences between men and women, where women are often forced to farm lower-quality lands and do not typically use the most productive farming methods to the same extent as men. As this seems to be a structural problem, measures targeting women can be expected to be very effective.

'African women are crucial in farming. They are in charge of their families' food security and all household work. Information campaigns targeting women could help them adopt more modern and more effective agricultural methods. This would in turn lead to reduced poverty and increased food security.'

Low productivity and post-harvest losses are two main reasons for the widespread food shortage in Sub-Saharan Africa. It would therefore be highly beneficial to introduce improved agricultural methods and better ways to store the harvests, and to strengthen the female farmers through information about the entire farming and storage process. Part of this work would consist of training of competent information officers with a passion for agricultural issues.

'The thesis for example shows how information campaigns increased the use of modern storage methods. These methods lead to improved food security throughout the year, which is particularly important for female farmers as they carry the heavy burden of being in charge of both the household and the family's food security,' says Simon Wagura Ndiritu.

The women's problems are amplified by the fact that they generally lack resources and cannot afford modern agricultural technologies. This necessitates joint efforts by government actors, society and aid organisations in order to successfully address the knowledge and resource issues.'

Half Of All Adult Female Deaths In Rural Bangladesh Due To Non-Communicable Diseases

Half Of All Adult Female Deaths In Rural Bangladesh Due To Non-Communicable Diseases

While global attention has for decades been focused on reducing maternal mortality, population-based data on other causes of death among women of reproductive age has been virtually non-existent. A study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that non-communicable diseases accounted for 48 percent of 1,107 investigated female deaths in rural Bangladesh between 2002 and 2007. The findings lend urgency to review global health priorities to address neglected and potentially fatal non-communicable diseases affecting rural women in South Asia. The study is published in the May 2013 edition of the British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

For the study, researchers surveyed a population of more than 130,000 women of reproductive age in Bangladesh using a pregnancy surveillance system established during the JiVitA-1 community-based maternal vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation trial. The researchers prospectively recorded deaths among enrolled women. Employing a modified World Health Organization verbal autopsy method, physicians interviewed families at home about the events and circumstances leading up to the death of each woman. A separate set of physicians independently reviewed the verbal autopsies to ascertain the primary cause of death: 22 percent were related to pregnancy, 17 percent due to infection and 9 percent attributable to injuries (both unrelated to pregnancy), while 48 percent of the fatalities were assigned to non-communicable diseases, among which circulatory system diseases and cancer were the top causes.

"While reducing mortality from pregnancy remains a high priority, these findings highlight the need to address and reduce the risk of death unrelated to pregnancy among women of reproductive age. The causes and risk factors need to be better understood to design interventions to reduce risk, likely focusing on nutrition, health education, early screening and health care for rural women in their prime of life," said Alain Labrique, PhD, assistant professor in the Bloomberg School's Department of International Health and lead author of the study.

What to Wear - When You Have No Hair

What to Wear When You Have No Hair

Top 4 Choices

1. Au Naturelle:

Let's go with the more obvious first. Women with Androgenic Alopecia have a diffused thinning of hair, resulting in the horseshoe, or sometimes just the crown, starting from the bangs back. I have seen many women just combing their hair the way they always have. Sometimes an attempt is made to strategically cover the thinning spots. But the least little gust of wind - and all is lost. Still if you are comfortable with this I think that it's awesome. Keeping your hair shorter may be a cleaner look, rather than letting those remaining diehards languish all alone. A savvy hairstylist can cut strategically to make the best of what you have look fuller.

2. Bald and Beautiful:

Some more adventurous women opt to just get it over with and shave whatever is left, leaving a little five o'clock shadow perhaps to just to take the shine off. Be careful in the sun! This should go without saying but apparently it still needs to be said. Especially when it's virgin skin being exposed. Baby shampoo is good. Watch out for dry scalp. You can you a light moisturizing cream. Beware of clogged pores - yep, pimples on your head - which is a sign of using too much cream. You may also find at night your head gets cold and little cotton knits hats or caps are great. They also help with the friction of scalp meeting pillow when you're moving around in your sleep. Which leads me to the next option...

3. Scarves and Turbans and Hats -oh my!

Explore all the varieties, in fact they're endless! There are so many out there and so many ways to wear them! Always looking for any excuse to obtain matching accessories, hats and scarves will now play a major role in my wardrobe. No dowdy looking head gear for this gal!

You can even buy a pad to put under the scarf to add volume, how cool is that?

When it comes to hats, I used to think I looked like Daisy Mae (comic strip character for you young'uns out there). But now I have 3 and will most definitely be adding to my collection.

Choose cotton products whenever you can, especially if you have very little or no hair underneath. It helps the scalp breathe and helps keep it somewhat cooler than other materials.

4. Walkin' with my wig-on!

My personal favorite! You can get nasty (we're talking Halloween style here), good, better and best in the wig category. You also have your choice of real hair or synthetic.

You can immediately tell real hair from synthetic. Real hair pricing is about $2,000-$3,000 more than a good quality synthetic. So far, I have only gone the synthetic route.

I bought the $35 wig the day I made the decision to wear one. Totally different hair style than what my real hair was. Hated it. Heavy, hot and un-stylable. No flexibility with how you wore it, couldn't change the location of the part, or restyle in any manner. I felt like everyone knew it was a wig it was 'too perfect'.

Next up was a $350 wig. Again, totally different hair style than mine. This one had a lace front - meaning that it looked like hair naturally growing out of the scalp,, which works great when you forget and brush it back from your face. These have much more flexibility with styling And you can even use hot rollers on the better quality ones. (Mine was a Raquel Welch ooh-la-la!)

Moving up the wig ladder, my next and current item up is another synthetic wig - that you can actually swim in! I loved this from the moment I read that. No phobia about being at a pool party and getting thrown in. (We have to think ahead about stuff like this!) This one was also custom designed - for me - with my head measurements. So it fit snugly and comfortably around my neck and ears. No more 'pug' face wrinkles on the brow. AND, it looked like my hair - because it was colored and cut - just like my hair. Sent in a picture of me on a really good hair day, and they made my wig to look like - me! Cost of this special attention starts at $1,399, depending on length of hair etc.

As much as I thought I wanted a TOTALLY new a different look, they wisely advised against it. This wig is me, people that know me, don't really pay any attention to it, those that don't know me - don't notice. Awesome!

No matter which way you want to go, or if you're like me and want to change it up, between wigs and hat and scarves, you can look beautiful... without hair. And you are beautiful.

ADHD Incidence May Be Reduced In Breastfed Children

ADHD Incidence May Be Reduced In Breastfed Children

Breastfeeding has a positive impact on the physical and mental development of infants. A new study suggests that breastfeeding may protect against the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in childhood. The study is reported in Breastfeeding Medicine, the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available on the Breastfeeding Medicine website.*

A team of Israeli researchers led by Aviva Mimouni-Bloch, MD compared breastfeeding history and other factors in a group of children 6-12 year of age diagnosed with ADHD to control groups of children who did not have ADHD. The results demonstrated that overall, the children with ADHD were less likely to have been breastfed at 3 and 6 months of age than the children without ADHD. This association between ADHD and lack of breastfeeding was statistically significant.

"Breastfeeding has been shown to have a positive impact on child development, good health, and protection against illness. Now, another possible benefit of breastfeeding for three months and especially six months or longer has been identified," says Ruth Lawrence, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Breastfeeding Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine. "This study opens another avenue of investigation in the prevention of ADHD."

Child Brides At Increased Risk For Maternal And Infant Mortality

Child Brides At Increased Risk For Maternal And Infant Mortality

Countries in which girls are commonly married before the age of 18 have significantly higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, report researchers in the current online issue of the journal Violence Against Women.

The study, by Anita Raj, PhD, a professor in the Department of Medicine in the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Ulrike Boehmer, PhD, an associate professor in the Boston University School of Public Health, is the first published ecological analysis of child marriage and maternal mortality. The study demonstrates that a 10 percent reduction in girl child marriage could be associated with at 70 percent reduction in a country's maternal mortality rate.

"Our analyses accounted for development indicators and world region, and still documented that nations with higher rates of girl child marriage are significantly more likely to contend with higher rates of maternal and infant mortality and non-utilization of maternal health services," said Raj.

"Though child marriage is not highly common in the United States," said Raj, "these findings are meaningful because they hold true for adolescent pregnancy, regardless of marriage. Young age at childbirth increases risk for both maternal and infant mortality."

Girl child marriage is defined as the marriage of girls age 17 and younger. Although the practice has generally declined in recent years, it remains relatively common in regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where up to 70 percent of females in some countries are married as minors. Worldwide, the United Nations estimates more than 60 million women and girls are affected, and considers girl child marriage to be a health and human rights violation.

Raj and Boehmer said certain social contexts increase the likelihood of child marriage, among them rural and impoverished areas with low access to health care and girl education. Regional conflict and instability tend to worsen the situation.

"Girl marriage is viewed as a means of protection from both economic instability and rape due to perceptions of sexual availability of unmarried girls and women," said Raj. "Poverty and conflict can exacerbate parents' desire to have their girl married at a younger age."

Child brides are also more likely to experience social inequities - reduced status and access to education or jobs - and suffer gender-based abuse. The effects extend into personal health: Girls married as minors are more likely to bear children as minors, resulting in higher risk for delivery complications, low infant birth weight and child malnutrition.

The new study builds upon earlier findings. Raj and Boehmer compared maternal and child health indicators and HIV prevalence with girl child marriage rates for 97 nations in which relevant data was available. They found strong associations between high child marriage rates and poor health indicators, but no evidence of higher child bride-higher HIV prevalence. The HIV finding, said the researchers, may be the result of a lack of evidence, underscoring the complexity of HIV and its effects in diverse societies.

Nonetheless, the authors say their latest work supports greater advocacy and action to reduce child marriage rates.

"Currently, many nations, such as Yemen and Saudi Arabia, are considering whether or not to alter policies allowing marriage of minor-aged girls, while other nations like India and Nepal are struggling with enforcement of existing policies," Raj said. "These findings suggest policy and programmatic work to restrict and eliminate the practice of child marriage may be effective in improving national levels of maternal and child health."

Fibroadenoma Versus Phyllodes Tumor of the Breast

Fibroadenoma
Fibroadenoma is the most common benign tumor in the female breast. They generally occur in younger women but can be seen in post-menopausal women as well. Most of the time they present as a lump in the breast, but they can also be found incidentally on a breast radiology exam.

To a pathologist, a fibroadenoma has two components: the stroma (or "fibro" part), and the breast ductal epithelium (the "adenoma" part). The usual fibroadenoma is benign and does not increase a patient's risk for developing breast cancer. However, the epithelial component can undergo the same changes the rest of the breast epithelium does so that hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia, and carcinoma can grow within fibroadenomas. When the stroma part of a fibroadenoma changes, then pathologists worry about what is called a phyllodes tumor.

Phyllodes Tumor
This tumor is a much more rare type of tumor than fibroadenoma and they generally are seen in a some what older age group than fibroadenomas. Like fibroadenomas, the tumors are composed of a mixture of stroma and epithelium; however, it is the stroma that distinguishes phyllodes tumors from fibroadenomas.

Since these are uncommon tumors in the breast, there are not a lot of large research studies on phyllodes tumors. Generally, pathologists break them down into three different types: benign, border line, and malignant based upon how aggressive the stroma looks under the microscope. All phyllodes tumors, regardless of sub classification, can recur and generally the rate of recurrence increases from benign to borderline to malignant. Most surgeons will try to get a margin of "normal" breast tissue around a phyllodes tumor to reduce the change of the tumor coming back. Phyllodes tumor rarely metastasize and it's usually the malignant variant that does so.

Because these are uncommon tumors, pathologists who don't see a lot of breast pathology may have difficult making the diagnosis. A benign tumor can sometimes be confused with a fibroadenoma, and a more aggressive (malignant) tumor can be confused with a metaplastic carcinoma. Thus, it is important that if there is any question about whether or not you have a typical fibroadenoma or possibly a more aggressive tumor, you should seek a second opinion.

Passive Smoking Presents Greater Threat To Teen Girls Than Boys

Passive Smoking Presents Greater Threat To Teen Girls Than Boys

When teenage girls are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, they tend to have lower levels of the "good" form of cholesterol that reduces heart disease risk, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) pick up excess cholesterol in the blood stream and take it to the liver where it can be broken down. Unlike low-density lipoproteins that can create a waxy build-up that blocks blood vessels, HDL cholesterol can play a key role in combatting heart disease risk.

"In our study, we found 17-year-old girls raised in households where passive smoking occurred were more likely to experience declines in HDL cholesterol levels," said the study's lead author, Chi Le-Ha, MD, of the University of Western Australia. "Secondhand smoke did not have the same impact on teenage boys of the same age, which suggests passive smoking exposure may be more harmful to girls. Considering cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in the western world, this is a serious concern."

Researchers studied a longitudinal birth cohort of 1,057 adolescents who were born between 1989 and 1992 in Perth, Australia. The study gathered information about smoking in the household beginning at 18 weeks gestation and leading up to when the children turned 17. During that time, 48 percent of the participants were exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Blood tests were performed to measure the teenagers' cholesterol levels.

"The findings indicate childhood passive smoke exposure may be a more significant cardiovascular risk factor for women than men," Le-Ha said. "We need to redouble public health efforts to reduce young children's secondhand smoke exposure in the home, particularly girls' exposure."

Using The Pill To Alter Menstruation Cycles

Using The Pill To Alter Menstruation Cycles

A surprisingly large number of women 18 or older choose to delay or skip monthly menstruation by deviating from the instructions of birth-control pills and other hormonal contraceptives, a team of University of Oregon researchers and others found in a study of female students at the university.

Most women who alter bleeding cycles do so for convenience rather than to avoid menstrual symptoms, and many learn about the option from nonmedical sources, according to research by the university's Department of Human Physiology, Portland-based Oregon Health and Sciences University and Eastern Michigan University. The study is published in Contraception, the official journal of the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals and the Society of Family Planning.

"These findings emphasize the need for health care providers to carefully interview combined hormonal contraceptive users on how they are using their method - for example, many women may be skipping pills to extend their cycles," said researcher Christopher Minson, a human physiology professor at the University of Oregon. "With a greater understanding of the issues, health care providers may be able to more effectively engage in conversations with college-aged women and educate them about available options."

As research indicates that reducing the occurrence of menstruation is safe and can even be beneficial, women are increasingly using hormonal contraceptives to alter bleeding cycles. But there has been a lack of information concerning why women do so and from whom they receive information regarding this option.

In a survey of undergraduate and graduate students, 17 percent reported altering their scheduled bleeding pattern by deviating from the instructions of hormonal contraceptives, which include birth-control pills, vaginal contraceptive rings and transdermal contraceptive patches.

Half of these women reported that they did so for convenience or scheduling purposes. Others cited personal preference (28.9 percent) or reducing menstrual symptoms (16.7 percent) as reasons they altered menstruation patterns.

Among the women who delayed or skipped a scheduled bleeding for convenience or personal choice, a comparatively large number - 53 percent - indicated the knowledge was obtained from nonmedical sources, such as a family member or friend, researchers said.

The survey also provides new insights on the factors that influence a woman's decision whether to alter bleeding schedules. Asians have a 7 percent lower probability of altering hormonal cycles and women who exercise regularly have a 5 percent lower probability of doing so; another characteristic that decreased the likelihood of the practice was preference for a monthly cycle.

"We found that it is possible to identify some of the specific characteristics of women in a college population who may be more or less likely to practice scheduled bleeding manipulation," said Dr. Paul Kaplan, of the University Health Center and Oregon Health and Sciences University. "This study provides information about the motives, beliefs and influences relating to this practice."

In a finding that surprised researchers, women who said they would prefer no menstrual periods were less likely to alter their cycles than those who would prefer one per year. A woman who would prefer one cycle per year had a 17 percent higher probability of modifying her hormonal contraceptive regimen than one who preferred a menstrual period every three months or never.

This suggests that health care providers could improve education of the hormonal contraception regimen best-suited to a patient's needs and desires, researchers said.

From an estimated 11,900 survey-linked emails sent to female university students, 1,719 (14.4 percent) initial responses were received and 1,374 (79.9 percent of respondents) indicated that they had used a combined hormonal contraceptive during the last six months.

Self-Abasing 'Fat-Talk' Can Make A Woman Unpopular

Self-Abasing 'Fat-Talk' Can Make A Woman Unpopular

Women who engage in "fat talk" - the self-disparaging remarks girls and women make in relation to eating, exercise or their bodies - are less liked by their peers, a new study from the University of Notre Dame finds.

Led by Alexandra Corning, research associate professor of psychology and director of Notre Dame's Body Image and Eating Disorder Lab, the study was presented recently at the Midwestern Psychological Association annual conference.

In the study, college-age women were presented with a series of photos of either noticeably thin or noticeably overweight women engaging in either "fat talk" or positive body talk; they were then asked to rate the women on various dimensions, including how likeable they were.

The women in the photos were rated significantly less likeable when they made "fat talk" statements about their bodies, whether or not they were overweight. The women rated most likeable were the overweight women who made positive statements about their bodies.

"Though it has become a regular part of everyday conversation, 'fat talk' is far from innocuous," according to Corning.

"It is strongly associated with, and can even cause, body dissatisfaction, which is a known risk factor for the development of eating disorders."

Although fat talk has been thought of by psychologists as a way women may attempt to initiate and strengthen their social bonds, Corning's research finds that fat-talkers are liked less than women who make positive statements about their bodies.

"These findings are important because they raise awareness about how women actually are being perceived when they engage in this self-abasing kind of talk," Corning says.

"This knowledge can be used to help national efforts to reduce 'fat talking' on college campuses."

Female Adults Lack Stem Cells For Making New Eggs

Female Adults Lack Stem Cells For Making New Eggs

Mammalian females ovulate periodically over their reproductive lifetimes, placing significant demands on their ovaries for egg production. Whether mammals generate new eggs in adulthood using stem cells has been a source of scientific controversy. If true, these "germ-line stem cells" might allow novel treatments for infertility and other diseases. However, new research from Carnegie's Lei Lei and Allan Spradling demonstrates that adult mice do not use stem cells to produce new eggs. Their work is published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of April 29.

Before birth, mouse and human ovaries contain an abundant supply of germ cells, some of which will develop into the eggs that will ultimately be released from follicles during ovulation. Around the time of birth these germ cells have formed a large reserve of primordial follicles - each containing a single immature egg. Evidence of new follicle production is absent after birth, so it has long been believed that the supply of follicles is fixed at birth and eventually runs out, leading to menopause.

During the last decade, some researchers have claimed that primordial follicles in adult mouse ovaries turn over and that females use adult germ-line stem cells to constantly resupply the follicle pool and sustain ovulation. These claims were based on subjective observations of ovarian tissue and on the behavior of extremely rare ovarian cells following extensive growth in tissue culture, a procedure that is capable of "reprogramming" cells.

Lei and Spradling used a technique that allows individual cells and their progeny within a living animal to be followed over time by marking the cells with a new gene. This general approach, known as lineage-tracing, has been a mainstay of classical developmental biology research and has greatly clarified knowledge of tissue stem cells during the last decade.

Their research showed that primordial follicles are highly stable, and that germ-line stem cell activity cannot be detected, even in response to the death of half the existing follicles. The research placed a stringent upper limit on the stem cell activity that could exist in the mouse ovary and escape detection - one stem cell division every two weeks, which is an insignificant level.

What about the rare stem-like cells generated in cultures of ovarian cells? According to Spradling, these cells "likely arise by dedifferentiation in culture," and "the same safety and reliability concerns would apply as to any laboratory-generated cell type that lacks a normal counterpart" in the body.

Gestational Diabetes: What You Need to Know

Gestation diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs only in pregnant women when the body is unable to handle the larger amount of insulin that is being produced.

Gestational diabetes affects over 15% of all pregnancies in the US each year. Women are at higher risk if they are:

Overweight

Over the age of thirty

Have a family history of diabetes

Gave birth to a baby over nine pounds in a previous pregnancy

While the chances of developing gestational diabetes for women with one or more of these risk factors, half of the women who develop gestational diabetes have no risk factors.

Most women who develop diabetes during their pregnancy will have no obvious signs, which is why most ob-gyns require a glucose challenge test between the 24 and 28 week of pregnancy. A glucose challenge test requires you to drink a glucose solution with your glucose level checked an hour afterward. If your results are abnormal, you will then take a glucose tolerance test. For this test, you will fast overnight and then take another glucose solution. Your blood will be checked every hour over a three hour period, as well as before you ingest the glucose solution.

To treat gestational diabetes, you will work with your ob-gyn to establish balanced meal plans to keep your blood sugar at a steady level. You will probably have to check your blood sugar level every morning an hour after you get up, as well after every meal that you eat. Regular physical activity can also help keep your blood sugar levels consistent.

Keeping your blood sugar levels steady is important for you and your baby. Babies whose mothers have unchecked gestational diabetes have a higher risk of excessive birth weight, which can increase birth trauma or the chances of c-section. In very rare cases, mothers who do not treat their gestational diabetes may suffer a stillbirth.

Mothers who are able to control their diabetes do not have any additional childbirth risks, though their provider will be more concerned about the size of the baby in the later weeks of pregnancy. Most doctors do not want mothers with gestational diabetes to go beyond their due date and will initiate labor or recommend a c-section if the baby is late or it seems that the baby is very large.

Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes may suffer from low blood sugar levels after the umbilical cord is cut, but breastfeeding early can help steady these levels. Furthermore, breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the chances of the baby having diabetes later in life, as it has also shown a reduced rate of mothers developing diabetes in later life.

Most women's blood sugar returns to a normal level after the birth of their baby. Your well woman care provider will check your level about six weeks after birth to ensure that it is normal again. Even so, women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing it later in life (this may be reduced some by breastfeeding) and thus should have their blood sugar checked every three years. If you had gestational diabetes in one pregnancy, you may have it in another, but you may not.

Making sure you are at a healthy weight, physically active, and eating balanced meals before you get pregnant may help you reduce the rate of developing diabetes again.

Mutations Discovered That May Affect Treatment Of Patients With Endometrial Cancer

Mutations Discovered That May Affect Treatment Of Patients With Endometrial Cancer

A study from the Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network, led by the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute, report that mutations discovered in endometrial cancer genes may directly impact treatment plans for women with aggressive endometrial cancer, as well as the classification of endometrial cancer tumors.

The study was published in the journal Nature.

The researchers performed an integrated analysis of endometrial cancer tumor samples from 373 patients using array- and sequencing-based technologies. Among their findings, two endometrial cancer tumor subtypes - uterine serous tumors and high-grade endometrioid tumors - shared several genetic mutations.

The researchers found that approximately 25 percent of tumors classified as high-grade endometrioid actually had genetic features similar to uterine serous carcinoma tumors, such as extensive copy number alterations and frequent mutations in the TP53 gene. The TP53 gene encodes for a tumor suppressor protein called p53. Moreover, uterine serous carcinomas shared genomic features with ovarian serous and basal-like breast carcinomas.

Early stage endometrioid tumors are often treated with adjuvant radiotherapy, while similarly staged serous tumors are treated with chemotherapy. Based on these compelling genetic similarities, the researchers note that clinicians should carefully consider treating copy number-altered endometrioid patients with chemotherapy rather than adjuvant radiotherapy and formally test such hypotheses in prospective clinical trials.

"Some of the results reported in this paper can change the way endometrial cancers are classified and provide opportunities to test new treatment protocols for patients with this cancer," said Raju S. Kucherlapati, PhD, Paul C. Cabot Professor of Genetics and Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and study author.

Further analysis and characterization of endometrial tumor subtypes also led the researchers to suggest a reclassification of endometrial cancers into four categories, as opposed to the current broad classification of two categories. The four categories are: POLE ultramutated, microsatellite instability hypermutated, copy number low, and copy number high.

"These findings suggest that a subset of endometrial tumors have distinct patterns of copy number alterations and mutations that do not correlate with traditional grade or make-up of tumor tissue," said Kucherlapati. The Genome Characterization Center in The Cancer Genome Atlas headed by Kucherlapati conducted whole genome sequencing of the tumors and identified copy number variations and structural rearrangements in these tumors.

Endometrial cancer occurs in the lining of the uterus, and is the fourth most common malignancy among women in the United States, with an estimated 47,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths in 2012.

Intervention Program For Teenage Girls Prevents Bullying And Violence

Intervention Program For Teenage Girls Prevents Bullying And Violence

New research from experts within the University of Minnesota School of Nursing has found teen girls at high risk for pregnancy reported being significantly less likely to participate in social bullying after participating in an 18-month preventive intervention program.

This research, in combination with University of Minnesota School of Nursing research findings from March 2013, demonstrate the preventative intervention program can reduce social bullying among all girls, including those who did and did not have strong family ties. Furthermore, girls in the intervention program were significantly more likely to enroll in college or technical school, actions that reduce the risk for involvement in serious violence during early adulthood.

The latest findings were recently published in the journal Prevention Science.

To evaluate the approach, the intervention program Prime Time was offered alongside primary care clinical services. The program provided 13 to 17-year-old girls at high risk for teen pregnancy with one-on-one mentoring and peer leadership opportunities in an effort to reduce bullying and other risky behaviors.

After 18 months of participation in the program, girls self-reported a significant decline in the amount they bullied others via relational aggression - a social form of bullying including gossip, rumors and ostracism that aims to damage the self-esteem or social status of a peer.

"These findings suggest that building supportive relationships with adults, peers and family members contributes to reductions in bullying and other risky behaviors among adolescent girls at risk for involvement in violence," said study lead author Renee Sieving, Ph.D., R.N., F.S.A.H.M., an associate professor with the University of Minnesota School of Nursing's Center for Adolescent Nursing and adjunct associate professor in the university's Department of Pediatrics.

A 2010 statewide survey of Minnesota youth found 42 percent of ninth grade girls and 28 percent of twelfth grade girls reported teasing or making fun of another student in a hurtful way within the past 30 days. Nationally, a 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found approximately 22 percent of female high school students reported being bullied on school property within the past year.

Bullying and violence among girls are linked to a range of poor physical and mental health outcomes. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies issued a call for better clinical screening and counseling for interpersonal violence with both adolescent and adult women.

"There is a startling lack of evidence in the scientific community about effective approaches to preventing bullying and violence among girls," said Sieving. "This preventative intervention program, which employs a dual approach of addressing risks while building protective factors that buffer girls from involvement in bullying and violence, holds great promise in preventing violence among girls."

Team Sports May Deter Bullying, Violence In Girls

Team Sports May Deter Bullying, Violence In Girls

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As schools around the country look for ways to reduce violence and bullying, they may want to consider encouraging students to participate in team sports, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Washington, DC.

Researchers analyzed data from the 2011 North Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Survey to see if athletic participation was associated with violence-related behaviors, including fighting, carrying a weapon and being bullied. A representative sample of 1,820 high school students in the state completed the survey, which also asked adolescents whether they played any school-sponsored team sports (e.g., football) or individual sports (e.g. track).

Results showed that half of the students ages 14-18 years reported playing a school-sponsored sport: 25 percent were on a team, 9 percent participated in an individual sport, and 17 percent played both individual and team sports.

Girls who played individual or team sports were less likely to report having been in a physical fight in the past year than girls who didn't participate in sports (14 percent vs. 22 percent). Female athletes also were less likely carry a weapon in the past 30 days than non-athletes (6 percent vs. 11 percent).

However, there was no difference in reported physical fighting in the past year or weapon carrying in the past 30 days between boys who played sports and those who did not. Approximately 32 percent of boys reported physical fighting, and 36 percent reported carrying weapons in the past 30 days.

"Athletic participation may prevent involvement in violence-related activities among girls but not among boys because aggression and violence generally might be more accepted in boys' high school sports," said senior author Tamera Coyne-Beasley, MD, MPH, FSAHM, FAAP, professor of pediatrics and internal medicine at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Coaches, school administrators and parents should be aware that students who participate in sports might still be at risk for fighting and carrying weapons, added presenting author Robert W. Turner, PhD, research associate and Carolina postdoctoral fellow for faculty diversity at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Survey results also indicated that boys who played team sports were less likely to report being bullied than boys who played individual sports.

"Though we don't know if boys who play team sports are less likely to be the perpetrators of bullying, we know that they are less likely to be bullied," Dr. Coyne-Beasley noted. "Perhaps creating team-like environments among students such that they may feel part of a group or community could lead to less bullying."