Women & Our Health

Pill could alter mate bonding

2009-05-10T21:09:00.001-07:00

As Mugatu said in the movie “Zoolander” — “I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!”

Oral contraceptives can make women have clearer skin, reduce cramps, cause weight gain and mess with our emotions. I’ve heard many women tell me that they felt more emotional than usual and a bit crazy when they were on the pill. Ingesting a daily dose of estrogen and/or progesterone will produce both physical and emotional effects on the body.

I know this because I’ve been on oral contraceptives for about three years, trying various brands and doses. Sometimes I will blame some of my actions and moods on the pill, and a recent study helped me — somewhat — justify that blame.

A study has shown that oral contraceptives can negatively alter the process by which a woman chooses her mate through her sense of smell. The aromatic molecules that both men and women send out can actually show genetic compatibility.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes produce an odor that invokes a response from those around you. According to an article on MSNBC, the best mates are individuals who have a different MHC scent that you do.

The recent study on how oral contraceptives effect the reception of MHC odors shows that those women on the pill choose individuals who have MHC smells that match theirs.

The reason experts are saying this isn’t good is because MHC cells also produce a substance that informs the body whether a cell is native or an invader. When people with different MHC genes mate their children’s immune systems are stronger because they can identify a broader range of foreign cells, which makes them more fit.

Odor perception also plays a part in maintaining attraction between partners, and lead researcher Stewart Craig Roberts, an evolutionary psychologist from the University of Newcastle in England, said the way that oral contraceptives alter a woman’s perception can ultimately lead to the breakdown of relationships while on the pill.

Past studies have indicated that couples with opposite or dissimilar MHC scents are more satisfied in their relationships and more likely to be faithful to their mates.

The study involved about 100 women between the ages of 18 and 35. At the beginning of the study, the women were given six male body-odor samples and were asked which they preferred. Some of the women were not given oral contraceptives, while the rest started taking the pill for about three months.

Afterward, the women who weren’t on oral contraceptives didn’t show a noteworthy preference for similar or dissimilar MHC odors, while the odor preference for the women who were on the pill changed. The results showed that those women were more likely to prefer similar MHC odors than the non-pill users.

I posted the MSNBC article online and asked my peers whether or not they thought this study was legitimate. Interestingly, two men completely agreed with the study. I wonder if they are agreeing because of their personal experiences with women on the pill.

Women aren’t crazy for taking the pill; choosing to delay pregnancy is a valid choice and I can’t say that, if I learned about this years ago I would stop taking it because I might be sniffing out the wrong mate. Women who are considering taking oral contraceptives, or are already on them, should talk to their doctor about more serious side effects of the pill than how it changes who you choose as a mate, so they know what they’re getting themselves into.

Note: I have chosen to stop taking the pill. My next entry will discuss whether or not I feel a change from not taking the pill.

Science shows how men objectify women

2009-04-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

A recent article by CNN explained how men view bikini-clad women as objects, according to new scientific research by Susan Fiske, a professor of psychology at Princeton University.

The research concluded that when men view images of women in bikinis, their brain areas associated with handling tools and intention to perform actions become more active.

"This is just the first study which was focused on the idea that men of a certain age view sex as a highly desirable goal, and if you present them with a provocative woman, then that will tend to prime goal-related responses," Fiske told CNN.

The article says that the way men depersonalize sexual or revealing images of women is a byproduct of human evolution.

"They're not fully conscious responses, and so people don't know the extent to whichttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifh they're being influenced," Fiske said in the CNN article. "It's important to recognize the effects."

The study was done at and involved 21 male heterosexual undergraduate students. They were provided with questions, and their answers would show whether they are sexist, and to what degree. A "benevolent" sexist would believe in sexist traditions like how the woman's place is supposed to be in the home. A "hostile" sexist would believe women attempt to dominate men.

While viewing images of women in next to nothing, the area in their brains associated with analyzing thoughts and feelings was inactive in those men who were rated as hostile sexists. Also, Fiske said that men seem to remember those scantily-clad women better than fully-clothes women, even though each image shown was displayed for only a second or shorter.

Not just another four-letter word

2009-03-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

In a recent article by Real Simple magazine, sociologists, psychologists, authors and other experts analyzed the "real meaning of love," by discussing common love sayings. Below is an excerpt from the original article, and below the expert responses I have put my own personal responses.
*This blog entry is different from other entries, but the discussion is relative to healthy relationships and thus still falls under the broad category of women's health.

1. Say "I love you" every day

Barbara De Angelis, personal-development expert: Say it as often as possible. There's no reason to be emotionally stingy with the person you love.

Nancy Kalish, psychologist: I agree that it should be said often, but it should be said sincerely, so it means something. Not just "Good-bye. Love you."

~My Response: As long as you mean it, I don't see why anyone should reserve I love you's for special occasions. Expressing your feelings for someone should evoke happiness. I agree with Kalish that it shouldn't be said in jest to someone you truly care about.

2. Play hard to get

Sam Yagan, dating Web site OkCupid, cofounder: Playing hard to get starts the relationship off on a deceptive foot. If you want your relationship to be based on trust, honesty, and communication, why would you begin it like that?

Greg Behrendt, coauthor of "He's Just Not That Into You": You shouldn't play hard to get; you should be hard to get, because your life is so busy and fulfilling. My wife and I call it being a MOD - a moving object of desire.

My Response: I absolutely love what Behrendt had to say on this. He put it beautifully. Though I have to say, a little bit of playing hard to get doesn't seem like it would be detrimental to a relationship, as Yagan put it. I understand that starting off a relationship by blatantly lying about things is wrong, but saying you're busy one night when you really aren't can't cause too much harm - right?

3. Your spouse shouldn't be your best friend

Pepper Schwartz, sociologist: I agree. I think you're asking a lot of your marriage to have the level of confidentiality, truthfulness, and disclosure that a best friendship has. Your marriage can fulfill only so many roles.

De Angelis: I disagree. If your spouse isn't your best friend, then what is he? I think it's important that you not only love him but like him a lot, too.

John Gray, author of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus": I have no problem with partners who are best friends, but you should have other close friends to confide in as well - especially when you are having relationship difficulties and need time away from your spouse. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

My Response: I think that relationships that take off from friendships tend to work well because you've already gotten to know each other. You can love someone and have sexual chemistry, but if you can't stand to hang out with him or her for too long or feel like you can't confide in your spouse, that's a problem. I like what Gray had to say about not having your spouse as your only best friend - having friends outside of a romantic relationship is definitely important.

I've previously talked about Dr. Hilda Hutcherson, the author of "What Your Mother Never Told You About S-E-X." Her book discusses relationships and the issues that can come up with love. Check out her website HERE.

British study finds more evidence linking alcohol consumption to cancer in women

2009-03-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

A recent article by the Associated Press reported that even moderate alcohol consumption will increase the risk of multiple cancers in women.

Researchers from the United Kingdom surveyed about 1.3 million middle-aged British women at breast cancer screening clinics about their drinking habits. The researchers tracked the health of these women for seven years. The data collected concluded that a quarter of the women reportedly did not consume alcohol, and almost all the rest of the women reported consuming fewer than three drinks per day with the average being one drink a day.

The article states the researchers compared those who drank the least, those who drank two or fewer drinks in a week, with those who drank more. The conclusions were astonishing: with each extra drink per day consumed, a woman's risk of breast, rectal and liver cancer increased. The type of alcohol - whine, beer or liquor - didn't matter. This discovery is supported by earlier research done on the subject, but this data also deduced that alcohol consumption was linked to esophageal and oral cancers only when smokers drank.

Many young women who smoke when they drink don't consider themselves "smokers," however this new research may make them think twice about both drinking and lighting up.

Interestingly, the research also revealed that moderate drinkers had a lower risk of thyroid cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and renal cell cancer.

According to the AP article, "For an individual woman, the overall alcohol risk is small. In developed countries, about 118 of every 1,000 women develop any of these cancers, and each extra daily drink added 11 breast cancers and four of the other types to that rate, the study found."

This research was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

To check out a YouTube video on this article by the BBC, go HERE.

Experimental vaginal gel may offer hope in fight against HIV/AIDS

2009-02-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, studies of a vaginal gel shows encouraging results in the fight against HIV.

Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Lexington, Mass. has created microbicide PRO 2000, a gel compound that has proved to be safe and 30 percent effective in preventing the AIDS virus from infecting women.

The NIH said that 33 percent effectiveness is considered statistically significant, according to an Associated Press article.

"Although more data are needed to conclusively determine whether PRO 2000 protects women from HIV infection, the results of this study are encouraging," said National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) director Anthony Fauci in a statement to the AP.

The NIH, which includes the NIAID, said that it was suggested through the institute's first large clinical study of a microbicide that the microbicide gel is to be applied topically to the vagina or rectum. The study involved more than 3,000 women in six African cities and one in the United States.

The results of the clinical trials were revealed on Feb. 9 at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal, Canada, by the NIH.

"An effective microbicide would be a valuable tool that women could use to protect themselves against HIV and one that could substantially reduce the number of new HIV infections worldwide," Fauci said in the article.

According to the article, Women make up 50 percent of all HIV-infected people worldwide, but nearly 60 percent in sub-Saharan Africa, NIH said.

Web MD also has an article on the subject here.

Women are burning for a chance at an education, career

2008-12-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

Up until 2001, Afghanistan was ruled by the former Taliban government. And under that government, young women and girls were not allowed to attend school. These women were also not allowed to leave their homes without a male family member to escort them.

But for the past seven years women have no longer been controlled by the Taliban government and no longer have to live in fear of death for pursuing an education or a career, right?

Wrong.

The recent attack on at least 15 Afghan female students and teachers from Mirwais Nika Girls High School in the Kandahar province are likely to have been carried out by members of the Taliban, who oppose the education of women, according to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

In November, two men on a motorcycle using toy squirt guns sprayed the young women with battery acid. The men fled the scene as soon as people came to help the injured women. Some of the women were shielded from the acid by their Islamic burkas or veils, but most of the victims suffered severe burns. At least one of them will need reconstructive surgery on her face and neck.

These women are literally risking their lives to better themselves in a world where the odds are stacked up against them. These women want to be doctors, educators, and have careers – and lives – of their own. At what cost must women pay for basic rights and freedoms?

Ten Taliban insurgents are currently in custody as suspects in the attack. The New York Times reported that Afghanistan officials are saying that the Taliban militants, who were citizens of Afghanistan, confessed to their involvement in the attack on November 12 and that someone high in the Taliban ranks paid the insurgents the equivalent of $1,275 for each girl they managed to burn.

According to the BBC News reports, only two million girls attend school in Afghanistan. Although the government in Afghanistan continuously pushes to encourage the education of women, many conservative families in the country prefer to keep women and girls at home and uneducated.

There have been hundreds of schools and female students attacked by those opposed to female education in recent years. The Taliban strongly opposes women in school and in the workplace, and have protested by torching schools, murdering school employees and distributing leaflets to warn parents not to send their children (specifically girls) to school.

Less than a third of Afghan children actually go to school, and that rate is even lower in the Kandahar province, where the acid attack occurred. Girls make up 17 percent of Kandahar’s students, and women’s literacy rate in the province is only 5 percent.

Acid attacks on female students are happening all over the world, with most recent reports of these types of crimes in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

MSNBC News did a report in August of this year on Saira Liaqat, a Pakistani woman who’s right eye was melted and her hands were severely damaged in an acid attack years before. Liaqat is one of Pakistan’s female victims of acid and arson attacks.

According to the article, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan found that in 2007, at least 33 women were burned in acid attacks and 45 women were set on fire. However, these numbers are well under the actual number of attacks because so many women don’t report incidents out of fear of their attackers are simply unable to pay legal bills.

If you want to learn about how to help some of these women, check out RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, at www.rawa.org.

Sexual trauma affects female veterans

2008-11-17T22:40:00.000-08:00

One in seven female military veterans are distressed and suffering after enduring sexual trauma during their service, a recent study presented to the American Public Health Association shows.

Those veterans, both men and women who are victims of sexual trauma, from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan who sought Veterans' Administration (VA) medical assistance were found to have depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders and substance-abuse disorders, according to an article from the Feminist Daily News, part of the Feminist Majority Foundation. Post-traumatic stress disorder was found to be much more common in women than men in that group.

According to the article, this is the first research study done that has focused on linking sexual trauma to post-traumatic stress disorder in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Men and women veterans who reported sexual trauma, including rape or threatened sexual harassment, were three times as likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder than those veterans who didn't report any sexual trauma, as found by researchers at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System's National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The data collected for the research involved screening 89,960 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who sought medical care at any VA hospital or health clinic over a six-year span, according to an article by the Washington Post. According to the article, 14.5 percent of women and .6 percent of men reported having experienced sexual trauma during their service. Of those women who reported, 76 percent were diagnosed with a mental disorder.

According to the Veterans Health Administration policy, all female and male veterans that visit a VA hospital or clinic are required to be screened for experiences of military sexual trauma, and treatment for victims of military sexual trauma is to be provided for free at all VA facilities.

I can't image why someone would think it's right to abuse someone in any way. These women chose to serve the United States, and they come home feeling abused and traumatized from the experience. Military service isn't supposed to be all fun and smiles, but it should definitely not be a breeding ground for the sexual abuse of anyone.

Edna B. Foa, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, studies sexual violence and told the Washington Post that if victims of sexual trauma get treatment, many of them can recover.

Foa said that about 20 percent of women who are raped in the general U.S. population develop post-traumatic stress disorder. "Even if they don't meet the criteria of the disorder, many of them will have symptoms that will cause them distress, difficulties having sexual relationships, etc ... Having a sexual trauma is serious," she said.

This issue is real and is beginning to get the media attention it deserves. Women are truly affected by sexual trauma afflicted upon them during military service. "The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq,"by Helen Benedict, a professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, focuses on this very issue. Her nonfiction book will be published in April 2009 and will likely be a collection of stories of abused military women and their personal experiences.

Image from www.helenbenedict.com.

Reconstruction surgery an option for survivors

2008-10-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

Breast cancer is a disease affecting millions of women across the globe. Many of those women diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer choose to have a mastectomy, the surgical removal of all or part of the breast.

My mother is a breast cancer survivor, and because of her aggressive breast cancer and her family history of breast cancer she decided to have a double mastectomy.

The process of my mom’s breast reconstruction surgery began immediately after her double mastectomy. The surgeons removed both of her breasts, then inserted expander implants under the remaining skin. These implants had a small amount of saline in them and have ports that allow doctors to gradually fill up the implants over time to the desired size.

The expanders slowly stretch the skin as it heals from the surgery to make room for the implant she had put in later. The expander implants come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate to the woman’s body type. My mom went in multiple times to get hers filled to the size she wanted. She says now that she liked the way her breasts looked with the expander implants in and she wishes that they could have been left in.

Once the expander implants have done their job, they are removed and permanent implants are put into place. My mom chose to have saline implants because she heard horror stories of women who had silicone implants leak and poison the body. Before she even had cancer, my mom had a breast augmentation and learned about the costs and benefits of both saline and silicone. This helped her with her decision on her current implant.

Today’s options for reconstruction help make reconstructed breasts look close to normal. Breasts can be reconstructed using either saline or silicone gel implants, with tissue from your own back, belly or butt, and can be reconstructed to have a smooth surface and even nipples. Nipples are created through tattooing or from your own transplanted tissue, or a combination of both.

After healing from those surgeries, my mom decided to have skin taken from her upper inner thigh to create nipples. Once the nipples were created, they were tattooed to give the look of an actual areola.

My maternal grandmother also had breast cancer and had one of her breasts removed. Her doctor gave her the option to have reconstructive surgery after healing from her mastectomy. She decided to go through with it and have the procedure done immediately rather than waiting.

After the surgery she knew there was something wrong, and she says that her doctor told her that her skin wasn’t healing because of the implant. She decided to have the implant removed. She says now that she regrets not listening to her doctor originally because now she deals with a prosthetic breast. She wears the prosthesis in her bra to make her feel more confident and balance out her chest.

For more information about breast reconstruction, check out www.breastreconstruction.org. The site breaks down the process of breast reconstruction surgery in a way that’s easy to understand.

Image courtesy of mentorcorp.com.

Regular Pap tests can help prevent cervical cancer

2008-10-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

by Tiffany Rider

The small room, the cold stirrups, the dreaded speculum. Some women are afraid of getting pelvic exams, but the twice-a-year trip is necessary to help keep women – and their gynecologists – familiar with their genitalia. It really isn’t all that scary and only takes about five minutes.

Most gynecologists suggest that young women should begin having pelvic exams when they turn 18 or become sexually active. However, there are no defined reasons for a woman to begin getting pelvic exams.

There are some guidelines that can help young women determine when to start getting checked out, including if a woman has unexplained pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding that lasts for more than 10 days or vaginal discharge that causes burning or itching.

It doesn’t matter how old you are or whether or not you are sexually active if you have any of these symptoms. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, it is important to talk to a health provider as soon as possible.

Gynecologists recommend that you not have sex, use vaginal creams or douche for 24 hours before the exam.

Pelvic exams can be embarrassing to some. It’s a good idea to consult your gynecologist before the exam and let her or him know if you are feeling nervous.

During a pelvic exam, a gynecologist will check your sex organs for any gynecological problems. There are usually three parts to the exam: an external exam, a speculum exam and a bimanual exam.

During the external exam, your doctor will look at your vulva (clitoris, labia and vaginal opening) and rectum for anything out of the ordinary.

The speculum exam is just that – a look at your internal sex organs using a speculum to dilate the vaginal opening. The bimanual exam is when the gynecologists use one or two gloved fingers to feel the fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus for any abnormalities.

A pelvic exam is basically a checkup but can sometimes involve a Papanicolaou (Pap) Test.

A Pap test is a microscopic examination of cells taken from the cervix. During a routine cervical screening, a gynecologist will swab the cervix with a small brush or “broom” to collect a cell sample. The sample is then examined for signs of human papillomavirus (HPV) and other cancer-causing or cancerous cells.

According to the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “cervical cancer is the easiest female cancer to prevent, because there is a vaccine and a screening test available. It also is highly curable when found and treated early.”

According to youngwomenshealth.org, in the United States there are about 2 million to 3 million abnormal Pap test results found each year. Most of the abnormal tests show the early stages of diseases like cervical cancer.

The CDCP emphasizes the importance of getting tested for cervical cancer because “6 of 10 cervical cancers occur in women who have never received a Pap test or have not been tested in the past five years.”

The best way to detect cervical cancer is by having regular Pap tests. Pap tests have been connected to the decline of cancer and death from cervical cancer because getting tested promotes prevention and early detection.

Women should get a Pap test annually, unless they are at a higher risk and their gynecologists suggest getting tested more frequently. Cervical cancer is sometimes symptomless and cannot be detected without a cervical screening.

The image above is from youngwomenshealth.gov

Just to clarify...

2008-09-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

In my last blog entry, I said "I believe that if a woman has sexual dissatisfaction, she would most likely be bothered by it, and thus would want to consult a physician for an evaluation."
I think what I meant to say was that I would hope that women would take their health concerns to a physician. I think it is important to tell your doctor if you feel symptoms of sexual dissatisfaction and to discuss them with your partner. The above statement is more of an assumption, and I know that I can't assume that all women who feel symptoms of sexual dissatisfaction will do anything about it.

I just thought I'd clarify that. By the way, check out the new links on my page!

***Update***
I just found this article from the Washington Post about female sexual dysfunction. Check it out HERE.

Women with sexual dysfunction not dysfunctional

2008-09-23T07:59:00.000-07:00

by Tiffany Rider

It is estimated that about 40 percent of women experience some kind of sexual dissatisfaction in their lifetime. I say dissatisfaction because I don't like the term 'sexual dysfunction.' Women who experience the symptoms of sexual dysfunction are not dysfunctional. Female sexual dysfunction can affect our desire for sex, arousal, ability to orgasm and may cause painful intercourse. None of these things make us dysfunctional beings. The CNN Health/Library entry for female sexual dysfunction also uses the term dissatisfaction, so I will continue to use that term in this discussion.
Female sexual dissatisfaction is common among women of all ages, and can be caused by psychological, social, hormonal and/or physical factors. Psychological and social factors could include anxiety, stress, depression and/or a history of sexual abuse. Hormonal factors relate to the fluctuation of estrogen levels in the body. Physical factors could be arthritis, fatigue, pain after pelvic surgery, or even urinary or bowel difficulties (multiple urinary tract infections or irritable bowel syndrome - both of which are very common among young women).
I believe that if a woman has sexual dissatisfaction, she would most likely be bothered by it, and thus would want to consult a physician for an evaluation.
Medical treatments may help cure female sexual dissatisfaction. One treatment option is hormone therapy. A physician may recommend using an estrogen (or sometimes progestin) cream or gel to treat localized pain. Some physicians may recommend testosterone therapy in the form of cream or a gel patch applied to the skin. Testosterone therapy is more controversial, so do your research before testing this out.
Not all sexual dissatisfaction is a medical problem that can be treated with a pill or cream. Talking to your partner about your sexual dissatisfaction is important because open communication is the key to emotional and sexual intimacy. Even if you feel like you do share your feelings with your partner, there may be something missing. There are plenty of great books about female sexuality that can help you learn about yourself and how to better communicate with your partner at the same time. I recommend "What Your Mother Never Told You About Sex" by Dr. Hilda Hutcherson. Hutcherson has her own website, www.drhilda.com, which provides information about her books, her experience and she even has a blog that she frequently updates. The CNN Health/Library entry for female sexual dysfunction also recommends Hutcherson's book. I have it at home on my desk, and I think women who have any kind of sexual dissatisfaction should give the book a try. If it's not your thing, head over to a local bookstore and check out what they have on female sexual health to find what's right for your situation.
Counseling and therapy can be helpful in working on the psychological and social factors behind sexual dissatisfaction. Discussing your sexual beliefs, attitudes and identity can help pinpoint where the dissatisfaction is coming from. Therapists can give you options for improving your sexual self through suggested readings and couples exercises.
A healthy diet and getting exercise can have positive effects on sexual dissatisfaction. Not smoking and not drinkinging excessively can vastly improve your sexual experiences. Regular aerobic exercise and learning techniques to lower stress and anxiety levels can give your sex life the boost that it needs.
Female sexual dysfunction, difficulty, dissatisfaction - whatever you want to call it -isn't the end-all to sex, or intimacy for that matter. Women suffering with sexual dissatisfaction aren't alone; the woman sitting next to you might have her own sexual difficulties, but she is still a functioning person in society. Sexual dysfunction implies that those who have it are broken or aren't working right. For those with sexual dissatisfaction, here's a mantra for you: I may have sexual dissatisfaction, but it doesn't have me.

Commentary on teen birth rates worth pondering

2008-09-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

By Tiffany Rider
I heard some commentary on the radio last week about Sarah Palin’s teen daughter being pregnant. One of the commentators said our country is based on teen pregnancy and that girls in the 13-to-15-year-old age range have been having kids since way back when. I didn’t really know how to react to the comment. I thought of young women too small to have children, I thought of young women being forced to have children, and them or their children dying in the process.
Yes, teen pregnancy still happens, but not necessarily with the aim of populating new nations, as the radio host suggested. Young women become pregnant for different reasons these days, from unplanned pregnancy to getting pregnant in an attempt keep someone in a relationship, and of course planned pregnancy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen birth rates had risen by the end of 2006 after a steady decline that began in 1991. Between 2005 and 2006, the birth rates for teens ages 15 to 19 increased 3 percent overall.
This means there is an average of 41.9 births per 1,000 young women. This is still lower than the highest recorded teen birth rate in 1991 of 61.8 births per 1,000 young women.
Both of my paternal cousins were born almost 10 years before I was, which places their parents at 16 when they brought kids into the world back in the 1970s. One of those cousins now has a 9-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.
Interestingly, a recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau concludes that more women are having fewer babies or choosing not to have children when compared to the statistics in the 1970s.
Women between the ages of 15 and 50 participated in a fertility survey between 2005 and 2006. The survey showed that 67 percent of the women in the survey who recently gave birth worked outside the home, and 36 percent of women who reported giving birth were never married or were separated, divorced or widowed. Of the 1.5 million unmarried mothers, 190,000 of them were living with a partner.
Twenty-five percent of women ages 15 to 50 who had recently given birth were living below the national poverty line.
Many teen mothers fit into these statistics, some having part-time jobs and living at home with parents. Some young mothers struggle to live on their own, whether or not the father of the child is around to help.
Some schools have programs for teen mothers, including daycare and teen parenting classes. However, some teen parents can’t handle raising a child and going to school concurrently and eventually drop out.
According to the survey, women without high school diplomas had the highest birth rates between ages 20 to 24 and 25 to 29. This equates to 199 births per 1,000 women aged 20 to 24 and 146 births per 1,000 women aged 25 to 29.
I remember in high school hearing about girls getting abortions and girls lying about being pregnant in order to get their boyfriends to stay with them. I also remember girls who were mature and made the decision to have sex and did it safely. I wouldn’t say I was completely naive about intercourse in high school, even though I wasn’t having any.
For me, sex education in high school was both informative and scary. I remember viewing disgusting photographs of sexually transmitted diseases as they were passed around in class, but I also remember learning about birth control pills and how to use a condom. We also were given the great opportunity of carrying a robot baby around school with us for two days, including an overnight with the baby at home. Interestingly my friends and I thought it was cute; we dressed them up cute and named them. I think we were trying to make it not as awkward as it really was, carrying around a baby in front of all your peers.
My first year of community college I saw women my age carrying around real babies, and that year I decided to take a human sexuality class. It was the most rewarding and informative sex ed class I’d ever taken, for me. However, I don’t think that we spent much time on teen pregnancy and the issues raised around it.
I think that women need to be properly educated about sex rather than hearing about it from peers. However, sex is not just something that you can learn about in a class. It should be discussed and studied realistically before experienced.

Graphic from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Bone density may be relative to breast cancer

2008-08-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

If you are concerned about breast cancer, you may want to examine beneath the skin and flesh to the bone.

New research by the University of Arizona shows a link between hip-bone density and breast cancer. According to an article from MedlinePlus, the research shows that postmenopausal women with higher bone density are 35 percent more likely to get breast cancer. Strong bones are important for older women, especially those who are at risk of osteoperosis or are deficient in Vitamin D.

This research in no way that thin and weak bones are health. The link refers to stronger bones resulting in hormone exposure increasing breast cancer risks.
Other studies have found links between different aspects of bone health and breast cancer risk. A study finding that a osteoperosis treatment drug called Zometa actually lowered breast cancer reecurrence in premenopausal women was presented this May at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting.
The image at right depicts a bone density scan. For more information on bone density scans, check out radiologyinfo.org

Breast cancer under 40

2008-08-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Post-menopausal women are not the only ones worrying about breast cancer.
In recent news, actress Christina Applegate has been diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer and has begun treatment. The statement below comes from Applegate's publicist Ame Van Iden as part of CNN's article "Christina Applegate battling breast cancer."

"Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. Benefiting from early detection through a doctor ordered MRI, the cancer is not life threatening. Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery."

Applegate is 36. Women even younger than Applegate have been diagnosed. The key here is early detection. Breast self-exams once a month, going to your ob/gyn and getting a breast exam and starting mammograms at age 40 are all routes to early detection.

Women as young as 18 should begin to learn about their breasts. Knowing your breasts is crucial for easier detection of changes in the breast. Talk to your doctor about how to give yourself a breast exam. To the left is an image from womenshealth.gov with information on what to look for when performing a breast self-exam.

For more information on early detection, visit http://www.hhs.gov/breastcancer/screening.html.

I'm glad to be one less person to get the HPV vaccine

2008-07-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

Thinking through whether or not to get vaccinated has again been validated with the recent allegations toward the safety of Gardasil.

by Tiffany Rider
CNN, NBC, CBS and many other news organizations have recently reported that the Human Papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil may have caused paralysis in teenage girls in the United States.
According to an article on www.nbc4.com, the maker of Gardasil, Merck, is facing two lawsuits in connection with the paralysis cases. A lawsuit filed by Jessica Parsons, 15, said the lower part of her arms and legs have become paralyzed as a result of the vaccine.
The other young woman suing the company, Brittany LeClaire, 13, has allegedly suffered paralysis in her left leg and severe headaches after Gardasil treatments.
Merck and the Federal Drug Administration are denying that the HPV vaccine has caused these problems and have claimed that Gardasil is practically side-effect free, according to the NBC report.
So what does this mean for women? I was skeptical of this vaccine when it first came out, and after going back and forth for months I decided for myself not to be vaccinated.
At the end of spring semester I remember sitting down with a few of the women from the Daily Forty-Niner staff for a discussion about getting the Gardasil vaccine. We went through pros and cons, and the conversation ended without a clear decision on what is best.
With these reports surfacing, I feel like I made the right choice for myself. I'm not saying that women who have had the HPV vaccine were in the wrong. For me, cancer is one of the scariest diseases. With my family history of cancer, I am one to seriously consider any form of cancer prevention.
But digging deeper into the issues with Gardasil, a 2007 analysis by Judicial Watch, showed that there has been a minimum of 3,461 complaints against the vaccine, according to the NewInferno Web site.
Since then, about 8,000 complaints have been issued, including reports of nausea, vomiting, seizures, paralysis, autoimmune disorders and 18 deaths that have yet to be directly linked to the vaccine, according to the article.
That last part might make you want to think twice about this vaccine. I’ve decided that the best prevention plan for me is to have regular cervical screenings that include a HPV test, practice safe sex, eat healthy and exercise regularly.

Puberty "changes" among girls

2008-06-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

I found this video on YouTube, and although it's a year old it still has great information on the process of female puberty.

In a recent article from the New York Times, Tara Parker-Pope writes about how what a pregnant woman eats could alter the puberty of her daughter.
According to youngwomenshealth.org, it is normal for a young woman to get her period between the ages of 9 and 16. The NYT article reports that at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif. it was discussed that girls who begin their menstrual cycle before the age of 12 are at a higher risk for depression, insulin resistance, obesity and some cancers. A recent study is trying to prove that the age when a girl hits puberty can be altered by the diet of her mother during pregnancy.
The study, conducted by the University of Auckland in New Zealand, altered the diets of pregnant rats to see whether or not the spawn of the rats reached puberty at an earlier age. The results showed that the rats born from a mother who consumed a high fat diet during pregnancy began puberty significantly earlier than the normal age of puberty for the species.
In a related article by the Los Angeles Times, it is said that modern puberty has evolved and American women are maturing earlier than ever before. The article explains that the maturity level of an 8-year-old girl from yesterday is now that of a 7-year-old white female and 6-year-old black female.
The reason for these changes have yet to be pinpointed, but thus far the obesity epidemic and environmental changes have been discussed as possible causes. Girls that begin growing breasts as young as eight need to have someone - a parent, guardian or close friend - explain to them that just because they have begun developing as a woman doesn't mean that they are ready for more mature situations. These girls who have curves and developing breasts in second grade are too young to understand sexuality; they're still playing with dolls, playing games, and for the most part still think boys are gross.
Young girls need to embrace themselves for who they are and not what their bodies look like. Girls tend to have the most drastic change at the middle school level, when girls begin to notice boys and start to try to fit into a stereotype of what they think boys like. With girls changing so young, these female stereotypes could come into play earlier in life, so it is extremely important for mothers and other women to set an example for and teach the younger and coming generations about the importance of embracing and enjoying childhood.
For more on the New York Times story, check out the article at http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/mothers-diet-may-affect-daughters-puberty/.
For more on the Los Angeles Times story, check out the article at http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jan/21/health/he-puberty21.

Mother's Day and National Women's Health Week

2008-05-05T22:22:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday, May 11, is Mother's Day. Unfortunately I won't be able to spend it with my mother or grandmothers; I'm actually working that day.

For those who can't celebrate on Sunday like myself, you can always check out the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Park Annual Celebration honoring working mothers.

Also, May 11 is the first day of the 9th Annual National Women's Health Week and will last through May 17. A great resource for women's health is womenshealth.gov. According to the site, National Women's Check-up Day is May 12. The purpose of having this celebration is to encourage women to improve upon their overall wellbeing.

The National Women's Health Week page on womenshealth.gov gives a list of four things all women can and should do to help better our overall health. They include:

- Engaging in physical activity most days of the week.

- Making healthy food choices.

- Visiting a health care provider to receive regular checkups and preventative screenings.

- Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt.

To find events across the nation in celebration of National Women's Health Week, visit the Find An Event page HERE.

Welcome!

2008-04-14T23:53:00.000-07:00

Hello readers! This is my blog for women with information about women's health and new discoveries and technologies within the realm of health. This post is going to briefly touch on breast cancer, which is a subject that millions of women are concerned with today. I published an article at the end of last year about my experience as the daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter of breast cancer survivors. I have done a lot of research on breast cancer, from the chemistry of cancer and its treatments to publishing first-hand accounts of my mother's battle with an aggressive invasive breast cancer beginning in October 2004.

Please check out the article HERE.

*Because I have just set up this blog it may take me a bit to get some great posts up. Please bear with me through this process, I promise you won't regret it!