The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) awarded first prize to ACOG Junior Fellow, Bliss Kaneshiro, MD, for her research paper Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Sexual Behavior. Dr. Kaneshiro, an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, presented her winning paper at ACOG's 56th Annual Clinical Meeting.
Some studies have suggested that obese and overweight women have a higher risk of unintended pregnancy than do normal weight women, according to Dr. Kaneshiro. Although multiple factors, including contraceptive use and its efficacy, may increase the risk of unintended pregnancy among these women, sexual behavior and the frequency of intercourse could also be a factor.
Dr. Kaneshiro's objective was to study the impact of body mass index (BMI) on sexual behavior. It is important to understand this relationship because preexisting physician biases can affect how heavy women are counseled about pregnancy and STD prevention. Dr. Kaneshiro studied the relationship between BMI and sexual behavior, including sexual orientation, age at first intercourse, number of partners, and frequency of intercourse.
"Our analysis of the National Survey of Family Growth Cycle 6 demonstrated that obese and overweight women do not differ significantly in some of the objective measures of sexual behavior compared to women of normal weight," said Dr. Kaneshiro. "This study indicates that all women deserve diligence in counseling on unintended pregnancy and STD prevention, regardless of BMI.
"The obesity epidemic in the US has resulted in serious health consequences for many individuals and for the health care system as a whole," according to Dr. Kaneshiro. "Physicians of all specialties must factor body weight into their clinical decision-making process on a daily basis."
Alison B. Edelman, MD, MPH; Jeffrey T. Jensen, MD, MPH; and Mark D. Nichols, MD, from the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, were co-researchers with Dr. Kaneshiro (formerly of OHSU).
** This year's meeting will include many sessions related to obesity issues in obstetrics-gynecology, including postgraduate courses, clinical seminars, interactive sessions, paper sessions, and luncheon conferences. **
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the national medical organization representing over 52,000 members who provide health care for women.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
вторник, 27 декабря 2011 г.
вторник, 20 декабря 2011 г.
Abortion, Incomplete Pregnancy Not Linked To Breast Cancer Risk
New research from a large scale study in the US found no evidence of a link between incomplete
pregnancy, such as that from induced abortion, and risk of breast cancer, which the researchers
said should put an end to the much debated issue.
The study was conducted by researchers from the new department of cancer etiology at the City
of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, and colleagues, and is published in
the June issue of the journal Contraception.
Despite mounting evidence from large prospective studies of no link between induced abortion
and breast cancer risk, public concern continues, said lead investigator Katherine DeLellis
Henderson and colleagues, explaining the reason for the study.
They wrote that, "much of the data prompting this concern came from case-control studies, many of which may
have been affected by bias or design flaws," reported Medwire News.
These have given rise to two beliefs about women who have incomplete pregnancies. First, that they don't
have as much long-term protection against breast cancer as they would from full term pregnancies; and second, that their breasts are exposed to high hormone levels of early pregnancy and then
don't benefit from the terminal cell differentiation of late pregnancy, possibly making them more
vulnerable to cancer causing chemicals.
For this study, the researchers examined breast cancer as it relates to incomplete pregnancy,
including the total number of induced abortions, age at first induced abortion and total number of
miscarriages among participants of the ongoing California Teachers Study (CTS), a prospective
study of current and former public school teachers or administrators who are with the California
State Teachers Retirement System.
DeLellis Henderson and colleagues looked at data taken from the CTS baseline questionnaires in
1995-96 where the women had responded to detailed questions about pregnancy history,
including incomplete pregnancy. By linking the CTS records with the California Cancer Registry,
the researchers found 3,324 women from the CTS study diagnosed with incident breast cancer up
to 2004.
Using a statistical tool known as Cox multivariable regression, they found no statistically significant
link between any measure of incomplete pregnancy and breast cancer risk.
The researchers adjusted for established risk factors including ethnicity, first degree family history
of breast cancer, and age at onset of menstrual periods (menarche).
They found that having an induced abortion at first pregnancy did not increase risk of breast cancer
neither among those women who went on to have full term pregnancies, nor those who never went on
to give birth.
Also, miscarriage in a first pregnancy did not increase risk for breast cancer in either of these
groups.
The researchers said their findings supported those from a recent large scale study of nurses, the
Nurses Health Study II.
They concluded that:
"Our results provide further, strong evidence that neither induced abortion nor miscarriage is
associated with breast cancer risk and may help to resolve any remaining uncertainty as to whether
such a relationship exists."
"Incomplete pregnancy is not associated with breast cancer risk: the California Teachers Study."
DeLellis Henderson K, Sullivan-Halley J, Reynolds P, Horn-Ross PL, Clarke CA, Chang ET, Neuhausen S, Ursin G, Bernstein L.
Contraception, Volume 77, Issue 6, Pages 391-396 (June 2008).
Click here for Abstract.
Source: journal abstract, Medwire News.
Response by The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
: Catharine Paddock, PhD
pregnancy, such as that from induced abortion, and risk of breast cancer, which the researchers
said should put an end to the much debated issue.
The study was conducted by researchers from the new department of cancer etiology at the City
of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, and colleagues, and is published in
the June issue of the journal Contraception.
Despite mounting evidence from large prospective studies of no link between induced abortion
and breast cancer risk, public concern continues, said lead investigator Katherine DeLellis
Henderson and colleagues, explaining the reason for the study.
They wrote that, "much of the data prompting this concern came from case-control studies, many of which may
have been affected by bias or design flaws," reported Medwire News.
These have given rise to two beliefs about women who have incomplete pregnancies. First, that they don't
have as much long-term protection against breast cancer as they would from full term pregnancies; and second, that their breasts are exposed to high hormone levels of early pregnancy and then
don't benefit from the terminal cell differentiation of late pregnancy, possibly making them more
vulnerable to cancer causing chemicals.
For this study, the researchers examined breast cancer as it relates to incomplete pregnancy,
including the total number of induced abortions, age at first induced abortion and total number of
miscarriages among participants of the ongoing California Teachers Study (CTS), a prospective
study of current and former public school teachers or administrators who are with the California
State Teachers Retirement System.
DeLellis Henderson and colleagues looked at data taken from the CTS baseline questionnaires in
1995-96 where the women had responded to detailed questions about pregnancy history,
including incomplete pregnancy. By linking the CTS records with the California Cancer Registry,
the researchers found 3,324 women from the CTS study diagnosed with incident breast cancer up
to 2004.
Using a statistical tool known as Cox multivariable regression, they found no statistically significant
link between any measure of incomplete pregnancy and breast cancer risk.
The researchers adjusted for established risk factors including ethnicity, first degree family history
of breast cancer, and age at onset of menstrual periods (menarche).
They found that having an induced abortion at first pregnancy did not increase risk of breast cancer
neither among those women who went on to have full term pregnancies, nor those who never went on
to give birth.
Also, miscarriage in a first pregnancy did not increase risk for breast cancer in either of these
groups.
The researchers said their findings supported those from a recent large scale study of nurses, the
Nurses Health Study II.
They concluded that:
"Our results provide further, strong evidence that neither induced abortion nor miscarriage is
associated with breast cancer risk and may help to resolve any remaining uncertainty as to whether
such a relationship exists."
"Incomplete pregnancy is not associated with breast cancer risk: the California Teachers Study."
DeLellis Henderson K, Sullivan-Halley J, Reynolds P, Horn-Ross PL, Clarke CA, Chang ET, Neuhausen S, Ursin G, Bernstein L.
Contraception, Volume 77, Issue 6, Pages 391-396 (June 2008).
Click here for Abstract.
Source: journal abstract, Medwire News.
Response by The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer
: Catharine Paddock, PhD
вторник, 13 декабря 2011 г.
Past Gains In Reducing Risk Of Heart Disease Have Flattened; Women Especially Affected
The positive U.S. health trend documented over the past 30 years of reduction in risk for heart disease is not as strong as is widely perceived - and, in fact, the trend has flattened, according to a new analysis of national data by Mayo Clinic.
This suggests that the public health challenge of curbing heart disease may be greater than is commonly thought, says Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D., cardiologist and lead researcher.
"This study may surprise people because the data show that the risk of heart disease is not going down as we expected," he says. "The estimated risk in our nation was coming down nicely in the 1980s. Then around 2000 it began changing - the trend lines flattened. While we had done a nice job with lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and stopping smoking, over time the improvement in these risk factors slowed and others like diabetes and obesity emerged, threatening to undo the early progress we made in reducing risk of heart disease. Most of the gains in reducing heart disease risk have been offset by the increased prevalence of diabetes and obesity."
Dr. Lopez-Jimenez presented the findings at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008 in New Orleans.
Significance
The study is the first to suggest that not as much progress against heart disease is being made in recent years, despite the efforts by many organizations to promote healthy lifestyles, and the wide availability and lower price of many cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering drugs. "This is highly relevant to public health because most people think the risk of heart disease is going down steadily and has for the past 30 to 40 years - but our data show something different," Dr. Lopez-Jimenez says. "The fact is that despite all the wonderful things we've done - all the changes in fat consumption, the promotion of exercise, the quitting smoking, treatment of high cholesterol and blood pressure - it doesn't appear to be enough; the risk reduction we did achieve early on in the 1980s has gone flat, and we need to change that."
The researchers compared national heart disease risk factor data from three time periods to track change over time in risk reduction. The early period documented changes in risk between 1976 and 1980 and a midpoint of 1988 to 1994. The last period documented changes in risk from the midpoint to 1999 - 2004. Comparing changes from the early stage to the midpoint documented a decline in the overall risk to develop heart disease; but comparing change from the midpoint to the late period showed the trend flattening.
"No one has ever compared national data this way, which is why we are the first to detect this worrisome flattening of the trend in risk factor reduction," Dr. Lopez-Jimenez says.
Key Findings
The data show that, in the U.S., the average age-adjusted 10-year risk of heart disease:
Decreased from 10 percent to 7.9 percent between the early period and the midpoint - a strong showing of progress in controlling risk factors during the 1980s.
Decreased only minimally in the interval from the midpoint to the last period, from 7.9 percent to 7.4 percent. This documents the flattening of the healthy trend.
For women, in particular, the age-adjusted risk declined from the early period to the midpoint, but stayed flat from the midpoint to the late period, Dr. Lopez-Jimenez says. Similarly, when age groups were compared, the average predicted risk for those ages 30 to 49 stayed flat from the midpoint to the late period compared to people age 50 and above, he says.
Collaboration and support
Other Mayo Clinic researchers included John Batsis, M.B.B.Ch.; Lee Brekke; Henry Ting, M.D.; Veronique Roger, M.D., M.P.H.; and Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D.
Source: Traci Klein
Mayo Clinic
This suggests that the public health challenge of curbing heart disease may be greater than is commonly thought, says Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D., cardiologist and lead researcher.
"This study may surprise people because the data show that the risk of heart disease is not going down as we expected," he says. "The estimated risk in our nation was coming down nicely in the 1980s. Then around 2000 it began changing - the trend lines flattened. While we had done a nice job with lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and stopping smoking, over time the improvement in these risk factors slowed and others like diabetes and obesity emerged, threatening to undo the early progress we made in reducing risk of heart disease. Most of the gains in reducing heart disease risk have been offset by the increased prevalence of diabetes and obesity."
Dr. Lopez-Jimenez presented the findings at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2008 in New Orleans.
Significance
The study is the first to suggest that not as much progress against heart disease is being made in recent years, despite the efforts by many organizations to promote healthy lifestyles, and the wide availability and lower price of many cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering drugs. "This is highly relevant to public health because most people think the risk of heart disease is going down steadily and has for the past 30 to 40 years - but our data show something different," Dr. Lopez-Jimenez says. "The fact is that despite all the wonderful things we've done - all the changes in fat consumption, the promotion of exercise, the quitting smoking, treatment of high cholesterol and blood pressure - it doesn't appear to be enough; the risk reduction we did achieve early on in the 1980s has gone flat, and we need to change that."
The researchers compared national heart disease risk factor data from three time periods to track change over time in risk reduction. The early period documented changes in risk between 1976 and 1980 and a midpoint of 1988 to 1994. The last period documented changes in risk from the midpoint to 1999 - 2004. Comparing changes from the early stage to the midpoint documented a decline in the overall risk to develop heart disease; but comparing change from the midpoint to the late period showed the trend flattening.
"No one has ever compared national data this way, which is why we are the first to detect this worrisome flattening of the trend in risk factor reduction," Dr. Lopez-Jimenez says.
Key Findings
The data show that, in the U.S., the average age-adjusted 10-year risk of heart disease:
Decreased from 10 percent to 7.9 percent between the early period and the midpoint - a strong showing of progress in controlling risk factors during the 1980s.
Decreased only minimally in the interval from the midpoint to the last period, from 7.9 percent to 7.4 percent. This documents the flattening of the healthy trend.
For women, in particular, the age-adjusted risk declined from the early period to the midpoint, but stayed flat from the midpoint to the late period, Dr. Lopez-Jimenez says. Similarly, when age groups were compared, the average predicted risk for those ages 30 to 49 stayed flat from the midpoint to the late period compared to people age 50 and above, he says.
Collaboration and support
Other Mayo Clinic researchers included John Batsis, M.B.B.Ch.; Lee Brekke; Henry Ting, M.D.; Veronique Roger, M.D., M.P.H.; and Virend Somers, M.D., Ph.D.
Source: Traci Klein
Mayo Clinic
вторник, 6 декабря 2011 г.
Two Arizona Planned Parenthood Officials Resign From State Women's Health Commission
In a letter last week to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), Planned Parenthood Arizona Chair Candace Lew and the organization's President and CEO Bryan Howard announced that they are resigning from the Governor's Commission on Women's and Children's Health, the Arizona Republic reports. The 23-member panel was created under former Gov. Jane Hull (R) to improve the health of women and children in the state and reduce health care costs.
According to Lew and Howard, the Brewer administration's recent policies on family planning, sex education and abortion have been influenced by political considerations, which in turn have undermined the commission's objectives and endangered public health. They wrote, "We cannot continue -- through our participation in the commission -- to endorse" the numerous policy positions the Brewer administration has taken that "endanger women's health," adding, "Since you've taken office it has become clear that political priorities outweigh women's health priorities."
Lew and Howard also said that Brewer has ignored Planned Parenthood and repeatedly declined its requests to meet with her since she took office. They also criticized the governor's enactment this year of strict antiabortion regulations, including a 24-hour waiting period and a requirement for minors to first have written, notarized consent from a parent or guardian. Lew and Howard also criticized Brewer's acceptance of more than $1 million in federal grant funding for abstinence-only education in schools, while withdrawing a state Department of Health Services agreement with Planned Parenthood that promoted testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
Paul Senseman, a spokesperson for Brewer, rejected the suggestion that the governor's actions are politically motivated. He said, "The governor -- both in actions and what she has stated in her goals -- has demonstrated a commitment to women's health and state services that can continue to provide for those women who are at risk." He said that he does not have any information about the alleged broken agreement between the state health department and Planned Parenthood, adding that Brewer was "very pleased that the state of Arizona applied for and was granted $1 million from the Obama administration for abstinence funding" (Benson, Arizona Republic, 8/2).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
According to Lew and Howard, the Brewer administration's recent policies on family planning, sex education and abortion have been influenced by political considerations, which in turn have undermined the commission's objectives and endangered public health. They wrote, "We cannot continue -- through our participation in the commission -- to endorse" the numerous policy positions the Brewer administration has taken that "endanger women's health," adding, "Since you've taken office it has become clear that political priorities outweigh women's health priorities."
Lew and Howard also said that Brewer has ignored Planned Parenthood and repeatedly declined its requests to meet with her since she took office. They also criticized the governor's enactment this year of strict antiabortion regulations, including a 24-hour waiting period and a requirement for minors to first have written, notarized consent from a parent or guardian. Lew and Howard also criticized Brewer's acceptance of more than $1 million in federal grant funding for abstinence-only education in schools, while withdrawing a state Department of Health Services agreement with Planned Parenthood that promoted testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
Paul Senseman, a spokesperson for Brewer, rejected the suggestion that the governor's actions are politically motivated. He said, "The governor -- both in actions and what she has stated in her goals -- has demonstrated a commitment to women's health and state services that can continue to provide for those women who are at risk." He said that he does not have any information about the alleged broken agreement between the state health department and Planned Parenthood, adding that Brewer was "very pleased that the state of Arizona applied for and was granted $1 million from the Obama administration for abstinence funding" (Benson, Arizona Republic, 8/2).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
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