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Women are not checking for colon cancer

Many women who regularly get checked for breast cancer and cervical cancer still don’t go for a test that could save them from another big killer -- colon cancer – according to new University of Michigan research. But perhaps their mammogram and Pap smear appointments could be used as “teachable moments” to help prompt them to get their colons checked, the researchers suggest.

15 May 2004

Estrogen therapy may help bone density, muscle mass, sexual function, memory, and psychological wellbeing in postmenopausal women

Research in monkeys suggests that long-term use of estrogen therapy may reduce levels of androgens – hormones involved in maintaining bone density, muscle mass, sexual function, memory, and psychological wellbeing in postmenopausal women.

14 May 2004

Minority women are disproportionately impacted by the autoimmune disease lupus

There is an urgent need for more education and research to address the fact that minority women are disproportionately impacted by the autoimmune disease lupus

14 May 2004

Better understanding of radiation therapy in the treatment of breast cancer

To help patients understand the importance of radiation therapy in the treatment of breast cancer, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology has published the new patient information brochure Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer: A Patient’s Guide to Understanding Treatment.

13 May 2004

A mother-to-be who eats fish during the later stages of pregnancy is less likely to have a very small baby

However the latest research from the Children of the 90s project has shown no link between fish consumption and average birthweight once other factors have been taken into account. There was also no evidence of increased frequency of premature birth in mothers not eating fish.

13 May 2004

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women

What women don’t know about heart disease can have life-threatening consequences. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women. The May issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource tracks trends in women’s heart disease.

12 May 2004

Ford Motors partners with Patti LaBelle to increase breast-cancer awareness

Ford Motor Company continues to support the fight against breast cancer with several new initiatives. Ford announced a new partnership with music icon Patti LaBelle, a summer contest that will have people seeking to “Go the Extra Mile,” and a new 2004 breast cancer awareness bandana designed by Lilly Pulitzer.

12 May 2004

People infected with chlamydia is at an all-time high

The number of people in Washington infected with chlamydia is at an all-time high. According to the Washington State Department of Health 16,796 people were diagnosed with chlamydial infection in 2003. The Department of Health is advising all sexually active women age 25 and younger to be tested at least once a year for chlamydia.

12 May 2004

Fewer pregnant women in Washington are smoking

Fewer pregnant women in Washington are smoking. The percentage of women in our state who smoke during the last three months of pregnancy has dropped to 10 percent, according to new survey data released today by the Washington State Department of Health. That is the lowest rate since the department began surveying in 1998. At that time, 13 percent of pregnant women were smoking, but since then the number has steadily dropped.

12 May 2004

What's the fourth biggest killer in America? Over 51% of Americans don't know either

More than half of Americans (51 percent) have never even heard of a disease that is the fourth leading killer in this country, according to results of a nationwide survey released today by the National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC).

11 May 2004

New mums are being urged to give breastfeeding a go

The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe. Almost one third of women in England and Wales never try to breastfeed, compared to just two per cent in Sweden. Younger women are the least likely to breastfeed, with two in five mothers under 24 never trying.

10 May 2004

Survey serious misunderstandings about breastfeeding

A survey published today by The UK Department of Health for National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (9 - 15 May) shows that serious misunderstandings may be stopping women, particularly young women, from breastfeeding.

10 May 2004

Female incontinence and sexual dysfunction questions answered

Kristene Whitmore, M.D., an AUA spokesperson and director of the Pelvic Floor Institute at the Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia, will be on hand to answer reporter questions about incontinence and female sexual dysfunction on Sunday, May 9, 2004 at 3:00 p.m.

10 May 2004

SWHR urges women to learn about their unique health issues

Cardiovascular disease kills 50,000 more American women than men each year and women who smoke are more likely than men to develop two of the worst types of lung cancer. National Women's Health Week is May 9-15 and the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) urges women to learn how their unique biological makeup affects the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these and many other diseases.

8 May 2004

Launch of myDNA.com breast cancer channel

The myDNA.com Breast Cancer Channel integrates multi-cultural, relevant health information related to medications, clinical trials, support groups, leading hospitals, clinics, healthcare providers, and genetic, genomic and gene expression tests.

6 May 2004

Female testosterone patch significantly increased satisfying sexual activity and desire

Data from a landmark Phase III safety and efficacy study of 562 women showed treatment with an investigational female testosterone patch significantly increased satisfying sexual activity and desire in patients with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), who previously had both ovaries removed. HSDD is defined as a lack of sexual desire that causes a woman personal distress.

6 May 2004

New screening helps to determine risk for having a baby with Down syndrome

Obstetricians at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, are offering a new, quicker, option for pregnant women who choose to undergo first trimester screening. The screening helps to determine whether the woman is at increased risk for having a baby with Down syndrome.

5 May 2004

Pregnancy massage may reduce the risk of premature births

Pregnancy massage long has been known to help expectant mothers feel better, and a new study shows it may well provide an even more important benefit – reducing the risk of premature births.

5 May 2004

National day to prevent teen pregnancy

On Wednesday, May 5, 2004, tens of thousands of teens nationwide are expected to participate in the third annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy by taking an online quiz.

3 May 2004

Women underrate importance of colon cancer

Women significantly underrate their risk for colon cancer and are not as concerned about the disease as they should be, according to a new Good Housekeeping survey conducted on behalf of the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (EIF's NCCRA).

3 May 2004