Overall Health Of Women Research Articles

Ayurvedic Management of Unexplained Secondary Infertility – a Case Study

Introduction: Secondary infertility indicates previous pregnancy but failure to conceive subsequently. Incidences of secondary infertility are increasing day by day. Many factors like age, hectic schedule, stress, diet, unhealthy lifestyle are responsible for it. Psychological stress disturbs overall health of women by inducing generation of reactive oxygen species and thereby oxidative stress. This oxidative stress may hamper the health of ovaries, oocyte quality and causes female reproductive health disorders. Aim: To study the effect of Ayurvedic treatment in management of unexplained secondary infertility. Objective: To assess the effect of Ayurvedic management of unexplained secondary infertility. Methodology: Single case study of unexplained secondary infertility. Case description: A 37 years old female patient came in ITRA OPD of Streeroga and Prasutitantra, trying to conceive since 1.5 years. She had a history of 2 MTPs and 1 female child of 10 year. Her last MTP was done in 2020. After that she was actively trying to conceive around last 1.5 years but couldn’t conceive again inspite of regular unprotected coitus. Treatment: She was treated with Ayurvedic oral medications along with Panchakarma. Result: After four months of treatment she conceived and followed Garbhini Paricharya. Conclusion: Ayurvedic management can act as an anti-stress and antioxidant agent thereby improving the reproductive health of women and increasing their chances of conception.

A Comprehensive Review of the Relationship between Junk Food, Obesity, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and Menstruation

This in-depth review research investigates the complex interactions between the consumption of junk food, obesity, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and menstrual health. Understanding how these elements interact is essential for healthcare professionals, researchers, and anyone else attempting to address and handle these complex challenges as they increasingly have an impact on the overall health of women around the world.
 The link between obesity and excessive junk food consumption. Junk food's excessive caloric density and subpar nutritional value contribute to weight gain, which creates the conditions for hormonal imbalances that have an impact on menstruation health.
 PCOS is described as a prevalent endocrine illness that has been linked to ovarian cyst development, hormonal abnormalities, and insulin resistance. The review highlights the intricate relationships among PCOS, obesity, and irregular menstruation.
 The discussion of clinical ramifications emphasises the necessity for a comprehensive strategy to deal with the related problems of junk food intake, overweight, women with PCOS, and irregular periods. The importance of customised therapies, such as dietary adjustments, weight control, and hormone modulation, in total care is discussed.

You’ll never walk alone – The effects of walkability on pregnancy behaviors and outcomes

This study investigates the relationship between local walkability and physical activity and subsequent health outcomes among pregnant women – for whom walking is the recommended, and by far most common, form of exercise. Using an EPA measure of walkability at the county level (as well as other county-level characteristics) combined with rich individual-level data on pregnant women yields evidence that higher walkability translates into improvements in maternal and infant health outcomes as well as physical activity. Using the 2011 Natality Detail Files with geographic identifiers and controlling for the overall health of women in the community as well as the individual mother’s pre-pregnancy BMI, we show that women residing in more walkable counties are less likely to experience preterm birth, low birth weight, gestational diabetes and hypertension. While one potential mechanism is through improved gestational weight gain, the evidence points to more general improvements in health as walkability does not seem to prevent excessive weight gain or macrosomic babies. Evidence that these general improvements derive at least in part from greater physical activity comes from analyses using the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, in which higher walkability translates into more physical activity among pregnant women (and also relative to their non-pregnant counterparts). Our study suggests more broadly that pregnant women’s physical activity responds to factors that facilitate it and that such activity makes a difference to birth outcomes.

Women’s Mental Health and Pregnancy Loss: What Should We Be Aware Of?

IntroductionPregnancy loss (PL) – by induced or spontaneous termination of pregnancy – is common, although its consequences on women’s mental health are often neglected in clinical practice.ObjectivesTo understand the existence of psychiatric morbidity in women, associated with PL, as well as related risk factors.MethodsNon-systematic review of literature through search on PubMed/MEDLINE for publications up to 2021, following the terms ‘pregnancy loss’, ‘psychiatry disorder’, ‘depression’ and ‘anxiety’.ResultsAfter a PL, anxiety is the most frequent symptomatology in 41% of women. Depression occurs in 22-36% of women in the first two weeks after PL, declining over time. Symptoms compatible with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are found in 25% of women with PL in the first month. Women who meet criteria for PTSD are more likely to present criteria for Depressive Episode. Substance Use Disorder and Prolonged Grief Disorder are also reported, the latter having, as predictors, previous relational difficulties, poor social support and absence of descendants. Risk factors associated with significant psychopathology within PL are, for example, nulliparity, infertility, previous PL, longer gestation time, lower marital satisfaction, previous psychiatric illness, and history of abuse.ConclusionsIn clinical practice, the risk of psychopathology in women with PL should be considered. This population should be actively questioned about the presence of symptoms, as well as their persistence and impact, requiring timely and appropriate pharmacological and psychotherapeutic intervention. Perinatal Mental Health interventions show important gains in the overall health of women and their offspring.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Holistic view of management of polycystic ovarian syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent disorders in women which influence their endocrine and metabolic functioning. It causes physical and psychological issues which are responsible for causing disturbances in daily life of women. Apart from genetics, stress, anxiety, obesity, and sedentary life style are among several factors that contribute to this disease. Hence, the treatment must target all these factors. Yoga, diet, exercises and therapies like mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) have significant effects on management of symptoms of PCOS. Assessment of the overall health of women can assist in the treatment programme and integral plans can be designed to deal with the problem. The purpose of this qualitative study is to assess different treatment outcomes which can help the women suffering from PCOS, health experts, and mental health workers in understanding, management and treatment of this disease from a holistic point of view. This could further enhance the well-being and overall living pattern of the women.

Menstrual Hygiene Practices, Social Taboo Section and Attitude towards it- A Community-based Cross-sectional Study among Young Women in a Rural Area of West Bengal, India

Introduction: In developing countries like India, awareness about menstrual hygiene is limited among women leading to stigma, restriction of social activities and various menstrual and urogenital ill-health among women. Aim: To find out the menstrual hygiene practices, social taboos and attitude towards it among 15-24 years aged women of a rural area of West Bengal, India. Materials and Methods: This observational descriptive study with cross-sectional design was conducted during September -December 2019, among 110 young women in the age group of 15-24 year residing in Amdanga community development block. Multistage sampling technique was adopted and data was collected by interviewing study subjects with a predesigned, pretested and semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 20.0). Proportion and Chi-square test were applied where applicable. The p-value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Nearly 80% of the study subjects used only sanitary napkins. Disposal of used pads under the soil was most common practice. Restrictions to social activities like taking part in religious activity, going outdoor, kitchen and household work were reported by 100%, 85.45%, 58.18% and 74.54% participants, respectively. A 64% of study subjects were unaware of menstruation before menarche. Statistically significant association was observed between socio-economic condition and number of sanitary pad use, (p<0.0001) and school absenteeism, (p=0.011634). Education above primary level was positively associated (p<0.00001) with awareness about menstruation before menarche. Conclusion: The study conveyed that wide spread social stigma, restrictions and poor attitude still exists in this rural community about menstruation which is affecting safe disposal of used absorbents and overall health of women.

Factors associated with overweight or obesity among post-partum women in the Tamale Metropolis, Northern Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Introductionadult overweight and obesity are public health challenges that are presently overwhelming health systems. Mothers are at an increased risk of overweight and obesity and its accompanying morbidities, especially after several deliveries; however, there is a paucity of data on the factors influencing this. As such, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of overweight or obesity among post-partum mothers.Methodsusing a facility-based cross-sectional study design, mothers were selected as respondents by systematic random sampling between March and June 2018. Mothers of children less than 6 months or older than 24 months and mothers who did not attend antenatal care services were excluded from this survey. The outcome variable was overweight or obesity defined as Body Mass Index ≥ 25 kg/m2 and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors independently associated with overweight or obesity. Data was entered into and analysed using SPSS version 22.Resultsanalysis of 455 mothers showed that their average age was 28.0 ± 5.8 years. The prevalence of overweight or obesity was 41.8% (95% C.I = 37.2 - 46.3) and Christian mothers were twice more likely to be overweight or obese compared to their Muslim peers. Mothers who had a caesarean delivery were 36% (AOR = 1.36; 95% C.I = 1.11 - 1.66) more likely to be overweight or obese compared to those who had vaginal delivery. Mothers who consumed fresh fruits and vegetables were 42% (0.58; 0.46 - 0.72) less likely to be overweight or obese as compared to those who did not. We found a significant interaction between increasing age and parity whereby, increasing age among multiparous mothers was significantly less likely to be associated with overweight or obesity (0.92; 0.87 - 0.97) compared to primiparous mothers.Conclusionprevalence of overweight or obesity was high, and determinants included socio-demographic factors, consumption of fruits and vegetables and gynaecological factors. Hence, strategies targeting younger women at the antenatal and delivery stages of pregnancy may improve the overall health of women by reducing caesarean sections and promoting breastfeeding.

AN OVERVIEW ON YOGA ALONGSIDE ITS BENEFITS IN MENARCHE AND MENOPAUSE

Menarche and Menopause are two important milestones of a women’s life. Menarche is the first menstrual period and menopause is the complete cessation of the menstrual cycle. These milestones are universal and show a mark of the beginning and end of a woman’s reproductive phase. From menarche to menopause, a woman’s body undergoes a lot of physical, physiological, and psychological transformations. This physical and mental health can be restored through noninvasive methods i.e. Yoga. Yoga plays the role of a healer for a new set of physical and mental changes in women. The most common Yoga practices are Asana (postures), Pranayama (breath regulation) and Dhyana (meditation). Therefore, Yoga has been considered as a therapeutic tool to achieve positive health and to cure diseases. The exact mechanism of how yoga helps in various disorders is not known. There may be neuro-hormonal pathways with a selective effect in each pathological situation. The integrated approach of Yoga is effective in managing the healthy menstruation and menopausal symptoms and overall health of women. Keywords: Menstruation, Menopause, Yoga, Pranayama

Successful Treatment of Unexplained Secondary Infertility by Ayurveda- A Case Study

Secondary infertility indicates previous pregnancy but failure to conceive subsequently. Incidences of secondary infertility are increasing day by day. Many factors like age, hectic schedule, stress, diet, unhealthy lifestyle are responsible for it. Psychological stress disturbs overall health of women by inducing generation of reactive oxygen species and thereby oxidative stress. This oxidative stress may hamper the health of ovaries, oocyte quality and causes female reproductive health disorders. Aim: To study the effect of Ayurvedic treatment in management of unexplained secondary infertility. Objective: To access the effect of Ayurvedic management of unexplained secondary infertility. Methodology: It is a single case study of unexplained secondary infertility. Case description: A 38 years old female Hindu patient came in YMT OPD of Streeroga and Prasutitantra anxious for child since 3 years. She had a history of 2 MTPs, one before and one after her 5 year old female child. Her last MTP was done in 2015. After that she was actively trying to conceive around last 3 years but couldn’t conceive again in spite of regular unprotected coitus. She was advised to do ovulation study and HSG but she was not willing to do investigations, but as per history, her schedule was very hectic and stressful treatment: She was advised Ayurvedic oral medications along with Panchkarma. Outcome: After four months of treatment she conceived. Conclusion: Ayurvedic management can act as an anti-stress and antioxidant agent thereby improving the reproductive health of women and increasing their chances of conception.

Oral Health Knowledge, Practices, and Awareness of Oral Health Guidelines and Dental Coverage Policies among Midwives.

Good oral health during the prenatal period translates into better oral and overall health for women and their infants. Although the importance of oral health during pregnancy is well established, oral health assessments are not routinely included in prenatal care visits. The purpose of this study was to explore prenatal care providers' practices regarding oral health assessments and identify reasons for the gap in oral health integration in prenatal care. Data were gathered from midwives in Virginia, United States. Information on midwives' knowledge about oral health, education, practices, and awareness of oral health guidelines and the pregnancy-related Medicaid dental benefit policy in Virginia was collected. An online survey was distributed to midwives practicing in Virginia through their state-level professional organization. The data were collected online, and descriptive data analyses were conducted. A total of 30 midwives (mean age 51.9 years) participated in the survey for an overall response rate of 13.6%. Among survey participants, knowledge of oral health was high (score of 4.69 out of 5). Nearly 20% of participants reported receiving no education about oral health during professional training, and 72.4% reported no receipt of continuing education about oral health in the past year. Although 86% of the participants reported discussing oral health in clinical practice, only 10.3% reported conducting oral health assessments. Awareness of Virginia's Medicaid dental benefit policy was high (75.9%), but less than half of the participants were aware of oral health guidelines (44.1%). Although many midwives did not conduct oral health assessments, 79.3% reported that they provided oral health referrals to pregnant patients. Enhancing and integrating education about oral health in the academic curriculum for midwives and providing them with opportunities for continuing education about oral health can improve their engagement with oral health. Sharing of evidence-based guidelines through organizational newsletters, meetings, and other venues can be ways to increase awareness of new guidelines and health coverage benefits among midwives.

Depression in Patients with Heart Diseases: Gender Differences and Association of Comorbidities, Optimism, and Spiritual Struggle.

Depression is a well-established comorbidity of heart disease (HD) and is more prevalent in women than in men. Few studies have examined the gender effect on depression in patients with advanced heart disease prior to open heart surgery (OHS), controlling for cardiac indices. Previous studies indicated the health benefit of optimism but often lacked adjustment for medical confounders. This interdisciplinary study investigated gender differences in pre-OHS depression and the role of medical comorbidities and strength factors. Two waves of survey data were collected from 481 patients (mean age = 62, female 42%) along with medical indices in the Society of Thoracic Surgeon's (STS) national database used by all US cardiac surgeons. A t test showed significantly higher levels of pre-OHS depressive symptoms in women than in men. In multivariate analyses, the gender effect on depression vanished after entry of other socio-demographics, medical comorbidities, objectively assessed cardiac indices in the STS database, and psychosocial strength factors. Depressive symptoms linked inversely with dispositional optimism and positively with medical comorbidities and religious/spiritual struggle, but not with any cardiac indices. A mediation analysis supported the role of comorbidities in the gender difference. Women with heart disease were more depressed, but the gender difference may be partly explained by multiple comorbid conditions that could complicate disease burden. Reinforcing the literature, optimism, but not other strength factors, appeared to counteract depression after adjusting for health and cardiac conditions. The finding suggests that health providers should be more attentive to overall health of women with heart disease and to the positive expectations of OHS patients.

Characterizing physiological and symptomatic variation in menstrual cycles using self-tracked mobile-health data

The menstrual cycle is a key indicator of overall health for women of reproductive age. Previously, menstruation was primarily studied through survey results; however, as menstrual tracking mobile apps become more widely adopted, they provide an increasingly large, content-rich source of menstrual health experiences and behaviors over time. By exploring a database of user-tracked observations from the Clue app by BioWink GmbH of over 378,000 users and 4.9 million natural cycles, we show that self-reported menstrual tracker data can reveal statistically significant relationships between per-person cycle length variability and self-reported qualitative symptoms. A concern for self-tracked data is that they reflect not only physiological behaviors, but also the engagement dynamics of app users. To mitigate such potential artifacts, we develop a procedure to exclude cycles lacking user engagement, thereby allowing us to better distinguish true menstrual patterns from tracking anomalies. We uncover that women located at different ends of the menstrual variability spectrum, based on the consistency of their cycle length statistics, exhibit statistically significant differences in their cycle characteristics and symptom tracking patterns. We also find that cycle and period length statistics are stationary over the app usage timeline across the variability spectrum. The symptoms that we identify as showing statistically significant association with timing data can be useful to clinicians and users for predicting cycle variability from symptoms, or as potential health indicators for conditions like endometriosis. Our findings showcase the potential of longitudinal, high-resolution self-tracked data to improve understanding of menstruation and women’s health as a whole.

Effect of intergenerational educational mobility on health of Indian women.

This study aims to analyse the relationship between intergenerational educational mobility and the overall health of the Indian women. It uses a nationally representative survey, India Human Development Survey (IHDS) 2011–12, and logistic regressions to study this relationship. The sample comprises of women aged 45 years and older. We find that the women experiencing upward intergenerational educational mobility (vis-a-vis their mothers) have significantly higher chances of experiencing good overall health compared to the women who are having same or lesser level of education as that of their mothers. Besides, women suffering from short term or major morbidity have remarkably lower chances of having overall good health. Also, women from rural India have significantly lesser chances of having overall good health as compared to that of urban areas. Further, Muslim women have lesser chances of having overall good health as that of women from other religious categories. Moreover, there is a significant variation in the overall health of women as we move from the eastern region to the western region of India.

A randomized controlled study comparing internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy and counselling by standard care for fear of birth – A study protocol

Fear of birth is a concern that requires evidence based treatment. The aim of this study is to present the protocol of a randomized controlled multi-center trial to compare internet-based cognitive therapy with counseling as standard care for pregnant women reporting fear of birth. Participants will be recruited in mid-pregnancy. Women who score 60 or above on the Fear of Birth Scale will be offered to participate in this study. Data will be collected by questionnaires including validated instruments at baseline and follow-ups at gestational weeks 30 and 36, two months and one year after birth. The primary outcome will be level of fear of birth measured with the Fear of Birth Scale at 36 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcome measures are level of fear of birth at two months and one year after giving birth, preferences for mode of birth, requests for elective cesarean section, compliance and satisfaction with treatment and birth outcomes. A power calculation based on a 20% reduction of fear implies that approximately 200 will be included in the trial. The study outlined in this protocol will be the first randomized controlled trial comparing internet-based cognitive therapy with counseling for women reporting fear of birth. An effective treatment may result in better overall health for women with fear of birth and a reduction in cesarean sections for non-medical reasons. Evidence regarding treatment options of fear of birth will also provide a greater choice for women.

Oral Health And Dental Care In Pregnant Women: Bibliometric Study, Systematic Review, And Content Analysis

Introduction: the oral condition of pregnant women and the attention it needs affect the overall health of these women and their children. A variety of perspectives have been used to understand and approach research on this field. The objectives of this study were: conduct a bibliometric analysis, assess the quality of the available evidence, and conduct content analysis of articles related to the topics. Methodology : publications related to the topics were identified through a systematic search of the literature, identifying authors, years, and countries with the most publications; in addition, quality of the reports was assessed through the STROBE Guide on the studies that were retrieved in full text, conducting content analysis on thematic, methodological, and epistemological aspects. Results: the systematic review was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Institutions, authors, institutional affiliation, and co-authorship networks were identified with the bibliometric analysis. The systematic review showed predominance of cross-sectional observational studies; there were few controlled clinical trials and they generally emphasized treatments for periodontal disease in pregnant women. The evidence on this subject tends to be low. Content analysis showed that, in ontological terms, research focuses on three main areas: a) biological differences between men and women; b) impact of pregnant women’s oral health on the oral and overall health of their babies, c) relationship between pregnancy, oral health, and its impact on the oral and overall health of women. Few studies explore social determinants. In epistemological terms, studies from positivist perspectives were predominant. In methodological terms, the emphasis is placed on research with quantitative approaches. Conclusion: it is necessary to strengthen the relationship between biological and social aspects of pregnant women’s oral health and dental care from different epistemological perspectives, seeking a comprehensive view of these aspects and improving dental care in pregnant women

Sexual violence-related pregnancies in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: a qualitative analysis of access to pregnancy termination services.

BackgroundSexual violence has been prevalent throughout the armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Research on sexual violence-related pregnancies (SVRPs) and pregnancy termination in eastern DRC, a context with high prevalence of sexual violence, high maternal mortality, and restrictive abortion laws, is scant but crucial to improving the overall health of women in the DRC. Understanding women’s perceptions and experiences related to an SVRP, and in particular to pregnancy termination in this context, is critical for developing effective, targeted programming.MethodsRespondent-driven sampling (RDS) was used to recruit two subgroups of women reporting SVRPs, 1) women raising a child from an SVRP (parenting group) and 2) women who had terminated an SVRP (termination group), in Bukavu, DRC in 2012. Semi-structured qualitative interviews on pregnancy history and outcomes were conducted with a systematically selected sub-group of women recruited through RDS methodology. Interview responses were translated, transcribed and uploaded to the qualitative data analysis software Dedoose. Thematic content analysis, complemented by the constant comparative technique from grounded theory, was subsequently used as the analytic approach for data analysis.ResultsFifty-five qualitative interviews (38 parenting group and 17 termination group) were completed. The majority of women in the termination group reported using traditional herbs to terminate the SVRP, which they often obtained on their own or through family, friends and traditional healers; whereas women in the parenting group reported ongoing pregnancies after attempting pregnancy termination with herbal medications. Three women in the termination group reported accessing services in a health center. Almost half of the women in the parenting group cited fear of death from termination as a reason for continuing the pregnancy. Other women in the parenting group contemplated pregnancy termination, but did not know where to access services. Potential legal ramifications and religious beliefs also influenced access to services.ConclusionsWomen in this study had limited access to evidence-based safe abortion care and faced potential consequences from unsafe abortion, including increased morbidity and mortality. Increased access to reproductive health services, particularly safe, evidence-based abortion services, is paramount for women with SVRPs in eastern DRC and other conflict-affected regions.

The Updated, Annual, Gynecologic Examination

<h2>Poster Presentation</h2><h3>Background</h3> The practice of annual gynecologic screening to identify problems at an early stage for intervention has traditionally been a component of women's health care. Patients and providers have accepted the schedule of these examinations, which includes cervical cancer screening and a pelvic examination. However, there is little evidence to support the benefits of such annual screening in low risk women. The Institute of Medicine (IOM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) have developed recommendations for providing essential preventive services for women. Other professional organizations provide evidence‐based guidelines for cervical cancer screening. The American College of Physicians currently recommends against performing screening pelvic examination in asymptomatic, nonpregnant, adult women. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) further states that no evidence supports or refutes the annual pelvic examination and its performance should be based on shared decision making. <h3>Case</h3> Lucia, a 31‐year‐old healthy woman presented for her annual gynecologic examination. Her past history included negative annual Pap smears since age 18. As the office nurse or advance practice nurse using the most current evidence, what is the appropriate cervical cancer screening interval, and is a pelvic examination indicated? This poster presentation reviews current evidenced‐based recommendations for women's preventative health care, changes in cervical cancer screening protocols, and the evidence for the screening pelvic examination. The components of an evidence‐based, women's wellness visit is presented. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The wellness examination should be based on evidence‐based recommendations. In addition to breast and cervical cancer screening, this includes risk assessment for sexually transmitted infections, assessment of sexual wellness, screening for intimate partner violence, immunization review, and assessment of overall health and wellness. Preventive services should include pregnancy prevention with a focus on preconception care or options counseling if indicated. The prevention of chronic diseases through modifiable risks factors is stressed. The nursing profession has a long history of incorporating evidence‐based science into daily practice and of challenging long‐accepted patterns of providing care. A critical appraisal and redesign of the structure of the annual gynecologic examination can strengthen efforts to promote the overall health of women. Nurses can take leadership roles within the health care team to change protocols based on the best available evidence. After a careful review of Lucia's health history, she is eligible for Pap and human papilloma virus (HPV) cotesting every 5 years without a pelvic examination at today's visit.

Discontinuation of Pap Smears at Age 65: A Critical Analysis of the Impact on Women?s Health

Purpose: Guidelines for screening for cervical cancer and pelvic exams for women over age 65 have recently changed. Goals of these guidelines have shifted from yearly Pap smears and exams to longer intervals or discontinuation in this age group. This manuscript analyzes the implications for practice as this population of women lives longer without gynecologic care. Data Sources: Published and peer reviewed guidelines from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, U.S. Preventative Task Force Services, the American Cancer Society, The Centers for Disease Control, and multiple original research articles and reviews were used for this manuscript. Conclusions: The potential for women to develop later stage diagnoses of cancers, pelvic organ issues, incontinence, and infections is of great concern, especially as women over the age of 65 will be the greatest proportion of the American population in years to come. Implications for Practice: Practitioners need to be aware of new guidelines and best practices to improve the overall health of women. Practitioners of primary care should include gynecologic health as part of annual exams in all women of all ages.

Oral Healthcare and Health Disparities for Women: A Brief Report

Poor dental health increases the risk for a myriad of systemic diseases and poor health outcomes including diabetes, and heart disease. Associations have been documented between periodontal disease diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal disorders. Additionally, poor oral health has been associated with premature birth, and poor birth outcomes. Poor birth outcomes can stem from the influx of infant mortality across the US; thus significantly impacting the overall health of women. Women who come from low social economic areas, underserved populations, and underrepresented groups should be provided the necessary access to oral health care to assist with overall systemic health of women and prevent health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, premature birth, and poor birth outcomes. Overall, as a healthcare profession we must come together for the betterment of women’s health and advocate overall systemic health including oral health.

What's killing mothers and what's killing women? Contextualising maternal conditions in the post-MDG era using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2010

BackgroundReducing maternal mortality has been particularly prominent on the public health agenda since the establishment of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 (reducing the maternal mortality ratio by two thirds). Yet maternal conditions remain a substantial source of mortality and morbidity in many places, and the specific causes of death and disability across countries and time have not been well understood. Moving into the post-MDG era, understanding the specific causes of death and contextualising maternal mortality into the overall health of women of reproductive age will be key for priority setting and resource allocation. We aimed to quantify maternal mortality by country, age, year, and cause, and to consider this burden in the greater context of all deaths for women of reproductive age. MethodsWe calculate overall maternal mortality using ensemble modelling on more than 4700 site-years of data, including vital registration, verbal autopsy, and maternal mortality surveillance systems. We then extract HIV-related deaths and use literature-review-based meta-analysis for causal attribution of the remainder. FindingsMaternal mortality by cause differs substantially across countries and time. Maternal conditions range from first to 54th in the country-level ranking of number of deaths and first to 47th in premature years of life lost (YLLs) among women aged 15 to 49 years in 2010. Globally, they constitute 7·3% (254 682 of 3 496 480) of deaths and 7·9% (14 314 053 of 181 079 482) of YLLs among women of reproductive age. InterpretationMost countries are not on track to meet the MDG 5 target for any cause of maternal mortality. While efforts to reduce mortality and morbidity during childbirth should continue, many of the countries failing to meet targets are also failing their adult female population in several other domains of health. In the post-MDG era, efforts to improve women's health must address maternal health in conjunction with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other diseases with substantial burden. FundingBill & Melinda Gates Foundation.