Have you heard the news? The FDA lifts all age limits on the emergency contraceptive. This is huge within the women's health industry. Make sure to contact your gynecologist for further information and what this means in relation to yourself or daughter!
Due to legality, you are able to read the article below from The Associated Press.
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/fda-allows-otc-morning-after-pill-lifts-age-limit-6C10399714
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Precocious Puberty In Girls May Be Delayed By Vitamin D Supplementation
Re-blogged from Medical News Today-
Vitamin D supplementation may help delay early onset of puberty in girls, a new clinical study finds. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
Among girls, puberty generally begins between the ages of 10 and 14. Boys undergo these changes later, usually between 12 to 16 years of age. Precocious puberty is diagnosed in girls when sexual development begins before the age of 8; in boys, it is diagnosed when these changes occur before age 9.
Recently, medical research has linked vitamin D deficiency to a number of diseases, including cancer, obesity and autoimmune disease. Low vitamin D levels have been found in girls with precocious puberty, as well, although the exact relationship between vitamin D deficiency and early development remains unclear.
To determine how low vitamin D deficiency is related to precocious puberty, investigators in the current study compared blood levels of the vitamin between girls with early and normal development.
They found that girls with precocious puberty were significantly more likely than those with age-appropriate development to have a severe vitamin D deficiency. Among the precocious puberty group, 44 percent had a severe deficiency in vitamin D, compared to 21 percent of the group with age-appropriate physical development. Study participants included 110 girls between the ages of 7 to 10 years. Seventy-five girls exhibited normal patterns of development, while 35 were classified as having precocious puberty. Investigators used the Tanner scale, which assesses human physical development, to differentiate normal versus precocious pubertal development.
More research, including studies in animal models, is necessary to confirm this project's findings.
Vitamin D supplementation may help delay early onset of puberty in girls, a new clinical study finds. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
Among girls, puberty generally begins between the ages of 10 and 14. Boys undergo these changes later, usually between 12 to 16 years of age. Precocious puberty is diagnosed in girls when sexual development begins before the age of 8; in boys, it is diagnosed when these changes occur before age 9.
Recently, medical research has linked vitamin D deficiency to a number of diseases, including cancer, obesity and autoimmune disease. Low vitamin D levels have been found in girls with precocious puberty, as well, although the exact relationship between vitamin D deficiency and early development remains unclear.
To determine how low vitamin D deficiency is related to precocious puberty, investigators in the current study compared blood levels of the vitamin between girls with early and normal development.
They found that girls with precocious puberty were significantly more likely than those with age-appropriate development to have a severe vitamin D deficiency. Among the precocious puberty group, 44 percent had a severe deficiency in vitamin D, compared to 21 percent of the group with age-appropriate physical development. Study participants included 110 girls between the ages of 7 to 10 years. Seventy-five girls exhibited normal patterns of development, while 35 were classified as having precocious puberty. Investigators used the Tanner scale, which assesses human physical development, to differentiate normal versus precocious pubertal development.
More research, including studies in animal models, is necessary to confirm this project's findings.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Your First Gynecologist Visit
Everyone remembers their age when they visited the gynecologist for the first time. It can be seen as a monumental step towards your women-hood. However, not everyone knows what to expect at their first gynecologist appointment.
The initial appointment is to lay the ground work for the bodies future health and wellness. According to Dr. Stepanian, females should have their first visit between the ages of 13 and 15 or whenever their menstrual cycle begins. This is so teens can be educated about their bodies and understand the importance of establishing a trusting and comfortable relationship with their gynecologist.
Typical topics covered in the first meeting will range from patient to patient but usually revolve around acne, regular or irregular periods, breast changes, pelvic pain and much more. Family history and preexisting conditions will also be discussed at this time.
It is important to add a visit to the gynecologist to your list of annual health check ups. Keeping up on your female health can help prevent any future issues.
The initial appointment is to lay the ground work for the bodies future health and wellness. According to Dr. Stepanian, females should have their first visit between the ages of 13 and 15 or whenever their menstrual cycle begins. This is so teens can be educated about their bodies and understand the importance of establishing a trusting and comfortable relationship with their gynecologist.
Typical topics covered in the first meeting will range from patient to patient but usually revolve around acne, regular or irregular periods, breast changes, pelvic pain and much more. Family history and preexisting conditions will also be discussed at this time.
It is important to add a visit to the gynecologist to your list of annual health check ups. Keeping up on your female health can help prevent any future issues.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Using The Pill To Alter Menstruation Cycles
A surprisingly large number of women 18 or older choose to delay or skip monthly menstruation by deviating from the instructions of birth-control pills and other hormonal contraceptives, a team of University of Oregon researchers and others found in a study of female students at the university.
Most women who alter bleeding cycles do so for convenience rather than to avoid menstrual symptoms, and many learn about the option from non-medical sources, according to research by the university's Department of Human Physiology, Portland-based Oregon Health and Sciences University and Eastern Michigan University. The study is published in Contraception, the official journal of the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals and the Society of Family Planning.
"These findings emphasize the need for health care providers to carefully interview combined hormonal contraceptive users on how they are using their method - for example, many women may be skipping pills to extend their cycles," said researcher Christopher Minson, a human physiology professor at the University of Oregon. "With a greater understanding of the issues, health care providers may be able to more effectively engage in conversations with college-aged women and educate them about available options."
As research indicates that reducing the occurrence of menstruation is safe and can even be beneficial, women are increasingly using hormonal contraceptives to alter bleeding cycles. But there has been a lack of information concerning why women do so and from whom they receive information regarding this option.
In a survey of undergraduate and graduate students, 17 percent reported altering their scheduled bleeding pattern by deviating from the instructions of hormonal contraceptives, which include birth-control pills, vaginal contraceptive rings and trans-dermal contraceptive patches.
Half of these women reported that they did so for convenience or scheduling purposes. Others cited personal preference (28.9 percent) or reducing menstrual symptoms (16.7 percent) as reasons they altered menstruation patterns.
Among the women who delayed or skipped a scheduled bleeding for convenience or personal choice, a comparatively large number - 53 percent - indicated the knowledge was obtained from non-medical sources, such as a family member or friend, researchers said.
The survey also provides new insights on the factors that influence a woman's decision whether to alter bleeding schedules. Asians have a 7 percent lower probability of altering hormonal cycles and women who exercise regularly have a 5 percent lower probability of doing so; another characteristic that decreased the likelihood of the practice was preference for a monthly cycle.
"We found that it is possible to identify some of the specific characteristics of women in a college population who may be more or less likely to practice scheduled bleeding manipulation," said Dr. Paul Kaplan, of the University Health Center and Oregon Health and Sciences University. "This study provides information about the motives, beliefs and influences relating to this practice."
In a finding that surprised researchers, women who said they would prefer no menstrual periods were less likely to alter their cycles than those who would prefer one per year. A woman who would prefer one cycle per year had a 17 percent higher probability of modifying her hormonal contraceptive regimen than one who preferred a menstrual period every three months or never.
This suggests that health care providers could improve education of the hormonal contraception regimen best-suited to a patient's needs and desires, researchers said.
See full blog here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/260396.php
Most women who alter bleeding cycles do so for convenience rather than to avoid menstrual symptoms, and many learn about the option from non-medical sources, according to research by the university's Department of Human Physiology, Portland-based Oregon Health and Sciences University and Eastern Michigan University. The study is published in Contraception, the official journal of the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals and the Society of Family Planning.
"These findings emphasize the need for health care providers to carefully interview combined hormonal contraceptive users on how they are using their method - for example, many women may be skipping pills to extend their cycles," said researcher Christopher Minson, a human physiology professor at the University of Oregon. "With a greater understanding of the issues, health care providers may be able to more effectively engage in conversations with college-aged women and educate them about available options."
As research indicates that reducing the occurrence of menstruation is safe and can even be beneficial, women are increasingly using hormonal contraceptives to alter bleeding cycles. But there has been a lack of information concerning why women do so and from whom they receive information regarding this option.
In a survey of undergraduate and graduate students, 17 percent reported altering their scheduled bleeding pattern by deviating from the instructions of hormonal contraceptives, which include birth-control pills, vaginal contraceptive rings and trans-dermal contraceptive patches.
Half of these women reported that they did so for convenience or scheduling purposes. Others cited personal preference (28.9 percent) or reducing menstrual symptoms (16.7 percent) as reasons they altered menstruation patterns.
Among the women who delayed or skipped a scheduled bleeding for convenience or personal choice, a comparatively large number - 53 percent - indicated the knowledge was obtained from non-medical sources, such as a family member or friend, researchers said.
The survey also provides new insights on the factors that influence a woman's decision whether to alter bleeding schedules. Asians have a 7 percent lower probability of altering hormonal cycles and women who exercise regularly have a 5 percent lower probability of doing so; another characteristic that decreased the likelihood of the practice was preference for a monthly cycle.
"We found that it is possible to identify some of the specific characteristics of women in a college population who may be more or less likely to practice scheduled bleeding manipulation," said Dr. Paul Kaplan, of the University Health Center and Oregon Health and Sciences University. "This study provides information about the motives, beliefs and influences relating to this practice."
In a finding that surprised researchers, women who said they would prefer no menstrual periods were less likely to alter their cycles than those who would prefer one per year. A woman who would prefer one cycle per year had a 17 percent higher probability of modifying her hormonal contraceptive regimen than one who preferred a menstrual period every three months or never.
This suggests that health care providers could improve education of the hormonal contraception regimen best-suited to a patient's needs and desires, researchers said.
See full blog here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/260396.php
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