Yesterday, I started writing a blog explaining why sex and gender research was important. I got bogged down in historical background, mandates, and the usual boring facts and justifications. While doing this, my desktop binged and one of several daily notices…
This blog is a follow-up to our March 3 blog where we announced the NIH Consensus Development conference scheduled on March 8-10 to discuss the safety issues surrounding vaginal birth after previous Cesarian section. AHRQ has released a report from that…
In recognition of Poison Prevention Week (March 14-20), the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is highlighting the growing issue of unintentional drug poisoning in the United States. More than 26,000 deaths from unintentional drug poisoning occurred in the U.S. in 2006. …
Ashley J. and Aryana M. practice taking each other's blood pressure.
On Thursday, March 11, 2010 the Institute for Women’s Health Research in collaboration with Young Women’s Leadership Charter School graduated 29 high school girls from the Oncofertility Saturday Academy. Over 100…
The FDA recently issued the following communication report: Patients and healthcare professionals may have questions about oral bisphosphonate medications and atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures – fractures in the bone just below the hip joint. Oral bisphosphonates are commonly prescribed…
Throughout my career, I have been a strong proponent of medical research through consumer advocacy and educational activities. But recently, I had the opportunity to actually participate as a research subject! As an enrollee in the Illinois Women’s Health Registry, my…
The Illinois Women’s Health Registry is currently featured on the Northwestern University homepage. To read the latest article about the Registry go to And you if you live in Illinois, sign up for the Registry!
Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is the delivery of a baby through the vagina after a previous cesarean delivery. For most of the 20th century, clinicians believed that once a woman had undergone a cesarean, all of her future pregnancies required…
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disorder in which the endometrial tissue, or the inner lining of the uterus, migrates to areas outside the uterus, most commonly the ovaries and Fallopian tubes. The endometrial tissue is the same tissue that thickens throughout…
According to a study that was coordinated by investigators at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, two to three times more pregnant women may soon be diagnosed and treated for gestational diabetes, based on new measurements for determining risky blood sugar…
On February 15, 2010 the NIH issued a news release about a new analysis reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine on data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). The study reevaluated whether or not combination hormone therapy (estrogen+progestin) increases the…
We realize that Thursday nights are jam packed with all sorts of great TV shows, but hopefully you were able to set the DVR for the WTTW series Health Secrets: What Every Woman Should Know. The 4-part TV series was hosted by…
A few decades ago, manicures and pedicures were something your grandmother and her friends did. Today, it has become popular with all ages–probably due to the general acceptance that women could pack away their panty hose and go bare-legged and the…
I have noticed that recently there have been a lot of commercials on television about getting your BRACAnalysis®. You might be wondering what a BRAC analysis is? Or maybe you are wondering if you should get one? The BRAC test is…
Every day we hear about a new drug, screening tool or technology that promises to improve our knowledge of health and disease. Generally, the news is good, or at least hopeful, reassuring the public that important research is progressing. …
Research led by Teresa Woodruff, PhD, director of the Institute for Women’s Health Research at Northwestern University was featured in the first edition of Horizons in Bioscience, a publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, that describes scientific…
What is Heart Disease?
Heart Disease is a general term used to describe various diseases and syndromes of the heart and blood vessels. Included in the definition are diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmia, heart valve disease, heart failure, and…
New information from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services on family planning services covered under Medicaid has been added and is available for 2009 for all states. The…
Earlier this week, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they had approved a new drug for type 2 diabetes (see the FDA’s press release here). Type 2 is the most common kind of diabetes and can develop at any age…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public about a counterfeit version of the weight-loss drug Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill pack) being sold over the Internet, particularly at online auction sites.
The counterfeit product is illegal and…
Melina Kibbe honored at White House
Melina Kibbe, M.D., associate professor at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, vascular surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and co-chief of the vascular surgery service and director of the Vascular Laboratory at the Jesse Brown VA Medical…
We probably all have first hand knowledge of how a bad night’s sleep can affect us the next day: we’re irritable, in a bad mood, and it can be hard to concentrate. It may not be all that surprising then, that…
I know what you’re thinking, this is a Women’s Health Blog – but we like men here too. A recent study published in Nature (and featured in the New York Times) reveals some interesting new insight into the X-chromosome’s somewhat puny-looking…
Photo credit: Randy Belice
We welcome the new commentary from the Dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine here at Northwestern University entitled, “Diversity: Essential For Our Success.” In it, Dr. Larry Jameson tells of his own personal history of growing up…
In 2010, WTTW Channel 11 and Northwestern Memorial Hospital will broadcast a special series, “Health Secrets: What Every Woman Should Know,” featuring broadcast journalist Paula Zahn.
The Illinois Women’s Health Registry and Oncofertility Consortium will be featured in the series.
Each one hour…