New long-term research shows that hot flashes continue, on average, for five years after menopause. More than a third of women can experience hot flashes for up to ten or more years after menopause.
A recent study evaluated 255 women in the…
If you’re not already aware, today is World Cancer Day. World Cancer Day was founded by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration which calls upon government leaders and health policy-makers to…
The first ever Recommendations for Diagnosing TMD have been published with support from NIH. Despite a prevalence rate of 2:1 women to men, there was no mention of the sex differences for TMD in the abstract, NIH press release or accompanying…
We’re jumping back into the chapter reviews of Oncofertility Communication: Sharing Information and Building Relationships across Disciplines. Today, we’re reviewing Chapter 8, Communicating Oncofertility to Children: A Developmental Perspective for Teaching Health Messages by Dr. Ellen Wartella, Dr. Alexis Lauricella and…
Many people don’t realize that the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can continue into adulthood as a form of adult ADHD. Adult ADHD can only result from a pre-existing diagnosis of childhood ADHD—meaning, one is only susceptible to adult…
This month marks the 41st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the pivotal case where the United States Supreme Court legalized abortion. Many see this decision as both a political and religious issue, while others view this as the right for women to…
Men and Women are physiologically different, and it is essential to ensure adequate participation of both sexes in research studies in order to determine sex-based differences in disease presentation, prevalence, and treatment. A press release from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers…
Everyone wrinkles at the same rate and there’s not really much we can do to prevent it, right? Wrong. There are certain habits that can help you avoid premature wrinkles, making your skin look younger (and healthier) longer. Tanning is one…
Every year there are roughly 137 million births globally. Of these, about 10% may result in serious complications. Tragically, approximately 5.6 million babies are stillborn or pass away soon after, and around 260,000 women pass away every year in childbirth. These…
Swedish doctors are attempting an innovative surgery to give womb-less women the opportunity to give birth to their own children. Nine women in Sweden have received womb transplants and doctors intend to help these women (through in-vitro fertilization) become pregnant and…
The Oncofertility Consortium is happy to welcome the Portuguese Center for Fertility Preservation as a Global Partner. We currently work with reproductive specialists from all over the world in an effort to better serve children, adolescents and young adults with cancer and other fertility-threatening…
In the January of 1964, the Surgeon General made its first report linking cigarette smoking to lung cancer. Yesterday, the CDC announced a new triumph in the war against lung cancer by announcing that the rate of new lung cancer cases…
Below is a guest post from Luke Tripodi on the importance of family during his cancer journey. We thank him for taking the time to guest post and wish him continued health!
By Luke Tripodi
My story starts off the same way so…
At this point, Chicagoans are celebrating the end of the Polar Vortex, which caused temperatures as low as -40 degrees (with the wind-chill) in our windy city. But, extreme shifts in temperatures can mean extreme health concerns to be aware of.…
From perimenopause through postmenopause, the most common symptoms include irregular menstruation, hot flashes, and night sweats. Every woman will experience these menopausal symptoms differently. However, research shows that women who survive cancer, in particular, have more frequent, severe, and bothersome hot…
Do hormone levels in postmenopausal women affect cognitive function? New research sheds light on the postmenopausal brain.
In a recently published study, researchers found that estrogen levels after menopause may have no impact on cognitive skills, but progesterone levels might. Progesterone had…
New research shows that women with high blood pressure during pregnancy may be at higher risk of having troublesome menopausal symptoms in the future. A research study from the Netherlands examined the relationship between hypertensive diseases and hot flashes and night…
Women undergoing menopause experience symptoms including hot flashes, sleeplessness, depression, joint pain, and poor concentration, to name a few. Hormone therapy has proven to improve some of these symptoms in menopausal women, but new research shows that treatment may only improve…
Lack of policies to protect cancer patients’ fertility at top cancer centers
Infertility is consistently listed as one of the most distressing long-term side effects of cancer treatment for adolescents and young adults. Yet the leading National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers…
As enrollment statistics in the new health insurance marketplaces start to become available, there is a growing focus on whether the enrollment of so-called “young invincibles” will be sufficient to keep insurance markets stable according to the Kaiser Family Foundation excerpted…
We all know that eating sweet and starchy foods is not the best for our health: but did you know that these foods have been found to increase a woman’s risk of endometrial cancer? Endometrial cancer begins in the uterus and,…
Concerns about hormone therapy safety have made many women turn to alternatives, such as phytoestrogens (soy, flaxseed, etc) to alleviate their menopausal symptoms. A recent systematic review of flaxseed intervention was recently done and reported in the journal Menopause. Their findings: …
Many cancer patients talk about the problems with memory that they develop during their cancer treatment. While the stress of a cancer diagnosis can itself cause cognitive impairments, so can chemotherapy and radiation treatments. But how do the hormonal changes that…
Information gaps are widely apparent in patient-physician relationships due to a multitude of factors. Some patients are not interested or emotionally able to process information provided by the physician while certain physicians may not be comfortable discussing various options with their…
About 50% of pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended and are higher among adolescents and young women, minorities and women with less educational and financial resources. Thus strategies to prevent unintended pregnancies include assisting women at risk in choosing appropriate contraceptive…
Polio, or poliomyelitis, has been nearly eradicated by the polio vaccines developed in the 1950’s, sparing countless children and adults from symptoms such as muscle weakness and acute flaccid paralysis. However, there are still three countries (Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan) that…
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, November 26, agreed to hear cases on whether corporations may refuse to provide insurance coverage for contraception to their workers based on the religious beliefs of the corporations’ owners. President Obama’s health care law has exempted…
What do you do when your partner or spouse is diagnosed with cancer? What if he or she is thinking about undergoing fertility preservation? While the impacts of both cancer and infertility on relationships have been investigated individually, there is little…
Women who have a high risk of breast or ovarian cancer face a number of looming decisions; from whether or not to undergo prophylactic surgery, to electing increased surveillance, to taking risk-lowering medication. Interwoven with these decisions is the implication each…
Women are 90-95% more likely to be victims of domestic violence than men. While domestic violence is more common among women (one in four women experience domestic violence in the United States), men and children are victimized too, totaling in epidemic-like…
More than 72,000 adolescents and young adults (AYA) between 15 and 39 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the U.S. While survival rates for pediatric and older cancer patients have increased over the past two decades, AYA survival rates have…
Adolescent and young adult cancer patients face unique social, physical, and emotional experiences during diagnosis and treatment that may not occur in younger or older individuals. A recent chapter in the book, Oncofertility Communication: Sharing Information and Building Relationships across Disciplines,…
The next time you see your primary care doctor, he or she will have access to updated guidelines and a new electronic tool that can better predict your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.
The guidelines — released…
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, around 85% of women who menstruate experience one or more premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as irritability, depression, bloating, or muscle pain. A similar, but more severe condition is known as premenstrual…
Today, the Women’s Health Protection Act was introduced in both the U.S Senate and the House of Representatives. It is the first federal legislative response to the flood of state laws designed to restrict women’s access to reproductive health services.
The Women’s…
Education materials, whether in print or web-based, have a large role in helping patients feel confident in their medical decision-making. Continuing with our overview of Oncofertility Communication: Sharing Information and Building Relationships across Disciplines, Chapter 3 focuses on the importance of education, and…
According to the National Women’s Law Center, “During the debate over the government shutdown, leaders in the House of Representatives passed legislation to exempt bosses from complying with the part of the Affordable Care Act, that gives women access to preventive…
Hot flashes: most menopausal women have them, and all menopausal women hate them. For one in ten women, hot flashes occur for five years or longer, signicantly affecting multiple aspects of their lives including relationships and sleep. While hormone replacement therapy…
We can all remember a time when we have received medical information from our doctor and have walked away with little or no comprehension of what was discussed. The second chapter in Oncofertility Communication: Sharing Information and Building Relationships Across Disciplines…
As women, sisters, wives, friends, mothers, daughters, and grandmothers, we must make sure that we are doing everything in our power to be at the top of our health, always. We are depended upon to set the healthy example for family…
Since the initiation of the “war on cancer” with the National Cancer Act in 1971, cancer survivorship has increased dramatically. As such survivors, especially young ones, frequently live many decades beyond their initial cancer diagnosis. With the escalating numbers of cancer…
The obstetrical and gynecological manifestation of Crohn’s disease is particularly challenging for young women and demands special attention, according to an article in the International Journal of Women’s Health. Pregnant women with CD are considered high-risk patients due to associated complications.…
We all know that having children is expensive, but did you know that having your child in the United States can cost up to triple or quadruple the price as other developed countries? Pregnancy care and delivery costs have nearly tripled…
Hormone therapy can be used to ease the many symptoms of menopause, including night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings. New research indicates that hormone therapy, specifically estrogen, can also be used towards joint pain.
Estrogen therapy improves joint pain in post-menopausal…
When a woman goes through menopause before age 40, it’s considered early menopause. When this occurs naturally, due to genetics or chromosome defects, it is known as primary ovarian insufficiency and happens to about 1 in 100 women. Early menopause may…
Here at the Oncofertility Consortium, we’re huge fans – both personally and professionally – of Matthew Zachary, the force behind Stupid Cancer; the nation’s largest support community of young adult survivors of cancer. Created in 2004 (first as Steps for Living, then…
Because of the increased risk for serious illness and complications from influenza, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that all women who are pregnant or who might be pregnant in the upcoming influenza season receive the IIV vaccine.…
As I’m sure you already know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The nation is awash in the color pink and adorned with pink ribbons. Everywhere we turn we see information about breast cancer signs and symptoms, early detection, and treatment…
A recent article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology recommends to oncologists that all patients with invasive breast cancer, including recurrent disease, should be tested for HER 2 status and these tests should adhere to specific criteria to define positive, equivocal,…
It’s often said that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has a woman’s face. The proportion of women infected with HIV has been on the rise for a decade; in sub-Saharan Africa, women constitute 60 percent of people living with the disease. While preventative…
Two ovarian follicles at different stages of maturation (primary on the left, secondary on the right).
Women with ovarian lesions, such as benign or malignant tumors, or those at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer now have additional evidence that can…
Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most well-evidenced and regulatory-approved treatment options for menopause, but what about natural alternatives?
Many women turn to yoga to treat menopause symptoms, but new research has shown its benefits are limited. A randomized control study,…
Imagine that you are diagnosed with cancer at 24. On top of processing the enormity of your diagnosis at such a young age, you’re shuttled from one appointment to the next, coordinating your treatment plan in the quickest timeframe possible. Today,…
The reproductive community took note recently with the publication of research stating that ovarian tissue cryopreserved using a technique called vitrification, has resulted in a live human birth. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is an experimental fertility preservation technique that involves the surgical…
The news of the government shutdown has by now reached everyone’s ears and has sparked questions and concerns about the state of our nation. While several groups are directly affected in this stalemate, special attention must be drawn to the 9…
Oncofertility is a multidisciplinary field of experts coming together to provide fertility options to cancer patients. The multidisciplinary nature of the field was on display during our 7th annual Oncofertility Conference in Chicago, Illinois. During the course of the conference, we…
Menopause is known for its hot flashes, the sweats, weight gain, and mood changes. But what about vaginal dryness?
Vulvovaginal atrophy commonly occurs during menopause, and its symptoms include irritated tissue, lack of lubrication, pain with urination, and pain with intercourse. These…
A group of more than 50 physicians and other healthcare professionals have signed an open letter calling on all parties involved in the Syrian conflict to stop targeting medical facilities and to permit medical care to continue without interference. In the…
The Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit organization that works to advance reproductive health, released a report in September on the state of unintended pregnancy in the United States. The organization estimates that currently, around 49% of all pregnancies in the U.S. are…
The Society for Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology was founded to engage professionals who are dedicated to improving adolescent and young adult cancer care across the world. It promotes interdisciplinary research, education, and collaboration in order to advance understanding of the…