Last Tuesday’s New York Times article painted an unpleasant picture of the state of scientific research due to cutbacks with the sequestration. The $1 trillion in budget cuts have significantly slowed research momentum, which could lead to major setbacks in the…
Even at the most basic molecular level sex matters—and it’s not just about hormones. Did you know that muscle stem cells from female mice regenerate new muscle faster than cells from male mice? And cells from male and female mice respond…
You might have noticed “probiotics” listed on the label of your yogurt. Maybe you’ve seen probiotic pills on store shelves next to vitamins or other supplements.
Probiotics are live microbes, such as bacteria, similar to those found naturally in the human body.…
You may have thought that asthma is just for kids, but new research shows that asthma is an issue for menopausal women as well. Investigators analyzed data from 2000 to 2010 and compared the rates of asthma hospitalization among men and…
A recent report from the World Health Organization showed that life expectancies for women over 50 are increasing around the world. Women are living longer now than they did 40 years ago, thanks to medical advances and more sanitary living. While…
A recent study published by researchers at Duke University highlighted the fact that some populations of women are more receptive to weight-management interventions than programs advertising weight loss. Weight loss is difficult across all populations and many programs aimed at reducing…
This review describes current and emerging options for the preservation of fertility in patients with cancer and provides a conceptual framework for managing concerns about fertility at the time of diagnosis.
Fertility preservation options are necessary for young female cancer patients facing life-preserving but fertility-threatening treatments. Developing a method for in vitro growth of ovarian follicles may provide a future fertility preservation method. We demonstrate 30-day in vitro growth of secondary ovarian follicles isolated from cancer patients, which supports the notion that human follicle development can be achieved in a bio-engineered…
Using probes, we show that fertilization of mature, zinc-enriched eggs trigger the ejection of zinc into the extracellular milieu as zinc sparks. The sparks mediate a decrease in intracellular zinc content that is necessary for continued cell cycle progression. The mammalian egg thus uses a…
This work identifies how age-associated aneuploidy occurs in humans, which can cause infertility, miscarriages, and birth defects. We show that, in eggs from older women, inter-kinetochore distances between sister chromatids increases significantly, indicating weakened cohesion, as do the rates of unpaired…
Learn about the conditions developed to support culture of primordial follicles from primates. Using biomaterials, we mimic the rigidity of the ovarian environment, which lays the foundation for studying the basic biology of primordial follicles in a controlled environment and for…
The United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first non-hormonal solution to hot flashes associated with menopause; it is the drug Brisdelle. Nearly 75% of menopausal women experience hot flashes, which are extreme feelings of warmth accompanied with redness…
Exercise is a common prescription for insomnia. But spending 45 minutes on the treadmill one day won’t translate into better sleep that night, according to new Northwestern Medicine® research.
“If you have insomnia you won’t exercise yourself into sleep right away,” said…
Researchers at the NIH have discovered how some common flame retardants, particularly brominated flame retardants (BFRs), can mimic estrogen hormones and possibly disrupt the body’s endocrine system. According to the author, Linda Birnbaum, PhD, when chemicals act like estrogen or any…
When patients undergo an acute myocardial infarction, lifestyle changes are necessary to reduce the risk of relapse. Yet research shows that women and minority patients have a more difficult time with risk factor modification efforts. A recent study published in the…
This work identifies the mechanism of the c-Abl kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate, which has recently been identified as a fertoprotective agent against the alkylating chemotherapy cisplatin. We show that, in vitro, imatinib prevents cisplatin-induced apoptosis of oocytes within primordial follicles by inhibiting c-Able kinase and downstream…
According to the 2013 Breastfeeding Report Card released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in July, a high rate of mothers are attempting to breastfeed their infants, and are breastfeeding their infants for longer. In 2010, around 75% of new…
We all know of hot flashes and night sweats as the most common and bothersome symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes can range from tolerable to debilitating, seconds to minutes, and infrequent to consistent. What most women don’t know, however, is that…
After the age of 30, the creation of new bone cannot keep up with the rate of bone loss in your body. The estrogen depletion that comes with menopause results in an increased risk for low bone mineral density, osteopenia and…
New research is surfacing that links anesthesia to inhibited cognitive developments in children under four. Significant brain development occurs in young children at this time, and ketamine—a common anesthetic—has been shown to affect the brain’s learning ability. Studies began back in…
The Oncofertility Consortium is proud to announce that Robert M. Wah, MD, reproductive endocrinologist, ob-gyn, and president- elect of the American Medical Association (AMA), will be speaking at the 2013 Oncofertility Conference on the evening of September 9th. Dr. Wah practices…
The need for health care varies greatly over a lifespan, with older adults having significantly more health-related needs and costs than younger individuals. Women, in particular, often face a myriad of health problems as they transition through menopause. Sadly, despite the…
Tomorrow, August 8th, we are excited to be hosting Angela Lawson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, for our Virtual Grand Rounds (VGR) at 10 AM CDT, entitled, “Psychological…
You may have heard of swimmer’s itch—it’s an itchy skin rash that occurs after swimming in fresh shallow waters during the early summer. Maybe your kids have come home from camp with an itchy rash in areas their bathing suit didn’t…
Facelifts Don’t Turn Ducks into Swans
Blinded ratings of before-and-after pictures of individuals who underwent facelifts confirmed that the patients looked younger, but did not make them any more attractive.
In a study conducted by plastic surgeons at Lenox Hill Hospital in New…
Recent data from the Treatment Episode Data Set reveal that 4.8% of female substance abuse admissions (between the ages of 15 to 44) are pregnant at the time of entry. While this percentage has remained fairly stable since 2000, the percentage…
By Jen Rachman
At age 26, I was living my life, self-sufficient, secure and independent. I took care of myself physically and emotionally. Life was nearly perfect, until the routine trip to the gynecologist that wound up saving my life.
When you hear the…
The 7th annual Oncofertility Conference: Cancer and Fertility Around the Globe, is September 9 & 10, 2013, in Chicago, IL, at Prentice Women’s Hospital. The Oncofertility Consortium is seeking abstract submissions for the poster session on Monday the 9th, for work related to the field…
It turns out the love hormone oxytocin is two-faced. Oxytocin has long been known as the warm, fuzzy hormone that promotes feelings of love, social bonding and well-being. It’s even being tested as an anti-anxiety drug. But new Northwestern Medicine® research…
For all intents and purposes, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the President’s signature piece of legislation, will provide more health care coverage to poor and underserved populations. Persistently disadvantaged communities have much further to go than those with insurance, and new…
Extreme heat can be very dangerous, leading to heat stroke and death. Heat stroke occurs when your temperature rises quickly and your body cannot cool down. This condition is life-threatening, but it is preventable.
Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness
Stay in air-conditioned space…
Teresa Woodruff, PhD, director of the Women’s Health Research Institute and chief of fertility preservation at Northwestern University was inaugurated as president of the Endocrine Society- the world’s oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the…
The number of prescription painkiller overdose deaths increased five fold among women between 1999 and 2010, according to a Vital Signs report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While men are more likely to die of a…
Below is a guest post by Megan Castle, Program Coordinator for the Women’s Health Research Institute at Northwestern University.
By Megan Castle
Geneticists, researchers, and patients joined in celebration over last [month's] unanimous Supreme Court ruling involving the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, colloquially…
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report on the global prevalence and impact of violence against women, and found it to be a “global health problem of epidemic proportions.” The report includes data on violence against women by intimate…
For such a little organ, the thyroid gland sure can cause a lot of trouble. This small, butterfly-shaped gland controls nearly all of your body’s metabolic processes by secreting different kinds of hormones. Almost 60 million Americans are estimated to have…
On July 27th, 2013, the hugely popular Chicago SUP YACS Classic (Stand Up Paddleboard for Young Adult Cancer Survivors), is holding their second annual event on Chicago’s north side at Montrose Beach. The SUP YACS Classic is a chance for everyone…
Should insurance companies cover the expenses of fertility preservation when a young cancer patient is at risk of losing their fertility as a result of their treatment? This is what members of the Michigan delegation asked the American Medical Association (AMA)…
Do you have questions about menopause? Are you ever curious about hormone therapy treatments? You’re not alone! Every year over two million women in America alone enter into menopause, and most have questions. The Women’s Health Research Institute wants to provide…
There’s a new “toy” in the surgical wing at the UC Irvine Medical Center that’s causing surgical oncologists to perform 56% less duplicate breast cancer surgeries. It’s called MarginProbe, and it detects whether surgeons have removed all of a woman’s breast…
Tomorrow, June 27th, we are excited to be hosting Catherine Stika, MD, Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, for our Virtual Grand Rounds (VGR) at 10 AM CDT, entitled, “Hormonal impact of cancer treatment and…
The connection between what we eat and mortality rates come as no surprise, but does changing our diet really give us a better chance of survival? According to a study by JAMA International Medicine, there is a correlation between a vegetarian…
Many women don’t have all the facts when unprotected sex occurs. Emergency contraceptive methods represent evolving and scientifically viable options for many women, yet are not adequately marketed to the public. Emergency Contraceptive Pills (EPCs) offer women a fast and private…
The answer to this question actually remains unclear. In a country where over 4 million women become pregnant and give birth, there is still no definitive answer regarding the safety of consuming medication during pregnancy.
According to an article in Nature, the…
Cancer survivorship starts at the time of disease diagnosis and continues throughout the rest of the patient’s life. Many survivors experience physical, emotional and day-to-day challenges after cancer treatment is done making survivorship a life-long journey. As a result, the Robert H.…
Most people assume seasonal allergies are prevalent during the spring months, when pollen counts are high. While these types of allergies are a serious concern for many women that have them, women have unique challenges when it comes to allergies that…
Surfacing research proves the Sub-Saharan African traditions of Female Genital Mutilation and Female Genital Cutting (FGM/FGC) lead to long-term health consequences. Such health problems are found to impact the delivery and health of newborns. Researchers and anthropologists from the Autonomus University…
The pro-life v. pro-choice debate continued on the House floor yesterday as party representatives grappled with sustaining women’s reproductive rights in a surfacing abortion bill. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved a bill banning a woman’s right to pursue an…
Geneticists, researchers, and patients joined in celebration over last week’s unanimous Supreme Court ruling involving the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, colloquially referred to as the “breast cancer genes.” The Supreme Court ruled that Myriad Genetics could not patent the BRCA1 and…
Policy changes are necessary to decrease the death rate of pregnant women in developing countries. Research, according to Dr. Stacie E. Geller, does not end once scientists publish. The true battle is implementing that research to affect global change. Dr. Stacie…
Scientists discover cause of immature eggs’ death from cancer drug and how to prevent it
MEDIA CONTACT: Marla Paul at (312) 503-8928 or marla-paul@northwestern.edu
CHICAGO — Young women who have cancer treatment often lose their fertility because chemotherapy and radiation can damage or…
Did you know that most adverse drug side effects that are reported are done so by women? This is why we advocate so strongly for the inclusion of males AND females in all animal and human drug studies. It’s important that…
Don’t watch what you eat, instead, THINK about it. Recent studies in an article in Gastroenterology (June) has shown that probiotics, often found in yogurt, can actually affect brain activity. Yogurt in the US has now grown to place 20 and…
Think men and women receive equal care after traumas? Think again. A recent study found that women are less likely than men to receive trauma treatment after severe injuries. Dr. Andrea Hill of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University…
I think women want to feel independent, that we can conquer the world on our own. Sometimes it can be hard to ask for help.
Having issues getting pregnant can be one of those times. Most of us assume that it’s easy; you…
Did you know that 15% of women are diagnosed with Hypoactive Sexual-Desire Disorder (H.S.D.D)? This disorder is characterized by a lack of female desire coupled with significant emotional distress, primarily in post-menopausal women. A recent article in The New York Times…
Breasts—especially those that scale towards the large end of the spectrum—are often named as a scapegoat for back pain in women. However, it’s likely that much of the blame is misplaced. This misdirected implication could be leading women to false self-diagnoses…
A significant number of parents are not allowing their daughters to receive the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine, despite an increase in doctors recommending it. The HPV vaccine is a series of three shots given to pre-teen and teen girls and…
Did you know there are differences in the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual effects of substance use and abuse on women and men? Those differences have implications for treatment in behavioral health settings. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service…
Smoking can do more than make your teeth yellow. A study indicates smoking can make teeth go away. Researcher Xiaodan Mai of the University at Buffalo in New York found this in data on about 1,100 postmenopausal women. She compared periodontal…