March 2013

The Truth About Emergency Contraceptives

Recently, emergency contraceptives have been at the center of the debate as to whether employers must cover contraception under their health insurance plans. Under the Affordable Care Act, which covers preventive care, non-exempt employers must cover the morning-after pill (Plan B) and the week-after pill (ella) for their employees. Some companies don’t want to follow this requirement because they claim that these drugs cause abortions.

Saluting those who support breastfeeding!

Medela, a company focused on women and infant health, has announced a call for nominations for its Breastfeeding Hall of Excellence, a program created to recognize individuals who help moms successfully nurse and reach their breastfeeding goals. Those eligible  include lactation consultants, professionals and community advocates, including bloggers. Inductees will be awarded grants to support breastfeeding-related research, education and charities. Nominations will be accepted online March 26 – April 30, 2013.

Today is Diabetes Alert Day.

Diabetes affects the body in many ways.  Celebrate Diabetes Alert Day (March 26) by learning how diabetes can effect the female body!   Take a few minutes to look at this female anatomy chart to learn more!

 

New Study Finds Most Babies Fed Solids Too Soon

Do you follow your doctor’s orders?  According to a new study, many new moms may be feeding their babies solid foods too soon – and sometimes they’re just following their doctors’ advice.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should not begin consuming solids until they are at least six months old.  But a newly released study in Pediatrics found that almost all of the new mothers surveyed (almost 93%) introduced solid food before six months, and half of these women said it was because their pediatrician told them it was time to introduce solid food.  Click here for the full story on NBC News Vitals.

New guidelines for diagnosing and treating GERD

In May, 2013,  the American College of Gastroenterology has published new guidelines for diagnosing and managing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).   Dr. Lauren B. Gerson from Stanford University School of Medicine, California, a member of the guidelines panel, highlighted six areas where the guidelines changed since the 2005 version:

1) Weight loss,  bed elevation (for patients with nocturnal GERD symptoms), is an effective lifestyle measure.  Avoidance of foods thought to provoke reflux is not routinely advised.

Study Finds Association Between Bikini Waxing and STI Risk

Happy first day of spring! That’s right; even though we are still experiencing sub-zero temperatures in many parts of the country (Chicago weather today is brutal!), it is technically now spring. With spring, comes spring vacation and thoughts of warm weather and spending time at the beach. This month, women and men across the country will shed their parkas and start getting bathing suit ready. For many, this involves a certain amount of grooming, with respect to body hair.

Celebrate the Women who Shaped America’s Health

March is National Women’s History Month in the U.S.  and we didn’t want to close the month without paying tribute to the women who have made significant contributions to the nation’s health.   We’ve provide two links for you to view.  The first link will bring you to the March 19 Huffington Post Healthy Living site where they provide profiles of 50 female scientists and physicians who have made a difference.  The second link is to our own

New imaging agent may help locate lymph nodes in cancer surgery

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Lymphoseek  Injection, a radioactive diagnostic imaging agent that helps doctors locate lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer or melanoma who are undergoing surgery to remove tumor-draining lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes filter lymphatic fluid that flows from the body’s tissues. This fluid may contain cancer cells, especially if the fluid drains a part of the body containing a tumor. By surgically removing and examining the lymph nodes that drain a tumor, doctors can sometimes determine if a cancer has spread.