New York Times Publishes Several Women's Health-Related Articles

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Breast Cancer
Article Date: 27 Mar 2008 - 8:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The New York Times on Tuesday in its health section published several articles related to women's health. Summaries appear below.

• "Trying Again After Recurrent Miscarriages": The Times examined potential causes of recurrent miscarriages. About one in every 100 women of reproductive age will experience recurrent pregnancy loss, the Times reports. The causes of recurrent miscarriage often are unclear, and 50% to 75% of couples experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss "will have no certain diagnosis," according to a recent report by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. According to the Times, 80% to 90% of women who experience one miscarriage will have a subsequent successful pregnancy even with no treatment, but women who experience two or three miscarriages have a success rate of 75% and 65%, respectively, for subsequent pregnancies. According to the Times, "[m]yths abound as to why women experience recurrent miscarriages," and treatments for several reported causes are "controversial" (Brody, New York Times, 3/25).
  
  
• "Disparities: Wealth Factor Seen in Mammogram Rates": Women ages 65 and older are more likely to receive a mammogram if they are wealthy, according to an analysis in the March 10 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine, the Times reports. For the analysis, researchers looked at the mammogram rates of more than 4,000 women in the age group and found that 82% of those with a net worth of $100,000 or more had a mammogram, compared with 68% of those whose net worth was less than $10,000. Physicians prescribing mammograms to older women are advised to consider whether the woman will live for at least five years because the benefit of the test often is not realized for several years, the researchers said. Among women unlikely to live for five years, 48% of wealthy women received the screening, compared with 32% of lower-income women. The researchers said that wealthier women might be more likely to request the screening and that lower-income women might face financial or other barriers to receiving the test (Nagourney, New York Times, 3/25).
  
  
• "The Claim: Grapefruit Can Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer": According to the Times, a recent e-mail chain has created some concern about a possible link between consumption of grapefruit and increased risk of breast cancer. Two studies published in the British journal Cancer have found conflicting results on the issue. A 2007 study published in the journal found a 30% increased risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women who ate about half a grapefruit every other day, even after other risk factors for the disease were considered. Researchers in the study said an enzyme in grapefruit called CYP 3A4, which can increase estrogen levels, could account for the increased risk. A study published in the journal this year that followed 77,000 women ages 30 to 55 did not find an increased risk of breast cancer among women who consumed grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Experts from the American Cancer Society said the studies lacked sufficient evidence to change recommendations on grapefruit consumption but said concerned women could reduce their consumption of grapefruit (O'Connor, New York Times, 3/25).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2007 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.