CIENCIASMEDICASNEWS: Women's Midlife Health

viernes, 5 de enero de 2018

Women's Midlife Health | Home page

Women's Midlife Health | Home page

Women's Midlife Health

Thematic series: Contraception in Midlife

Although fertility declines substantially by age 45, many women remain at risk of pregnancy into their fifties. Addressing the contraceptive needs, and in some cases infertility needs of women in the midlife is critical, given the health risks of unintended and desired late life pregnancies. As well, increases in chronic conditions may contraindicate some contraceptive choices. This ongoing thematic series highlights key questions facing women and clinicians regarding pregnancy and contraceptive choices, risks and benefits during the midlife and the menopausal transition while also outlining research needs given gaps in scientific knowledge.

Featured Article: "It is not just menopause: symptom clustering in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation"

Patterns of symptom clustering in midlife women may suggest common underlying mechanisms or may identify women at risk of adverse health outcomes or, conversely, likely to experience healthy aging. In this article, Siobán D. Harlow (University of Michigan) and co-authors assess symptom clustering longitudinally by stage of reproductive aging and estimate the probability of women experiencing specific symptom clusters. They also evaluate factors that influence the likelihood of specific symptom clusters and assess whether symptom clustering is associated with women’s self-reported health status.