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14 Aug

‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Some Period Products

Researchers test more than 120 period products and find some, but not all, contain PFAS, a category of chemicals linked to a variety of health issues.

Health News Results - 40

Common Gynecologic Condition Tied to Cognitive Issues

Women with a common ovarian disorder might be more likely to have memory and thinking problems in middle age, a new study suggests.

Females diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) scored lower on cognitive tests than women without the condition, according to a report published Jan. 31 in the journal Neurology.

The condition specifically appeared to affect memory, at...

Starting Periods Early Linked to Higher Odds for Diabetes, Stroke

Girls whose periods begin before the age of 13 are at higher risk of becoming adult women with diabetes, compared to girls who start menstruation later, new research shows.

An earlier onset of periods also appears to hike a woman's odds for stroke before the age of 65, the same study found.

Why the link? According to the research team at Tulane University in New Orleans, exposure to...

Tear Gas Might Harm a Woman's Reproductive Health

Researchers in Minnesota have uncovered a new link between tear gas exposures and negative effects on reproductive health.

The study was prompted by anecdotal reports of irregular menstrual cycles among protestors who were exposed to tear gas during the nationwide protests that followed the May 2020 murder of George Floyd.

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 25, 2023
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  • PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Found in Some Period Products

    Some menstrual products -- pads, tampons, cups and underwear -- contain harmful “forever chemicals,” according to new research into the contents of these essential items.

    Researchers analyzed more than 100 period products looking for fluorinated compounds, an indicator of potentially harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The products typically don't list ingredients on...

    Menstrual Discs Could Help Women With Heavy Periods, Study Finds

    For women with heavy periods, some newer menstrual products may offer more security than old-fashioned pads and tampons.

    That's among the findings of a new study that tested the absorbency levels of a range of period products -- from traditional pads and tampons, to newer options such as period underwear and reusable menstrual discs and cups.

    It turned out that discs had the highest...

    Forty Percent of U.S. Girls, Young Women Are Iron Deficient

    Nearly 4 out of 10 girls and young women aren't getting enough iron and they may have their periods to blame, a new U.S. study shows.

    Menstrual bleeding, especially when heavy, is a major risk factor for iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia, the researchers explained.

    There are health consequences associated with being low in iron, noted study author

  • Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 28, 2023
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  • PMS: What It Is, Symptoms & How to Get Relief

    Are you tired of feeling moody, bloated and achy every month right before you get your period?

    You're not alone. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common condition that affects many women. Here, experts explore what PMS is, its symptoms and, most importantly, how to find relief from those pesky monthly symptoms. Keep reading to understand your body better, learn how to manage PMS, understa...

    Florida Bill Would Ban Elementary School Kids From Learning About Menstruation

    A proposed bill in Florida would prevent children from learning about menstruation in elementary school, even though some girls get their first periods in those years.

    The bill would also ban other sex education topics through the fifth grade.

    Sponsored by Republican Florida state Rep. Stan McClain, the bill advanced out of the House Education Quality Subcommittee last week, CBS...

    Unraveling the Link Between Menstrual Cycles and Migraine

    Many women experience blinding migraine headaches around their monthly period, and now researchers have a clue about why.

    Levels of the female hormone estrogen fluctuate during menstruation, which may lead to increases in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). This protein widens blood vessels in the brain, which is part of the cascade of events that cause migraines.

    “Women with ...

    A Teen Girl's Diet Could Impact Her Odds for Menstrual Pain

    While working on a senior research project as part of her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, Serah Sannoh decided to analyze peer-reviewed studies on diet and menstrual period pain, partly because of her own struggles with the issue.

    What did she find? Sannoh reported in her new study that her research showed foods high in

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 12, 2022
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  • More Evidence COVID Vaccination Can Cause Temporary Change in Menstrual Cycle

    Women may experience a small, but temporary, delay in their menstrual cycle after receiving a COVID shot, a new study finds.

    The delay was, on average, less than one day and, for most women, it resolved after the first cycle post-vaccination, according to this research funded by the U.S....

    Researchers May Have Noninvasive Way to Diagnose Endometriosis

    Women can suffer for years with the debilitating pain and medical complications of endometriosis without a diagnosis.

    Now, researchers believe they may be able to diagnose the condition using just menstrual blood, which has distinct characteristics in patients who have endometriosis...

    Almost Two-Thirds of Women Have Troublesome Premenstrual Symptoms

    A majority of women experience premenstrual mood swings and anxiety, making it a “key public health issue globally,” a new study finds.

    Researchers found that 64% of women experience these symptoms, which disrupt their daily lives.

    “Our study demonstrates that pre...

    Shorter Menstrual Cycles May Affect Timing of Menopause

    The length of your monthly menstrual cycle may provide clues about the severity of symptoms you'll experience during menopause and when it will start, new research suggests.

    In this study of more than 600 women, researchers found that women with short menstrual cycles (less than 25 days) during their reproductive years were likely to experience more menopause symptoms. They were also more...

    Scotland Becomes 1st Country to Provide Free Period Products

    On Monday Scotland became the world's first country to help its residents with what activists supporting the move call "period poverty."

    The country now offers free period products for anyone who needs them, a decision first made in November 2020 by unanimous approval in Scottish Parliament, according to CBS News.

    Making these products available is "fundamental to equality ...

    Changes in Menstrual Cycle Can Come After COVID Shot

    Many have experienced side effects after getting a COVID vaccine -- tiredness, fever, headache and soreness are the most common. But a new study confirms that people who have periods may experience lesser known issues -- heavier periods or breakthrough bleeding.

    Researchers found certain people were more likely to experience one or the other after getting a shot: Those who identified as n...

    Tampons Are in Short Supply Across United States

    Women aren't imagining it as they view near-empty store shelves: Global supply chain issues have prompted a shortage of tampons.

    Reports on social media of shortages were confirmed this week by the on-demand grocery delivery service, Instacart, as searches for tampons rose 13...

    Long or Irregular Periods May Put a Woman's Liver at Risk

    Women with long or irregular periods are at increased risk for a serious condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to a new study.

    Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic disease in which excess fat builds up in the liver. It affects about 24% of U.S. adults, according to the March 3 report in the

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  • March 4, 2022
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  • Any Change to Menstrual Cycle After COVID Vaccine Is Minor, Temporary: Studies

    They've gotten some media headlines recently, but potential menstrual changes associated with getting a COVID vaccine are typically minor and temporary, two new international studies confirm.

    That's great news for women, said an expert in fertility and reproductive health.

    "The studies coming from the UK, US and Norway provide us with significance reassurance that the COVID vaccine ...

    COVID Vaccine May Temporarily Add 1 Day to Menstrual Cycle: Study

    Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 may slightly and temporarily extend the time between a woman's menstrual periods, a new study reports.

    On average, researchers found that the extra time amounts to slightly less than one day. It's something many women...

    PTSD Symptoms May Vary Throughout Menstrual Cycle: Study

    Women's symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may vary with their menstrual cycle, which could have implications for diagnosis and treatment, researchers say.

    Their study included 40 women between 18 and 33 years of age who had PTSD after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as sexual violence or a serious injury.

    "For women who are naturally cycling, it ma...

    Lengthening Menstrual Cycles Near Menopause Could Predict Heart Health

    The length of a woman's menstrual cycle as she nears menopause could reflect her future risk of heart disease, researchers report.

    Some women's menstrual cycles become longer as they approach menopause, while others' cycles remain stable. This new study found that the women whose cycle increased in length two years before menopause had better measures of vascular health than those who had...

    California Expands Access to Free Menstrual Products in Schools

    Free menstrual pads and tampons must be provided in restrooms at all California public schools and colleges starting in the 2022-2023 academic year.

    The bill, signed on Oct. 8 by Gov. Gavin Newsom, adds to a 2017 law requiring low-income schools in disadvantaged areas to provide students with free menstrual products, the Associated Press reported.

    The new law expands that t...

    Pandemic Stress Altered Many Women's Menstrual Cycles

    From the fear of getting sick to lockdown isolation, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased stress levels, and for many women, the uptick led to changes in their monthly periods.

    More than half of respondents to an online survey reported changes in their menstrual cycles during the pandemic, including...

    Depression During Menopause: How to Spot It and Treat It

    Emotional changes in the run-up to menopause can sometimes lead to depression.

    It can be important to see a doctor to help determine whether you're just feeling stressed or "blue" -- or whether you might have clinical or major depression, a condition associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain.

    Changing hormones during perimenopause -- the time when a woman's body is preparing...

    A Woman's Exposure to DDT Could Affect Her Granddaughter's Health Today

    A long-banned pesticide may be having health effects that ripple across generations, a new study suggests.

    At issue is DDT, a once widely used pesticide that was banned in the United States in 1972. That ban, however, was not the end of the story.

    DDT is a persistent organic pollutant, a group of chemicals that are slow to break down and linger in the environment for years. So ...

    Obesity May Help Trigger Heavier Periods: Study

    Obese women can be more likely to have heavy monthly periods, and now new research hints at why.

    In addition to stirring up inflammation, excess weight may slow down the uterine repair process, U.K. researchers reported. Menstruation occurs when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) sheds each month, but the healing process stops the bleeding so the lining can build back up.

    Heavy...

    What Is Endometriosis, and How Is It Treated?

    There's no cure for endometriosis, but women have several treatment options for the painful condition, an expert says.

    With endometriosis, tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of it, where it can reach the fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowel, bladder, diaphragm and, more rarely, other parts of the body. It can reduce fertility.

    Symptoms can include chronic p...

    Women's Menstrual Cycles Tied to Moon's Phases: Study

    There have long been theories that women's menstrual cycles align with the moon, and now a new study suggests there's some truth to that.

    Using years of records kept by 22 women, researchers found that for many, menstrual cycles "intermittently" synced up with the phases of the moon.

    The link happened only about one-quarter of the time for women aged 35 or younger, and just 9% of th...

    Irregular, Long Periods Tied to Shorter Life Span

    In a finding that suggests a woman's periods might be a powerful indicator of her general health, researchers report that women with irregular and long menstrual cycles face a higher risk of early death.

    In a study that spanned 24 years and included more than 79,000 premenopausal women who had no history of heart disease, cancer or diabetes, those who'd always had irregular menstrual ...

    Early Periods Tied to Worse Menopause Symptoms

    Women whose periods started at an early age are more likely to have hot flashes and night sweats during menopause, researchers say.

    "The risk of the women who menstruated early experiencing both symptoms was greater than having either [hot flashes] or night sweats alone," study author Hsin-Fang Chung said in a news release from the University of Queensland in Australia. Chung is with ...

    Teens Can Donate Blood, But May Need Iron Supplements After

    Teens who donate blood are at significant risk for long-term iron deficiency, a new study warns.

    The concern comes as 16- to 18-year-olds have emerged as one of the fastest-growing groups of blood donors nationwide. But this study of nearly 31,000 teens who gave blood more than once between 2016 and 2018 found that roughly one in 10 were already iron-deficient when they donated for t...

    Menopause May Someday Disappear as Women Postpone Pregnancy: Study

    As more women postpone childbirth, evolution may start to delay menopause or do away with it altogether, Canadian researchers predict.

    "Menopause is not a disease. It's a medical condition that arises simply because of human behavior," and can end with a change in behavior, said evolutionary biologist Rama Singh, co-author of a paper published April 19 in the journal BMC Women's He...

    Irregular Periods, Shorter Life Span?

    Women whose menstrual cycles persistently vary from the 28-day norm may have an increased risk of earlier death, new research suggests.

    The study found that women who had irregular periods or extra-long menstrual cycles had as much as a one-third higher risk of death during the two-decade study compared to women who usually had a normal menstrual cycle.

    However, "these res...

    Is Your Pelvic Pain a Sign of Endometriosis?

    Women with pelvic pain should consider the possibility of endometriosis and discuss it with their doctor, an expert in gynecology says.

    While pelvic pain can be a sign of many conditions, endometriosis is among the most common. It occurs when cells from the lining of the uterus grow into other areas of the body. The condition affects one in 10 women of reproductive age, according to t...

    Menstrual Cups Equal Pads, Tampons in Effectiveness, Data Shows

    They're gaining in popularity among women, and a new study finds menstrual cups to be just as safe and as effective as disposable pads or tampons.

    British researchers looked at data on the cost-saving devices, gleaned from 43 studies involving more than 3,300 women and girls worldwide.

    Reporting July 17 in The Lancet Public Health, the study authors said the research ...

    Are You Running Short on Iron?

    Could you -- or your teenage daughter -- have an iron deficiency and not know it? If you're getting enough sleep, but still feel tired, running low on iron could be the problem.

    Iron is our most common nutrient shortfall. A serious deficiency can lead to anemia. That's when you have fewer red blood cells than normal or when those cells don't have enough hemoglobin, a protein that carr...

    How to Know If Your PMS Is Something More Serious

    A severe and potentially disabling form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects up to 5% of women of childbearing age, an expert says.

    Like PMS, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) may cause bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue and changes in sleep and eating habits. In PMDD, at least one of these symptoms also occurs: sadness or hopelessness; anxiety or tension; extreme moodine...

    Fewer Periods May Mean Higher Dementia Risk

    A new study suggests that the fewer menstrual periods a woman has in her lifetime, the higher her risk of dementia -- though the reasons, for now, are unclear.

    The study was based on close to 16,000 women. It found that those who started having periods at age 16 or later were more likely to develop dementia than women who started menstruating at a more typical age.

    The same ...

    Two-Thirds of Poor U.S. Women Can't Afford Menstrual Pads, Tampons: Study

    A study of nearly 200 poor women living in the St. Louis area found that two out of three had to go without feminine hygiene products at least once over the prior year, due to cost.

    About one-fifth -- 21 percent -- said this happened on a monthly basis, and nearly half said they often had to make tough choices between buying food or period-related products.

    The findings add ...

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