Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2014
Behavioral and clinical factors associated with self-reported abnormal Papanicolaou tests in rheumatoid arthritis.
Some evidence suggests that women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for the development of cervical cancer; however, it is unclear how this increase risk is conferred. We aimed to assess the factors related to abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) tests in women with RA to determine whether they are similar to those reported for the general population. ⋯ In this cross-sectional study, self-reported abnormal Pap results were associated with use of birth control and history of STD in RA patients.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2014
Postpartum healthcare after gestational diabetes and hypertension.
Gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy identify women with an elevated lifetime risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. ⋯ There are important opportunities to improve postpartum testing for diabetes and CVD risk factor assessment. Most women were connected to primary care suggesting a "hand-off" to a primary care physician after pregnancy is feasible. More robust strategies may be needed to improve follow-up care for women with less education, lower health literacy, and those without private health insurance.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2014
Early life emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and the development of premenstrual syndrome: a longitudinal study.
Previous studies have suggested that violence victimization is prevalent among women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, it is unclear whether early life abuse contributes directly to PMS or whether associations are explained by the high prevalence of PMS risk factors including smoking and obesity among women reporting childhood abuse. ⋯ Findings from this large prospective study suggest that early life emotional and physical abuse increase the risk of PMS in the middle-to-late reproductive years. The persistence of associations after control for potential confounders and mediators supports the hypothesis that early life abuse is importantly related to PMS.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2014
Contraceptive provision in the VA healthcare system to women who report military sexual trauma.
Women Veterans who suffered military sexual trauma (MST) may be at high risk for unintended pregnancy and benefit from contraceptive services. The objective of this study is to compare documented provision of contraceptives to women Veterans using the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system who report or deny MST. ⋯ A minority of women Veterans of reproductive age receive contraceptive services from the VA. Women Veterans who report MST, and particularly those who seek care at VA women's health clinics, are more likely to receive contraception.