Journal of women's health
-
Journal of women's health · Jan 2022
Patient Experiences of Health Care Providers in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Examining the Role of Provider Specialty.
Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe mood disorder that affects ∼5% of menstruating individuals. Although symptoms are limited to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, PMDD causes significant distress and impairment across a range of activities. PMDD is under-recognized by health care providers, can be difficult to diagnose, and lies at the intersection of gynecology and psychiatry. ⋯ Gynecologists were more likely than other providers to ask patients to track symptoms daily. Conclusions: These findings suggest that different providers have different strengths in assessing and treating PMDD. Further, graduate and medical training programs may benefit from increased curricular development regarding evidence-based evaluation and treatment of PMDD.
-
Journal of women's health · Jan 2022
Menopause Per se Is Associated with Coronary Artery Calcium Score: Results from the ELSA-Brasil.
Background: Menopause and aging deteriorate the metabolic profile, but little is known about how they independently contribute to structural changes in coronary arteries. We compared a broad cardiometabolic risk profile of women according to their menopausal status and investigated if menopause per se is associated with presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in the ELSA-Brasil. Materials and Methods: All participants, except perimenopausal women, who had menopause <40 years or from non-natural causes or reported use of hormone therapy were included. ⋯ In crude analyses, CAC >0 was associated with triglyceride-rich lipoprotein remnants, dense low-density lipoprotein, BCAA, and other variables, but not with HOMA-IR. Menopause was independently associated with CAC >0 (odds ratios 2.37 [95% confidence interval 1.17-4.81]) when compared to the younger premenopausal group. Conclusion: Associations of menopause with CAC, independent of traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors, suggest that hormonal decline per se may contribute to calcium deposition in coronary arteries.
-
Journal of women's health · Jan 2022
Prescribing Analgesics for Low Back Pain: Is There a Gender Difference?
Background: Gender differences have been described in many fields of pain. However, research is inconclusive as to gender difference in pain management. Our study aimed to investigate gender differences in prescribing analgesics for low back pain. ⋯ Conclusion: Men and women were similarly prescribed analgesics for low back pain. Men were more likely than women to be prescribed strong opioids. Further research is needed to evaluate the outcomes of this differential treatment.
-
Journal of women's health · Jan 2022
Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence, Reproductive Coercion, and Reproductive Health Among American Indian and Alaska Native Women: A Narrative Interview Study.
Background: The disproportionately high prevalence of poor reproductive and sexual health outcomes among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women is related to histories of colonization, oppression, and structural racism. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV) contribute to these health outcomes. Materials and Methods: Narrative interviews were conducted with AI/AN women from four tribal reservation communities. ⋯ Interventions that incorporate AI/AN traditions, access to culturally responsive reproductive health and advocacy services, organizations, and services that have AI/AN personnel supporting survivors, public discussion about racism, abuse, sexuality, and more accountable community responses to violence (including law enforcement) are promising pathways to healing and recovery. Conclusions: Findings may advance understanding of AI/AN women's reproductive health in the context of historical trauma and oppression. Intervention strategies that enhance resiliency of AI/AN women may promote reproductive health.
-
Journal of women's health · Jan 2022
Sex Differences in Use of a Clinical Complexity Measure to Predict Primary Care Utilization.
Background: The Veterans Affairs (VA)-developed Care Assessment Need (CAN) score, a risk-stratification tool used to identify complex high-risk patients and guide VA care coordination, was designed to predict hospitalization or death. Little is known about its utility in predicting primary care utilization or if gender differences in this metric are detectable. Our objective was to determine association of CAN score quintiles with high primary care visit (PCV) utilization among Veterans, the impact of adding reproductive health and psychosocial variables to the model and the difference between men and women Veterans. ⋯ However, there was a significant interaction between sex and CAN quintiles (p < 0.001). After adjusting for all the covariates, CAN score quintiles appeared to have stronger associations and better predictive accuracy on the risk of 1-year heavy PCV utilization for men than for women. Conclusion: Further research is needed to understand sex differences in Veterans Health Administration clinical complexity measures and whether they can be successfully used to identify high-risk, high-utilizing women Veterans.