Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2021
Physiological Need for Calcium, Iron, and Folic Acid for Women of Various Subpopulations During Pregnancy and Beyond.
Women tend to supplement their diets with multivitamin/mineral (MVM) supplements more often than men, and reports indicate that more than 90% of pregnant women in the United States supplement their diets with prenatal MVMs. Given the widespread use of MVMs among women and given the increasing efforts to unveil the importance of phenotype-specific health determinants, it seems imperative to review what is known about variations in nutrient physiology among women from different ethnic and racial groups and at different reproductive stages of life. In this study, we embark on an assessment of the scientific evidence and knowledge gaps that impact the precise determination of nutrient levels (specifically calcium, iron, and folic acid) that confer benefits to various subpopulations of women in the United States.
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Social acceptance and legal protections for transgender and gender nonconforming patients have increased over the past decade, but significant health care disparities still remain. Such an area of disparity is discussion with and interventions for fertility, contraception, pregnancy, and lactation in TGNC patients. Providing optimal care starts with creating a welcoming and safe environment. ⋯ Thus, these patients should be carefully monitored not only medically, but also with regard to their mental health. In addition to assisted reproductive technologies, protocols exist to aid with induction of lactation as well as discontinuation if desired. As this is a growing field of medicine with limited data available on safety and long-term outcomes, recommendations are for a multidisciplinary team approach to ensure patients' safety and well-being.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2021
Summary and Conclusion: Framing a New Research Agenda on Maternal Morbidities and Mortality in the United States.
Maternal mortality in the United States is at an alarming rate. Research can have an important role in addressing maternal mortality, but our current understanding of its causes and prevention remains woefully incomplete. The collection of articles in this volume begin to frame a new research agenda by asking four critical questions. First, what truly makes vulnerable populations vulnerable? Second, how do we prevent pregnancy complications and their long-term sequelae? Third, how can we make maternity care safer for all women? Finally, what can we do about the social, structural, and environmental determinants of maternal health? Answers to these questions can help inform practice, systems, and policy change to reduce and ultimately eradicate maternal deaths in the United States.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2021
Night Shift Work and Fecundability in Late Reproductive-Aged African American Women.
Background: We estimated the association between night shift work and fecundability among African American women. Methods: Black Women's Health Study participants (n = 560) aged 30-45 years reported their history of night shift work in 2005. Time to pregnancy for all pregnancies resulting in a livebirth was reported in 2011. ⋯ The FR for women reporting night shift work with a frequency of ≥1 time per month and a duration of ≥2 years was 0.65 (95% CI: 0.47-0.94) relative to women reporting no shift work. We observed a decrease in fecundability associated with ever working night shifts (FR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56-0.96) among women aged ≥35 years, but not among younger women (FR = 1.33, 95% CI: 0.78-2.28). Conclusion: A history of working night shifts was associated with reduced fecundability among older reproductive-aged African American women attempting pregnancy.