Women's Health

Research Findings

Research Activities, October 2012:
More research needed on coronary artery disease treatments for women
New research examines use of nitrous oxide for labor pain

Research Activities, September 2012:
Radionovela promotes awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer vaccine among Hispanic parents

Research Activities, August 2012:
Some noninvasive tests are better than others at detecting coronary artery disease in women

Research Activities, July 2012:
Experts seek better diagnosis and treatment for women's urinary incontinence and chronic pelvic pain
Urinary Incontinence—New Hope
Women in jail are at increased risk of cervical cancer
Study identifies demographic and clinical factors related to fractures among older Americans
Consumer and clinician summaries now available on chronic pelvic pain treatment options

Research Activities, June 2012:
Vulnerable populations with heart failure less likely to receive early physician followup after discharge
Effectiveness of noninvasive diagnostic tests for breast abnormalities depends on woman's history

Research Activities, May 2012:
Muscle training effective in treating urinary incontinence for women
Medications for low bone density prevent fractures in women with osteoporosis
Sex-related health differences associated with income and marital status
Modeling inequalities helps to develop cervical cancer screening strategies that can improve outcomes and reduce disparities

Research Activities, April 2012:
Primary care providers who provide contraceptive counseling increase patients' contraceptive use
Accuracy of ultrasound for ectopic pregnancy in the emergency department is not helped by measuring a key pregnancy hormone

Research Activities, March 2012:
Evidence lacking to support surgery for pelvic pain

Research Activities, February 2012:
Lack of folic acid supplementation for nonpregnant women means missed opportunities to prevent neural tube defects in children
Depending on a woman's age, hysterectomy may be the best option for resolving chronic pelvic pain and heavy bleeding

Research Activities, January 2012:
Interdisciplinary team training with in-situ simulation helps reduce adverse events in obstetric patients
Breast cancer is associated with higher health care use and costs for women covered by fee-for-service Medicaid
Lower educational level increases the likelihood of preclinical changes in mobility in older women
Evidence is weak on whole-body vibration therapy for osteoporosis

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Research Activities, December 2011:
Knee replacements up dramatically among adults 45 to 64 years old
Birth defects may be linked to high blood pressure, not use of ACE inhibitors in early pregnancy

Research Activities, November 2011:
Uncertainty surrounds use of terbutaline to prevent preterm birth

Research Activities, October 2011:
Simpler drug warning labels are easier to understand
Study identifies fractures most and least likely to be caused by osteoporosis
Married couples who have twins are more likely to divorce
Disease that springs from water parasites may also be a risk factor for HIV for women in sub-Saharan Africa
Women on Medicare with poor chances of living 4 more years often forego screening mammograms

Research Activities, November 2011:
Uncertainty surrounds use of terbutaline to prevent preterm birth

Research Activities, September 2011:
Heart disease, cancer, and mental disease among the most costly conditions for women

Research Activities, August 2011:
Providers miss opportunities to prevent depression in and discuss birth control with women with unplanned pregnancies

Research Activities, July 2011:
No link found between chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer and later cognitive impairment
Women's self-reported stress seems to jibe with a common stress biomarker
Mothers' medical appointments may be a link to getting daughters vaccinated for human papillomavirus
U.S.-born Mexican women who have adopted U.S. culture may be more at risk for cervical cancer
Pelvic ultrasound imaging by emergency physicians is highly effective in ruling out ectopic pregnancy
Most American women experience complications during delivery

Research Activities, June 2011:
Patient gender does not influence the management or diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in the elderly, but affects outcome
Use of episiotomy and forceps during childbirth down, C-section rates up

Research Activities, April 2011:
Perceived lower social standing linked to unplanned pregnancies
Certain women are at greater risk for mental health problems during pregnancy

Research Activities, March 2011:
Bariatric surgery before pregnancy reduces the risk of gestational diabetes in obese women
Obesity rates are higher among sexually abused and lesbian women
In vitro fertilization has advantages over natural conception for couples who both carry the cystic fibrosis trait
Routine osteoporosis screening recommended for all women over age 65
AHRQ's Health Care Innovations Exchange offers innovative solutions to caring for women with gestational diabetes

Research Activities, February 2011:
More than half of women do not get regular mammograms
Vaginal births after cesarean are safe for most women
Prenatal screening for Group B streptococci often fails to live up to current screening and treatment guidelines
One in 16 women hospitalized for childbirth has diabetes

Research Activities, January 2011:
Rates of emergency department use greater among women and low-income, older, and rural Americans

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Research Activities, December 2010:
While treatments for miscarriage are safe, providers do not always offer them all to their patients
Race/ethnic origin of mother and father influence whether the mother develops gestational diabetes

Research Activities, November 2010:
Cesarean delivery rates may not be a useful measure of obstetric quality
9/11 attacks may have caused miscarriages of male fetuses
One-fifth of mothers do not receive recommended antenatal corticosteroids before delivery of premature infants

Research Activities, October 2010:
Live or Web-based training improves clinical estimates of blood loss during childbirth

Research Activities, September 2010:
Awareness of turning points shared by abused women can help health care workers provide counseling
Obstetrician malpractice claims lead to small reduction in inpatient deliveries, but not C-section rates
Satisfaction after hysterectomy linked to quality of life improvements

Research Activities, August 2010:
Acupuncture helps with depression during pregnancy
Women want clinicians to talk about the risk medications pose to an unborn child
Domestic violence on the decline but young women are at highest risk
Many homeless women are reluctant to get free Pap smears

Research Activities, July 2010:
Hospitalization rates have declined over 5 years for patients with HIV infection, but disparities still exist

Research Activities, June 2010:
Nonplatinum chemotherapy agents more likely to lead to hospitalizations for older women with ovarian cancer
Home visits help pregnant, Medicaid-insured women alleviate depressive symptoms
Treatment without examination and lab tests appears effective for some women with vaginal symptoms
Mycobacterial pulmonary disease more likely to affect women

Research Activities, May 2010:
While young women are knowledgeable about the HPV vaccine, many have yet to be vaccinated to prevent cervical cancer
Why women are admitted to the hospital

Research Activities, April 2010:
Chemotherapy that contains anthracyclines is associated with later cardiac illness in breast cancer patients
Women's lack of knowledge and mistrust play a role in underuse of breast cancer adjuvant therapy
Abused women have higher risks for numerous medical disorders
Stressed-out women may delay getting preventive care
Nearly two-thirds of mothers with depression do not receive adequate care for their condition
Neighborhoods, abuse, and anxiety contribute to low birth weights
Older black women with breast cancer do not receive beneficial chemotherapy as often as white women
New report shows vaginal birth after cesarean is safe for most women

Research Activities, February 2010:
Nonsurgical method for diagnosing breast cancer is safe and nearly as effective as surgical biopsy

Research Activities, December 2009:
Women in Michigan who suffer miscarriages may not be receiving patient-centered care

Research Activities, November 2009:
Report finds that medications effectively reduce risk of breast cancer, but can cause other problems
Older black women with breast cancer do not receive beneficial chemotherapy as often as white women
Childbirth and deliveries are becoming more complicated

Research Activities, October 2009:
Women are vulnerable to coverage and care gaps when their husbands transition to Medicare
Obese women are at risk for pregnancies exceeding 40 weeks
Numeric tool helps women determine their birthing preferences after cesareans
Treatment approaches for overactive bladder syndrome in women produce modest results
New guides can help pregnant women and doctors compare treatments for gestational diabetes

Research Activities, September 2009:
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding carries large financial and quality-of-life costs
Women who suffer abuse use mental health care services more than women who have never been abused

Research Activities, August 2009:
Behavioral health carve-outs limit access of women with breast cancer to psychotherapy and related medications
Journal supplement focuses on guidelines for international breast health and cancer control-implementation
Varied Medicare reimbursement for bone density scans may be due to lack of clear diagnostic codes for test indications
Childbirth injuries fall sharply but more could be prevented

Research Activities, July 2009:
Elderly women still see lifelong cervical cancer screening as important
Tool helps women decide if prenatal genetic testing is the right decision for them
Nearly 25 million U.S. women treated for high blood pressure

Research Activities, June 2009:
Women with cardiac symptoms are more likely than men to experience delays in emergency care
Abused women are more likely to rely on condoms than birth control pills to prevent pregnancies
Race and gender affect the likelihood that elderly patients will take their antihypertensive medications
High blood pressure was the most common condition for which women sought treatment in 2006
Repeat C-sections rose dramatically in the past decade
Task Force reaffirms recommendations for screening and counseling all adults and pregnant women for tobacco use

Research Activities, May 2009:
Tracking system ensures women with breast cancer see oncologists and receive additional treatment
Women with a family history of colon cancer have good survival rates when diagnosed with that cancer
Sociodemographic factors influence early discontinuation of antiretroviral medication for HIV infection

Research Activities, April 2009:
More black than white women receive mammograms in St. Louis
Young women with diabetes do not receive recommended preventive services

Research Activities, March 2009:
Inducing labor at 40 weeks may reduce infant deaths

Research Activities, February 2009:
Adolescent females who are overweight have higher health expenditures than adolescent males who are overweight
Older black women do not receive chemotherapy as often as white women after ovarian cancer surgery
Many older women prefer to have annual Pap tests
Women and blacks are less likely to receive preventive care to prevent further strokes

Research Activities, January 2009:
Some pregnancy-related complications are minimized for women who have had weight-loss surgery
More women than men are hospitalized for chest pain with no known cause

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