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Women's Health Updates — August 2026
This newsletter features information about health policy, obesity care, rare diseases, and more!
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SWHR Launches National Strategy for Women's Health with ACOG and WFRC
Women comprise more than half of the U.S. population, yet for decades their health needs across conditions and stages of life have been understudied and underserved.
The Society for Women’s Health Research, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Women First Research Coalition (WFRC) are architects of a shared framework calling for a $20 billion, 10-year federal investment that will close the women’s health gap, called the National Strategy to Close the Women’s Health Gap.
The National Strategy has been endorsed by over 50 organizations, all of which can be found here.
This is the women’s health moonshot! Read more about the comprehensive framework: Leading Women’s Health Organizations Launch National Strategy to Close the Women’s Health Gap
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The National Strategy was officially launched during a public press conference on Capitol Hill on July 15. Speakers included Kathryn Schubert, MPP, CAE, President and CEO of SWHR; Sandra E. Brooks, MD, MBA, FACOG, CEO of ACOG; Erika Miller, JD, with WFRC; Cathy Spong, MD, FACOG; Vivian Pinn, MD, inaugural director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the NIH; and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.
Read more on the blog: SWHR, ACOG, WFRC Lead 30+ Partners to Support the National Strategy to Close the Women’s Health Gap
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SWHR Releases Obesity Care Guide
Obesity is a complex chronic disease, affected by many different factors including a person’s sex, genetics, health conditions, and mental health as well as their environment and financial situation.
Obesity is treatable. While there are many treatment options available, there are also multiple risk factors, contributors, and comorbidities for this disease that may be beyond an individual's control.
The Society for Women’s Health Research created Navigating Obesity Management and Treatment: A Patient Resource Guide for Women, to help women better understand their options for obesity management and treatment.
Read more about the guide on the blog: A Resource Guide for Women Living with Obesity, Seeking Care and Treatment
Thank you to the ongoing expertise of the Obesity Working Group and their contributions to this guide.
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SWHR Publishes Rare Disease Call to Action
Women are disproportionately impacted by a number of rare diseases. Yet a comprehensive understanding of the impact of rare diseases on women remains severely deficient.
The Society for Women’s Health Research recognizes the need to address this women’s health issue and published the call to action, Rethinking Rare Disease Systems for Women, to share priority areas that if addressed could better support patients and caregivers.
Thank you to the Rare Disease Working Group who helped inform this call to action.
| | HAPPENING THIS SUMMER AND FALL | | |
NEXT WEEK! SWHR EVENT AUG 14: The State of Rare Autoimmune Diseases in Women, an SWHR webinar focused on the current state of clinical care, research, and policy impacting women living with rare autoimmune diseases. Register now!
Thanks to our speakers from HERstory In Color, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition.
| SEPT 9: Transforming Women’s Mental Health Across the Lifespan, hosted by the Connors Center for Women’s Health Research, the MGH Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research, and the Mass General Brigham Department of Psychiatry | SEPT 25-26: Livelong Women’s Health Summit, a two-day, health conference to supoprt women in their health decisions. | SEPT 28-29: PCOS CON 2026: The PMOS Community. Together., the signature annual conference of the PCOS Awareness Association. | SEPT 28-29: CRS Women’s Health Symposium, a women's health event, hosted by the Keenan Research Center of Biomedical Science at Unity Health Toronto. | OCT 10-17: The Global Meno Educa-thon, a 7-day global, virtual learning and awareness event, hosted by Tekhi Global for Menopause Health. | OCT 21-23: National Conference on Women’s Health & Sex Differences Research, a conference hosted by the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research. SWHR Associate Director of Public Policy and Advocacy Madelyn Adams, MPA, and Associate Director of Research Translation and Programs Syreen Goulmamine, MPH, CHES will be at this event! | |
NOV 15-18: HLTH USA 2026, one of health care’s largest innovation event. SWHR President and CEO Kathryn Schubert, MPP, CAE will be speaking at this event, on Monday, November 16.
Get $250 off your ticket to HLTH USA 2026 with code 26HLTH_SPKG_250.
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Additional Updates
ACOG Guidelines: The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology released new clinical guidance encouraging collaborative partnership between clinicians and doulas as these partnerships can benefit patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems.
BioInnovation Institute & Science Translational Medicine Prize for Innovations in Women’s Health: Applications for the BioInnovation Institute & Science Translational Medicine Prize for Innovations in Women’s Health hosted by Science are now open. This award is for applicants who have made significant research advances leading to solutions in women’s health. Learn more.
Heart Failure Study: A recent study on heart failure (HF) incidence and prevalence trends among U.S. women with prior adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) found that HF substantially increased across all age groups and racial categories of APO-exposed women from 2013-2023. Over the 10 years, the HF incidence proportion rose by 2.70-fold and prevalence increased 3.20-fold.
Music as Medicine Neuroscience Research Initiative: Applications for the Music as Medicine Neuroscience Research Initiative hosted by the Foundaiton for the National Institutes of Health are now open, to support researchers who can advance discoveries that underpin music’s therapeutic benefits. Learn more.
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Raise Your Voice this August Recess!
Congress takes a break each August, allowing members go back to their home states and hear directly from their constituents.
August recess is a great time to reach out to your member of Congress and raise your voice on the topics that are most important to you. Advocacy is one of the most powerful tools we have to make positive change. Check out the SWHR guide, From Awareness to Action to get tools, strategies, and tips for effectively championing women’s health with your representatives.
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Explore the Legislative Tracker!
Check out the newly updated Legislative Tracker, where SWHR tracks federal legislation that aligns with our mission to advance women’s health through science, policy, and education while promoting research on biological sex differences to optimize women’s health. See the Legislative Tracker.
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Welcome to the SWHR team, Julia DeLuca! Julia joins us as a Communications Associate.
SWHR is excited to congratulate the following staff members on their promotions!
Madelyn Adams, MPA, Associate Director of Public Policy & Advocacy
Sarah Chew, MPH, Director of Program Operations
Syreen Goulmamine, MPH, CHES, Associate Director for Research Translation & Programs
Monica Lefton, Senior Director of Communications
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Nature's Bounty Announces Partnership with SWHR
SWHR is excited to share its upcoming collaboration with Nature's Bounty, to create and release an inaugural report on women's wellness in 2027. The report will offer a broad and systemic look at women's wellness knowledge gaps and be a core part of Nature's Bounty's larger "Supplement the Gap" campaign.
"We still know far too little about women's health, but education and awareness are crucial places to start in closing this gap," said SWHR President and CEO Kathryn Godburn Schubert, MPP, CAE.
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"Precision medicine is a category investors already understand and already fund. The strategy is quietly arguing that women's health has been sitting inside it the whole time," Forbes writes of the new National Strategy. Read more.
Check out the SWHR Newsroom here.
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Dr. Lyndsey Harper shares insights for Breastfeeding Month this August.
Why did you choose to work in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN)? OB/GYN combines so many of my favorite things. I love taking care of women and getting to know my patients across every stage of their lives. I love pregnancy and birth, and I love surgery, which makes this field a perfect fit for me.
What is one thing you want more people to know about breastfeeding? As our society has evolved, much of the knowledge around breastfeeding and lactation that used to pass down naturally between generations has been lost. Breastfeeding can be a special, even wondrous experience, but it can also be painful, heart-wrenching, nauseating, and exhausting. I'm encouraged by the growing support networks out there, but I want people to know breastfeeding isn't the be-all, end-all. Our goal is fed babies. Postpartum already comes with so much to navigate, and we shouldn't add another source of guilt or stress to that list.
What makes you a women's health advocate? I start a lot of conversations about women's health, both within the field and outside of it. I want to see real improvement in women's health, and I believe that starting conversations with progress as the goal makes anyone an advocate.
Lyndsey Harper, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M College of Medicine.
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Jillian Miranda reflects on her work in women's health ahead of Women’s Equality Day on August 26.
Why did you choose to work with women's health entrepreneurs? Like most women in our industry, I chose women's health because I lived the gap firsthand — both as a patient and as a founder. I was part of the statistics for conditions that affect women disproportionately and differently, and I saw the negative effect my gender had on the care I received. From there it felt very natural that I would take my experiences and do my best to support other female founders wherever and however I can.
What drew you to the SWHR Clinical Advisory Board? SWHR has spent 35 years defining a frame the rest of the industry is only now catching up to: that women's health is health care, period, end of story. From my vantage point, no organization has worked harder and as consistently as SWHR has to ensure that we all get the health care we deserve and that we can trust our care is based on research of our bodies.
What makes you a women's health advocate? Advocacy, for me, is consistently showing up where the decisions get made — and using every tool you have in your toolbox to create positive change.
Jillian Miranda, is an advisor and health care entrepreneur in the women’s health and digital health ecosystems.
| | | | HEALTH AWARENESS IN AUGUST | | |
NATIONAL BREASTFEEDING MONTH
Maintaining a network of support has been shown to improve health after a pregnancy. And having support postpartum can help specifically make the lactation and breastfeeding experience easier. This community can include professional lactation support, home visiting programs, meet-up groups, and more.
Explore the SWHR Journey to Motherhood Guide for more information.
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NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH
This August, make sure you and your family are up to date on your vaccines.
Did you know? The HPV vaccine is safe for teens, but can also be safely administered to individuals up to age 45. Watch the #SWHRtalksHPV Video Series to get your HPV vaccine questions answered.
| | | It's also time to start thinking about the flu vaccine, which you can receive annually. Flu vaccines are safe for most people, including pregnant individuals. Check out the Flu Vaccines & Pregnancy Fact Sheet to learn more. | | |
AUG 1: WORLD LUNG CANCER DAY
Getting recommended screenings can help identify lung cancer sooner, before symptoms appear, when some treatments may be more effective.
Learn more about the important role of screening in women's lung health by reading SWHR's Lung Cancer fact sheet.
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AUG 17: NATIONAL NONPROFIT DAY
SWHR is a leading national nonprofit dedicated to advancing women’s health and promoting research on sex differences to optimize women’s health. For more than 30 years, SWHR has played a critical role in women's health research, advocacy, and policy. Our small but mighty team relies on the support of people like you to continue this work!
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AUG 21: SENIOR CITIZENS DAY
The Medicare enrollment process is an essential part of turning 65 – but it can be complicated and overwhelming.
SWHR and HealthyWomen created Savvy and 65: A Woman’s Guide to Understanding Medicare, to help simplify healthy aging and equip women with the knowledge they need to understand and navigate Medicare enrollment. Explore the guide today at medicareforwomen.org!
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AUG 26: LABOR RIGHTS WEEK
You deserve a healthy and safe workplace. Health experiences, like menopause symptoms, do not have to be a barrier to your work. Employers are responsible for creating and maintaining a healthy work environment for all employees.
Check out the Roadmap to Menopause-Friendly Workplaces to learn more!
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AUG 26: WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY
Women's Equality Day celebrates the passing of the 19th Amendment 1920, granting women the right to vote. Voting is one important way to raise your voice and be an advocate for causes that are important to you.
SWHR's toolkit, From Awareness to Action: A Guide to Women’s Health Advocacy, outlines several ways to be a women's health advocate, from voting in local and national elections to contacting your lawmakers, working with community groups, and share your health story. Start your advocacy journey today!
| Do you have a women's health story to share? SWHR wants to hear from you! Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory to share your story with us. | |
Hear from women, in their own words. | |
Women's Health Perspectives Spotlight
"To patients: If you feel that something is wrong, listen to your intuition, and keep searching until you find doctors who can help."
Read Erin's PMOS and endometriosis health journey on the Women’s Health Perspectives hub.
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Do you have a health story to share? SWHR is always seeking stories about diagnoses, seeking or providing care, and living with obesity, gynecologic health conditions, diabetes, depression, or other conditions and life stages such as pregnancy and menopause. Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory or click the button below to share.
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