Women's Health Updates — September 2022

Learn about recent developments in women's health as well as SWHR's activities that promote the study of sex and gender influences on health and serve our mission to improve women's health through science, policy, and education.
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THIS SEPTEMBER
HEALTHY AGING MONTH
A woman's health goes beyond her reproductive years, and understanding how it changes over the lifespan is important to ensuring long-term health. Learn more about healthy aging in women with these resources:

Hear from experts on healthy aging at these fall events:
ALOPECIA AREATA AWARENESS MONTH
There are an estimated 700,000 people in the United States who are affected by alopecia areata, but gaps in research and coverage can lead to disparities, particularly for women. Learn how identify and care for this autoimmune skin disease with the help of this fact sheet: Alopecia Areata: Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care.
GYNECOLOGIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
An estimated 94,000 women are diagnosed with gynecologic cancer each year in the United States, according to the CDC. Join SWHR next week for a gynecologic health conversation during Ovarian Cancer Screening: More than a Pelvic Exam, on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 12:00 p.m. ET. Follow on social media at #SWHRtalksCancer.

Some gynecologic cancers are highly preventable, such as cervical cancer, which is caused by the HPV virus. Hear about cervical cancer screening options in this webinar: How Vaccines and Screening Can Prevent Cervical Cancer.
PAIN AWARENESS MONTH
Migraine affects 14% of adults and 10% of school-age children. One in 5 individuals living with migraine are women. Pain levels and symptoms can be different for each person, but there are ways to manage them. Learn more in SWHR's pair of toolkits: Migraine Patient Toolkit: A Guide to Your Care and Migraine Patient Toolkit: Living Well with Migraine.
WORLD ALZHEIMER'S DAY: SEPTEMBER 21
The number of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease is growing quickly, and women — as patients and caregivers — are disproportionately affected. Check out how researchers, clinicians, and policymakers can work together to improve Alzheimer's disease outcomes for women in this webinar: Taking Heed of Alzheimer’s Disease: Recognizing and Responding to a Coming Crisis.
WORLD NARCOLEPSY DAY: SEPTEMBER 22
On average, women are diagnosed with narcolepsy 28 years after symptoms begin, 12 years longer than the time for men to receive a diagnosis. Learn about women and narcolepsy in the new World Narcolepsy Day Fact Sheet.

Women living with narcolepsy and planning for a family should have early conversations with their providers about care management throughout the journey. Read more in the new Narcolepsy and Maternal Health: Fact Sheet.
Women also disproportionately face challenges as caregivers for parents and children living with narcolepsy. Read one woman's narcolepsy story: Acknowledging the Dual Realities of Parent and Caregiver.

Do you have a narcolepsy story to share? Share your sleep health story with SWHR. Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory to learn more.
What's on your mind this September? Share your women's health story with SWHR. SWHR is seeking stories about diagnoses, seeking care, and living with narcolepsy, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, menopause, Alzheimer’s disease, managing your bone health, undergoing prenatal screening, or other women's health conditions. Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory or click the link below to learn more.
LATEST SWHR RESOURCES
Screening for genetic conditions can be done using a number of different methods; and different screenings are available before, during, and after pregnancy – each offering unique insights. Noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) can be performed as early as 10 weeks into a pregnancy to assess the risk of chromosomal aneuploidy – an irregular number of chromosomes – in the developing baby.

Learn more about genetic screening options, whether screening is right for you, and what results potentially mean for you and your baby's health in SWHR’s new Noninvasive Prenatal Screening Resource Guide for Women.

Read more about the NIPS Resource Guide on the SWHR blog here.

Remember: Screening is not the same as diagnostic testing. Genetic screening results cannot provide a definitive diagnosis, and follow-up diagnostic tests may be needed. NIPS results can provide information about the likelihood of your baby having a certain condition.

Read more about genetic screening and maternal health in women:

What is SWHR reading? "NIH-funded researchers develop same-day test to detect abnormal fetal chromosomes" is a new release from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and explains how a group of scientists funded by the NIH developed a same-day test to detect extra or missing chromosomes. Understand more about genetic screening in this easy-to-read posters, for patients and clinicians alike.
A systems-wide approach is needed to implement preventive health care and to address barriers in treating lupus in women. Positive outcomes for women living with lupus depend upon strengthening clinical education and building awareness among provider, patient, and policy stakeholders about the impact of lupus throughout the course of women's lives.


Do you have a lupus story to share? Share your story about living with lupus or caregiving for an individual with lupus with SWHR. Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory to learn more.
One-third of a woman’s life can be spent postmenopause, and although the term is often used loosely to describe the entire time frame of a woman’s midlife changes, there are different stages to menopause and the transition is often incremental.

Based on our Menopause Preparedness Toolkit, SWHR has created a Menopause Toolkit video series featuring video segments on each of the areas covered in the original toolkit. Watch the full series today!

Want to hear more? Register for SWHR's next Menopause Mindfulness webinar this month, Living Your Best Work-Life through the Menopause Transition, which will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2022, 1:00 p.m. ET.

Explore SWHR's other menopause resources:

Do you have a menopause story to share? Share your story about your menopause journey with SWHR. Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory to learn more.

In this "Value of Diagnostics within Women’s Health" public forum, ovarian cancer experts will share screening and care options. Register to join us on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 12:00 p.m. ET, or follow along on social media at #SWHRtalksCancer.

How can you ensure a comfortable menopause journey in the workplace? Register and join us on Thursday, September 8, 2022, 1:00 p.m. ET to learn more, or check out tips on social media at #SWHRtalksMenopause.

A bone break in older adults can lead to complications that can be life threatening. Learn prevention tips when you join us on Monday, October 3, 2022, 1:30 p.m. ET, or join on social media at #SWHRtalksBoneHealth.
The Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) is pleased to announce a new program, Galvanizing Health Equity Through Novel and Diverse Educational Resources (GENDER) R25, to support the development of sex- and gender-focused courses, curricula, and methods. Attend the webinar on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 4:00 p.m. ET to learn more.

This hybrid event will include sessions with scientists and other experts living with narcolepsy. Sessions will cover mental health, clinical trials, parenting tips, and more. Register for the conference happening Saturday, September 24, 2022, 8:30 a.m. ET.

Check out SWHR's event calendar for more SWHR and other women's health events.
POLICY
SWHR Releases First Issue-Specific Policy Agenda
This new call to action is intended to serve as a roadmap outlining key policy areas to improve bone health in women from childhood through adulthood. The agenda includes focuses in education and prevention; coverage and access; and research needs and opportunities: Promoting Bone Health Through Policy: A Call to Action.

Read more about the policy agenda on the SWHR blog here.

Do you have a bone health story to share? Share your story with SWHR by visiting swhr.org/shareyourstory.
New Home for the Coalition to Advance Maternal Therapeutics
SWHR announced in late August that it will oversee the administration of the Coalition to Advance Maternal Therapeutics (CAMT), a coalition founded in 2014 to advocate for policy changes and raise awareness of the need for greater inclusion of pregnant and lactating populations in clinical research. Learn more about the CAMT at safemeds4moms.org.

What is SWHR reading? "Maternal Morbidity and Mortality: What Do We Know? How Are We Addressing It?" is a fact sheet by ORWH exploring the status of maternal health in the United States and what organizations like the NIH are doing to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies.

What else is SWHR reading? "Despite provider support, vaccination in pregnancy remains low" by Healio discuss vaccine uptake in pregnant populations, particularly around the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe for pregnant, soon-to-be pregnant, and lactating populations. Learn more about vaccines during motherhood with this fact sheet: Maternal Immunization: Quick Guide.
SHARE YOUR INPUT
The NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Research on the Health of Women by the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) is open for input from stakeholders across the scientific research, advocacy, and patient communities, as well as the public, to inform the topics that will be included in the forthcoming plan. Input on the next strategic plan will be accepted through Thursday, September 29, 2022. All responses must be submitted electronically here. Send any inquiries to [email protected]. 

Do you have a maternal health story to share? Share your story about your maternal health journey with SWHR. Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory to learn more.

See more of SWHR's recent policy work online here.
FROM THE BLOG

A recently released National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report discusses the need to improve representation in clinical trials. SWHR has been a leader in advocating for this work for over three decades. Learn more on the SWHR blog.

Experts agree there are many ways to improve the lives of Alzheimer's patients and caregivers through advocacy, both groups of whom are largely women. Check out their recommendations.

SWHR convened an interdisciplinary working group of clinicians, researchers, and advocates to discuss opportunities to support women living with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Read their insights today.
Read all of SWHR's most recent blogs online here.

What's new in Biology of Sex Differences? Read the latest on sex differences in arterial stiffness and vascular aging as it relates to physical activity. Find more at @BiologySexDiff.
BEHIND THE SCENES AT SWHR
THANK YOU TO OUR SUMMER INTERN!
SWHR had the pleasure of working with Amy Luther as our Communications and Policy Intern this summer. In reflecting on her time, she said:

Spending this summer as an intern at the Society for Women’s Health Research has allowed me to see firsthand the conversations and steps being taken to close the gap in sex and gender research. The way I approach the field of women’s health has changed after my time here, even for my own health care as a young woman. I strengthened my writing skills and research abilities, and gained a better understanding of the non-profit sector. I also had the opportunity to attend internal and external meetings and events, including The Hill’s Future of Health Care Summit. This has been such a great learning experience for me.
What is SWHR listening to? "SMFM Podcast: Social Determinants of Health and Obstetric Outcomes" is the latest from the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM)'s Research Committee, exploring the role of research in achieving health equity. An SMFM account log-in is required to access this podcast.

Do you have a women's health story to share with SWHR? SWHR is asking women to share their personal health journeys or stories of serving as a caregiver. Your story can help educate and inform other women who may be going through a similar experience. Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory to learn more.
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