OBGYNE / 11.03.2025

Light Bleeding Before Your Period This post is for background information only. Please consult your health care provider for any questions regarding your menses and overall health. When it comes to our menstrual cycles, many of us are well-acquainted with the usual signs: cramps, mood swings, and the classic flow of red. But what if you experience light bleeding before your expected period? This can be both confusing and concerning, leaving you wondering if everything is okay. In this article, we’ll uncover the truth behind light bleeding before expected period, explore the common causes, and what this phenomenon might reveal about your health.

What Is Light Bleeding Before Your Expected Period?

Light bleeding before your expected period often described as spotting refers to a small amount of blood that appears a few days or even weeks before your regular menstrual flow. Unlike your typical period, this bleeding is usually lighter and may be pink, brown, or dark red in color. Understanding the difference between spotting and a full-blown period is crucial to deciphering its cause. (more…)
Author Interviews, Infections, NEJM, STD / 06.03.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Lenka Vodstrcil PhD Senior Research Fellow Deputy Head, Genital Microbiota and Mycoplasma Group President, Sexual Health Society of Victoria Associate Editor, Sexually Transmitted Infections School of Translational Medicine, FMNHS, Monash University Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Hospital Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, University of Melbourne Catriona Bradshaw MMBS(Hons), PhD, FAChSHM, FAHMS Professor (Research), Head of Research Translation and Mentorship and of The Genital Microbiota and Mycoplasma Group Melbourne School of Translational Medicine, Monash University and Alfred Hospital Principal Research Fellow at the Burnet Institute   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: One in three women globally have bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition that causes a malodourous discharge, and associated with serious gynaecologic and obstetric sequelae (including miscarriage and preterm birth) and increases the risk sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Women with symptoms are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, however, over 50% of women experience BV recurrence within 3-6 months. The recurrence rate is even higher at 60-80% among women with an ongoing regular partner. Current practice is to simply retreat women experiencing BV recurrence with the same antibiotics, which leaves them (and clinicians) frustrated and distressed. We and others have accumulated a body of evidence to show that BV has the profile of an STI. BV-associated bacteria are detected in men in the distal urethra and on penile-skin, and couples share these organisms. However, to date, has not been recommended for BV as it is for other STIs. This is largely because men do not usually have any symptoms, and past partner-treatment trials in the 1980s and 1990s, which only used oral antibiotics for men, failed to prevent BV recurrence, which was taken as conclusive evidence against sexual transmission. Reviews of these trials have since identified their limitations. Given the evidence of male carriage of BV-associated bacteria at two genital sites, we hypothesised that both sites needed to be targeted with antimicrobial therapy to prevent re-infection post-treatment. The aim of our study was to assess if male partner-treatment concurrently with female treatment using a combination of oral and topical antibiotics for the first time, would decrease BV recurrence over 12 weeks compared to the current standard practice of treating women only. (more…)
OBGYNE / 25.02.2025

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that many women face during their reproductive years. One of the most common signs linked to PCOS is irregular periods. Irregular menstrual cycles are indeed a frequent symptom of PCOS, often signaling the hormonal imbalances associated with the syndrome. When menstrual cycles become unpredictable, it can be a clue to delve deeper into one's health. For those experiencing irregular periods, the connection to PCOS is significant but not definitive. There are numerous ways to assess the presence of other PCOS symptoms. Taking a moment to check PCOS symptoms with a quiz can be a valuable first step for women to understand their health better. Digital quizzes offer a convenient initial step to evaluate the presence of PCOS but remember to consult your healthcare provider for an official diagnosis  and treatment plan as other conditions may mimic PCOS. The management of PCOS involves addressing symptoms like irregular periods. Lifestyle changes, medications, and regular check-ups are often part of an effective treatment plan. Individuals looking to explore possible symptoms and treatments might benefit from using online tools to gain further insight into their condition.

Key Takeaways

  • Irregular periods can indicate PCOS.
  • A quiz can help check PCOS symptoms
  • Consult your health care provider to confirm a diagnosis and for treatment options.
  • Managing PCOS often requires lifestyle changes.
(more…)
Heart Disease, Legal-Malpractice, Women's Heart Health / 13.12.2024

Heart attacks are not just a male health issue. Every year, 30,000 women in the UK are admitted to hospital after having a heart attack. Despite this, women are 50% more likely than men to receive an incorrect initial diagnosis, delaying critical care. The most common heart attack symptom for both sexes is chest pain or discomfort that doesn’t subside. However, women often experience additional symptoms that can easily be missed, such as:
  • Pain radiating to the jaw, neck, back, stomach, or arms.
  • Nausea, dizziness, or feeling faint.
Clinicians unfamiliar with these gender-specific differences may misinterpret these symptoms as being unrelated to the heart. Tragically, women whose heart attacks are missed at first have a 70% higher risk of dying compared to those promptly diagnosed. (more…)
Author Interviews, OBGYNE / 04.12.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: John W. AyersJohn W. Ayers, PhD, MA Altman Clinical Translational Research Institute University of California San Diego, La Jolla MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are frequently at the center of news and policy debates, yet little data exists about where they operate or what they actually do. To address this gap, we developed ChoiceWatch.org, a tool that systematically collected and analyzed over 470,000 webpages from CPC websites. In our study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, we used ChoiceWatch.org, to answer fundamental questions, such as how many crisis pregnancy centers operate in the U.S., where they are located, and what services they advertise. (more…)
Menopause / 17.10.2024

Puberty is often depicted in pop culture. Tweens coming of age are widely shown on television and in films, books, and music. But what about menopause?  Discussions on menopause weren’t nearly as common—at least, not until recently. For years, this significant life transition for women has flown under the radar, treated as a hush-hush topic, or simply ignored.  But now, the stigmas surrounding menopause are dissolving. Celebs like Sofia Vergara, Olivia Munn, Tyra Banks, and Angie Harmon have shared their experiences firsthand, bringing more visibility to a long-overdue conversation. Menopause is something every woman will experience in her 40s or 50s.  This natural stage of aging brings about all sorts of changes—hot flashes, mood swings, hair shedding, and more. The good news is that there are ways to manage the symptoms. Some of them are discussed here. 

(more…)

Breast Cancer / 13.09.2024

Editor's note:  Remember to follow your health care providers' instructions regarding regular breast examinations and mammograms.  Don't wait for a sign or symptom of breast cancer to get screened. Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers affecting women worldwide. While it can be a frightening diagnosis, early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates. By being aware of the symptoms of breast cancer, individuals can take proactive steps to seek medical attention, ensuring the best possible chance for early intervention. In this article, we’ll walk through the key signs to watch for and the importance of understanding your body.

Understanding Breast Cancer

Before diving into the specific symptoms, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of breast cancer. Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast begin to grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor that can be felt as a lump or seen on imaging tests. There are several types of breast cancer, but the two most common forms are ductal carcinoma (which starts in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple) and lobular carcinoma (which begins in the lobules where breast milk is produced). (more…)
Menopause / 25.04.2024

Menopause isn't merely a biological process—it's a journey that marks a new chapter in a woman's life. It comes with its share of whispers and shadows, often stirring a mix of emotions from relief to apprehension. As the familiar rhythm of your body shifts, it can feel like you’re navigating a path bristling with unknowns, each step echoing with the beats of change. Imagine embracing this transition not just with endurance, but with empowerment. Menopause, with all its intricacies, isn't the end of youth but a rebirth of freedom and strength. Let's redefine what it means to walk through this phase, equipped with knowledge and wrapped in understanding.

Understanding Menopause

From menstrual cycle regularity to temperature regulation, understanding these hormonal changes is essential as they underlie myriad experiences during menopause.

Hormonal Changes

As you approach menopause, your body begins a natural shift in hormone production, primarily estrogen and progesterone. These changes are the conductors behind the scenes, orchestrating everything from your menstrual cycle regularity to the temperature of your skin. Understanding these hormonal ebbs and flows is crucial, as they are pivotal in what you experience during menopause. (more…)
Author Interviews, Endocrinology, Hormone Therapy, Menopause / 17.07.2023

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Jerilynn C Prior MD FRCPC (on behalf of all authors Professor of Endocrinology / Department of Medicine University of British Columbia Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research www.cemcor.ca BC Women’s Health Research Institute Vancouver BC Canada MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Night sweats and hot flushes/flashes (together called vasomotor symptoms, VMS) disturb women who are still menstruating (in perimenopause) are at least as much or more than  menopausal women (without flow for a year or more)1. However, although studies have investigated various treatments for perimenopausal hot flushes/flashes, none have proven effective in these women who are also likely to be having heavy flow, breast tenderness, and premenstrual symptoms related to high and variable estrogen levels. These include randomized controlled trials (RCT) of the birth control pill2, and gel estrogen in women using a progestin-releasing IUD3. Neither showed that therapy was more effective than placebo; both studied too few participants to provide a clear answer. Meanwhile, major medical organization guidelines recommend menopausal hormone therapy (MHT, usually of estrogen with a progestin) for any women younger than 60 years old who are bothered by night sweats and hot flushes 4-6. However, there are no scientific RCT studies showing MHT is effective for perimenopausal night sweats and hot flushes. Giving more estrogen to someone whose own estrogen levels are often high, also did not make clinical sense. We previously performed an RCT showing that oral micronized progesterone (progesterone) was effective for menopausal hot flushes and also improved sleep7. Given that progesterone levels in perimenopausal women are declining, we considered that perimenopausal progesterone therapy for night sweats needed testing. (more…)
Author Interviews, JAMA, OBGYNE / 07.07.2023

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dorothy A. Fink, MD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health Director, Office on Women's Health US Department of Health & Human Services Rockville, MD MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Delivery-related mortality in U.S. hospitals has decreased for all racial and ethnic groups, age groups, and modes of delivery while the prevalence of severe maternal mortality (SMM) increased for all patients, with higher rates for racial and ethnic minority patients of any age. This study specifically looked at inpatient delivery-related outcomes and found a 57% decrease from 2008-2021. The decreasing mortality rates within the inpatient delivery setting demonstrated as statistically significant and a welcome finding for all women. This study also looked with greater granularity at the impact of race, ethnicity, and age. Mortality for American Indian women decreased 92%, Asian women decreased 73%, Black women decreased 76%, Hispanic women decreased 60%, Pacific Islander women decreased 79%, and White women decreased 40% during the study period. (more…)
Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Gender Differences, JAMA, Menopause / 03.04.2023

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Rachel Buckley, PhD ​Assistant Professor Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: While a fair amount of studies have focused on the effects of menopause and hormone therapy on risk of dementia, far fewer studies have tested their association with the biology of Alzheimer’s disease, namely amyloid and tau. This is critical to know given that it still remains unclear what might be the driving mechanism of the menopause transition on risk for dementia. This is what our study set out to investigate. This study is one of the first to report a link between women’s age at menopause and tau in the brain, which we measured with positron emission tomography neuroimaging. We found that in multiple areas of the brain that tend to be most likely to show higher tau in women than men, women with earlier age at menopause and elevated levels of amyloid showed higher levels of tau than those who reported an average age at menopause (~50 years in the United States). Women who reported premature menopause (<40 years at menopause onset) exhibited a much higher risk of tau in the brain. This supports the notion that longer exposure to estrogen throughout life might be protective against Alzheimer’s disease. (more…)
Author Interviews, Hip Fractures, Vegetarians / 21.08.2022

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: James Webster PhD Lead author Nutritional Epidemiology Group, University of Leeds MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Hip fractures are the most severe consequence of osteoporosis and are a major public health problem. There are growing concerns of poor bone health and higher risk of fractures in vegetarians, but prospective studies comparing risk of hip fracture in vegetarians and meat-eaters over time are scarce and limited. A study of British men and women in the EPIC-Oxford cohort showed a greater risk of hip fracture in pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans compared to meat-eaters. The only other study on the topic, the Adventist Health Study of US adults, found no clear evidence of a difference in hip fracture risk between vegetarians and meat-eaters, but identified hip fractures through questionnaires, which are susceptible to selective loss to follow-up. To build on previous research, we investigated the risk of hip fracture in occasional meat-eaters, pescatarians, and vegetarians compared to regular meat-eaters in middle-aged UK women, who are at a greater risk of hip fracture than men, with hip fractures accurately confirmed using objective and complete hospital records. (more…)
Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Fertility, Heart Disease, JACC / 19.04.2022

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Emily Lau, MD, MPH Cardiologist Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School Director, Menopause, Hormones & Cardiovascular Disease Clinic Massachusetts General Hospital MedicalResearch.com:  What is the background for this study?  What are the main findings? Response: Emerging data suggest that a woman’s reproductive history influences her future risk of heart disease. Infertility is a reproductive risk factor that affects ~14% of women but has not been rigorously studied with respect to its relationship with cardiovascular disease risk. We studied over 38,000 women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative and found that infertility was associated with greater risk of heart failure. In particular, we found that the association was driven by greater risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a form of heart failure that is far more common among women. (more…)
Author Interviews, Gender Differences, Heart Disease, JACC, Surgical Research / 06.04.2022

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Mario F.L. Gaudino, M.D. PhD Attending Cardiac SurgeonDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery Antonino Di Franco, MD Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine   MedicalResearch.com:  What is the background for this study?  What is the aim of this review?  Response: Biological and socio-cultural differences between men and women are complex and likely account for most of the variations in the epidemiology and treatment outcomes of coronary artery disease (CAD) between the two sexes. Despite the growing recognition of sex-specific determinants of outcomes, representation of women in clinical studies remains low, and sex-specific management strategies are generally not provided in guidelines. We summarized the current evidence on sex-related differences in patients with CAD, focusing on the differential outcomes following medical therapy, percutaneous coronary interventions, and coronary artery bypass surgery. (more…)
AHA Journals, Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Social Issues, UCSD / 03.02.2022

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Natalie Golaszewski, PhD Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA 92093 MedicalResearch.com:  What is the background for this study?  Response: Social isolation and loneliness are growing public health concerns as they are associated with health conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease including obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. (more…)
Author Interviews, NEJM, OBGYNE / 05.01.2022

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Laura Schummers, ScD (she/her/hers) Postdoctoral Fellow, Contraception and Abortion Research Team CIHR Patient-Oriented Research Leadership Fellow Post-doctoral Trainee, ICES McMaster UBC - Department of Family Practice | Women's Health Research Institute MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Canada was the first country in the world to remove all supplemental restrictions on the dispensing and administration of mifepristone, making the drug available as a normal prescription. This meant that the abortion pill could be prescribed by any doctor or nurse practitioner, dispensed by any pharmacist, and taken by patients when, where and if they choose. (more…)
Author Interviews, Gender Differences, JAMA / 09.12.2021

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Christopher J. D. Wallis, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Division of Urology University of Toronto Urologic Oncologist, Division of Urology Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Previous research has shown that female and male physicians communicate differently with patients. Further, there is evidence that female physicians, including surgeons, spend more time with patients. This, coupled with evidence that female patients may experience disparities in the management of their pain, led us to consider that communication differences may underpin differences in surgical outcomes previously noted (eg. Wallis et al, BMJ 2017) between male and female physicians. We postulated that there may be a differential association between surgeon sex and patient sex in behaviours that would translate into clinically important outcomes. (more…)
Author Interviews, Heart Disease, Menopause, Osteoporosis / 12.05.2021

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Yeonyee E. Yoon, MD, PhD Associate Professor Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center Seoul National University Bundang Hospital South Korea  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Although atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has been traditionally considered to affect men predominantly, it is nearly common in women. ASCVD is the leading cause of death in both men and women globally, and the population-adjusted risk of ASCVD mortality in women is significantly greater than that in men. Nevertheless, the current focus on the 10-year ASCVD risk estimated by a risk-scoring algorithm such as the Pooled Cohort Equation has shown unsatisfactory accuracy in women. Therefore, new strategies beyond the conventional risk stratification algorithm are needed to improve identification for women at high risk for ASCVD. ASCVD and osteoporosis are major age-related diseases contributing to significant morbidity and mortality in women, and previous epidemiologic studies have suggested a potential association between these diseases. Given that millions of women are screened for osteoporosis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), potential associations between low bone mineral density (BMD) and ASCVD in women would provide an opportunity to improve the risk stratification of women without any additional costs. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the evaluation of BMD provides independent and incremental prognostic values for ASCVD prediction in women.  (more…)
Author Interviews, Gender Differences, Heart Disease, NYU, Women's Heart Health / 11.05.2021

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Darcy Banco, MD, MPH Internal Medicine Resident NYU Langone Health MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: We became interested in this question because of recent epidemiological data showing that despite improvements in the number of heart attacks in overall population, that number is rising among young adults (<= 55 years old) and in particular, young women. Compared to young men, young women with heart attack experience more delays in care and have higher mortality and poorer quality of life after heart attack. Despite these findings, there was also a study that asked young adults who had experienced heart attack: “When you first went for help, did the health care providers think that you were having a problem with your heart?” Women were more likely to answer no to this question. Therefore, our study asked: Are young women evaluated and treated differently than men when presenting to the emergency room with symptoms of chest pain? (more…)
Author Interviews, Fertility, JAMA, Menopause / 10.04.2021

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Duke Appiah, Ph.D., MPH Assistant Professor,Public Health Texas Tech University  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Reports from several countries point towards increasing trends in age at natural menopause. However, epidemiological report from the United States on the long-term trends in age at natural menopause or reproductive life span among a nationally representative sample of women is lacking. Understanding changes in the timing of age at natural menopause and length of the reproductive life span and their associated factors are important. For instance, earlier age at natural menopause is reported to be associated with cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases and osteoporosis while later onset of menopause has been associated with the occurrence of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Similarly, longer durations of reproductive life span are associated with reduced morbidity and mortality. (more…)