Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition with specific criteria that can present with subtle findings early on. The significance of sporadic anovulation in eumenorrheic women remains unclear. In this study, the authors aimed to assess whether sporadic anovulation was associated with clinical evidence of hyperandrogenemia. Read more in this review of the research!
The luteal phase is the consistent, post-ovulatory phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle. A normal luteal phase reflects proper functioning of internal hormones, which can be measured through serum and urinary testing. A study by Alliende et al published in Frontiers in Public Health in 2018 studied the luteal phase in healthy fertile women. Their research and findings were summarized by Estefan Michael Beltrán while on the FACTS elective.
According to the CDC website, approximately 14% of women ages 15 to 49 were using the pill between 2017 and 2019. It is important to know what biomarkers will be affected after stopping oral contraceptives, and for how long these changes will affect menstrual cycle charting. Dr. Grace Strella summarized the research from the study study by Nassaralla et al is titled, “Characteristics of the menstrual cycle after discontinuation of oral contraceptives.” Before this research was published in 2011, no studies had assessed cervical mucus quality upon discontinuation of oral contraceptives (OCPs). Read more!
This summary of research by Dr. Emily Endres offers hope for women, couples, and families who have suffered through recurrent miscarriages. Read more about the largest study to date to assess the role of progesterone in the early stages of pregnancy.
This is a summary of research published in 2015 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute about breast cancer subtypes and breastfeeding. Dr. Elaine Cha reviewed and summarized the study while on the FACTS elective in fertility awareness. The first-of-its-kind study speaks to potential ways a history of breastfeeding may impact both prognosis and survival from breast cancer.
October 13th is World Thrombosis Day, which provides an opportunity to raise awareness about this potentially life-threatening medical condition or complication. A research study published by Keenan et al in 2018 reviewed the literature assessing the risk of venous thrombotic events in women who choose hormonal
contraception. Dr. Natalie Gould’s summary of this important study discusses fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) as a reasonable, safe, and effective option for women who need or prefer a different approach for pregnancy prevention, health monitoring, and/or to diagnose and manage a variety of women’s health conditions.