Pregnancy Outcomes Help To Predict Women's Long-Term Health

"A woman's pregnancy outcome can be an indicator of future health conditions," stated George R. Saade, M.D., president of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Saade gave a compelling presentation to SMFM members on the links between pregnancy outcomes and women's long-term health. He emphasized the importance of greater physician collaboration in reviewing patients' health records, particularly in noting pregnancy outcomes as these can be important indicators of future health problems.

Saade noted that there are multiple studies on the association between hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and long-term maternal outcomes including a study in Norway of 15,065 women who were analyzed. "Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and subsequently measured cardiovascular risk factors" (Magnussen EB, Vatten LJ, Smith GD, Romundstad PR; Obstet Gynecol 2009), provides incontrovertible evidence that women with pregnancy-related hypertension are at higher risk for hypertension and metabolic abnormalities later in life. Other studies have shown that preterm birth, stillbirth, and fetal growth restriction are also associated with long term maternal cardiovascular, as well as metabolic disorders including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

"Pregnancy represents a unique opportunity to identify women who may be at increased risk of chronic diseases later in life," stated Saade. "For patients with pregnancy complications, the care should not stop at delivery or shortly thereafter. It may be time to change the paradigm from short term prenatal care to maternal care," Saade continued, "It would be appropriate for the obstetrician to identify mothers who may be at risk for long term diseases to ensure that these women receive the preventive care needed starting in the postpartum period rather than waiting until they reach the age for routine check-ups in the general population." He stated that the preventive measures need not be drastic but should include periodic assessment for primary and preventive care.

Complications from hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemias are clearly prevented with early therapy rather than waiting until these abnormalities are discovered at the time of routine check-up. Pregnancy weight gain appears to be an important factor in the association between adverse pregnancy outcomes and long term maternal health. Failure to lose weight in the postpartum period is associated with long term obesity and its consequences. Pregnancy and the postpartum period offer a unique opportunity to promote healthy lifestyles for the mother and her family, such as healthy diet and plenty of exercise. Breastfeeding is a frequently overlooked prevention strategy. In addition to its beneficial effect in the infant, breastfeeding increases the likelihood the mother will return to her pre-pregnancy weight and improves her metabolic profile. Unfortunately, preventive care may not be available to most women because their health care coverage is limited to pregnancy and the 6 weeks postpartum period. Continuing coverage for patients with pregnancy complications is an important step in the right direction for preventing chronic diseases in women.
"One of the limitations is that pregnancy complications are not always on the mind of general practitioners when they are caring for a woman later in life," explained Saade. "It would be very advantageous for all physicians who see female patients to review their patients' pregnancy history." Other simple measures that may be started following a complicated pregnancy include regular visits to check blood pressure and metabolic profiles, including lipid and glucose tolerance testing.

Not all women with adverse pregnancy outcomes will have cardiovascular or metabolic abnormalities later in life, Saade explained. In the future, biomarkers may be identified that can be used to target those women who may benefit most from regular follow up and intervention.

Inflammatory biomarkers, particularly high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) may be such a test. Men and women with elevated hsCRP are at increased risk for coronary artery disease. Women who develop preeclampsia or have a history of eclampsia have been known to have elevated hsCRP - an indication that they are at increased risk for coronary artery disease.

"This information puts obstetricians in a position of holding a primary role in the prevention of chronic diseases by identifying women at the greatest risk," Saade concluded. "We have the opportunity to successfully identify markers that will impact our patients for the remainder of their lives. No longer is our role confined to a single condition - a single pregnancy. We now have the capability and resources to identify and prevent chronic diseases in mothers and their offspring."

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Visit our  women's health / gynecology section for the latest news on this subject.

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• Pregnancy Outcomes Help To Predict Women's Long-Term Health (beinhealthwomen.blogspot.com)
• Women Undergoing C-Sections Should Have Inflatable Compression Devices Fitted - ACOG Recommends (medicalnewstoday.com)
• Pregnancy-Related Strokes Jump 54 Percent (nlm.nih.gov)

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Potential New Hope And Treatment For Endometrial Cancer Released

Advanced endometrial cancer refers to several types of malignancies that arise from the endometrium, or lining, of the uterus. Endometrial cancers are the most common gynecologic cancers in the United States, with over 35,000 women diagnosed each year. However, in a new research, there may be progress to a single treatment solution called AEZS-108.

Overall, "tolerability" of AEZS-108 was good and commonly allowed retreatment as scheduled. Only one patient had a dose reduction, and less than 10% of treatment courses were postponed, including more than half of the cases in which the delay was not related to toxicity.

Good tolerability of AEZS-108 was also reflected by a low rate of severe non-hematological possibly drug-related adverse events which included single cases each of nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, general health deterioration, creatinine elevation, and blood potassium decrease. No cardiac toxicity was reported.

Juergen Engel, Ph.D., President and CEO of Aeterna Zentaris comments:

"We would first like to thank Dr. Wimberger and all those involved in this trial for their dedicated work which is now being presented to the international gynecological community. We are very excited about these final results achieved with AEZS-108 alone, which compare favorably with those usually seen with more aggressive and less well tolerated combination regimens for endometrial cancer. On this basis, we have requested Parallel Scientific Advice from both the FDA and the EMA for the further pivotal development of AEZS-108 in this indication in the upcoming months."

The referred to Dr. Wimberger added:

"The safety and efficacy of AEZS-108 in our study on advanced endometrial cancer was very encouraging. Although used as a single agent treatment only, AEZS-108 achieved good response rates and disease stabilization. Personally, I was impressed to see three responses in the five patients treated at my institution, including one long-lasting complete response."

This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 43,000 cases of endometrial cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. Symptoms can include unexplained vaginal bleeding, painful urination, painful intercourse and soreness in the pelvic area. There is no routine test to identify endometrial cancer.

Endometrial cancer may sometimes be referred to as uterine cancer. However, different cancers may develop not only from the endometrium itself but also from other tissues of the uterus, including cervical cancer, sarcoma of the myometrium, and trophoblastic disease.

Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy; however, there are new treatments in development that work by targeting and destroying cancerous cells.

Basically, AEZS-108 represents a new targeting concept in oncology using a hybrid molecule composed of a synthetic peptide carrier and a well-known chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin. AEZS-108 is the first intravenous drug in a clinical study that directs the chemotherapy agent specifically to LHRH-receptor expressing tumors, resulting in more targeted treatment with less damage to healthy tissue.

Currently, the primary treatment is surgical. Surgical treatment should consist of, at least, cytologic sampling of the peritoneal fluid, abdominal exploration, palpation and biopsy of suspicious lymph nodes, abdominal hysterectomy, and removal of both ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy).

Lymphadenectomy, or removal of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes, is sometimes performed for tumors that have high risk features, such as pathologic grade 3 serous or clear-cell tumors, invasion of more than 1/2 the myometrium, or extension to the cervix or adnexa. Sometimes, removal of the omentum is also performed.

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Chronic Vulvar Pain A Reality For More Than 100,000 Women In Southeast Michigan

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For more than 100,000 area women, chronic vulvar pain (pain at the opening to the vagina) is so severe it makes intercourse, and sometimes sitting for long periods of time, painful, if not impossible.

A new study from the University of Michigan, which surveyed 2,269 women in the metro Detroit area, found that more than 25 percent of women have experienced ongoing vulvar pain at some point in their lives. However, only two percent of women sought treatment for their pain.

For some, vulvar pain may be caused by activities like biking, tampon use, or intercourse, and for others it can be a persisting, spontaneous pain that can persist for up to 40 years.

Vulvodynia is characterized by a burning, irritation, or sharp pain near the opening of the vagina. The location, constancy and severity of the pain vary among women. Some women say they feel a slight discomfort, while others claim to suffer from knife-like pain. Common treatments, including topical creams, are typically directed towards alleviating symptoms and usually only provide partial pain relief.
The study, available online ahead of print in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that aside from the 9.2 percent of women who reported that they were currently experiencing pain consistent with vulvodynia, an additional 17.9 percent of women reported they have experienced symptoms of vulvodynia in the past.

That factors to over 318,000 women in southeast Michigan alone.

"What this means for area women is that vulvar pain is common, it has a name, and it can be addressed with their physicians," says Barbara D. Reed, M.D., M.S.P.H, a professor of family medicine at the U-M Medical School and lead author of the study.

What researchers have found concerning is that of the two percent of women who sought treatment for their pain, five percent received a diagnosis of vulvodynia. Many women were misdiagnosed with either yeast infections or estrogen deficiency and the subsequent treatment plans they were recommended did little to alleviate their pain, suggesting these may not be causing their symptoms.

The primary goal of the study was to gain insight on the demographics of women with vulvar pain suggesting vulvodynia. Based on survey responses, researchers were able to determine the ethnicities and ages of those women with vulvar discomfort, as well as the intensity of the pain they experienced.

"With this knowledge, we better understand how common this disorder is, and who is likely to be affected. Knowing this should make it easier for medical providers to expect to see women with this problem, and will therefore make the diagnosis earlier so that treatment can proceed," Reed says.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Visit our  pain / anesthetics section for the latest news on this subject.

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Disadvantaged Youth Think Partner Abuse Is Normal

The levels of violence girls and boys from disadvantaged backgrounds experience in their partner relationships is revealed in new University of Bristol research.

It is the first time there has been an in-depth look at violence in the intimate relationships of disadvantaged teenagers who are not in mainstream education. Some of those who took part had been permanently excluded from school, were young offenders or teenage mothers.

The researchers interviewed 82 boys and girls aged 13-18 for the NSPCC-funded research entitled 'Standing on my own two feet'. The research underlines the need to address the problem being highlighted by the Home Office's teen violence campaign, launched this month.

Although the study does not claim to be representative of the UK population, it suggests levels of violence in teenage relationships may be much higher than previously assumed. More than half of the girls who supplied information in the study said they had been in a sexually violent relationship before they were 18 and over half of the girls reported that they had been a victim of physical violence in at least one of their intimate relationships. A quarter of boys who responded said they had dated physically aggressive partners.
Today's research found that children from disadvantaged backgrounds were much more likely to experience abusive partner relationships than their better-off counterparts. The research ran parallel to a landmark study (2009)2 on violence in relationships among those in mainstream education.

Many of the young people who participated in the study appeared to accept violence as normal, although unwanted, aspect of being in a relationship. Some suffered black eyes, lost teeth or were head-butted.

Christine Barter, lead author and Senior Research Fellow from the University's School for Policy Studies, said: "Tragically, control and violence seem to be so prevalent in these relationships that girls are unable to recognise its impact - it is an everyday happening. Many girls found it very difficult to see that their partner's behaviour is abusive. The government and those working with young people need to recognise that teenage partner violence is an even more profound child welfare issue for disadvantaged young people. This will help professionals assess the possibility of partner violence and challenge young people's beliefs that this abuse is a normal part of teenage relationships."

Emma, who was interviewed for the study, told researchers how she had been forced into having sex 'quite a few times' when she was 13, "I've never shouted rape or anything. I've never been able to say that I've been raped but it's not like I've given consent. In certain situations it has been pushed on me and it has been really horrible."

Fourteen-year-old Jo said her boyfriend had, "only hit me in the face once. He used to push me down the stairs and stuff though."

Even though half of all those taking part in the research had been assigned a social worker most did not reveal their partner's violence. Many said that welfare professionals were not interested in this aspect of their lives.

Andrew Flanagan, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, said: "It's appalling that violence in these relationships seems to be just part of daily life.

These findings underline how important it is for children to be educated about abusive behaviour and for them to feel able to seek help to prevent it happening. The NSPCC is making strides to educate children and young people on recognising abuse through our newly launched Schools Service. This knowledge empowers our youth to take action and get help.

"Only through awareness can we start to reduce abuse which damages so many young lives."

Home Office Minister, Lynne Featherstone, said: "Although teenage romances can often be short lived, we know that sometimes, they can be just as intense and important as adult relationships. In extreme cases they can also fall foul of the same pitfalls and dangers. That's why it is so important to ensure young people develop healthy relationships and know where to go for support when things go wrong.

"We need to challenge the attitudes and behaviours that foster an acceptance of abusive relationships by intervening as early as possible. Bringing the issue out in the open will help teenagers feel confident to challenge abusive behaviour when they experience it or see it."

If you are concerned about a child, ring the NSPCC 24-hour Helpline at 0808 800 5000. Children and young people can call ChildLine for free at any time at 0800 1111.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Visit our  pediatrics / children's health section for the latest news on this subject.

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Mass Media Messages And Fat-Stigma

Women harbor a fat-stigma even though their family and closest friends may not judge them as "fat," according to findings by Arizona State University social scientists. Those research results, published Aug. 17 in the journal Social Science & Medicine, have scientists questioning the weight of messages from sources outside one's social networks, especially those in mass media marketing.
"We found that women generally missed the mark when estimating what their friends and family thought about their weight," said Daniel J. Hruschka, an ASU cultural anthropologist and co-author of the study. "Women were a bit more attuned to the views of close friends and family, but even then, they generally perceived the judgments of others inaccurately."
For this study, the ASU researchers interviewed 112 women aged 18-45 living in Phoenix, Arizona, and 823 others in their family and social networks. The focus was to understand how and why fat-stigma is distributed in the context of everyday interactions and relationships, and test some key ideas about how perceptions of stigma are amplified or mitigated by women's relationships in the framework of their social networks.
Lead author of the study, Alexandra Brewis, a biological anthropologist and director of ASU's Center for Global Health, noted that while obesity is a major medical and public health challenge, the stigma attached to it also creates suffering and needs to be examined. According to the ASU findings, urging family and friends to be less judgmental may be of little assistance in alleviating the stigma.
"Fat is understood culturally to represent profound personal failing and the attendant moral messages attached to it include laziness, lack of self-control, and being undesirable or even repulsive," the authors wrote. "So powerful and salient are these anti-fact messages that some Americans say they would rather die years sooner or be completely blind than be thought of as obese."
"The question this leaves us with is: 'If it isn't the opinions of friends and family that make us feel so bad about being overweight, then what does?' What seems most likely is that media and pop cultural messages are so pervasive and powerful that even the most loving support of those closest to us provides only limited protection against them," said Brewis, who also is a professor and executive director of the School of Human Evolution and Social Change in ASU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The findings are published in an article titled "Vulnerability to fat-stigma in women's everyday relationships." In addition to Brewis and Hruschka, the third author is Amber Wutich. Hruschka and Wutich are assistant professors in ASU's School of Human Evolution and Social Change. Some 40 ASU undergraduate global health students assisted with parts of the study.

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Study Shows Annual Cervical Cancer Screening Still Recommended By Most Prima...

Researchers from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have determined that most primary care providers still recommend annual cervical cancer screening, and less than 15% would extend the screening interval when using the Papanicolaou test and human papillomavirus (HPV) test together, as some guidelines suggest. The results of the investigation are published online today in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology (AJOG).

Issued by the American Cancer Society in 2002 and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 2003, the current cervical cancer screening guidelines recommend a combination of a Papanicolaou test and an HPV test, (known as an HPV co-test) for women aged 30 years and over. If the results of these tests are normal, upon screening, women can wait three years for their next test. However, annual cervical cancer screening continues to be a frequent recommendation, irrespective of whether a woman has a history of normal pap tests or normal HPV co-test. Roughly one-half of providers investigated ordered the HPV co-test for their patients.
Lead researcher Katherine B. Roland, MPH, a behavioral scientist in CDCs Division of Cancer Prevention and Control explained,

"Use of the HPV co-test and adherence to the extended screening interval with normal test results reduce patient harms that can be caused by over-testing, including pain, inconvenience, morbidity, and unnecessary follow-up procedures and treatments

Appropriate use of cervical cancer screening technologies is essential, now more than ever, if HPV co-testing is to be considered a preventive service for women covered by insurance providers."

Evaluating nationally representative information gathered in 2006 through the CDCs National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, investigators examined HPV testing and co-testing practices and recorded the recommendations for screening intervals given by private office-based providers at hospital outpatient departments (OPDs). Responses from 376 private office-based physicians and 216 physicians from hospital and outpatient facilities were included in the investigation.

Health providers who ordered the HPV co-test were asked their recommendation for the next Papanicolaou test according to 3 clinical vignettes. The vignettes describe a woman between 30 and 60 years of age with a current normal Papanicolaou test with:

1. no current HPV test results and history of 2 consecutive normal Papanicolaou test results
2. a current negative HPV test result and a history of 2 consecutive normal Papanicolaou test results, and..
3. a current negative HPV test result and no history of Papanicolaou tests.

The guidelines support extending the screening interval up to 3 years in each of the vignettes described.
76.4% of office-based providers and 85.2% of hospital OPDs would recommend a next screening in one year, for vignette 1. For vignette 2, 66.6% of office-based providers and 72.7% of hospital OPDs would recommend a next Papanicolaou test in 12 months. However, only 14% of office-based providers would recommend, as guidelines suggest, a next test in 3 years or more. 73.4% of office-based providers and 73.5% of hospital OPDs would recommend a next Papanicolaou test in 12 months, for vignette 3.

Establishing a record of normal Papanicolaou test results with the patient appears to be a key factor to providers making guideline-supported screening interval recommendations. Roland continued,

"Our findings suggest a need for continued surveillance on cervical cancer screening guideline adherence. Evaluating provider screening behaviors, whether they reflect national guidelines and policies, and how those behaviors and policies translate to a woman's clinical preventive care are vital, especially in an area where science and policy are rapidly evolving."

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New Study Explores Immune System Stimulation In Battle Against HER-2/neu Pos...

The Mayo Clinic is excited to announce a Phase I study of a new therapeutic vaccine in HER-2/neu positive breast cancer patients in the fourth quarter of 2011. To understand the importance of this development, the HER-2/neu and the significance of HER-2/neu positive breast cancer must be examined.
Due to a genetic change, cancerous cells produce an excess of HER2 in approximately 1 in 5 breast cancer cases as well as in other forms of cancer. For unknown reasons, HER2-positive breast cancers are less responsive to hormone treatment and tend to be more aggressive than other types of breast cancer.
HER-2/neu is a protein homologous to epidermal growth factor receptor providing growing, dividing and repair signals to cells. Whilst healthy breast cells contain 2 copies of the HER2 gene, some forms of breast cancer develop when a breast cell contains 2 or more copies of the gene which results in over-production of HER2 protein (over-expression) leading to increased growth and division of the affected cells.
HER-2/neu is over-expressed on the cell surface of several cancers, including breast, colorectal, ovarian, and pancreatic carcinomas, supporting the malignancy of several tumors with poor prognosis in cancer patients. With HER-2/neu expressing ~20% to 30% of breast and ovarian cancers it has been identified by the National Cancer Institute as one of the top priorities for the development of cancer drugs.
The common treatment for HER-2/neu positive patients is Herceptin (trastuzumab), a monoclonal antibody that targets HER-2/neu receptors on cells, however, the treatment results in a significant amount of patients (estimated to be ~70%) failing to respond or losing their responsiveness. The authors recommend more widely applicable therapies for this patient population.
So far, previous attempts to develop a vaccine against the Her-2/neu protein proved unsuccessful in overcoming the difficulty of developing a robust and a long-acting immune response by positively stimulating cytotoxic T-cells and T-helper cells in the immune system, which is necessary for a successful vaccine, however, some previous trials managed to progress to clinical trials.
Once stimulated, cytotoxic T-cells identify cancer cells, infiltrate tumors and kill abnormal cells, with T-helper or T-memory cells being responsible for long-term memory, enabling the immune system to continuously recognize abnormal cells.
It has been determined that the function of TAP (Transporters Associated with Antigen Processing - reference 1 provides further background) is significantly reduced in many cancers due to inadequate stimulation of cytotoxic T-cells, resulting in poor recognition of cancer cells. The process can be re-instated by replacing TAP through TapImmune's AdhTAP1 technology, which is similar to turning on a light bulb allowing these cells to 'see' tumor cells.
Dr Keith Knutson and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic, together with collaborators discovered a unique set of peptides (HER-2/neu antigens - reference 2 provides further background) that stimulated these cells in ~ 80% of HER-2/neu positive patients during research on stimulating T-helper cells.
In their clinical evaluation, The Mayo Clinic will be assessing the proficiency of two technologies, the unique peptide antigen and the combination of TapImmune's, TAP vector technology, to stimulate an immune response in HER-2/neu breast cancer patients and to improve patient prognosis and survival rates.
In a concluding statement the authors said,

"We believe that this approach which stimulates two key components of the cellular immune system in HER-2/neu breast cancer patients could have a significant advantage with respect to strength and duration of the immune response. We envisage that the approach will result in an injectable product that will be simple to manufacture,"

..continuing that,

"The initial clinical pathway of cancer vaccines is generally to seek approval for products that can be used as therapeutic vaccines to improve patient survival. However, our ultimate vision on the future use of such vaccines, for the treatment of breast cancer, is to have prophylactic vaccines that can be used at the earliest stage of disease diagnosis, e.g. in situ ductal carcinoma. For those of us who have lost loved ones to breast cancer, who initially presented with this indication, the importance of this goal cannot be overstated."

Related articles

• New Study Explores Immune System Stimulation In Battle Against HER-2/neu Pos... (beinhealthwomen.blogspot.com)
• New Study Explores Immune System Stimulation In Battle Against HER-2/neu Positive Breast Cancer (medicalnewstoday.com)

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Increased Celiac Disease Prevalence In Women With Unexplained Infertility

A recent study demonstrated increased rates of celiac disease in women who present with unexplained infertility. Published in the May-June 2011 issue of The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, the study evaluated 191 female patients presenting with infertility. Each participant underwent serologic screening for celiac disease as well as routine infertility testing. The 4 patients who had positive serum test results were advised to seek evaluation with a gastroenterologist. All 4 patients were confirmed to have celiac disease. They then underwent nutritional counseling to change over to a gluten-free diet.
Among the 188 patients who completed testing, the prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease was 2.1%. While this rate was not significantly higher than the expected 1.3%, the diagnosis of celiac disease in women with unexplained infertility was found to be significantly higher at 5.9% (3 of 51 women). Interestingly, all 4 patients found to have celiac disease conceived within a year of diagnosis.
Though the study numbers are small, the findings suggest that, at least for some women with infertility, dietary measures may help bolster fertility. "Diagnosing celiac disease in an infertile woman would be particularly beneficial if the low-cost (and low-risk) therapy of pursuing a gluten-free diet could improve chances for conception," says lead author Janet Choi, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Center for Women's Reproductive Care at Columbia University. Co-author Dr. Peter Green, director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center, said that these results should be added to the increasing body of knowledge concerning the impact of undiagnosed celiac disease on women's reproductive health.
Reference:
Choi JM, Lebwohl B, Wang J, Lee SK, Murray JA, Sauer MV, Green PH. Increased prevalence of celiac disease in patients with unexplained infertility in the United States. J Reprod Med. 2011 May-Jun;56(5-6):199-203.
Source: Columbia University Medical Center

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Older Women Lack Important Information About Sexual Health

Many women over 50 years old date and are sexually active and thereby face many possible health risks. Yet, most educational campaigns designed to prevent sexually transmitted diseases target younger generations. Older women also need and want more information about sexual health and wellness. A study in the new special issue of the Journal of Consumer Affairs on older consumers found a critical need for improving communication between older women and their physicians about sexual health and for providing these women with tools on how to negotiate with partners about safe sex practices.


Dr. Cynthia Morton and her colleagues at the University of Florida examined women's knowledge about sexual health and their concerns about safe sex practices as they continue to pursue active sex lives into their senior years. Women aged 50 years and older participated in focus group discussions to talk about the challenges in finding male partners, negotiating condom use, and seeking credible information sources to help them make the best decisions about sexual health.


Results of the study revealed that older women are aware of the risks for sexually transmitted diseases yet are uncomfortable about seeking sexual health information from their regular physicians who may erroneously believe that they already possess the knowledge. Although older women know the importance of condoms in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, they may avoid negotiating condom use with their partners in an effort to avoid conflict or rejection. Senior-aged women are receptive to strategies that give them tools for negotiating with partners and for communicating with their physicians, but there are limited resources directed to their age group.


"The findings generated from our research offer a rich foundation for better understanding the motivations and concerns that influence senior-aged women's attitudes about dating at their present stage of life," said Morton.
According to the authors, efforts are needed to help older women gain confidence to talk with primary care physicians about sexual health and to make those physicians aware of their need. The authors also call for social marketing campaigns that aim to educate older women about their sexual health risks and encourage them to take greater ownership in the negotiation of safe sex practices with their partners.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Visit our  sexual health / stds section for the latest news on this subject.

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