SafetyIssues Personal and Public Safety News Articles: Women Looking Into Problems With Transvaginal Surgical Mesh ================================================================================ Courtesy of FDA on 07/13/11 10:57:00 A PATIENT, 67, had a transvaginal repair with synthetic mesh for pelvic organ prolapse. Four weeks later, she reported spotting, discomfort, and vaginal irritation. The surgeon found that the surgical mesh had eroded into her vagina and prescribed estrogen cream for a month, but it wasn’t effective. The patient needed more surgery for resection of the exposed mesh and closure of eroded tissue. Pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence are pelvic disorders affecting millions of women in the United States. They occur when pelvic floor muscles lose strength, allowing pelvic organs, including the bladder and uterus, to descend from their normal location and bulge through the vaginal wall (pelvic organ prolapse), or diminishing bladder control... Banned toxic chemicals found in 100 percent of pregnant women ================================================================================ Courtesy of NaturalNews on 01/21/11 09:16:00 NaturalNews - A new study from the University of California, San Francisco reveals that 100 percent of expectant mothers (sample size = 268) are contaminated with highly toxic synthetic chemicals. The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, concluded, "Certain PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, PFCs, phenols, PBDEs, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and perchlorate were detected in 99 to 100% of pregnant women." These chemicals are known to exhibit various harmful effects on human biology, covering everything from neurological and infertility problems to cancer and hormonal disorders. Many of the chemicals found in these women have been banned for not just years, but decades. Male Circumcision Cuts Women’s Cervical Cancer Risk ================================================================================ Courtesy of Webmed on 01/07/11 06:15:00 Circumcising men can reduce cervical cancer risk in women, a new study shows. The study involved more than 1,200 HIV-negative, heterosexual couples living in Uganda, where circumcision of male adults is increasingly encouraged as a means of slowing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Half the men received the surgical procedure at enrollment and the other half were scheduled for circumcision after their participation in the trial ended. 6 Ways to Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk ================================================================================ Courtesy of EverydayHealth.com on 10/19/10 05:06:00 One in eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime — a sobering statistic that leaves many women asking, “What can I do to lower my breast cancer risk?” Yes, there are some factors you can’t control, such as being a woman and getting older — about two out of three women with invasive breast cancer are 55 or older when the cancer is found. However, there are steps you can try to improve your odds of avoiding this disease. Preterm Births: Is Depression A Big Factor? ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 05/02/10 03:40:00 An expectant mother experiencing depression is at greater risk of having a premature birth than non-depressed women and severe depression can more than double the risk, according to a study published in the journal Human Reproduction. Is Cervical Cancer Vaccine Safe? ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 10/25/08 11:54:00 The Gardasil vaccine developed to protect women against cervical cancer shows no risks associated with use, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Does More Caffeine Raise Breast Cancer Risk? ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 10/14/08 03:07:00 Caffeine consumption at any level seems to have no association with the overall risk of breast cancer, according to a new study by researchers at Tokyo Women’s Medical University. However, higher caffeine consumption may increase cancer risk among women with histories of benign breast tumors. More Teen Girls Get Cancer Vaccine ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 10/11/08 02:49:00 Since the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) was introduced a year ago, 25 percent of teenage girls in the U.S. have started at least the first shot, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) teen vaccine study published in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Deaths in Childbirth Must Be Reduced: UN ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 09/20/08 02:34:00 The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) wants to accelerate efforts to reduce the mortality rate of women in pregnancy and childbirth. According to UNICEF estimates, maternal mortality worldwide still exceeds 500,000 women each year, often due to the unavailability of obstetrical care in emergencies. Maternal Diabetes Leads to Kid Obesity ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 08/30/07 04:40:00 In the United States, 5 to 7 per 100 pregnant women have gestational diabetes each year. These women have 89% more chances to birth children who become overweight by the time they reach 5-7 years old; they also have 82% higher chances of seeing their children become obese at that crucial age. Drug Law Used To Prosecute Pregnant Moms ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 08/03/08 12:17:00 An Alabama state law that forbids parents from making methamphetamines in their homes and exposing children to dangerous drugs is being misinterpreted by a country district attorney and used to prosecute pregnant women, according to the National Advocates for Pregnant Women. Sex Offenders Live in Nursing Homes ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 07/22/08 10:32:00 Most of the time, families place elderly relatives in nursing homes (or in long term care and assisted living facilities) to make sure they are cared for and safe. This is not always a correct assumption: they may be living with a registered sex offender, or someone with a history of violence, or a parolee. Older Women’s Stroke Risk Rises with More Sleep ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 07/20/08 07:59:00 Sleep is a hot topic in the world of science. How much or how little you get of it can impact a lot of things in your life, from athletic prowess to income potential. Most of all it affects your health. A new study has found that older women who sleep longer hours than average may be indicating signs of higher stroke risk than those who sleep less. More Young Women Getting Melanoma ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 07/13/08 06:35:00 Younger women have to watch out: there are increasing numbers of them receiving diagnoses of melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, while the incidence rate is leveling off among younger men, according to a report released July 10 by the National Cancer Institute. Is Having a Home Birth Safe? ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 07/12/08 09:34:00 In a move that seems to run counter to women’s autonomy, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have issued resolutions to back any proposed legislation that would make it difficult — or virtually impossible — for women to have planned births at home. Are You Nursing? Avoid Codeine ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 08/17/07 07:40:00 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned breast-feeding mothers who are taking codeine-based medications about the possible effects of the drug on their nursing infants. Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Rare But Aggressive ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 08/23/07 04:05:00 Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare form of breast cancer, accounting for 1-4 per cent of all breast cancers. This does not describe a new type of breast cancer, but rather a type of clinical change that occurs as a result of cancer cells blocking the lymph channels in the breast and skin. Is City Living A Risk for Breast Cancer? ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 11/29/07 12:40:00 Researchers in the UK have found that women living in the city tend to have denser breasts than those residing in the countryside. This recent finding relates to previous research studies which have shown that denser breasts have four times more risk of developing breast cancer, particularly breasts made up of 25% or more dense tissue. Is Drinking Wine Safe When Pregnant? ================================================================================ Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 10/15/07 09:10:00 Pregnant women now have an option when it comes to drinking alcohol. The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) now says pregnant women may drink a small glass of wine a day without fear of harming their baby. The institutional opinions on drinking by pregnant women vary: