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U.S. Family Physicians Lack Formal Menopause Care Training, Study Reveals

U.S. Family Physicians Lack Formal Menopause Care Training, Study Reveals

A new study has found significant gaps in menopause education within U.S. family medicine residency programs. While most programs incorporate menopause education, the content coverage is variable, and formal assessments of competency are often lacking. This issue is particularly critical as women spend approximately one-third of their lives in the postmenopausal state, and many rely on family physicians for their primary care, especially in areas with limited access to specialized gynecology. The study, published in 'Menopause,' the journal of The Menopause Society, surveyed 313 family medicine program directors, with 279 completing menopause-specific questions. The findings indicate that despite 94% reporting some form of menopause education, 56% of directors acknowledged a need for improvement. The Menopause Society's medical director, Dr. Stephanie Faubion, emphasized the importance of integrating menopause education into residency training and providing ongoing learning opportunities for practicing cli...

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Hosts First-Ever Senate Hearing on Menopause Care Gaps

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Hosts First-Ever Senate Hearing on Menopause Care Gaps

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, recently hosted the first-ever Congressional hearing focused on menopause-related healthcare services. Titled 'Half the Country, Zero Hearings: Meeting the Moment to End the Menopause Care Gap in America,' the hearing on September 16 addressed the significant void in care impacting an estimated 75 million people. Expert witnesses at the hearing highlighted various barriers to adequate menopause care, emphasizing the urgent need for increased research and standardized training for healthcare professionals in this field. The initiative by Senator Gillibrand aims to bring long-overdue attention to a critical aspect of women's health that has historically been overlooked within the healthcare system.

Dr. Jessica Williams Advocates for Improved Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Competency in Psychiatric Practice

Dr. Jessica Williams Advocates for Improved Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Competency in Psychiatric Practice

Dr. Jessica Williams, a psychiatrist from the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Deaf Services Clinic at BJC Behavioral Health, co-authored a Viewpoint in JAMA Psychiatry emphasizing the need to treat care for Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHoH) patients as a clinical competency. The Viewpoint, also co-authored by Laura Shapiro, MSW, LCSW, and Kristina H. Petersen, PhD, argues that a lack of understanding of how hearing loss and signed languages impact the Mental Status Examination (MSE) can lead to misdiagnoses, patient mistrust, and disengagement. Hearing loss affects over 70 million individuals in the U.S. and is linked to increased risks of depression, anxiety, and psychosis. The authors highlight that DHoH patients are underserved due to limited professional training in DHoH mental health. They differentiate between Deaf sign language users, who often identify as a linguistic minority, and hard-of-hearing individuals who primarily use speech, both fac...

Creatine Supplementation Shows Emerging Benefits for Women, Beyond Traditional Athletic Performance

Creatine Supplementation Shows Emerging Benefits for Women, Beyond Traditional Athletic Performance

Creatine Supplementation Shows Emerging Benefits for Women, Beyond Traditional Athletic Performance

Jennifer Aniston Expresses Regret Over Late Adoption of Strength Training

Jennifer Aniston Expresses Regret Over Late Adoption of Strength Training

Jennifer Aniston Expresses Regret Over Late Adoption of Strength Training

Center for Public Justice Advocates for Policy Reform to Address Menopause as a Public Justice Issue in U.S. Workplaces

Center for Public Justice Advocates for Policy Reform to Address Menopause as a Public Justice Issue in U.S. Workplaces

The Center for Public Justice (CPJ) is advocating for policy reform to recognize menopause as a public justice issue, calling for societal structures to better anticipate and support women through this predictable life transition. The organization highlights a historical 'blind spot' in medicine and policy, where women's health has often been viewed through a male-centric lens, leading to substantial gaps in knowledge and care. CPJ points to the introduction of the Menopausal Workers’ Fairness Act in Congress in July 2026 as a sign of growing legislative recognition. However, current U.S. workplace protections, such as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, leave menopausal women in a 'gray area' without clear recognition or support. A study by the Society for Women’s Health Research found that 61% of employees reported no formal menopause-specific policies, and 59% of women felt uncomfortable asking for accommodations.

Cashew Research Reveals Persistent Gaps in Menopause Support and Preparedness Among U.S. and Canadian Women

Cashew Research Reveals Persistent Gaps in Menopause Support and Preparedness Among U.S. and Canadian Women

New research from Cashew, an AI-powered research platform, indicates that despite increased awareness and discussion surrounding menopause, women in the U.S. and Canada continue to experience significant gaps in feeling informed, cared for, and supported. The study, which surveyed 1,353 women, found that while information is more accessible, this has not translated into greater confidence or preparedness for the menopausal transition. For instance, only 46% of Gen Z women feel well-informed about menopause today, compared to 63% of Boomers. A key finding highlights that healthcare providers are the primary source of menopause information, yet 29% of women who discussed menopause with a provider had to initiate the conversation themselves. Furthermore, one in four women reported hiding menopause symptoms from colleagues or managers due to fear of judgment, suggesting a lack of supportive workplace environments. The research emphasizes that awareness alone is insufficient; proactive care, better communicatio...

Congressman Ruiz Introduces Bipartisan Resolution for National Latino and Latina Physician Day

Congressman Ruiz Introduces Bipartisan Resolution for National Latino and Latina Physician Day

On September 28, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), alongside Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate October 1st as National Latino and Latina Physician Day. This initiative aims to recognize the contributions of Latino and Latina physicians and address the significant underrepresentation of this demographic in the medical field. Currently, Latinos constitute nearly one in five Americans, yet only 6.7 percent of U.S. physicians are Latino or Latina, with Latinas making up just 2.8 percent. Projections indicate that by 2050, Latinos will represent over one-quarter of the U.S. population and one-third of all children. The resolution highlights that patient care and outcomes improve when patients share the language and culture of their doctors. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the National Hispanic Medical Association have expressed support for this resolution, emphasizing the need to increase access to medical careers for future La...

Study Links Oral Menopausal Hormone Therapy to Increased Thrombotic Risk

Study Links Oral Menopausal Hormone Therapy to Increased Thrombotic Risk

A recent nationwide nested case-control study published in BMJ has linked oral menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to an increased risk of thrombotic events, including venous thromboembolism (VTE), ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI). The study found that high-dose oral estradiol (more than 1 mg daily) carried a higher risk for VTE (HR 1.8), ischemic stroke (HR 1.5), and MI (HR 1.4). Low-dose oral therapy (1 mg or less daily) also showed an increased VTE risk (HR 1.3) but no significant increase for stroke or MI. The risk for VTE was highest during the first year of high-dose oral therapy. In contrast, transdermal therapy was not associated with higher rates of VTE, ischemic stroke, or MI, with the exception of MI with transdermal combined cyclic therapy, which was based on sparse data. The study's authors noted limitations, including its observational nature and lack of data on BMI, smoking status, and age at menopause onset.

Senators Klobuchar and Crapo's EARLY Reauthorization Act Passes Senate, Advances to House

Senators Klobuchar and Crapo's EARLY Reauthorization Act Passes Senate, Advances to House

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) have successfully guided their bipartisan Young Women’s Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Reauthorization Act of 2026 through the Senate. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration. This bill aims to reauthorize critical federal programs designed to raise awareness and promote early detection of breast cancer, particularly among young women. Approximately 16% of all new breast cancer cases in the United States occur in women under 50, who often experience more aggressive forms of the disease and are diagnosed at later stages. The EARLY Act seeks to address these challenges by continuing efforts to educate women under 45 about breast cancer risks, encouraging them to understand their family health history, and empowering them to take proactive steps to reduce their risk. The reauthorization also supports the 'Bring Your Brave' campaign, which utilizes real stories to engage y...

Representative Glenn Grothman Reintroduces Cancer Drug Parity Act to Address Oral Chemotherapy Costs

Representative Glenn Grothman Reintroduces Cancer Drug Parity Act to Address Oral Chemotherapy Costs

Representative Glenn Grothman (R, Wisconsin) has reintroduced the Cancer Drug Parity Act (H.R. 4101). This proposed legislation aims to amend the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to ensure that self-funded employer health plans provide no-less-favorable cost-sharing for oral anticancer drugs compared to intravenous (IV) anticancer drugs. The reintroduction follows a September 15 House Oversight subcommittee hearing where witnesses highlighted significant disparities in out-of-pocket costs for oral chemotherapy. Dr. Sheetal M. Kircher of Northwestern University presented research indicating that patients facing over $500 in out-of-pocket costs were four times more likely to abandon oral cancer treatment than those paying $100 or less. While 43 states and the District of Columbia have oral chemotherapy parity laws, these laws do not apply to self-funded employer plans, which fall under federal ERISA regulations, creating a gap in coverage equity.

OpenEvidence, Anthropic, and Penn Medicine Partner to Expand AI Access for Physicians in Africa and Asia

OpenEvidence, Anthropic, and Penn Medicine Partner to Expand AI Access for Physicians in Africa and Asia

OpenEvidence, in collaboration with Anthropic and Penn Medicine, is expanding access to its AI-powered clinical decision support technology for physicians in low- and middle-income countries across Africa and Asia. This initiative aims to provide specialized versions of OpenEvidence's platform to healthcare providers for free in regions where limited access to medical literature and specialist expertise can impact patient care. Anthropic is contributing Claude Credits, dedicated engineers, and funding to support this expansion. Penn Medicine is also making OpenEvidence's AI available to 10,000 clinicians within its U.S. health system and is working through the Botswana-UPenn Partnership to design tools tailored for specific regional considerations. The goal is to adapt the research and tools to be appropriate for patients in local regions, taking into account healthcare infrastructure and local medical guidelines.