The hottest Women's Health Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics

What is PCOS?

Ladyparts • 399 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. PCOS can take many women years or even decades to be diagnosed.
  2. Misdiagnosis can lead to delays in getting the right treatment.
  3. Injuries like broken bones can sometimes be overlooked and need proper diagnosis and treatment.

Friday Q&A: Irritable Bowel; HRT & breast cancer; sudden cardiac arrest; & tinnitus

Are You Okay? • 339 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a real condition that affects a significant portion of the population, more commonly women, causing symptoms like cramping, pain, bloating, and more.
  2. Managing IBS involves keeping a food diary to identify trigger foods, checking medications for possible digestive effects, increasing fiber intake gradually, managing stress, and nurturing the gut microbiome by choosing the right foods.
  3. Individuals with family history of breast cancer and considering hormone replacement therapy should consult with healthcare providers, as factors like age, lifestyle habits, and specific health conditions play a role in decision-making.

Friday Q&A: urinary infections & incontinence; estrogen use in breast cancer patients; testosterone for women; & pelvic floor dysfunction

Are You Okay? • 299 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. For urinary incontinence, exploring options like vaginal estrogen can be beneficial if other medications are not successful and may improve symptoms.
  2. Management of genitourinary symptoms in estrogen+ breast cancer patients requires careful consideration due to vaginal atrophy, but vaginal estrogen therapy may still be an option to explore.
  3. Seeking specialist assessment for pelvic floor anatomy and function, and considering pelvic floor physical therapy, can help address issues like weak pelvic muscles contributing to urinary problems.
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"Alarming Number" of Cervical Cancer Diagnoses and Deaths in Women Over 65

Ladyparts • 459 implied HN points • 10 Jan 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. The CDC recommends women stop screening for cervical cancer after 65, but a study shows a rise in cases and deaths in that age group
  2. The author personally experienced a cervical health scare and highlights the importance of timely information sharing
  3. Consider subscribing to stay informed about cervical cancer issues and get access to more articles

New Study: Higher-than-Expected Fetal Losses after mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination in Early Pregnancy

jackanapes • 139 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Women's Health
  1. Women vaccinated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in early pregnancy experienced more fetal losses than expected. This means that for every 100 women vaccinated, there were more losses than what was normally seen.
  2. Most of these losses happened later in pregnancy, especially after week 24. This suggests that there are possible biological reasons behind the increase in losses, not just behavioral factors.
  3. In contrast, women who got the flu vaccine during the same early pregnancy window actually had fewer losses than expected. This comparison helps show that the risks associated with the COVID-19 vaccine might be different.

Safeguarding

Bodies get in the way... • 216 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Mothers need safeguarding after childbirth to protect their vulnerability and privacy.
  2. De-sexed language and inclusive policies can blur the line and make it challenging to offer safe spaces for women in breastfeeding support groups.
  3. Leaders in breastfeeding support groups may face difficulties balancing inclusive policies with safeguarding women from harassment and unwanted male involvement.

Medical Mysteries #2: A Case of Burning Mouth Syndrome

Are You Okay? • 199 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Burning Mouth Syndrome can cause discomfort like a burning sensation in the mouth and tongue. If experiencing these symptoms, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
  2. Medical mysteries like these can often leave individuals feeling worried and unsure. Seeking medical advice and understanding more about the condition can help manage concerns and find solutions.
  3. Participating in discussions and seeking information from healthcare providers can provide insights and support for managing health conditions like Burning Mouth Syndrome.

Being Heard, Believed, Not Killed

Ladyparts • 379 implied HN points • 14 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Advocate for yourself at the doctor's office to ensure proper treatment and care.
  2. Be aware of how gender bias can affect the healthcare you receive, especially as a woman.
  3. Educate yourself on how to navigate medical situations to avoid being dismissed or receiving incorrect treatment.

To breast or not to breast

The Global Jigsaw • 138 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. There is societal pressure and fetishization surrounding female breasts, impacting personal decisions and experiences.
  2. Breast reconstruction procedures post-mastectomy can have high rates of complications, but are aggressively promoted by doctors and society.
  3. Patients should be informed and have autonomy in decisions regarding reconstructive surgery, being respected even if they opt out.

Are Fertility & Femininity Inseparable?

Are You Okay? • 139 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Fertility struggles can have significant physical, emotional, and social impacts, and it's common for individuals and couples to face emotional challenges during infertility treatments.
  2. Infertility is more common than many realize, affecting around 10-15% of couples worldwide and about 12% of married women in the U.S. Seeking support and healthy coping strategies is important.
  3. Health is about more than fertility - it involves awareness, acceptance, and agency. Reframing fertility challenges as a journey of self-discovery can be empowering for individuals.

2023 Wrapped: a year of sickness and health

art fish intelligence • 58 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. In 2023, the author analyzed their patterns of sickness and health through data collected from sources like Google Maps location history and Apple Health.
  2. The analysis revealed insights such as spending almost half of the year unwell and correlations between health factors like exercise and location.
  3. Key findings included the impact of menstrual cycle on sickness, the importance of rest during certain phases, and the value of personal data exploration for health insights.

A caesarean section in 18th-century Ireland

The Quack Doctor • 19 implied HN points • 17 May 24
💾 History Women's Health
  1. In 18th-century Ireland, midwife Mary Donally performed the first known successful caesarean section, saving a woman's life and her child's life.
  2. The story showcases the resilience and strength of women, like Mrs. O'Neal and the woman from Augher, who endured unimaginable hardships with courage and fortitude.
  3. Medical cases from history, like those described, highlight the remarkable toughness of the human body, particularly women's bodies, in facing challenges and continuing to persevere.

U.S. women enrolled in high-deductible health insurance plans are at risk of dying younger

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 199 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🏥 Health Politics Women's Health
  1. Women with high-deductible health insurance plans face a greater risk of dying younger because they may not afford the care they need. This is especially true for those diagnosed with serious illnesses like breast cancer.
  2. Studies show that women in high-deductible plans are less likely to stick to their treatment due to high out-of-pocket costs, which can lead to worse health outcomes.
  3. There's a significant racial disparity in health outcomes for women with cancer in high-deductible plans, particularly affecting Black women who are less likely to receive necessary treatment compared to other groups.

New NAMS Position Statement Promotes Hormone Therapy for Those Under 60 & Within 10 Years of the Onset of Menopause

Ladyparts • 279 implied HN points • 11 Jul 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Hormone therapy is considered the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms and the genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
  2. There was a misunderstanding about hormone therapy due to misinformation from the Women's Health Initiative study in 2002.
  3. Subsequent studies have shown that hormone therapy can have a beneficial risk-to-benefit ratio for younger women and those close to menopause.

All These Hysterical Women

Men Yell at Me • 424 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Historically, women's reproductive organs were viewed as uncontrollable and tied to their mental stability.
  2. The concept of 'hysteria' stems from the Greek word for uterus, implying lack of control over women.
  3. There is a need for women to be vocal, protest, and fight for their reproductive rights despite being dismissed as hysterical.

New Czech dataset has ICD10 codes of vaccinated vs. unvaccinated female deaths

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Women's Health
  1. A Czech record-level dataset links women's vaccination histories to ICD‑10 underlying causes of death and spans back to 1994, but it only covers women and originally reported events at monthly resolution rather than weekly.
  2. A preliminary ICD‑10 comparison finds different cause distributions between vaccinated and unvaccinated deaths (for example, higher shares of heart failure, diabetes, COVID, and neurologic causes among vaccinated deaths and higher cardiovascular shares among unvaccinated), but aggregate counts are confounded by long pre-vaccine records, older vaccinated populations, and baseline mortality differences.
  3. The data and analysis code are available for further study, and because the file records only underlying cause (not multiple causes) and has limited time resolution, careful age- and time-restricted analyses are needed to look for possible safety signals such as acute kidney injury.

Estrogen and Covid-19 Mortality

Ladyparts • 159 implied HN points • 19 May 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Women prescribed hormone replacement within six months of Covid-19 infection had lower mortality rates.
  2. Estrogen treatment post-Covid lowered mortality risk in women with asthma.
  3. There is a notable lack of awareness among medical professionals regarding the protective benefits of estrogen for women's health issues.

In Defense of Artificial Reproduction

The 21st Century Proletarian • 59 implied HN points • 15 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Women's Health
  1. Feminists like Shulamith Firestone have argued for technological advances in reproduction to challenge gender stereotypes and hierarchies.
  2. Rejecting the natural connection between women and motherhood is important to move towards gender equality and eliminate gender distinctions.
  3. Advocating for responsible use of artificial wombs can lead to progress in gender equality, but it should be approached cautiously with a focus on societal well-being.

47% of Women Fixed Their Depression by Adding ONE Hormone

Neuro Athletics • 12 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Many women struggling with depression, cognitive issues, and low libido may benefit from testosterone therapy, as evidenced by a study where 47% reported mood improvements after using testosterone cream.
  2. Conventional treatments like SSRIs often overlook hormone deficiencies that contribute to these symptoms, leading to ineffective solutions for many women.
  3. It's important for women to get their hormone levels tested and to advocate for proper care, including seeking providers who understand hormone therapy, rather than relying solely on diet and exercise.

Are weight loss drugs feminist?

Sex and the State • 13 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Losing weight can be seen as empowering for women in a society that often discriminates against them based on their size. Slimming down might lead to fewer stigmas and better opportunities for women.
  2. However, choosing to lose weight should not be framed as the only way to fight sexism. Individual choices about body size have little effect on larger societal issues like misogyny or fatphobia.
  3. It's important for women to make choices that work for them personally, even if those choices don't directly challenge societal norms. Feminism can include various ways to address sexism without just focusing on body image.

An Invitation to a Zoom Hangout with Me!

Are You Okay? • 19 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Lucy McBride is hosting Zoom hangouts for paid subscribers to discuss health topics like Menopause & Women's Health: Risks & Benefits of Hormone Therapy.
  2. The upcoming session focuses on data and decision-making regarding hormone therapy, with an opportunity for subscribers to watch a recording if they can't attend live.
  3. Subscribers can access exclusive content and engage in discussions by subscribing to Lucy McBride's newsletter.

VSRF LIVE TONIGHT: Episode 208 with Dr. Adam Urato, MD.

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 1 implied HN point • 18 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Antidepressants and other medications are commonly prescribed during pregnancy, but the safety data and long‑term evidence are often thin or missing.
  2. Many pregnant women aren’t given full, honest risk–benefit information, so informed consent about medication exposures is frequently incomplete.
  3. Protecting maternal mental health and protecting the developing baby are both important and compatible goals, and honest, evidence‑based conversations can help balance risks while avoiding routine, unquestioned prescribing.

Building the Google Maps for the fertility journey

SarHaribhakti's Newsletter • 50 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Understanding the complexity of fertility journeys and breaking stigma is crucial in the fertility space.
  2. Access to holistic support, personalized guidance, and a supportive community can greatly help individuals on their fertility journey.
  3. Conceive aims to change outcomes by providing valuable support, access to experts, and a sense of community for individuals navigating fertility challenges.

Be Your Own Advocate

Are You Okay? • 19 implied HN points • 06 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Recognize the normalcy of your feelings and reactions to stress to reduce stigma.
  2. Quiet your inner critic and acknowledge that everyone is facing challenges during the pandemic.
  3. Understand that your doctor is there to help you, not judge you, and asking for help is a sign of strength.

VSRF LIVE TONIGHT: Episode 190- Dr. Tina Peers, MBBS: Breakthrough Healing for Chronic Spike Illness.

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 1 implied HN point • 14 Aug 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Dr. Tina Peers has years of experience helping patients with chronic illnesses, especially those linked to mast cell activation syndrome.
  2. Many people may not know they have this condition, which can cause various symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.
  3. Simple treatments, like changes in diet and certain medications, can help improve symptoms quickly.

To Mother or Not to Mother?

The Next Chapter • 1 implied HN point • 20 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. The decision of motherhood can be complex, influenced by personal experiences and societal expectations.
  2. Motherhood involves self-discovery and can bring excitement and fear simultaneously.
  3. Ultimately, the choice of motherhood is personal and can evolve over time, shaped by relationships, cultural perspectives, and introspection.

cryopreserving hope

Gynoid • 1 HN point • 07 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Understanding the limitations and realities of egg freezing is crucial for women's reproductive planning.
  2. Egg freezing does not guarantee high success rates of live births, especially as women age.
  3. The ideal scenario for egg freezing success involves starting at a younger age and retrieving a higher number of healthy eggs.

Morgane Billuart: Cycles: The Sacred and the Doomed

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is viewed as a condition, disease, and dysfunction that can be misunderstood by society and medical professionals.
  2. Menstruating bodies have complex relationships with technology and healthcare, with advancements like birth control and fertility treatments affecting various aspects of life.
  3. The field of Femtech is emerging as a revolutionary industry aiming to provide care, understanding, and new perspectives for women and menstruating bodies through the use of technology and holistic approaches.

Morgane Billuart: Elevated and Upgraded: The Paradigms of Female Health and Body Optimization

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health
  1. Optimization often involves maximizing the utility of the body and striving for perfection under societal norms and expectations.
  2. The concept of an 'optimized woman' revolves around empowering oneself through pain, creating strategies based on menstrual cycles, and integrating external elements for survival.
  3. The pressure to optimize our bodies and lives is influenced by capitalist, patriarchal, and technological systems, leading to feelings of inadequacy and constant comparison with machines.