Hot Topics in Women's Health

Lybrel^TM: The New Birth Control Pill that Eliminates Menstruation
In May 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the oral contraceptive Lybrel™ to prevent pregnancy. Lybrel is the first FDA-approved birth control pill that is taken 365 days a year and eliminates monthly menstrual periods.

Many women have questions about the safety and benefits of a pill that causes long-term suppression of menstruation. Dr. Erin Marcus of the Institute for Women’s Health asked Dr. Carla Lupi, assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and director of graduate medical education for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, to discuss this new contraceptive option. Download a PDF transcript of the interview with Dr. Lupi.

Breast Feeding’s Benefits and Challenges
Breast feeding is widely recognized as optimal food for newborns and many authorities have strongly endorsed breast feeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the World Health Organization recommend that most women exclusively breast feed their babies for the first six months of life. The federal government’s “Healthy People 2010” health objectives include increasing the number of breast-fed babies as a national health goal.

Yet, the United States still lags behind other countries in breast feeding. In addition, an August 31, 2007 Washington Post article revealed that recent government efforts to educate women on breast feeding’s benefits were “toned down” due to pressure from the formula industry. The Institute for Women’s Health’s Dr. Erin Marcus interviewed Dr. Lourdes Forster, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics, about breast feeding’s benefits and challenges. Dr. Forster is a general pediatrician who frequently lectures on lactation. Download a PDF transcript of the interview with Dr. Forster.

Gardasil®: The New Vaccine for Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
In June 2006, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gardasil®, the first vaccine against human papillomavirus, or HPV. There are more than 100 strains of HPV, and about 30 infect the genital region. Some HPV strains have been implicated in a variety of cancers, including those of the cervix, anus, vagina, vulva, penis, mouth, and sinuses. Other strains cause benign, non-cancerous warts.

Shortly after the FDA’s approval of Gardasil, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that all girls ages 11 to 12 begin receiving the vaccine, that the vaccine be included in the federal Vaccines for Children program (which pays for vaccines for low-income children), and that girls and women between the ages of 13 and 26 also receive the vaccine. These recommendations have been controversial, however, and several state legislatures have rejected measures to require Gardasil vaccination for school children.

The Institute for Women’s Health’s Dr. Erin Marcus interviewed Dr. Leo Twiggs, professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, about HPV vaccines. Dr. Twiggs has led numerous studies looking at Gardasil’s effectiveness and has received research support from Merck, its producer. Download a PDF transcript of the interview with Dr. Twiggs.

Ovarian Cancer: New Developments in Screening, Detection and Treatment
Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecological cancer among women and is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women. Compared to most other common cancers, ovarian cancer is more likely to present at an advanced stage when it is first diagnosed -- more than 70 percent of women with ovarian cancer have advanced stage disease at the time of diagnosis.  For this group, the average 5 year survival rate is estimated to be 20-30 percent.  In contrast, for women with locally defined disease, the cure rate is estimated to be 70-90 percent.

For many years, major professional groups did not recommend  screening asymptomatic women for ovarian cancer, because of a lack of evidence that screening worked in reducing deaths from this disease.  A  January 2007 study, however, suggests that women who suffer from certain symptoms (pelvic/abdominal pain, increased abdominal size/bloating,  urinary frequency/urgency, or feeling full with difficulty eating) more than 12 times a month may be at increased risk and should undergo additional  evaluation for ovarian cancer.

The Institute for Women's Health's Dr. Erin N. Marcus interviewed Dr.  Joseph Lucci, Director of Gynecologic Oncology and Professor of Clinical Gynecology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, about  new developments in the screening, detection and treatment of ovarian cancer.   Download a PDF transcript of the interview with Dr. Lucci.