Screenings, not the movie kind
The CDC released a report in February on the alarming state of mental health for teenage girls. They found a dramatic rise in feelings of “persistent sadness” and 30% of the girls surveyed had seriously considered suicide. The report was followed by interviews in The New York Times, EveryDay Health and PBS News Hour on how to support the young women in our lives as parents, relatives and society.
We’ll continue to advocate for the importance of mental health as equal to physical health and have more on that in the Tasting Menu this week.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, remember 988 is the new suicide and crisis lifeline number. It is 24/7, free and confidential.
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
The Tasting Menu
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
5 Facts About Bacterial Vaginosis
Welcome to your Annual Physical Let’s Talk About Your Mental Health
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
If you spot someone wearing blue on Friday, March 3rd, they are raising awareness for Colorectal Cancer Awareness. One of our highlights since launching Eve Was Framed, was when we heard from several in our community who scheduled their colorectal cancer screenings after an awareness piece we ran.
If you weren’t one of those people, here’s your second nudge to do it!
Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the US behind lung cancer. Risk factors include being overweight, a diet high in red meats, and a history of colorectal polyps. In 2021, the age to begin screening dropped from 50 to 45 and, like many other screenings, people postponed this during the pandemic.
Early detection including removing polyps that are precancerous, increases cure rates and can mean less intensive treatments. Often polyps can be removed during the colonoscopy reducing the need for additional procedures. Because colorectal cancer develops over many years, on-time screenings are the best tool to find it in precancerous or early stages. The survival rate at stage 1 is 90%.
Make that appointment today.
5 Facts About Bacterial Vaginosis
We’ve covered Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) previously as a “Medical Term of the Week”, but wanted to dive in a bit deeper to help any person with a vagina understand what it is and other issues it can cause to your body.
Vaginas hold bacteria. Just like with cholesterol, there’s good and bad variations of that. BV is a vaginal infection caused by too much “bad” bacteria, leading to an imbalance of bacteria. It's a common issue among people with a vagina between the ages of 15-44, although it can occur at any age.
Here’s a few facts to know:
BV mostly affects those who are sexually active - you’re more at risk if you have multiple partners (or a new partner), aren’t using condoms, use an IUD, or are douching frequently. 35% of people with a vagina will get BV in their lifetime
BV can increase the risk of contracting other sexually-transmitted diseases including chlamydia and gonorrhea
It’s also common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Having BV while pregnant can lead to a preterm birth
Black women are 2x more likely to get BV, a result of differences in vaginal flora, higher stress, and low vitamin D
You can’t get BV from external objects like toilet seats, bedding or swimming pools
Some of the signs and symptoms of BV include a green, gray, or white vaginal discharge, a fishy odor (especially following sex), itching in the vagina, or burning when you urinate. A doctor can run some tests to measure the acidity level in your vagina and luckily, there are several antibiotics that can help treat it.
Welcome to your Annual Physical – Let’s Talk About Your Mental Health
If you’ve had your annual physical yet in 2023 or had one in the fall of 2022, you may have noticed your provider is asking questions related to mental health. Specifically, they may be asking about anxiety and depression.
Wonder why?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated their draft recommendations for screening for anxiety in adults up to age 65. Anxiety symptoms increased in the past few years by more than 35%. Providers use various tools to assess anxiety including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD).
We are thrilled that mental health is getting attention along with physical health for screening. Keep in mind that some of the symptoms of mental health concerns show up as physical symptoms like loss of appetite and sleep disruptions. GPs are on the front lines of seeing these.
Based on your responses, your provider may recommend additional screenings or refer you to a mental health professional. While our GPs are a good place to start, specialized training for mental health, just like specialized medical providers, is important to get the best support and treatment. During our research, we found this piece from Very Well Mind on reasons to see a GP, Psychiatrist, or Therapist for depression a helpful starting guide.
You can read more about the recommendations on the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force website.
So who are these folks?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is composed of volunteer experts who make recommendations grounded in evidence-based medicine for preventative screenings such as colonoscopies, mammograms, cancer screenings, and vision screenings.
Medical Term of the Week
Insulin resistance occurs when the cells in your body don’t react to the message from insulin (a hormone released by your pancreas) to take sugar and convert it into energy. You end up with excessive sugar in your bloodstream.
During perimenopause, we are particularly prone to this as other hormonal changes are taking place. Double whammy. Thanks for that.
The Latest
We love a good story and tips about pelvic floor health (From The New York Times)
We also love a good podcast and the latest episode of Beyond the Paper Gown talks about the benefit to the economy of investing in women’s health. (From Beyond the Paper Gown)
Seeing a fertility specialist for the first time? One of our favorite CEOs, Jessica Bell van der Wal of Frame Fertility shared 5 questions to ask (From Mother.ly)