Women's Health Updates — December 2021

Learn about recent developments in women's health as well as SWHR's activities that promote the study of sex and gender influences on health and serve our mission to improve women's health through science, policy, and education.
SWHR Provides Resources on Uterine Fibroids and Immunization Education
With the help of SWHR’s Uterine Fibroids Program, SWHR published the "Uterine Fibroids Toolkit: A Patient Empowerment Guide" this fall. The toolkit is designed to empower individuals with uterine fibroids in navigating their care, and provides easy-to-understand information on gynecological health, guidance on uterine fibroid diagnosis and treatment, and tips for interacting with your health care provider.

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are non-cancerous tumors made of smooth muscle and fibrous connective tissue that arise from the uterus—and they are one of the most common gynecological conditions nationwide. Read the new SWHR blog about the toolkit's creation and join SWHR on December 6 for an educational webinar on fibroids.
SWHR continues its Focus on Fibroids educational series about uterine fibroid diagnosis, treatment options, access to care, and disparities. One event took place on November 29, and another will take place December 6. 

SWHR gathered physicians, experts, patients, and advocates on November 29, 2021 for a panel discussion about how to use the new toolkit to assist diagnosing, treating, and living with uterine fibroids.
Join SWHR on December 6, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. noon EST for the final chapter of the Focus on Fibroids webinar series about uterine fibroids, with a focus on patient experiences.
Learn more and register here. Register Today!

Congressional Briefing: SWHR hosted a congressional briefing titled "Supporting Women with Fibroids Through Policy Action", on July 13, 2021. Event panelists provided an update on the state of fibroid research and discussed the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroids Research and Education Act of 2021 (H.R. 2007). Watch the recording here.

Check out additional highlights from the events and toolkit on social media at #SWHRtalksFibroids.
Vaccines are an important measure to promote family and public health by slowing, and sometimes preventing, the spread of infectious and dangerous diseases.

SWHR's Immunization Education Working Group of public health researchers, community leaders, patient advocates, and health care providers, this roadmap is designed to guide community program planners as they engage women and their families in meaningful vaccination initiatives. 

Follow the conversation about the roadmap and vaccination education on social media at #SWHRtalksVaccines.

For questions specific to maternal immunizations, check out SWHR's Maternal Immunization: Quick Guide from earlier this year.


SWHR joined the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and other pregnancy experts this fall in recommending pregnant and lactating people be vaccinated against COVID-19, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Learn more with the "COVID-19 Vaccination if You Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding" resource guide, available in both English and Spanish.
UPCOMING SWHR EVENTS
& AWARENESS WEEKS OF NOTE
Join the CDC, SWHR, and many other health organizations in recognizing National Influenza Vaccination Week this December 5 - 11, 2021. Book your flu vaccination and follow along for updates and educational resources at @CDCFlu on Twitter and at #SWHRtalksVaccines.
Join SWHR for the last portion of the Focus on Fibroids Series: Empowering Women to Live Well with Uterine Fibroids. On Monday, December 6, 2021 at noon EST, Hear from patients and advocates as they share educational information about uterine fibroids and highlight their own experiences of living with fibroids. Read more and register here. Register Today!
SWHR is hosting a virtual public forum to discuss women’s eye health, highlighting eye diseases that disproportionately affect women, experiences of women living with eye disease, and how to navigate care access. Hosted on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. EST, this event is part of SWHR’s Eye Health Program. Read more and register here. Register Today!

This event is part of SWHR’s Eye Health Program, which also includes a peer-reviewed paper, closed roundtable event, and upcoming patient toolkit.
Supporters of SWHR will gather in-person, together for SWHR’s 2022 Annual Awards Gala on Thursday, April 28, 2022 to honor leaders who have devoted their careers to improving women’s health and women’s advancement in science and medicine. Read more about the event here.

To purchase a sponsorship or tickets, click here. For additional information, please contact Joy Braun, Vice President of Development at joy@swhr.org or 202.496.5001.

POLICY & ADVOCACY
SWHR submitted comments in November in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026. The Strategic Plan includes five strategic goals, ranging from strengthening equitable access to high quality and affordable care to restoring trust in science and research for all. Read SWHR's comments here.
Last month, SWHR provided comments to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on its draft research plan for cervical cancer screening. In its comments, SWHR noted the importance of examining the role of access in cervical cancer prevention, specifically looking at regional geography, socioeconomic status, and resource availability, and considering how to measure whether women’s preferences are being incorporated into their preventive treatment and care. Read SWHR’s comments here.
FROM THE BLOG
In the United States, around 390,000 infants are born prematurely (before 37 weeks of gestation) each year. Although preterm birth (PTB) rates in the United States declined slightly between 2007 and 2014, the United States still has one of the highest PTB rates in the world. SWHR explores the role of PTB in infant health outcomes, maternal health conversations, and recommendations for tackling the trend. Read the blog post here.
The improved inclusion and representation of people from diverse backgrounds across all areas of research, as well as the diversification of the research workforce, are crucial for reducing health disparities. SWHR, as part of its mission, advocates for inclusion and representation of women in research and considers a diverse research workforce a necessary component for improving women’s health. Read the blog post here.
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
SWHR is wishing you and your family, community, and loved ones a safe and healthy holiday season and a happy New Year. Thank you for your continued support. We are excited to continue the work with you to make women's health mainstream in 2022.