Resources for Women’s Health

AHRQ offers information to help enhance our understanding of women’s unique health needs and empower women to be more engaged in health care decisions. In addition to cancer and heart disease, health concerns unique to women, such as pregnancy and gynecologic care, are included.

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Genitourinary Conditions
• Gynecology
• Heart and Blood Vessel Conditions
• Mental Health
• Muscle, Bone, and Joint Conditions
• Pregnancy and Childbirth
• Smoking Cessation
• Wellness

Cancer

Cancer is a term for a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. Cancers are described based on the origin of the tumor, including—

• Carcinoma—cancers derived from epithelial cells, such as the breast
• Sarcoma—cancers arising from connective tissue
• Lymphoma and leukemia—cancers arising from hematopoietic cells that leave the marrow and tend to mature in the lymph nodes and blood, respectively
• Germ cell tumor—cancers derived from pluripotent cells, most often presenting in the ovary
• Blastoma—cancers derived from immature precursor cells or embryonic tissue

Resources for Clinicians

Comparative Effectiveness Reviews

• Noninvasive Diagnostic Tests for Breast Abnormalities–An Update of a 2006 Review
• Oral Contraceptive Use for the Primary Prevention of Ovarian Cancer

Other Research Reports

• Prognostic factor testing among older women with ductal carcinoma in situ and early invasive breast cancer
• Use of endocrine therapy following diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ or early invasive breast cancer
• Use of preoperative MRI among older women with ductal carcinoma in situ and locally invasive breast cancer

For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-cancer.html

Top of Page

For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-diabetes.html

Top of Page

Top of Page

Top of Page

For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-heart-health.html

Top of Page

Mental Health

Chronic mental health issues, such as depression and schizophrenia, can be debilitating for those who experience them and distressing for family members and caregivers. While the exact cause of these diseases remains unclear, it is thought that a combination of neurotransmitter imbalances plus genetic predisposition may contribute.

To suggest topics for consideration, please visit AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program to Submit a Suggestion for Research.

Top of Page

Muscle, Bone, and Joint Conditions

Rheumatic or musculoskeletal conditions comprise more than 150 diseases and syndromes. Those conditions with the greatest impact on society include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis.

Resources for Clinicians

Comparative Effectiveness Reviews

• Treatment To Prevent Fractures in Men and Women With Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis: Update of a 2007 Report
  
  • CME/CE Activities
  • Slide Presentation

Resources for Patients

Patient Decision Aids

• Healthy Bones: A Decision Aid for Women After Menopause

For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/evidence-based-reports/clinical/musculoskeletal/index.html

Top of Page

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Throughout pregnancy and childbirth, a woman faces many health care decisions that impact both her health and the health of her baby. Additionally, some women have health problems before they become pregnant that could lead to complications. Other problems arise during pregnancy.

Resources for Clinicians

Comparative Effectiveness Reviews

• Nitrous Oxide for the Management of Labor Pain
• Progestogens for Prevention of Preterm Birth
  
  • CME/CE Activities
• Therapeutic Management, Delivery, and Postpartum Risk Assessment and Screening in Gestational Diabetes

Other Research Reports

• Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: Developing and Prioritizing a Future Research Agenda

Clinician Research Summaries

• Progestogens for Prevention of Preterm Birth

Resources for Patients

Patient Treatment Summaries

• Progestogens To Prevent Preterm Birth: A Review of the Research About Progestogens for Women at Risk 
• Progestágenos para prevenir el parto prematuro: Revisión de la investigación sobre el uso de progestágenos en las mujeres con riesgo  (En Español)

Podcasts

• Preventing Preterm Birth
• Prevención del parto prematuro (En Español)

Advice Columns

• Not Just the Baby Blues: Screening Can Help Address Postpartum Depression

For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-pregnancy.html and http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-childbirth.html

Top of Page

Smoking Cessation

Smoking is a known cause of multiple cancers, heart disease, stroke, complications of pregnancy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and many other diseases. Smoking in pregnancy can be harmful to both the woman and the fetus, sometimes resulting in stillbirths, spontaneous abortions, decreased fetal growth, premature births, low birth-weight, placental abruption, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).  It has also been linked to cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems in children.

Resources for Clinicians

• Helping Smokers Quit

Resources for Patients

• Quitting Helps You Heal Faster Quitting Helps You Heal Faster (PDF) [ - 39.85 KB]
• Dejar de fumar le ayuda a sanar más rápido (En Español)
• You Can Quit Smoking Primary Care Tear Sheet PDF Version [ - 61.17 KB]
• Apoyo y consejos de su profesional de salud (En Español)
• You Can Quit Smoking Prenatal Care Tear Sheet PDF Version [ - 586.72 KB]
• Usted puede dejar de fumar (En Español)
• Forever Free: For Baby and Me, A Guide to Remaining Smoke Free (PDF file)

For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-tobacco-use.html

Top of Page

Wellness

Staying healthy is key to securing a woman’s overall well-being.  Knowing which screening tests are needed and when to get them, which medicines may prevent diseases, and daily steps to take for good health can help women achieve their wellness goals.

Resources for Patients

• Women: Stay Healthy at Any Age  PDF version - 988.18 KB
• Mujer: Conserve su salud a cualquier edad (En Español)  PDF version - 1.47 MB
• Women: Stay Healthy at 50+  PDF version - 851.24 KB
• Mujer: Conserve su salud después de los 50 (En Español)  PDF version - 2.28 MB

For other resources related to this topic, please visit http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/topics/topic-staying-healthy.html

Top of Page

Information About Ordering

Many of these resources on women’s health were developed by AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program, a resource for evidence-based, comparative effectiveness research. The Program’s resources for health professionals and patients can help them compare and discuss treatment options to make more informed decisions and improve the quality of their health care.

All of the resources on women’s health can be downloaded or ordered by contacting the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov or at 1-800-358-9295.