Latest news with #womenHealth
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mary Claire Haver
Credit - Eric McCandless—Disney/Getty Images Fifteen percent of women glide through menopause. Dr. Mary Claire Haver was not among them, suffering debilitating hot flashes and sleepless nights. She also noticed that, even though the condition will affect about half the population, information on how to manage symptoms was hard to find. (Last year, a British study showed that only 9% of women felt informed enough to handle menopause.) So, the telegenic Dr. Haver, a board-certified ob-gyn based in Texas, stepped into the breach. In 2021, she opened her own clinic in Galveston; in 2023, she published a book on menopause diets; and in 2024, she followed up with The New Menopause, a comprehensive guide for women. Both sold briskly, but it's on social media where the 56-year-old's advice really lands—particularly on Instagram, where she speaks to her nearly 3 million followers, offering advice and talking through the latest research. Her guidance is considered aggressive by some menopause experts—she's an advocate for hormone therapy—and her promotion of her own supplements and diet plans has raised eyebrows. But her intelligence and candor have made her a staple for the 45-and-over set. As she told TIME last year, 'This is a time when we should be living our best lives.' Data and insights powered by #paid Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Women are twice as likely to suffer from Alzheimer's as men. Scientists have figured out why
Experts have long known that women are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. They're twice as likely to be affected as men. Now scientists say they may be on their way to understanding why that's the case - pinpointing two stark differences between men and women. Firstly, women have different chromosomes than men. They also undergo menopause: a process that occurs when a woman's reproductive hormones naturally decline starting in her 40s and 50s. One in three older Americans dies with Alzheimer's, or another dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease are women. 'Epidemiologically, we see that for almost all neurological diseases, there are differences in how many biological women and men are affected,' Anna Bonkhoff, resident and research fellow in neurology at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, explained in a recent interview. 'There's a tendency, for example, in [multiple sclerosis] and migraine for more females to be affected, while it's the contrary for brain tumors and Parkinson's.' 'Just based on these numbers, you get the feeling that something needs to underlie these differences in terms of the biology,' she added. Looking inside the body, while women have two 'X' chromosomes, men have an 'X' and a 'Y.' Chromosomes are thread-like structures of DNA inside our cells that carry hundreds or even thousands of genes. Genes determine a person's physical characteristics. Differences between genes held on the X and Y chromosomes may give women an increased chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. Recent research has shown that genes on the X chromosome are related to Alzheimer's disease, including that women with Alzheimer's live longer than men with the disease due to their second X chromosome. 'A lot of genes for the immune system and regulating brain structure are located on the X chromosome, so the dosages differ to certain degrees between men and women. That seems to have an effect,' said Bonkhoff. Women's different dominant hormones — such as estrogen, which acts on the brain — could also play a role. 'Menopause is part of the puzzle, probably one of the bigger ones,' Bonkhoff said. 'I'm not saying it's the only one — aging is relevant by itself, and there's a lot of interesting research looking at what aging does to the immune system that seems to have implications for cognitive changes.' During menopause, when ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, some women turn to hormone replacement therapy. The practice offers relief for symptoms of lower hormone levels in menopause such as hot flashes. But for some women it may increase their risk of dangerous medical conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, blood clots and gall bladder disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women who received hormone replacement after age 70 also have significantly higher levels of the protein known as 'tau,' according to Rachel Buckley, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. The accumulation of tau is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. They also suffered higher cognitive decline. Buckley published those findings last March in the journal Science Advances. But further research is needed to understand these associations. 'We work with a lot of secondary data that already exists, and that's great but there are limitations to what we can do with it,' Buckley said. 'We're trying to see if we can set up a new study design where we can really look at the time of menopause, what is changing in the blood, what is changing in the brain, what is changing in cognition, and how that might be associated with later life risk.'
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
How This Founder Built A Wellness Brand That Puts Women's Health First
HER Fantasy Box Founder, Kayla Rowe Every year, up to a million pregnancies in the U.S. end in miscarriage. For as many as half of those cases, including stillbirths, there's no clear explanation why—leaving women not only grieving but searching for answers. Kayla Rowe knows that journey all too well. 'I went from being five months pregnant and excited about baby clothes and the future of motherhood to having it all stripped from me unexpectedly one day,' she recalls. In the aftermath of her miscarriage, Rowe channeled her grief into a search for clarity. She began questioning everything she consumed and used on her body—including the feminine hygiene products she had trusted for years. 'I didn't want to become paranoid, but I did become more aware. I started looking at what I was eating, what I was using, what I had been trusting without reading the fine print. I opened every cabinet in my house and started flipping bottles over, checking ingredients, and throwing things away.' That awareness led to a solution. Determined to help other women Rowe began building Her Fantasy Box, a plant-powered feminine hygiene brand. Her mission was to help women of all ages, whether navigating pregnancy loss, menopause, postpartum or everyday concerns like odor and irritation. In a full-circle moment, she launched the brand in June 2022, just months after giving birth to her first son. The experience of bringing life into the world after previously losing a pregnancy gave her mission deeper meaning. Her Fantasy Box was a reclamation of trust in her body, and a way to help other women do the same. Her Fantasy Box quickly became a viral success, building a devoted community of customers. The brand that Rowe has bootstrapped has sold over 1.1 million products and grown a social media following of nearly 700,000. Now a top seller on Amazon, its product line includes pH-balancing washes, probiotics, body deodorants, feminine wipes, and more. Its U.S.-based manufacturing team includes pharmacists and chemists who meticulously formulate the products in an FDA-registered lab. Part of the brand's success lies in its relatability. Her Fantasy Box speaks directly to its customers by addressing their real concerns in a voice that feels familiar and honest. 'One of the biggest myths I see is that all feminine hygiene products are bad. That you should just avoid everything,' Rowe says. 'And I get it. A lot of the stuff we grew up on wasn't made with our real health in mind. It was heavily fragranced, irritating, and designed to cover things up instead of supporting the body.' In a category where feminine hygiene can still feel uncomfortable or even taboo to discuss, the brand offers an informative, engaging, and inclusive space for women who are actively searching for answers. A Lifelong Calling Inspired by a lifetime of watching women care for others, Rowe was raised by a mother who worked as a certified nursing assistant. From a young age, she would have conversations with her mom about what happened at work—conversations that opened her mind to the importance of service, preventative care, and dignity in wellness. To carry that legacy of care forward, Rowe knew she had to pursue higher education. She became the first in her family to attend college, earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of South Florida, with a minor in infection control. Since then, she's remained deeply engaged in public health, including staying up to date on the latest research, industry regulations, and emerging trends in women's wellness. Led By Curiosity 'The gap between clinical research and real-life experience is where I find the truth,' Rowe says. She stays current on the latest science in feminine health by staying curious—reading studies, reviewing ingredients, and maintaining close relationships with her brand's chemists and manufacturing team. She also regularly leans on her trusted circle of friends, many of whom are nurses, doctors, and women's health practitioners. 'I'm always asking questions, staying close to our chemists and manufacturers, and keeping tabs on ingredients and regulatory shifts. My background in public health keeps me grounded. I don't just ask, 'Is this trending?' I ask, 'Is this safe?' 'Is it necessary?' 'What does this do to our bodies long term?'' Changing the Standard 'Growth for me isn't just about putting out new products. It's about changing the standard,' Rowe says. 'A lot of what's on store shelves today is outdated. So when new research helps us make something safer or educate our community—who we call our 'Fantasy Baes'—in a way that really clicks, that's a win.' That drive to shift the industry standard has led to Her Fantasy Box's latest innovations, all informed by cutting-edge research. 'Lately, I've been really excited about emerging research on the vaginal microbiome and how it connects to gut health, mood, hormones, and even immunity. I think we're just scratching the surface. The same way probiotics transformed skincare, I believe they're about to transform feminine care. And it's not a trend, it's a need.' This research inspired the launch of two recent products: Everywhere Deodorant and the Healthy Box Probiotic. The deodorant is infused with probiotics and includes ingredients like niacinamide and mandelic acid to support the skin barrier, even tone, and help balance odor, without relying on aluminum. The Healthy Box Probiotic is formulated with clinically studied strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus crispatus to support vaginal flora, digestion, and immunity, along with chasteberry to help balance hormones. Both products embody Rowe's philosophy that when women have access to the right information and clean, effective products to match, they feel more confident taking care of themselves. Building Trust w/ Customers Her Fantasy Box has built a loyal customer base by prioritizing both product quality and customer connection. 'It always starts with the product maintaining a certain standard and never going below it,' Rowe says. 'We don't throw ingredients in just because they sound good. Every single component in our formulas is there for a reason. Our products are built with intention.' The brand also places customer needs at the center of everything, from product development to packaging to education. To stay connected, Her Fantasy Box recently launched a mobile app that has already grown to over 100,000 subscribers. It offers daily motivation, product education, and real-time updates via push notifications. But Rowe insists that trust goes both ways. The key isn't just pushing content, it's listening. 'We listen to our customers. We listen to their pain points, to what they feel is missing. They are our number one driver for product innovation.' That daily feedback is collected and shared directly with the company's manufacturing and pharmacy teams to help shape product improvements and spark new ideas for what's next. For Rowe, Her Fantasy Box is more than a brand. It's a form of protection for the women she cares about.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Women are twice as likely to suffer from Alzheimer's as men. Scientists have figured out why
Experts have long known that women are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. They're twice as likely to be affected as men. Now scientists say they may be on their way to understanding why that's the case - pinpointing two stark differences between men and women. Firstly, women have different chromosomes than men. They also undergo menopause: a process that occurs when a woman's reproductive hormones naturally decline starting in her 40s and 50s. One in three older Americans dies with Alzheimer's, or another dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease are women. 'Epidemiologically, we see that for almost all neurological diseases, there are differences in how many biological women and men are affected,' Anna Bonkhoff, resident and research fellow in neurology at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, explained in a recent interview. 'There's a tendency, for example, in [multiple sclerosis] and migraine for more females to be affected, while it's the contrary for brain tumors and Parkinson's.' 'Just based on these numbers, you get the feeling that something needs to underlie these differences in terms of the biology,' she added. Looking inside the body, while women have two 'X' chromosomes, men have an 'X' and a 'Y.' Chromosomes are thread-like structures of DNA inside our cells that carry hundreds or even thousands of genes. Genes determine a person's physical characteristics. Differences between genes held on the X and Y chromosomes may give women an increased chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. Recent research has shown that genes on the X chromosome are related to Alzheimer's disease, including that women with Alzheimer's live longer than men with the disease due to their second X chromosome. 'A lot of genes for the immune system and regulating brain structure are located on the X chromosome, so the dosages differ to certain degrees between men and women. That seems to have an effect,' said Bonkhoff. Women's different dominant hormones — such as estrogen, which acts on the brain — could also play a role. 'Menopause is part of the puzzle, probably one of the bigger ones,' Bonkhoff said. 'I'm not saying it's the only one — aging is relevant by itself, and there's a lot of interesting research looking at what aging does to the immune system that seems to have implications for cognitive changes.' During menopause, when ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, some women turn to hormone replacement therapy. The practice offers relief for symptoms of lower hormone levels in menopause such as hot flashes. But for some women it may increase their risk of dangerous medical conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, blood clots and gall bladder disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women who received hormone replacement after age 70 also have significantly higher levels of the protein known as 'tau,' according to Rachel Buckley, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. The accumulation of tau is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. They also suffered higher cognitive decline. Buckley published those findings last March in the journal Science Advances. But further research is needed to understand these associations. 'We work with a lot of secondary data that already exists, and that's great but there are limitations to what we can do with it,' Buckley said. 'We're trying to see if we can set up a new study design where we can really look at the time of menopause, what is changing in the blood, what is changing in the brain, what is changing in cognition, and how that might be associated with later life risk.'
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Why women are at higher risk of having Alzheimer's than men
Wo men are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer's disease, accounting for almost two-thirds of American sufferers. Scientists are investigating two primary biological differences: chromosomal variations, particularly genes on the X chromosome. The natural decline of reproductive hormones during menopause is also considered a significant factor contributing to women 's increased risk. Research suggests that women who received hormone replacement therapy after age 70 exhibited higher levels of the Alzheimer's hallmark protein 'tau' and greater cognitive decline. Further studies are required to fully comprehend the complex associations between menopause, hormonal changes, and the long-term risk of developing Alzheimer's.
