PCOS Research Gets A Boost

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a grant to the Virgina Commonwealth School of Medicine to study PCOS in an interdisciplinary setting.

The five-year grant will support an interdisciplinary and translational research center in PCOS, making VCU one of only15 Specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction and Infertility Research (SCCPRIR) in the country.

“This research program initiative expands the existing PCOS program at VCU, allowing interdisciplinary and collaborative studies with partnering institutions, and will enhance our ability to bring research discoveries from the laboratory bench quickly to the clinical care of women with PCOS,” said John Nestler, M.D., vice chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and chair of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the VCU School of Medicine. Nestler, a pioneer in PCOS research, is the primary investigator for the project.

“VCU’s SCCPRIR program focuses on the use of genetics to identify risk for PCOS in an individual woman and pharmacogenomics, designed to identify the optimal treatment for an individual patient,” he said.

The SCCPRIR is administered by the Reproductive Sciences Branch of the NICHD, and provides funding for a limited number of research centers in the reproductive sciences. The purpose of these centers is to provide an arena for multidisciplinary interactions among basic and clinical scientists interested in establishing high-quality programs in reproduction and infertility research. The centers also serve as national resources for the training and career development of new scientists electing to pursue research in high priority areas of reproduction and infertility research.

Another good vote for the good fight.

1 in 3

Recent research indicates that 1 in every 3 American women is affected by a pelvic floor disorder of one type or another. Age is not a factor in this 1 in 3 statistic.

The study of 4,000 women (80 percent had given birth) found that 25 percent suffered from anal incontinence, 15 percent from stress urinary incontinence, 13 percent from overactive bladder, and 6 percent from dropped pelvic organs (pelvic organ prolapse). The women in the study were aged 25 to 84. The findings were published in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they've done this research but it seems to me that they need to do more broad based research and perhaps have a control group of women who have never given birth. 80% is a big group.

Nevertheless, the study did produce some good, mostly in that it brings up the topic at all.

"One of the myths surrounding pelvic floor disorder is that it affects only older women, but the truth is these conditions are extremely prevalent and extremely debilitating. But because the subject matter isn't cocktail conversation, women feel isolated and don't seek support and treatment," study co-author Dr. Karl Luber, a urogynecologist in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medial Center, said in a prepared statement.

Women with symptoms of pelvic floor disorders should consult with a doctor trained in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, he advised.

"Among the available options for treatment for these common disorders are physical therapy to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, devices that can be fit to support your vaginal walls, and surgery. Many of today's surgeries are very noninvasive and can be done as an outpatient," Luber said.

This statistic should be rather interesting in and of itself:

In the United States, more than 15 million women have stress urinary incontinence, 16 million have an overactive bladder, and one in 10 suffers from anal incontinence, according to information in a news release about the study.

I wonder how many of those 15 million that have stress urinary incontinence also has anal incontinence...they are so often linked. Just a thought.

My Red High Heels

I have never been able to wear heels. I am the clumsiest person I know. I have no sense of balance on bare feet, let alone heels. Maybe now that they have been shown to improve pelvic floor function, I'll have to reconsider.

Research is out showing that heels improve a woman's sex life because they strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

I mean, that's nice and all, but I doubt a broken leg is worth it. I'd probably end up having more problems then.

And did this story remind anyone of that Kellie Pickler song, "Red High Heels"? Here it is for your guilty pleasure:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g-aBSh2-O5I