Trends in oral contraceptive and intrauterine device use among reproductive-aged women in the US from 1999 to 2017.

PURPOSE: Since the 1960s, increasing oral contraceptive (OC) use has mirrored decreasing ovarian cancer incidence. The impact of intrauterine devices (IUDs) on cancer risk is less well established. With improved access and increased options, we must consider how changing usage can affect cancer risks. METHODS: Nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999-2016) and the National Survey for Family Growth (NSFG, 2006-2017) were used to evaluate contraceptive use over time in premenopausal women (NHANES n = 13,179; NSFG n = 26,262). Trends were assessed overall and by race, age, pregnancy history, education, and body mass index. RESULTS: The average annual absolute increase in self-reported IUD use was 0.81% (NSFG), while OC use decreased 0.49% in NSFG and 0.47% in NHANES. This represents a significant decrease in OC use in NSFG [annual percent change (APC) - 2.2% (95% CI - 3.4, - 1.0%), p < 0.01]. Trends in OC use varied somewhat by pregnancy history in NHANES (p-interaction = 0.054). In contrast, IUD use increased 6.2% annually [(1.4, 11.2%), p = 0.03] and varied significantly by pregnancy history (p-interaction < 0.01). Nulligravid women increased IUD use 11.0% annually [(2.6, 20.1%), p = 0.02] compared to women with prior pregnancy at 5.2% [(0.4, 10.2%), p = 0.04]. In 2015-2017, IUD use was 76.5% hormonal (71.1, 81.8%) and 22.9% copper (17.4, 28.3%) with greater hormonal IUD use in obese women [89.4%, (82.9, 95.9%)]. CONCLUSION: Increasing IUD use outpaced declining OC use in premenopausal US women. There may be a resulting decreased gynecologic cancer risk as more women gain access to potentially risk-reducing contraceptives.

Trends of Overactive Bladder and Pharmacologic Treatment Among U.S. Women.

IMPORTANCE: To evaluate and consider how prescribing practices have changed in relation to high-risk overactive bladder (OAB) medications. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate trends in the prevalence of OAB and pharmacologic treatment over time in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2001-2018, n = 30,478) and the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS, 2003-2019, n = 251,330) were used to identify women with symptomatic incontinence and overactive bladder (OAB) (NHANES) as well as determine the frequency of prescription use for OAB medications (NHANES and NAMCS) using sampling-based weights. Joinpoint regression was used to determine adjusted annual percent change (APC, adjusting for race, age, body mass index, and insurance status). Trends were assessed overall and by race, age, body mass index, and insurance status. RESULTS: The prevalence of OAB was 31.2% in the final survey year of NHANES (2017-2018). Women aged >65 years had the highest prevalence of OAB at 54% compared with other age groups. There was an overall increase in OAB (APC 1.24 [0.64, 1.84], P = 0.002) over time. Overall, only 3.5% of patients with symptoms of OAB reported pharmacologic treatment in NHANES. The NAMCS demonstrated a significant decrease in anticholinergic prescriptions from 2003 until 2019 (APC -6.44 [-9.77, -2.98], P = 0.001). However, in NHANES, there was no significant change in anticholinergic use (APC 0.62 [-20.2, 26.8], P = 0.944). There was a stable prevalence of ß3-adrenergic agonist prescriptions since they were introduced to market (APC 0.65 [-2.24, 3.62], P = 0.616). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates an increasing prevalence of OAB and highlights the likely undertreatment of symptomatic patients. The high and increasing prevalence coupled with the relative undertreatment of OAB underscores the importance of screening for this condition.

Inflammatory markers in women with reported benign gynecologic pathology: an analysis of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.

BACKGROUND: Associations between benign gynecologic pathologies and circulating inflammatory markers are unknown. Our goal was to evaluate self-reported history of benign gynecologic pathology and subsequent alterations in systemic inflammation. METHODS: Using nested case-control studies from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, study-specific associations between self-reported history of benign ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis with inflammatory marker concentrations were evaluated using logistic regression and combined using meta-analysis. Inflammatory markers associated with individual benign pathologies were mutually adjusted for one another to evaluate independent associations. RESULTS: Compared to women without a self-reported history of the pathology evaluated, benign ovarian cysts were associated with increased PAI-1 (OR [95% CI] 6.24 [2.53-15.39], P <.001) and TGF-ß1 (3.79 [1.62-8.86], P =.002) and decreased BCA-1 (0.38 [0.19-0.73], P =.004). Uterine fibroids were associated with decreased CXCL11 (0.37 [0.22-0.63], P <.001) and VEGFR3 (0.40 [0.24-0.65], P <.001). Endometriosis was associated with increased SIL-4R (4.75 [1.84-12.26], P =.001). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported history of benign gynecologic pathologies were associated with alterations in inflammatory markers that have been previously linked to cancer risk. Understanding interactions between benign gynecologic pathologies and the systemic immune system may help inform disease risk later in life.

Illness anxiety and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Cognitive-behavioral conceptualization and treatment.

Eating difficulties are commonly present in medical and psychiatric settings. Some eating problems are resultant from fears about food consumption and can be conceptualized as anxiety disorders conditioned by perception of feared outcomes associated with eating and maintained by avoidance. The authors present a case in which a female patient with limited food intake is successfully treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy. Illness anxiety disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, both newly included in DSM-V, are applied in this case.