Their stories reveal how easily postpartum symptoms are dismissed and how fiercely Black women must trust their intuition to survive.

The Clue Hidden in Anjellica’s Breathing

Shortly after giving birth, Anjellica Davis began noticing changes she could not explain. Walking across a room left her breathless. Climbing stairs felt impossible. Even talking took effort. She was exhausted in a way that rest did not touch, and her chest carried a heaviness she could not shake. Her body felt unfamiliar.

She tried to fold it into the story of new motherhood. New mothers are tired. New mothers swell. New mothers push through. She kept pushing because she did not want to seem dramatic or ungrateful for motherhood. But her body kept insisting that something was wrong.

“I kept telling myself it was normal postpartum exhaustion, but deep down I knew something was off.”

Postpartum cardiomyopathy is often mistaken for the fatigue of new motherhood. It is a form of heart failure that disproportionately affects Black women and can be deadly when overlooked. Anjellica spent weeks questioning herself before someone close to her finally said what she had been afraid to admit. This is not normal, and you need help.

Motherhood in Survival Mode

When doctors told Anjellica that her heart was failing, her world shifted. Medication was not enough, and a transplant was becoming the best option.

She had just become a mother, and suddenly she fought to stay alive. Grief threaded through every part of her life, grief for the postpartum experience she imagined, the body she trusted, and fear of a future she might never reach.

“I did not have the luxury of processing it,” she says. “I was in survival mode. I was trying to be present for my baby while facing the possibility that I might not be here to raise him.”

Her son became her anchor, giving her something to hold onto on the hardest days.

A New Understanding of Maternal Health

Anjellica’s experience reshaped her understanding of maternal health and the inequities Black women face. “Black women are often not heard quickly enough,” she says.

“Symptoms are minimized. Pain is normalized. Exhaustion is dismissed. If I had not pushed and questioned, my outcome could have been very different.”

She now sees maternal health not just as a medical issue but as an equity issue, and she speaks openly about listening to your body, advocating for yourself, and trusting the intuition so many new mothers are taught to ignore. If something feels wrong, it probably is.

Erin’s Mysterious Headache

Erin Adelekun’s story begins with a headache she rated a six or seven out of ten. She blamed it on exhaustion. She had just given birth, was up every two hours feeding her daughter, and was barely sleeping. Her pregnancy had been healthy. She had no high blood pressure and no complications.

A stroke was not even a possibility in her mind.

“I didn’t know a stroke could happen to someone like me.”

When she mentioned the headache at discharge, the doctor told her to take Tylenol. COVID protocols pushed hospitals to send patients home quickly, and staff believed going home posed less risk than staying. She trusted that if something were wrong, someone would say so.

The next day, her arm dropped and her words tangled. Something inside her went still. And then she remembered a stress ball she had been given, the one printed with four letters she barely noticed at the time: F.A.S.T.

Face. Arm. Speech. Time.

She had glanced at it once and moved on. Now those letters snapped into place. They told her exactly what was happening. She was having a stroke.

That moment of recognition is what saved her life.

Relearning Life While Raising a Newborn

Erin’s stroke left her with aphasia, a condition that kept her mind sharp while her words slipped out of reach. She knew exactly what she wanted to say, yet the connection between thought and speech felt broken. So, she learned to communicate in new ways, relying on gestures, communication charts, long pauses, and a patience she never expected to need.

Conversations became slower, heavier, something she had to work her way through rather than speak.

“I was a born communicator who could not communicate,” she says. “It was frustrating and humbling.”

She needed full-time care for two years. The loss of independence cut deep, and even though she had survived something many do not, she still felt like she had failed.

“I went from giving birth to needing full-time care myself.”

Her village carried her through. Her husband, family, and friends cared for her daughter while her therapists helped her relearn how to walk and talk.

Finding Her Voice Again

Aphasia reshaped Erin’s relationship with communication. She learned to speak up in medical settings and to trust her body. She also learned that being quiet can be dangerous.

“I do not minimize my symptoms anymore,” she says.

“If something feels off, I say it clearly. I do not sugarcoat it.”

She now teaches others the signs of stroke. She teaches her children and her community because she knows firsthand that knowledge is survival.

What Survival Looks Like Now

For both women, survival is not a single moment but a daily practice that lives in their bodies, their spirits, and the choices they make to keep going.

Anjellica protects her heart with rest, boundaries, and a long view of her health. “Surviving changed everything,” she says. “Motherhood now includes boundaries, grace, and listening to my body without guilt.”

Erin stays anchored through her appointments, her medication, her movement, and her peace. “Taking care of myself is part of taking care of my daughter,” she says.

Their stories are both warnings and reminders. They show how urgently the world must listen to Black women when they speak about their health, how deeply postpartum care must reach beyond delivery, and how community and medicine together shape survival.

And they show, without question, that when Black women say something feels off, the world must not ignore them.

The post The Body Knows: Two Mothers Who Survived the Unthinkable appeared first on Black Health Matters.

For Black women, the Social Determinants of Health are a contributing factor that we should not ignore. Residential segregation is a fundamental cause of racial health disparities, operating through many social institutions (including labor markets and education) to affect health. These are key reasons we have a shorter life expectancy, a higher maternal mortality rate, and a higher disease burden.

1. Massachusetts (Total Score of 75.80)

Massachusetts ranks first overall, driven by its top health and living standards and a strong health care infrastructure, despite a slightly lower safety ranking.

2. Connecticut (74.60)Connecticut’ss high placement is largely due to its strong safety ranking (2nd) and solid performance on health and living standards, even as its health care policy ranking trails those of other states.

3. Hawaii (74.43)

Hawaii ranks highly (2nd) for health and living standards, reflecting strong preventive care, though geographic barriers can affect access to services.

4. New York (72.02)

New York stands out for its health care policies and support systems (3rd).

5. Vermont (70.85)

Vermont ranks 1st in health care policies and support systems, yet its lower safety ranking underscores the need to address community-level conditions alongside policy.

6. Minnesota (69.40)

Minnesota performs consistently across categories, though safety remains an area for improvement.

7. New Jersey (68.76)

New Jersey ranks first in safety, a major factor in its overall standing. Yet it ranks lower in health care policies and support systems.

8. California (68.64)California’ss ranking reflects a mix of strong health protections and ongoing challenges related to access, affordability, and regional disparities.

9. New Hampshire (68.53)

New Hampshire ranks in the top 10 with consistent performance across all categories, particularly in health and living standards.

10. Maryland (68.04)

Maryland benefits from a strong health infrastructure and a high safety ranking, though its health care policy ranking remains mid-range.

11. Washington (65.73)

Washington scores well in health and living standards but falls behind in safety, which underscores the need for more violence prevention inwomen’ss health.

12. Rhode Island (63.39)

Rhode Island maintains moderate rankings across all categories with opportunities to strengthen women-centered health services.

13. Pennsylvania (63.13)Pennsylvania’ss strong health care policy ranking (10th) boosts its overall placement.

14. Wisconsin (62.94)

Wisconsin performs well in health care policy but struggles with safety and living standards, which ultimately reflects gaps between policy and lived experiences.

15. Colorado (62.25)

Colorado ranks in the top 15, with high health and living standards (3rd), but significantly lower safety (46th).

What the Rankings Show: SmileHub’s analysis highlights that women’s health depends on more than health care access alone. States that rank highest tend to have strong policies, high-quality care, and safe living environments. It is important to note that gaps in any area can significantly impact overall rankings and outcomes.

Notably, the analysis exposes regional gaps across the country. In particular, all five lowest-ranking states are located in the South or the greater Southern region.

These states include:

• Tennessee (33.94)
• Texas (33.89)
• West Virginia (33.84)
• Arkansas (30.80)
• Oklahoma (30.58)

This geographic pattern reflects long-standing structural challenges commonly seen across parts of the South. This can include limited access to health care providers, historically lower investment in public health infrastructure, higher poverty rates, and more restrictive health care policies. These factors are rooted in the SDOH, which contribute to poorer outcomes for women and produce barriers to safe, affordable, and comprehensive care.

No matter where we live, we have a right to quality healthcare.

Resources

Best States for Women’s Health

Journal ofWomen’ss Health

New American Better Life Lab Collection

The post Where Women Live Impacts Their Health: Here Are The 10 Best States appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Number 1: It’s The Silent Killer

Heart disease is known as the silent killer, and cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. Yet only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat.

Number 2: All Ages Are Impacted by Heart Disease

Heart disease is not something that only impacts older adults; it can impact us at any age. In fact,  59% percent of Black women ages 20 and over are living with some form of cardiovascular disease.

Number 3: Your Weight Can Be a Factor

Almost 57% of Black women have obesity, making them the highest percentage among all racial, ethnic, and sex groups. Excess weight can strain the heart, raise cholesterol, and increase inflammation, ultimately making it a major driver of heart disease.

Number 4: Undiagnosed Diabetes Increases Your Chances of Heart Disease

Black women are more likely to have undiagnosed diabetes. High blood sugar damages blood vessels over time, which accelerates plaque buildup and sharply increases the risk of heart disease.

Number 5: We Are at a Higher Risk of Strokes

Stroke prevalence is highest among Black women (5.4%) compared with all women (2.9%). Stroke and heart disease share the same underlying issues of having blocked or damaged blood vessels. This means high stroke rates signal elevated cardiovascular risk overall.

Number 6: Hypertension is a Contributing Factor

When was the last time you checked your blood pressure? 4% of Black women have high blood pressure, one of the highest rates worldwide. Hypertension forces the heart to work harder, weakens arteries, and is the leading cause of heart attacks and heart failure.

Number 7: Giving Birth Puts You at an Increased Risk

Cardiovascular disease is the 1 killer of new moms and accounts for over one-third of maternal deaths. Black women have some of the highest maternal mortality rates.

Number 8: Preeclampsia & Gestational Diabetes Are Also Factors

If you have high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes during pregnancy, it greatly increases a woman’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease later in life.

Number 9: Lower Estrogen Levels in Menopause

Low estrogen, particularly during menopause, increases heart disease risk in Black women by reducing cardiovascular protection, leading to higher LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, increased blood pressure, artery stiffening, and greater inflammation.

Number 10: Women May Not Receive CPR

Women are often less likely to receive bystander CPR because rescuers often fear accusations of inappropriate touching, sexual assault, or injuring the victim.

Knowing your risk is the first step to prevention. Use these facts to start conversations, make informed choices, and take control of your heart’s health. By making small changes today, you can protect your future and live a heart-healthy lifestyle. Click here to learn more.

Sources:

Heart Disease and Black Women: Risk, Factors, Prevention Strategies

Heart Disease and Stroke in Black Women

Unsettling Risk of Heart Disease in Black Women

Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality

Facts | Go Red For Women

A Heart to Heart About Cardiovascular Disease

The TRUTH about  African American Women and Heart Disease

Diabetes and Heart Disease

Risk Factors in Women

The post 10 Things Black and Brown Women Need to Know About Heart Disease appeared first on Black Health Matters.

It can be used in conjunction with other therapies or make a significant impact on its own when used consistently, so it might be smart to pull out the kicks in addition to the patches.

Here’s Why Repin and Peloton Have Partnered

The innovative fitness platform Peloton and Respin Health, a menopause-centered wellness platform founded by Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry, partnered on a recent study to assess whether sweating could relieve menopause symptoms. The ‘P.R.E.S.S.’ study ran for eight weeks and used a holistic approach to evaluating participants.

It included results from 267 Peloton members aged 40 to 65 who received personalized plans to manage their health during this period. These plans accounted for their schedules rather than overwhelming them. Customization is central to both companies’ offerings.

The workouts ranged from using the iconic Peloton stationary bike to hiking, boxing, and other forms of movement. Flexibility put participants in control of how they presented.

There is No Such Thing as a Menopause Workout

“There’s not a single magic menopause workout, and you don’t have to do it ‘perfectly’— we saw improvements across the board, without perfect adherence or strict protocols,” Elizabeth Knight, Head of Science & Research at Respin Health, told Black Health Matters in a statement.

Those who reported being tired and worn out showed a 26% improvement in their symptoms. Brain fog decreased by 34% among participants. Weight gain was reduced by 41%.  

How Menopause Impacts Black Women Differently

Black women are particularly vulnerable to severe menopause symptoms, according to a 2025 survey in Preventive Medicine Reports. “African American women have an earlier onset and increased burden of menopause symptoms, including vasomotor symptoms,” according to the American Journal of Public Health.

Halle Berry Has Become a Strong Advocate for Menopause Research

Berry has been a strong advocate in the fight against menopause related suffering. She supported a bill to increase the limited research funding for menopause and to educate healthcare professionals on the topic. She works to decrease the stigma surrounding the subject. “Women talk about puberty, periods, pregnancy, and postpartum, but not menopause. We don’t talk about heart palpitations, anxiety, or depression,” Berry told ESSENCE. “That has to change. We need to talk about menopause as easily as we talk about puberty.”

Using her voice to advocate for health initiatives is nothing new to the Never Let Go star. Berry has also lent her voice to raising awareness about the nuances of diabetes, a condition that disproportionately impacts Black people.

She is one of several public figures who have spoken openly about menopause in recent years, reflecting evolving attitudes toward the topic.

Screen and Broadway star Vanessa Williams recently spoke about how it affected her. Former First Lady Michelle Obama shared her thoughts on the topic in 2022.

Some Key Findings From the Study 

35 symptoms were measured as part of the P.R.E.S.S. study. Other significant areas of improvement included anxiety and mood, hot flashes and sweating, and body aches. The study reported that “Symptom improvement may function as the gateway to improve cardiovascular health, bone health, and brain health.”

“The key components we identified from existing research are consistent, progressive strength training, high-intensity interval training, and dedicated recovery,” Knight continued. “Rather than reinvent the wheel, we looked at these proven strategies in combination, in a real-world setting. And we saw a remarkable improvement across all symptoms by the end of the study.”

The P.R.E.S.S. study used a widely accepted  measurement tool to verify and present its findings.

“We measured symptoms using a validated tool called the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life scale, along with six additional symptoms frequently reported by our members. MENQOL is trusted by doctors and used in research, so we can show how our results stack up against other approaches,” Knight explained. “Using this tool, we were able to show that women were significantly less bothered by their menopause symptoms at the end of the 8-week study than they were at the beginning.”

Movement Can Be Medicine for Menopause

“The improvements reported by this group reinforce what we have always known: movement is medicine and a catalyst for transformation,” said Jen Cotter, Chief Content Officer at Peloton.

The Journal of Clinical Medicine and the Journal of Experimental Physiology have documented the value of exercise during menopause in prior studies.

“The existing science is clear that consistent, progressive exercise is one of the most powerful ways to feel better and promote long-term health,” adds Knight. “Everyone can benefit.”

Resources

American Journal of Public Health

BMC Women’s Health

MENQOL

Journal of Clinical Studies

Journal of Experimental Psychology

The post Could Exercise Squash Menopause’s Side Effects? Halle Berry’s Company Thinks So appeared first on Black Health Matters.

It is also important to note that African Americans are at a higher risk for anaplastic thyroid cancer compared to other racial groups. This is an aggressive and often fatal form of thyroid cancer that grows rapidly and typically has a poor prognosis.  

Black Patients Have Lower Prevalence, but Higher Risk 

Thyroid cancer is nearly three times more common in women than men and is 40%–50% less common in Black people than in any other racial or ethnic group. For 2026, the American Cancer Society estimates an estimated 45,240 new cases will be diagnosed (13,240 in men and 32,000 in women), alongside around 2,320 deaths. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database also shows that from 1980 to 2016, incidence rates rose sharply from 2.39 to 7.54 cases per 100,000 in men and from 6.15 to 21.28 in women. Even though rates have been stabilized in recent years, they remain far higher than before. 

Black Patients Less Likely to Receive the Recommended Surgery 

The American Thyroid Association stated that Black patients faced a significantly higher risk of dying from thyroid cancer. Additionally, while differences in tumor biology explained most of the risk for Hispanic patients, it was revealed that it was not the case for Black patients. 

To add to this disparity, the American Thyroid Association revealed that Hispanic patients were most likely to receive guideline‑recommended surgery (79%), while Black patients were least likely (68.9%). With that being said, nearly every patient with advanced cancer got the correct operation (96.6%), and only 63.7% of early‑stage patients received the same standard of care. Thyroid cancer surgery is highly specialized and outcomes depend heavily on correct technique and the surgeon’s level of experience. By not receiving the recommended operation immediately, Black patients are at higher risk for complications, recurrence, and long-term mortality.. 

The Real Driver is Social Determinants of Health 

Researchers have found that the social determinants of health that affect thyroid cancer survival rates and treatment options include: 

• Income and insurance status 

• Education 

• Access to specialty care 

• Living in medically underserved neighborhoods 

• Delayed diagnosis 

• Lack of referral to high‑volume surgeons 

• Transportation or time barriers 

• Impacts of medical mistrust 

These factors shape when people get diagnosed, what treatments are offered, whether they can see the right specialists, and how consistently they can follow up. 

This means the disparity in thyroid cancer outcomes is not about biology, but about access, resources, and systemic inequities. The fact that Black Americans develop the disease less often yet are more likely to die from it reveals a deeper and more urgent truth. As thyroid cancer rates continue to rise nationwide, these inequities will only become more dangerous if left unaddressed. 

Click here to learn more about thyroid cancer. 

Is Thyroid Cancer Increasing in Incidence and Aggressiveness? 

Key Statistics for Thyroid Cancer 

Outcomes of thyroid cancer in African Americans 

Social Determinants of Health and Disparities in Thyroid Care 

What Black Communities Should Know About Thyroid Disorders 

Why do thyroid cancer outcomes differ across racial and ethnic lines? 

The post Thyroid Cancer Rates are Rising, and Black Patients Face Higher Risks appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Green Smith, a certified nurse-midwife, disseminated valuable information about gaps in Black maternal health outcomes on social media. She went by the moniker the “Loc’d Midwife.”  

She is survived by her husband, newborn, and the many people whose lives she touched by practicing her life’s calling of “catching babies.”  

Dr. Green Smith’s Advocacy 

She worked with the non-profit The Hive Impact Fund to support mothers and mothers-to-be with the resources required to expand and maintain their families.  

Her death was met with an outpour of mourning on social media. The American College of Nurse-Midwives issued a statement expressing their grief, sadness, and outrage at the unexpected news. It appeared across their social channels.  

“Dr. Smith was a respected midwife, scholar, and advocate whose life and work reflected a deep commitment to respectful, evidence-based, and equitable care. That a Black midwife and maternal health expert died after giving birth in the United States is both heartbreaking and unacceptable,” they wrote.  

“Her death underscores the persistent and well-documented reality that Black women-regardless of education, income, or professional expertise-face disproportionate risks during pregnancy and childbirth due to systemic racism and failures in care,” they continued.  

Black Women Are at Increased Risk Despite Education, Income, or Professional Expertise 

Green Smith’s tragic death is a heartbreaking example of the Black maternal health crisis. In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that “Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women.” The International Journal for Equity in Health describes Black maternal mortality in the United States as “one of the most alarming and persistent indicators of racial injustice.” 

“Most maternal deaths are preventable, as the health-care solutions to prevent or manage complications are well known,” according to the World Health Organization. To prevent these tragic occurrences, competent and caring providers must be available.  

The Rise of Maternity Deserts 

 

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Location plays a role in maternal health outcomes. A new report highlights a dwindling supply of obstetricians and gynecologists in non-metropolitan areas. Rural residents are particularly at risk.  

Areas such as Green Smith’s home state of South Carolina are sometimes referred to as “maternity deserts.”  

According to the Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, “The shortage of ob-gyns in 10 years is projected to progressively worsen by today’s standard practice patterns.” By 2035, “Only six states (Hawaii, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Louisiana) were projected to continue to have an adequate supply.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services projects a shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists; its forecasts indicate that there will not be enough physicians in the specialty to meet the nation’s needs by 2037.  

This is Not a Socioeconomic Issue Alone 

Some dismiss the Black maternal health crisis because of poverty and preexisting conditions alone. A 2020 article from the World Journal of Gynecological Women’s Health points out that “Racial disparity exists in maternal mortality despite correcting for commonly cited reasons” and “It is a problem for Black American women and cannot be explained by socioeconomic factors alone.” 

Black maternal health challenges traverse tax brackets and class boundaries. “These outcomes cannot be understood through individual behavior, access, or socioeconomic status alone,” reports the International Journal for Equity in Health.  

Young, beautiful, educated, well-off Black women die in childbirth due to neglect.  

Angelica Lyons, as Green Smith did, works to advocate against the ways medical racism impacts birthing people. Her work took place in the classroom. In 2023, she told the Associated Press that she nearly died from sepsis after her pain was ignored by an Alabama hospital. She reported that the severe pain she was experiencing was dismissed as Braxton Hicks contractions by healthcare professionals who did not take her seriously. Her dilemma showed how racial bias in pain assessment can interfere with providing adequate maternal care.  

How We Can Combat This Issue 

Public figures, including the editor-turned-television personality Elaine Welteroth, have joined the fight to address the crisis. Welteroth’s BirthFund raised money to expand access to midwifery with support from her Founding Family Funders, including Kelly Rowland and Serena Williams. 

Williams’ harrowing birth story was so widely reported that it became a footnote in an episode of Insecure. The tennis star turned venture capitalist experienced a pulmonary embolism following the birth of her daughter, Olympia. Her story of demanding that the doctors take her concerns seriously frightened many.  

Fighting For Reproductive Justice is Critical 

“To address the disparities in Black maternal health, expanding access to midwives and doulas is essential. Midwifery care reduces preterm births and cesarean delivery rates and improves breastfeeding outcomes, particularly among Black mothers. Doulas provide invaluable emotional and physical support during pregnancy and childbirth, mitigating racial biases and fostering trust in the health care system,” according to The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.  

Black Maternal Health Week was founded in 2016 to encourage collective action and community engagement in support of reproductive justice. It amplifies the voices of Black organizations supporting people who give birth and their families.  

They connect the public with individuals who provide life-changing care, such as Green Smith.  

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Dr. Janell Green Smith.  

Resources 

The Hive Impact Fund 

International Journal for Equity in Health 

Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 

World Health Organization 

South Carolina Daily Gazette 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  

World Journal of Gynecological Women’s Health 

Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 

BirthFund 

The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 

The post Beloved Maternal Health Advocate Dr. Janell Green Smith Died in Childbirth    appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Black Millennials might still be suffering from the pop lock and drop it era, but random knee pain isn’t the only challenge they’re facing. Healthcare firms are meeting the moment by including hip-hop and R&B in their consumer marketing efforts.  

As millennials age, their vast healthcare concerns are moving to the forefront of the healthcare industry priority list. That means integrating messaging that will speak to them directly.  

The music that once signaled a rebellious youth of bar hopping and bottle service is now helping providers court a generation of adults in need of information and interventions to address their collective issues.  

Music As a Means of Getting Attention  

Research shows that tapping into cultural competency works when trying to reach specific audiences. “The importance of cultural competency, including culturally and linguistically appropriate resources and tools, cannot be overstated or overemphasized,” according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  

Unlike a generic jingle, a familiar jam can stop you in your tracks. It can reconnect you to a moment from your past. Twisting around familiar beats isn’t the only way to have an impact.  

Speaking the language of music can help create connections, too. We Are Ill founder Victoria named her organization, designed to connect Black women with chronic illness, after the classic Nas album Illmatic.  

New music can have an impact as well. The FDA turned to developing original hip-hop songs to convince young people not to smoke. Gilead turned to rapper and podcaster Big Loon to help spread the message about their efforts to promote safer sex. Power to the Patients turned to Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Method Man, Rick Ross, Chuck D, and French Montana to promote their arguments for transparency in healthcare pricing.  

Fighting HIV With TLC 

TLC, a group that broke barriers by getting a generation to talk frankly about sex, has had their hit “Creep” reinterpreted for Gilead to promote PrEP. Original and core group member Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins performed the healthcare-centered rendition.  

“In the 90s, we used our platform to speak truth and empower people to love themselves. That mission hasn’t changed,” Watkins told People in November.  

“Black women in the United States are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and are less likely to be represented among HIV clinical research participants relative to their cumulative HIV burden,” according to Women’s Health. This makes TLC the perfect track to speak to an audience that needs to be informed about their options for protecting themselves.  

Fighting Colon Cancer With Lil’ Jon  

Lil’ Jon has transcended the Nuvo guzzling and the pill popping of the crunk era. The snap music pioneer converted his hit “Get Low” into a track to promote Cologuard, a screening device for colon cancer.  

“The distribution of CRC is not even across U.S. subpopulations; there is marked difference in CRC incidence, cancer stage, and cancer mortality by race and ethnicity. In particular, Black Americans show the highest incidence, and have the highest mortality among major U.S. racial and ethnic groups,” according to the Journal of Advances in Cancer Research.  

The American Cancer Society has highlighted the rise in colorectal cancer in people under the age of 55.  

Lil’ Jon shared why he agreed to do the campaign in a 2024 interview with Black Health Matters. “It just makes it easier to palette this subject because it’s funny because the song is called ‘Get Low #2,’ and you have to take a #2 to do the colon cancer screen with the Cologuard kit. So I thought it was pretty hilarious,” he said.  

He’s no slouch when it comes to promoting mental health either. He released an album for meditation.   

Raising Eczema Awareness with Mary J Blige  

Mary J. Blige owned the early 90s with “Real Love.” The kids who grew up singing the classic on their way to elementary school are primed to listen to the remixed version for EBGLYSS, a medication developed to fight eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis.  

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reports that “Black people in the US experience greater atopic dermatitis (AD) prevalence, severity, and persistence when compared to White people.”  

Eczema presents differently in Black people making it more important that they be informed about the symptoms of the condition.  

Fighting Vaccine Misinformation with Juvenile 

Taking over for the 99 and the 2000 is like a millennial mating call. It flips a switch in the millennial brain flooding it with memories of when it was time to “Back That Thang Up” in a club that didn’t take Apple Pay or put a time limit on sections,  

This made it the perfect track to match the moment when anti-vaccine information was flooding the internet. Juvenile released “Vax That Thang Up” to promote the COVID-19 vaccine.  

He partnered with Mannie Fresh and Mia X on the track giving it an even stronger NOLA flavor.  

Resources 

Los Angeles Times: Millennials’ escalating health problems raise economic concerns 

Blue Cross Blue Shield: The Health of Millennials 

Centers for Disease Control 

Journal of Advances in Cancer Research.  

American Cancer Society: Colorectal Facts & Figures 

Billboard 

The post How Music is Matching the Moment for Millennial Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The 2025 State of the Period report shows just how common these moments are. Board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Fran Haydanek, partnering with Thinx, a company known for its reusable period underwear, says the findings reveal the weight of stigma and the urgent need for support.

Basic Menstrual Health Screenings Are Not Always Available to Black Teens,

“From the 2025 State of the Period findings, it’s clear that period shame is showing up in the smaller, everyday moments for Black teens,” Dr. Haydanek explains. Eighty-three percent report tucking pads or tampons away when they leave class. More than half avoid specific movements or activities due to concerns about leakage. She says these patterns show how many teens feel they must manage their periods quietly, without the support or understanding they deserve.

The survey also found that nearly one in five Black teens has never received a basic menstrual health screening. Many are navigating their symptoms without guidance, leaving them vulnerable to misinformation and isolation.

A Lack of Support and Preparation

Teens want products they can count on, honest, accurate education, and adults who understand menstrual health and take their pain seriously. Yet only three in ten feel their school supports them.

“Even though access to free products has improved in some places, stigma has grown since 2023,” Dr. Haydanek says. That gap is why she partnered with Thinx to share practical tips for parents, coaches, and after-school instructors.

The disconnect also shows up in education. Many teens report that they first experienced their period before they learned about the menstrual cycle. That lack of preparation leaves them feeling unready and unsupported at a critical moment.

Creating Safe Spaces

Dr. Haydanek believes adults play a central role in shifting stigma. “It is up to parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors to shift the stigmas associated with periods by normalizing and helping teens to feel safe asking for support,” she says.

Her advice is straightforward. She urges adults to create judgment-free zones, empower teens with education, encourage open communication, and suggest products designed for teens. She points to Thinx Teens period underwear, which offers up to twelve hours of leakproof protection, as one option that helps teens move through their day with less worry.

The findings also show that when teens feel supported, they are more likely to ask questions. When asked who they would turn to with a private health concern, many said they would go to a parent or trusted adult rather than a teacher or health professional. That trust is an opportunity for families and mentors to step in with accurate information.

The High Cost of Access

“For a lot of families, it comes down to cost and inconsistent access,” Dr. Haydanek says.

Teens spend about forty dollars a month on products, which can strain tight budgets. Nearly half of Black teens say their families have had to adjust what they buy because of financial pressure. That often means wearing products longer than recommended or relying on friends.

Economic pressure also affects participation in sports and extracurricular activities. Teens report missing activities because of cramping, fatigue, irritability, or fear of spotting. These experiences show how stigma and cost combine to limit opportunities.

Where Brand Messaging Stops Short

“We need to have more discussions about warning signs when it comes to menstrual health,” she says. Periods can signal what is happening inside the body. Irregular cycles, pain that causes missed school or work, or the disappearance of periods altogether should be evaluated by an OB-GYN.

Yet brand messaging often focuses only on empowerment without addressing these health realities. Teens need clear information about when to seek care, not just slogans.

They Are Ready to Break Taboos

The findings also show teens are pushing for change themselves. Eighty-two percent want more advocacy around menstrual health in 2025. Even though only 62% feel in control of their periods, 81% say they have helped someone feel more comfortable talking about theirs. Peer support is reshaping the conversation and breaking the silence.

Measuring Impact

Dr. Haydanek says awareness is not enough. “We need to continue to push for things like the removal of the pink tax on items like menstrual products, because they are not a luxury good. We need access to menstrual products in schools, especially for populations with limited resources. And most importantly, I am pushing for continued funding for gynecologic research.”

The survey makes clear that stigma is real, but so is resilience. Teens are speaking up, supporting one another, and asking for change. With adults who listen and policies that prioritize menstrual health, the next generation can move through their lives with confidence instead of shame.

Resources:

PERIOD SOTP 2025 Report_10.20.25_SHARED

Period and Bladder Leak Underwear | Thinx

Shop All: Teen Period Underwear | Thinx

The post Black Teens Are Confronting Period Stigma appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Both performers have shown up on the press lines for the anticipated musical, appearing significantly thinner than before. Commentary on the topic exploded. Some speculated that the pair might be participating in disordered eating or excessive usage of increasingly popular weight loss medications like GLP-1s.  

How Social Media Has Made Us All Armchair Experts 

Commenting on someone’s appearance has become more commonplace. Social media makes it easier. “The access that we have to speak on people now is quite dangerous,” Wendi S. Williams, PhD, President-Elect of the American Psychological Association, told Black Health Matters.  

“Before the advent of social media and so much use of technology and the ability to propagate a message so vastly, a person could have an opinion about a celebrity or a politician that they see in the news or in one of those magazines, and it would have been an opinion shared either to themselves or within the locality of their friends and family,” she said.  

Anyone can place them into the world where they might cause harm, now.  

Grande posted a message on social media containing a “loving reminder” of the harm that can be caused by commenting on the size of someone’s body. She addressed the comments on her figure during an interview with Oui Oui Baguette.  

“So I have heard it all. I’ve heard every version of it, of what’s wrong with me. And then you fix it, and then it’s wrong for different reasons,” said Grande. “It’s hard to protect yourself from that noise,” continued the “7 Rings” singer.  

Lizzo wrote about how the aftermath of losing weight was impacting her in a recent essay on Substack. “I think it’s something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on,” Grande added in the interview.  

“I don’t think that we can ever diminish the impact of so much public opinion on the psyche of one individual,” said Williams.  

 

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Lay People Can’t Assess Someone’s Health by Looking At Them.  

Weight loss leads to speculation about health conditions, including eating disorders, substance abuse issues, and infectious diseases. Weight gain comes with preconceived notions about one’s mental and emotional health. Both excessive thinness and obesity are accompanied by healthcare challenges. The specifics of these are not visible to laypeople.  

Clinicians are the only ones qualified to evaluate the state of someone’s appearance from a healthcare perspective. You wouldn’t know that by listening to everyday discourse on the subject. 

Red carpets are not the only place where weight stigma shows up. It happens to everyday people at holiday dinner tables, in workplaces, and in other intimate settings.  

Dr. Faith Ohuoba, board-certified OB-GYN, sees patients put on baby bump watch by people in their lives when they are facing health issues like fibroid tumors or ascites, a condition that causes abdominal swelling. “It’s actually a problem, it’s not a pregnancy,” she said. Gabrielle Union described dealing with infertility and having people constantly speculate about her body as her pelvic area distended and retracted during treatments.  

According to a 2021 article from Frontiers in Nutrition, “While conversations about weight stigma have historically centered on individuals who are classified with overweight or obesity, evidence suggests that those classified as underweight also experience stigma that exacerbates poor health.”  

Chadwick Boseman, who recently received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was openly criticized for his noticeably thinner appearance before the public learned that he was dealing with colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is prevalent in the Black community. The weight loss was laughed at by some online who thought his lifestyle was contributing to it. 

His case was an example of how one’s appearance might not tell the whole story about what they are experiencing.  

Publicly Speculating About Someone’s Body Can Impact Their Mental and Physical Health  

According to the International Journal of Obesity, weight stigma can lead to unhealthy behaviors and poor outcomes.  

Health indicators don’t just live on the scale. They can exist in your head as well.  

“Commenting on someone’s weight when they are experiencing a weight eating disorder or just challenges around weight loss or weight management actually is a trigger,” said Williams.  

Unsolicited comments can cause someone stress. 

A 2025 article from Frontiers in Psychiatry reports that “Weight stigma, or social devaluation based on an individual’s body size or weight, is directly related to greater depressive and anxiety symptoms.”  

“I think that we should be very careful about what we say because it may have unintended consequences,” added Ohuoba.  

On this season of Married To Medicine, Dr. Jackie Walters asked newcomer Brandi Milton if she had an enlarged thyroid on camera. Walters issued a public apology later, acknowledging that her actions could have been hurtful.  

“We all could benefit from having a little more empathy, considering how our words and judgements may impact others,” said Ashley Goodwin LCSW. “Commenting on these suspected disorders also adds to the stigma.”  

Ohuoba noted that speculating about someone’s health based on their appearance without their consent can be damaging. 

“I don’t think it’s fair,” she said. “They’re not giving you solutions, they’re not giving you treatment, they’re not giving you anything other than their opinion, which may be harmful.”  

The post What the Wicked Discourse Around Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Reveals About Weight Stigma appeared first on Black Health Matters.

They are often brushed off as routine, but in older adults they can masquerade as something else entirely. That is what makes them tricky, and sometimes dangerous.

When a UTI Looks Like Something Else

Doctors and caregivers know that UTIs in seniors rarely follow the textbook. Instead of the familiar burning sensation or urgency, the infection can show up as:

• Sudden confusion or delirium, often mistaken for dementia progression.
• Excessive sleepiness or fatigue, dismissed as “just aging”.
• Loss of appetite, confused with depression or medication side effects.
• Dizziness and falls, attributed to balance problems or frailty.
• Bed-wetting or incontinence, assumed to be a bladder control issue.

According to Harvard Health, these atypical signs are especially common in postmenopausal women, whose hormonal changes leave urinary tissues more vulnerable. And as UCSF clinicians point out, delirium caused by infection is often mistaken for dementia, a misdiagnosis that can delay treatment until the infection becomes severe.

Why Risk Rises With Age

Several factors make UTIs more common in older adults:

• Weakened immunity with age.
• Chronic conditions like diabetes or kidney disease.
• Catheter use in hospitals or nursing homes.
• Functional disability that limits self-care.
• Exposure to bacteria in long-term care facilities.

According to Cleveland Clinic, urinary tract infections are among the most commonly diagnosed infections in older adults. For women over age 65, the incidence rate is over 10 percent, and it rises to almost 30 percent for women over age 85. Misdiagnosis rates in hospitalized older adults may be as high as 40 percent.

The Treatment Puzzle

Treating UTIs in older adults is not always straightforward. Doctors often need to be careful about which antibiotics they prescribe, because many seniors are already taking medications for diabetes or kidney problems. Some antibiotics can interfere with those medicines or make side effects worse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises using targeted antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin or fosfomycin. These are drugs that specifically attack the bacteria most likely to cause UTIs. On the other hand, the CDC warns against using fluoroquinolones in people with advanced kidney disease.

Fluoroquinolones are a powerful class of antibiotics, but in older adults they can sometimes trigger confusion, known medically as delirium, dangerously low blood sugar, or even problems with blood vessels.

In 2025, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) published its first set of guidelines for what doctors call “complicated UTIs.” A complicated UTI is one that happens in someone with other health issues, or one that does not respond to standard treatment. According to the IDSA, certain bacteria are now resistant to many of the usual antibiotics. “Resistance” means the bacteria have adapted so the drugs no longer kill them effectively. As a result, doctors often have to turn to stronger medications, which can clear the infection but also carry more side effects.

What Happens If It’s Missed

In many older adults, a UTI may not cause a fever. Without that obvious warning sign, the infection can go unnoticed and untreated for a long time. When bacteria are left to multiply, they can travel from the bladder up into the kidneys. This more serious infection is called pyelonephritis, which simply means a kidney infection.

A kidney infection can cause urine that looks cloudy or smells bad, sharp pain in the back or side, fever with chills, and nausea or vomiting. If the infection continues to spread, it can enter the bloodstream and affect the whole body. This stage is called urosepsis. Sepsis is the body’s extreme reaction to infection, and in this case it starts in the urinary tract.

Urosepsis is a medical emergency. It can cause dangerously low blood pressure, damage to organs, and in severe cases, death. Early signs include confusion, rapid breathing, and swelling in the tissues. That is why recognizing a UTI early, even when it does not look typical, is so important for older adults.

Prevention That Works

While UTIs are common, there are practical steps that can reduce risk:

• Stay hydrated with plain water. Drinking enough fluids helps flush bacteria from the urinary tract.
• Practice good hygiene. Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom, and choose showers instead of long baths to limit exposure to bacteria.
• Urinate regularly. Avoid holding urine in, which allows bacteria to multiply and weakens the bladder over time.
• Consider vaginal estrogen. For postmenopausal women, this can restore tissue health and lower infection risk.
• Explore methenamine. This non-antibiotic option is gaining attention for preventing recurrent infections, according to JAMA Network Open.

The Core Message

UTIs in older adults are common, but their disguises make them easy to miss. Families and caregivers should pay attention to sudden changes in mood, appetite, or cognition, which may be signs of infection rather than aging. With smarter prevention and careful treatment, older adults can avoid the complications that turn a simple infection into a serious health crisis.

References:

UTI in older women: Why postmenopausal women are susceptible to urinary tract infection, and what to do about it – Harvard Health

1015-Degesys- UTI in the Elderly HREM 2025 Final pdf.pdf

The Truth about UTIs in Older Adults

Outpatient Clinical Care for Adults | Antibiotic Prescribing and Use | CDC

Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI): Clinical Guidelines for Treatment and Management

Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Urinary Tract Infections in Pediatrics and Adults: A WikiGuidelines Group Consensus Statement | Infectious Diseases | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

The post UTIs in Older Adults: The Hidden Confusion Behind a Common Infection appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A Nonstop Schedule

Her fiancé Jesse Collins, who runs his eponymous production company, Jesse Collins Entertainment, has overseen mega events including the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the BET Awards, and more. Together, they’ve built careers on precision and performance.

“We both work hard and don’t always take care of ourselves the way we should,” she explained to People. “And sad to say, several of our friends have dropped dead of heart attacks because it’s a high-stress world. Jesse started his own company after his boss, John Cossette, died of a massive heart attack, so there’s always been that fear.”

So when she saw the post, she looked up the company and booked an appointment for the two of them.

Prenuvo’s scans range from $2,500 to $4,500, and appointments can take months to secure. Dionne booked two, one for herself and one for Jesse. At the time, she was more concerned about him.

They got scanned in March 2024. Jesse’s came back healthy. Unfortunately, Dionne did not.

Dionne Had No Symptoms

Her scan revealed a large mass in her right lung. The technician told her to contact a pulmonologist right away. A pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in lung health, and even they were initially skeptical. Dionne had no symptoms. She didn’t smoke. It didn’t add up.

Still, she followed through. First came a chest X-ray, then a PET/CT scan. Unlike a regular scan, this one shows how tissues and organs are functioning, not just how they look. The results confirmed that the mass was active, and that meant cancer was likely. She was sent for a biopsy, where doctors removed a small piece of tissue to test under a microscope.

The diagnosis was confirmed by Dr. Graeme Rosenberg, a thoracic surgeon at USC. It was lung cancer, Stage 3.

“Most lung cancers are found by accident in the non-smoking population,” Rosenberg told People.

During surgery, doctors found that the cancer had already reached one of Dionne’s lymph nodes. The spread was microscopic, too small to appear on scans, but it changed her diagnosis. She was officially considered stage 3, despite having no symptoms and no visible warning signs.

Her surgeon told her they had acted just in time. A few months later, the cancer might have moved further, limiting her treatment options or removing them altogether.

“If you had found this six months later, we’d be talking about how to make the rest of your life comfortable,” Dionne recalled being told. “I would’ve died, for sure.”

She underwent robotic-assisted surgery using the Da Vinci system, which resulted in part of her lung being removed. The operation was a turning point. It gave her a chance to recover before the cancer could spread further.

Why Lung Cancer Gets Missed

Dionne’s story isn’t rare. It’s just rarely caught. Lung cancer is still widely seen as a smoker’s disease, but that assumption leaves too many people overlooked. According to the American Cancer Society, early-stage lung cancer often comes without symptoms. And when signs do appear, they’re easy to dismiss. A lingering cough. A little wheezing. Fatigue that feels like stress. For Dionne, there was nothing. No warning. Just a scan that saw what she couldn’t feel.

If There Had Been a Sign

Some of the earliest signs of lung cancer can include:

• A persistent cough.
• Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or laughing.
• Shortness of breath or wheezing.
• Hoarseness or voice changes.
• Frequent respiratory infections.
• Unexplained fatigue or weight loss.

Dionne had none of these. No cough, no fatigue, no unexplained weight loss. By all accounts, she was fine until the scan said otherwise.

Recovery Wasn’t Pretty

The surgery was successful, but the recovery was difficult. Dionne, known for her independence and Type-A energy, had to rely on her mother for basic care. “My mom having to help me in the bathroom and wipe me was insane,” she recalled. Her fiancé Jesse became her full-time support system, keeping everything running while she healed. “It was amazing how he instantly went into support mode. Nothing mattered besides making sure I was okay and got through this.”

Instead of chemotherapy, Dionne qualified for a targeted drug therapy. She swallows one pill daily and schedules lung scans every six months. So far, everything has been clear.

In April 2025, Dionne ran the Paris Marathon. It was her way of reclaiming her body and her life.

“I was like, ‘I’m going to run this Paris marathon,'” she said, “just to prove to myself that I could, a year after my surgery and with [only a portion] of my right lung.”

From Survivor to Advocate

Now, Dionne is working with Rosenberg to launch a foundation focused on early lung cancer detection. She also got the chance to thank Kardashian directly. Her team reached out, and Kardashian responded with a post and a kind message. For Dionne, it was a meaningful moment. She told People that the post had ultimately led to her diagnosis and treatment, and she considers it life-saving.

A Warning to Black Women

The experience reshaped how Dionne thinks about health and visibility. She had always pushed through, showing up even when rest might have served her better. But this time, she paused and listened to her body. And it made all the difference.

Resources:

Emmy Producer Discovers Stage 3 Cancer After Prenuvo Body Scan (Exclusive)

Comprehensive whole body MRI scan for preventative care | Prenuvo

Lung Cancer Signs & Symptoms | American Cancer Society

The post A Full Body Scan Found Lung Cancer & Saved Her Life appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We spoke with Antonia Walters, Co-Founder and CEO of Jayla Health, Inc., and Dr. Rachel Blake, Medical Advisor to Jayla Health, Inc., about what perimenopause really looks like and how culturally aware care can make all the difference.

Why Naming Perimenopause Matters

“When perimenopause is dismissed, Black women often end up suffering in silence for years,” said Antonia Walters. “Symptoms like heavy bleeding, brain fog, or fatigue can be brushed off as ‘just life,’ which delays treatment and increases the risk of more serious health issues, such as anemia or high blood pressure.”

She added, “For us, this stage is a health crossroads. Research from the SWAN study shows Black women tend to reach menopause earlier, experience longer and more intense symptoms, and face higher risks like fibroids and heart disease.”

Dr. Rachel Blake agreed. “When perimenopause symptoms are written off, particularly by healthcare providers, it truly endangers black women’s lives and livelihoods.”

What Support Should Look Like

“Supportive, culturally aware care means listening fully and meeting us where we are,” said Walters. “It looks like a provider asking about lived experience. Whether that’s how fibroids run in a family, or how cultural beliefs around menopause shape expectations.”

“It also means acknowledging systemic disparities. Black women are more likely to undergo hysterectomies, face misdiagnosis, or have symptoms dismissed as stress. Navigating these health risks requires more than just medical care. It needs understanding and care teams that reflect the women they serve.”

Dr. Blake added, “Culturally aware or culturally competent care takes into consideration the full lived experience of the patient in addition to their medical needs. It centers culture within discussions about goals of care, treatment plans, and even fears and anxieties about medical care.”

“For black women in particular, this is important given the historical context of racism and abuse in our healthcare system. This has unfortunately been passed down through generational trauma and must be considered in the care of every black woman.”

Hormone Changes Can Start Earlier

“I wish more of us knew that hormone changes can start earlier than expected, sometimes in the late 30s, and that symptoms don’t always look like hot flashes,” said Walters. “Subtle shifts like disrupted sleep, anxiety, or irregular cycles may be the first signs.”

“The SWAN study has shown that Black women often face heavier bleeding, more intense hot flashes, and longer symptom duration than White women. Understanding this helps us track what’s happening and seek support sooner, instead of wondering if it’s ‘just stress.’ With the right information and tools, we can take proactive steps to feel prepared instead of caught off guard.”

Dr. Blake said, “Throughout our 30s and even 40s, we are often hyper-focused on family planning. Be that childbearing and fertility, or contraception and pregnancy prevention.”

“I wish more Black women knew that during these times, particularly during our late 30s and early 40s, we also need to focus on our overall health. Many women don’t realize that hormonal health is an important component of overall health. Your hormonal health can be closely linked to your bone, heart, brain, and mental health.”

“So, by your overall health during your 30s and 40s, you can set yourself up to thrive during perimenopause, the menopausal transition and beyond.”

Testing That Reflects Your Cycle

“Our test is urine-based and measures follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which naturally rises as a woman approaches menopause,” said Walters. “It can be done at home every other day for five days, giving a fuller picture of hormone changes over time.”

“By contrast, most doctors use a blood test that captures only one point in time. That is, unless you have the time and money to go back repeatedly. The real value comes from pairing this data with a telehealth consultation led by a provider specially trained in perimenopause and menopause.”

“No single test can ‘diagnose’ perimenopause, but when results are combined with clinical expertise, the insights are powerful. And because 90 percent of our providers are women of color, patients also see themselves reflected in the care they receive.”

Dr. Blake said, “Jayla’s FSH test is performed in the comfort of your own home, which, for many women, may be easier and more convenient than getting the test done at a physician’s office.”

“FSH can fluctuate over the course of the menstrual cycle, so this type of serial testing is beneficial to obtain a clearer picture of what is happening inside each woman’s body. Following up this hormone testing with a telehealth consult helps patients to understand their results and really put this result into context with their overall symptom profile and menopause journey.”

Care That Doesn’t Dismiss You

“Jayla is building care that goes beyond prescriptions,” said Walters. “We’re a full-stack model that combines testing, telehealth, pharmacy, and education in one place.”

“For Black women, stress, systemic barriers, and the ‘weathering’ effects of discrimination influence our health journey. We’re intentional about making care seamless and supportive so that women don’t feel left behind.”

“Our approach is rooted in science but also in lived experience, recognizing that hormones influence every part of life. Ultimately, our goal is to modernize women’s healthcare. That means care that is accessible, relatable, and trustworthy. Too many of us have been underserved for far too long.”

Dr. Blake added, “All of Jayla’s providers are certified by the Menopause Society, which means that they can counsel patients about the full range of perimenopause and menopause symptoms and treatments.”

“Jayla providers are certified by the Menopause Society and specialize in perimenopause and menopause care. They follow evidence-based guidelines and take every symptom, question, and concern seriously during this often-confusing time.”

That kind of care is expert, evidence-based, and culturally aware. It is exactly what Black women deserve. Ready to take the next step? Jayla Health’s 2-minute quiz can help you get matched with perimenopause care that fits your needs.

Resources:

Expert Perimenopause Care – Jayla

Disparities in Reproductive Aging and Midlife Health between Black and White women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) | Women’s Midlife Health | Full Text

Quiz – Jayla

The post Jayla Health Knows Perimenopause appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What She Told Cam Newton

K. Michelle joined Cam Newton on his Funky Friday podcast for a conversation that felt honest and unfiltered. They talked about music, body image, and the years she spent recovering from cosmetic procedures.

When Cam asked what she wanted people to know, she didn’t hesitate. “I’m not against plastic surgery. Do your research. Do what you need to do if that is for you,” she said. “But no amount of plastic surgery is going to make you love yourself anymore.”

She described what it was like to have one of the most talked-about bodies in the industry while quietly dealing with pain. “I had the hugest [butt] in life. I could not walk,” she said. “People magazine said I had one of the best bodies ever. That almost cost me my life.”
She explained that once silicone is injected, it doesn’t leave.

“You can take out a breast implant. You can take out things like that. But once you inject silicone shots into your body, that is motor oil that forever lives in your body.” She called it a permanent decision for a temporary fix.

The conversation also touched on shifting beauty standards. K. Michelle is no stranger to shifting trends, especially when it comes to the body types that have been favored over the decades. The truth is, it moves fast and rarely makes room for those who made permanent choices to fit in. These days, she consistently emphasizes the importance of clarity before going on the table.

How It Started

Her honesty didn’t start with Funky Friday. K. Michelle has long been vocal about what her body’s been through.

“I had just got a new record deal, and I felt like the bigger the butt, the bigger the career,” she told Essence in 2022. “I already had a big butt. It was just ridiculous.”

In 2012, she underwent illegal silicone injections to enhance her hips and butt. “I wanted to look like a Coke bottle,” she told PEOPLE. She had already had her breasts augmented and fat transferred from her stomach to her rear. When she learned that one of her favorite rappers had done it, she decided to go through with the injections, despite knowing the man in Atlanta offering them wasn’t a licensed doctor.

For a while, she was happy with the results. Her career gained momentum, and she was cast on Love and Hip Hop. But in 2017, her body began to break down. She experienced migraines, fatigue, and pain in her back and legs. Doctors initially suspected lupus before discovering that the silicone had spread through her tissue and was threatening her ability to walk.

She tried liposuction, hoping it would remove the material. Instead, it pushed the silicone further. After a few performances on tour, she was rushed to the emergency room.

Rebuilding Her Body, Reclaiming Her Voice

What followed was a long and painful recovery including multiple surgeries, two blood transfusions, and the removal of dead tissue. Speaking with PEOPLE, she explained, “I had these lumps, and I was very disfigured.

Her body was inflamed, her mobility was compromised, and the procedures were physically and emotionally draining. She spent months healing, adjusting to a body that no longer matched the image she once pursued. The experience forced her to slow down, reflect, and begin speaking publicly about what she had endured.

In her 2022 appearance on the Tamron Hall Show, K. Michelle described the physical toll of removing illegal silicone injections. She began the process of reclaiming her health and removing the foreign substances from her body, a journey that would span years and multiple surgeries.

“It took me about 13 surgeries later in three years.” she said.

Filming Her Truth

In 2022, K. Michelle launched My Killer Body with K. Michelle on Lifetime. The show featured real people dealing with botched procedures, emotional trauma, and the aftermath of chasing beauty. It also documented her own recovery and the realities of living with permanent damage.

The show challenges how beauty is presented online, where final images rarely reflect the risk or recovery behind them.

Healing With Honesty

Recovery is ongoing. K. Michelle still struggles with the physical and emotional impact of her surgeries. “Some days, I’m like, I’m never getting back on that table,” she told Essence. “But then I might put on something, and a dent from my reconstruction is there, and I say, I’m going to get this fixed. I’m human. I go back and forth.”

She’s faced speculation about her appearance, with fans assuming she’s had more work done. But she emphasizes that her focus is on health, not perfection.

“I feel hopeful, and I feel happy to be healthy and able to function,” she said. “I think that brings another beauty within itself.”

Beauty Isn’t Always Easy

K. Michelle’s story reframes the idea of beauty. She isn’t opposed to cosmetic surgery. What she challenges is the misinformation and lack of transparency that often surround it. Her experience has become a platform for pushing safer, more honest conversations about body modification, especially in communities where access to safe care is limited. She urges people to look beyond the polished results and understand the risks, recovery, and the emotional toll.

For her, surgery is not a casual choice. It requires research, preparation, and a clear understanding of what’s at stake. You only get one body, and it deserves to be protected.

Resources:

K. Michelle & Cam get BRUTALLY honest about Love, Regret, Dating Mistakes & Country Music Truths

With ‘My Killer Body,’ K. Michelle Wants To Tell ‘The Whole Truth’ About Plastic Surgery | Essence

K. Michelle Says Removing Butt Injections Was ‘Scary’

K. Michelle Had to Get 13 Operations to Remove Botched Silicone Injections

Watch My Killer Body with K. Michelle Full Episodes, Video & More | Lifetime

The post K. Michelle Opens Up About the Toll of Cosmetic Surgery appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We spoke with Ricki Fairley, CEO and Co-Founder of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, and Sue Weldon, Founder and CEO of Unite for HER, about what it means to build care that reflects the truth of Black women’s experiences and what it takes to change the system.

How Breast Cancer Impacts Us Is More Than Just Data Points

“The devastating mortality numbers associated with being Black and diagnosed with breast cancer are so much more than just data points, they validate a wholly different lived experience and disease,” said Ricki Fairley.

“Most people, when they picture breast cancer, picture an older white woman. And everything about breast cancer care has oriented around that perceived ‘typical’ patient. Black women have been largely left out of the conversation.”

Fairley defines Black Breast Cancer as “the constellation of exposures, experiences, and lack of science for Black women diagnosed with breast cancer that causes Black women to face disproportionately worse breast cancer outcomes.”

How TNBC Affects Our Community

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a fast-growing subtype of breast cancer that doesn’t respond to hormone therapies or targeted treatments. It’s much harder to treat, more likely to return, and disproportionately affects Black women, especially those under 40.

“We now have data that validates that the biology of a Black TNBC breast cancer cell looks significantly different from a white breast cancer cell,” Weldon said. “The treatments that we currently have available were based on clinical trials where the patient participation was not commensurate with the burden of disease.”

In other words, Black women are underrepresented in the very trials that shape today’s treatments, despite facing the highest risks.

TOUCH launched BlackTNBCSanctuary.org in 2024, a TNBC resource created by the community, for the community. Unite for HER expanded access to its Wellness Passport Program, offering integrative therapies, nutrition support, and community care.

“This wrap-around approach ensures that, even in the face of limited medical options, the women we serve are seen, supported, and given the care they need to truly live well,” Weldon said.

Unite for HER’s model is built around restoring quality of life. Patients receive therapies that ease side effects, reduce stress, and help them reclaim joy in their days. The program also fosters community, offering a space where women feel seen and supported.

The Care for HER Model is Designed Especially for Us

Care for HER is a new delivery model for Black breast cancer care. Co-created by TOUCH and Unite for Her, it fuses two proven systems. Patients receive round-the clock nurse navigation rooted in cultural experience, along with integrative therapies such as acupuncture, nutrition counseling, and wellness support. These services are now offered as one unified program, available nationwide and free of charge.

“We asked, what if we combined resources?” said Weldon. “We created a comprehensive approach to help Black women better access and adhere to their treatments. At the same time, we knew it was vital to amplify education about the stark health disparities, most notably that Black women die from breast cancer at a 40% higher rate than white women.”

Why Black Nurse Navigators Are Critical

In 1990, Dr. Harold Freeman created patient navigation to reduce delays in care for Black breast cancer patients. TOUCH Co-Founder Valarie Worthy, a longtime nurse and survivor, trained under Freeman.

“You have to have walked this path, both culturally and medically, to truly understand what it feels like,” said Fairley. “For patients, this is an unparalleled resource, to be understood, to have a trusted expert in their corner, and to see someone who has survived this disease.”

Today, Black women still receive later diagnoses and face a 40 percent higher mortality rate than white women. Most have never encountered a nurse navigator, and even fewer have access to one who shares their lived experience. TOUCH’s program fills that gap with culturally grounded guidance and 24/7 support, because cancer doesn’t care what time it is.

Spotting Access Barriers

The barriers to timely, equitable breast cancer care are layered. Obstacles such as dismissal by doctors at young ages, earned medical mistrust, and the inability to take time off work, among others, are major roadblocks. “There are too many barriers blocking access to care for Black patients to count,” said Fairley.

“Black women under age 35 get breast cancer at twice the rate of white women and die at three times the rate. The screening guideline of age 40 is too late for us.”

Clinical trial participation stays low because Black patients are rarely invited. When they are, it’s often during a crisis, like right after a diagnosis. Some women fear they’ll be denied real treatment. In clinical trials, a sugar pill refers to a placebo, a harmless fake treatment used for comparison. “Many of the Black Blessties who participated in our research mistakenly thought they were going to get a sugar pill and die,” Fairley said.

TOUCH uses the term Blesstie to describe a Black woman diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s a term that honors survival, sisterhood, and support.

Building Impact and Equity

“This growth reflects the importance of forming meaningful referral partnerships,” said Weldon. “We work with hospitals, cancer centers, and community organizations that share our mission. When these partnerships come together, the impact is profound. The metrics clearly affirm the value of this approach in advancing equitable care.”

That impact requires sustained investment. “At Unite for HER, we cannot keep up with the growing demand for our program without it,” Weldon said. “Each woman we serve receives $2,000 in integrative therapies and services. We’re proud to offer these resources. We have to raise the full amount every year.” TOUCH’s 24/7 navigation also depends on funding. “We wish we could offer it to everyone,” Fairley said.

“No woman should have to search for these resources or worry about how to afford them. They should be seamlessly built into every treatment plan,” Weldon said. Fairley added, “Until clinical trials reflect the burden of disease, we won’t get drugs that truly treat Black Breast Cancer.”

The vision is clear. Weldon said, “A future without Black breast cancer disparities is one where no woman feels unseen, unheard or dismissed.” She added, “True equality would be transformative.” Fairley shares that hope. “We don’t want anyone to die of breast cancer. But we do want to close the survival gap for Black women.”

This is where equity really begins.

Resources:

Touch BBCA

Unite for HER | Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Support & Services

Home Page – Black TNBC Sanctuary

Your Wellness Passport | Unite For HER: Helping to Empower and Restore Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients Nationwide

Care for HER | Unite For HER: Helping to Empower and Restore Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients Nationwide

Blesstie Love – Touch BBCA

The post Care for HER: A New Model for Black Breast Cancer Support appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The State of Maternal Health 2025 report, released by The Harris Poll, draws from the experiences of more than 2,300 women across the United States.

The findings highlight how often Black women enter pregnancy without the information they need and leave childbirth without the support they expected.

Whether during prenatal visits or in the weeks after delivery, the gaps in care continue to put lives at risk.

Discrimination Shapes Access to Care

Black women were three times more likely than white women to report discrimination, bias, or profiling as a barrier to receiving care during pregnancy or childbirth.

Forty percent said they faced challenges accessing care at all, including difficulty taking time off work or finding childcare to attend appointments.

These barriers reflect a system that places the burden on patients to navigate obstacles that shouldn’t exist in the first place.

Limited Prenatal Guidance

The report found that Black women are less likely than white women to receive adequate prenatal care. Many also reported not being informed about key aspects of labor and delivery. Among those who have been pregnant:

• 87 percent did not know cervical checks during labor are optional.
• 80 percent were unaware that provider-directed pushing can negatively affect both mother and baby.
• 66 percent did not know lying flat during labor can reduce blood flow to the baby.
• 56 percent were unaware of the risks associated with elective inductions.
• 54 percent did not know upright birthing positions can benefit outcomes.

These gaps in education can directly affect how safe and prepared someone feels during childbirth.

Self-Advocacy Is Still Expected

Survey respondents were asked whether they felt they had to fight for care. Black women were more likely to agree.

Self-advocacy is often expected but not always met with clear information or responsive care.

For many Black mothers, it means carrying the weight of being both the patient and an advocate.

That kind of pressure can lead to a slow-burning exhaustion, one that leaves mothers feeling unsure and isolated.

Postpartum Support Falls Short

Among Black women who have been pregnant, 59 percent experienced postpartum mental health issues. Nearly half of those women said they received little or no support. More than half strongly agreed that the standard six-week checkup is not enough. And nearly one third said they felt forgotten once the baby was born.

Childbirth is still treated as a finish line, when it should be the start of support.

While delivery receives clinical attention, the weeks and months that follow are often overlooked. Emotional wellbeing, physical healing, and mental health support are treated as optional, leaving many Black mothers to navigate postpartum challenges without consistent care or follow-up.

Centering Recovery

When asked what should change first if Black women were centered in the design of maternal care, respondents pointed to patient education and postpartum support. That includes clear information about birthing positions, pain management options, and mental health resources. It also requires providers to stop assuming that patients already know what to expect.

Christina Lojek, Research Manager at The Harris Poll, reflected on the emotional toll behind the numbers. “I think women feel like they are alone and drowning, but don’t know how or want to scream for help because it feels like they are expected to just go without and get it done.”

She went on to describe how that pressure is shaped by cultural expectations. Pregnancy and childbirth are often treated as something women should push through, even without support, because generations before them did. That belief feeds into the bounce-back mentality, where recovery is rushed, care is minimal, and mothers are expected to move on without acknowledgment of what they’ve endured.

This study moves past statistics and into lived experience. It reflects what Black mothers have been naming for years and gives advocates something concrete to work with. It’s a step toward accountability, and a reminder that better care begins with paying attention to what’s been ignored.

Resources:

Third Annual State of Maternal Health Report

The post Black Mothers Are Still Being Left Behind appeared first on Black Health Matters.

This phase before menopause affects hormones and can throw off your cycle, energy, and sense of balance. We spoke to Dr. Nicole Sparks, an OB-GYN and lifestyle content creator, about what to expect and when to speak up.

 The First Signs of Perimenopause

Perimenopause often begins subtly. Hormone levels shift, and these changes can manifest in various ways, such as trouble sleeping, mood swings, or irregular menstrual periods. Many people assume it is stress or aging, but these symptoms may be your body’s way of signaling something more specific.

“Some of the signs and symptoms associated with perimenopause are vague and non-specific,” says Dr. Sparks. “So, you may attribute them to stress or ‘getting older’ when it may be more serious than that. Hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and irregular periods are some of the first signs patients present with.”

She adds, “It’s ok to have occasional irregular periods. Maybe you’ve started exercising more than usual, or were traveling, and your period came early or late. But if you notice a pattern of persistent irregular periods and symptoms over time, that’s when you should seek help.”

How Perimenopause Impacts Black Women Differently

“Most women start having symptoms of perimenopause in their mid to late forties, but some experience them as early as their thirties,” says Dr. Sparks.

“Perimenopause usually lasts four to eight years and ends when you’ve gone one full year without a period.”

For Black women, the timeline may be earlier and the symptoms more intense. “Studies show that perimenopause can begin earlier in Black women,” she says. “Because of chronic stress and socioeconomic factors, symptoms like irregular periods, sleep disturbances, and hot flashes may be dismissed as normal, and women may not seek help.”

How Shifts in Estrogen Impact Hair, Weight, and Hormones.

Estrogen is often regarded as a reproductive hormone, but it also plays a crucial role in hair growth, metabolism, and the body’s fat storage. During perimenopause, as estrogen levels begin to decline, these systems start to shift in noticeable ways.

“All of the symptoms during perimenopause and menopause tie directly back to a decrease in estrogen,” Dr. Sparks explains.

“Estrogen helps promote the active growth phase of hair follicles. When it decreases, follicles stay longer in the resting phase, and you may notice increased shedding and thinning.”

Estrogen also affects metabolism and the body’s fat storage. “You may notice your metabolism slowing down in your late thirties and early forties,” she says. “You’re burning fewer calories at rest. Fat storage shifts, especially to the abdomen. And when estrogen drops, so does your insulin sensitivity, which can lead to weight gain and increased appetite.”

Estrogen also helps maintain bone strength, so when levels fall, the risk of osteoporosis increases. That is a condition where bones become weaker and more likely to break. Supporting your body with calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing movement like walking or resistance training can help protect your bones during this transition.

They Also Affect Our Mood, Brain, and Mental Health

Hormonal shifts during perimenopause also influence brain chemistry, including neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These are chemical messengers that help regulate mood, focus, and emotional stability.

Estrogen helps your brain produce and utilize serotonin, which supports emotional stability and sleep. It also affects dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in motivation and attention.

Progesterone works with calming systems in the brain that help you feel settled and sleep well.

When these hormones start to rise and fall unevenly, it can throw off how your brain handles emotions, focus, and stress.

“It’s not all in your head, and you’re not alone,” says Dr. Sparks. “Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters that help regulate mood. When estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, you may feel irritable one minute and fine the next.”

She continues, “You may notice brain fog, struggling to find words or remember lyrics, and have difficulty concentrating.

These hormone shifts can contribute to anxiety and depression. Add in sleep disturbances and insomnia, and it can make everything feel worse.”

Sleep Disruptions

Sleep changes during perimenopause can mean trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, or feeling unrested. Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone also influence melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

When melatonin is disrupted, your body may struggle to determine when it is time to wind down.

Simple changes, such as maintaining a regular bedtime, limiting screen time before sleep, and avoiding caffeine late in the day, can help. If insomnia persists, consult your doctor about treatment options tailored to your needs.

Can It Impact Your Diabetes or Hypertension?

“If you are living with diabetes or high blood pressure, it’s important to know how perimenopause can affect your conditions,” Dr. Sparks says. “Estrogen is a protective factor for our heart. When levels decline, it increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death in Black women.”

She explains that lower estrogen can also lead to insulin resistance, which affects how well your body manages blood sugar.

“These changes can lead to higher blood pressure, higher blood sugar, and increased weight gain. Let your doctor know if you start to notice shifts in these numbers.”

Perimenopause often overlaps with the onset of chronic conditions. Bone density, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels can shift without apparent symptoms. Regular checkups and updates to laboratory tests, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and hemoglobin A1c, can help detect changes early and guide your care.

Pregnancy Can Still Occur

Perimenopause doesn’t mean pregnancy is off the table. Ovulation can still happen, even if cycles are irregular or symptoms are hard to track.

Birth rates among women in their late 30s and early 40s have continued to rise, as more people choose to start families later in life.

This unpredictability can be stressful. If you’re trying to conceive, it may take longer and require fertility support. If you’re not trying to conceive, it’s worth reviewing your birth control options. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends seeking an infertility evaluation after six months of trying if you’re over 35, and before trying if you’re over 40.

Advocating for Better Care

“You aren’t married to your doctor,” says Dr. Sparks. “If your concerns are being dismissed, find a new provider. It’s unfortunate, but many women aren’t taken seriously when they bring up perimenopause.”

She encourages preparation. “Advocate for yourself. Bring a list of symptoms and why you’re concerned. Keep a diary so you can be specific. Ask if your symptoms could be related to perimenopause and what that means for your health.

“Make sure your labs, blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings are current. If they aren’t, request updates. And if your provider still doesn’t listen, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion.”

You do not have to wait until things get worse. If you are noticing changes in your cycle, mood, sleep, or energy, start tracking them. The more specific you are, the easier it is to get answers and the care you deserve.

Resources:

About Nicole – Nicole Alicia MD

Evaluating Infertility | ACOG

The post This Is What Perimenopause Feels Like appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Dissatisfied With the First Doctor, Lori Harvey Got a Second Opinion

“I’ve been so frustrated,” she told her mother, Majorie Harvey, on the phone. “I’ve been going to my gynecologist because I’ve just been feeling like something’s off in my body.” She recalled their chat to hosts Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi and Mary Alice Haney. Dr. Aliabadi, whom Harvey lovingly referred to as “Dr. A,” is the second doctor she sought out.

Lori Harvey Discovered She Has Two Conditions

“Endometriosis is a chronic, multisystemic disease of inflammation affecting approximately 10% of the female population,” according to the Journal of Reproduction and Fertility. A 2019 literature review published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reported that “Black women were less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis.” Additional research is needed on the topic.

“Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects women of reproductive age,” according to the World Health Organization. Their research reflects that up to 70% of those living with this condition and the pain it causes might be unaware of what is happening to their bodies.

PCOS May Impact Black Women Differently

“There are several racial and ethnic differences in PCOS phenotypes and in PCOS-associated metabolic dysfunction,” according to the Journal of Fertility and Sterility.

Lori was experiencing excruciating symptoms, consistent inflammation, fluctuating weight gain, facial hair, acne, and other symptoms associated with PCOS and endometriosis. She began experiencing these symptoms in her teenage years.

There is an increased risk for depression, anxiety, and eating disorders with these conditions as well. The hosts commented on how the condition’s ability to negate the efficiency of diets as a trigger for those who might be suffering from eating disorders, especially those in vulnerable populations like teenage girls. Lori later commented that symptoms impacted her “relationship with food” but did not say she had an eating disorder.

Black women with PCOS have an increased risk for severe metabolic issues according to the Journal of the Endocrine Society, making its presence about more than pain. It can lead to fertility issues as well.

The Blanket Dismissal of Her Symptoms By Lori’s Previous Doctor

Lori stressed the disconnect between her and her previous doctor that prevented her from learning she had both conditions. She spoke up, but was unheard.

“Every time I go to her, she’s like, ‘You’re fine, you’re fine, you’re fine. Nothing’s wrong.’ And I was like, ‘But I don’t feel fine. I feel like something is just off.'”

She described the intense suffering that came with that “off” feeling. “I used to have the most excruciating periods of my life, every single time I felt like I needed to go to the hospital, just crazy cramps. I’m taking 800 milligrams of Ibuprofen. Nothing is working, it’s just debilitating,” said Harvey.

Her previous doctor did not share her concerns about the impact the pain had on her life. They felt that over-the-counter remedies were sufficient for what she was enduring.

“They’d be like, ‘Oh, just take some Tylenol, you’ll be fine.’ And I’m like, there’s no way this is normal,” she continued. “When you keep telling these doctors who are supposed to be there to help you that you don’t feel right and something’s off and they keep telling you you’re fine, it’s almost like you’re getting gaslit.”

The Pain She Felt Was Not Normal

After years of “suffering in silence,” Lori sought a second opinion that validated menstrual discomfort should not be completely sitting her down. Together they discovered there was “a lot going on” inside her body.

The second doctor told her, “Yeah, babe, you’re right. It was not normal, and I’m so sorry that you’ve just been living with this, and people have been telling you that this is just how it’s supposed to be because it’s not.”

Money and Privilege Don’t Always Help

The hosts pointed out that if Lori’s fame and privilege didn’t help her in advocating for herself with previous doctors, that didn’t bode well for the average person. PCOS can be treated with hormone therapy, including oral medications, creams, and gels.

Lori was prescribed metformin, a prescription drug routinely used to control high blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. It served her needs. “It just regulated my blood sugar and literally got my body to normal,” Lori said

“My hormones are leveled out and I’m like, oh, I feel good in my body finally for once,” she added.

Lori gushed about the relief she got from being appropriately treated post-diagnosis. “So, she literally changed my life,” she said about her new OB-GYN.

She is so passionate about the improvement proper treatment has made in her life that she has taken to quizzing friends about it to help them, “Even in conversation, if one of my friends is telling me something like ‘Oh I’m getting this, I’m getting that’ I’m like do you have PCOS,” she said. “You should get tested,” she advises them.

Resources

Journal of Reproduction and Fertility

Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

World Health Organization: PCOS

The post Lori Harvey’s Endometriosis & PCOS Symptoms Were Dismissed appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The research is still unfolding, but here’s what we know so far about how CAR-T therapy is being used to treat ovarian cancer.

What Makes Ovarian Cancer So Hard to Treat

According to the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Program, an estimated 20,890 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2025. About 12,730 are expected to die from the disease. The five-year relative survival rate is 51.6 percent, but that number drops significantly for Black women, who face unique barriers to early detection, timely treatment, and access to clinical trials.

As Dr. Oliver Dorigo, director of gynecologic oncology at Stanford Medicine, explained in a Stanford Cancer Institute report, “Ovarian cancer remains a very difficult disease to treat, especially when it recurs. Many patients are in dire need of better therapies.”

What Is CAR-T Cell Therapy?

CAR-T stands for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. It’s a form of immunotherapy that modifies a patient’s own T cells, white blood cells that help fight disease, to better recognize and destroy cancer cells. Researchers collect T cells from the blood, reprogram them in a lab, and return them to the body, where they act as targeted cancer hunters.

This therapy has shown remarkable success in blood cancers like leukemia. Now, researchers are adapting CAR-T therapy for solid tumors, including ovarian cancer.

Inside the Promise of CAR-T Therapy

Stanford researchers, including Dr. Oliver Dorigo and Dr. Crystal Mackall, a leading expert in cell therapy, are testing CAR-T cells that target a protein called B7-H3, which is highly expressed in ovarian tumors. Their phase 1 trial, launched in late 2024, is exploring both intravenous and direct abdominal delivery. That abdominal approach could offer more precise targeting, since ovarian cancer often remains confined to the abdomen.

Early Results and What Comes Next

Initial findings from the trial are encouraging. Researchers saw early promise and learned from side effects in the first six patients, helping to refine the therapy.

Researchers are also exploring ways to improve CAR-T therapy for solid tumors, including ovarian cancer. That includes pairing it with other treatments and finding ways to help immune cells reach tumors more effectively.

What This Means for Black Women

While these therapies are still in early stages, they reflect a shift toward more personalized, immune-based treatment. Approaches like CAR-T could eventually offer longer-lasting results with fewer side effects.

But access matters. For Black women, who are often underrepresented in clinical trials and underserved in cancer care, these innovations won’t mean much unless they’re available to everyone. A recently updated PARP inhibitors trial, which tested a targeted therapy for ovarian cancer, included only 1.6 percent Black participants, according to data from ClinicalTrials.gov. Without diverse participation, researchers can’t fully understand how well these treatments work for the people who may need them most.

Breakthroughs Without Representation

Studies show that Black women are 25 percent less likely than white women to receive ovarian cancer treatment that follows national guidelines, according to a meta-analysis published by Oxford University Press.

Even when cancer stage and treatment type are similar, Black women often face worse outcomes. Many Black women experience resistance to chemotherapy and recurrence sooner than other groups.

These gaps in care aren’t explained by biology alone. Many Black women are diagnosed with high-grade serous tumors, the most aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Yet access to genetic testing, personalized treatment plans, and clinical trials remains limited. Some providers delay referrals or underestimate symptoms. Others fail to explain options in ways that feel trustworthy or culturally relevant.

As therapies advance, advocacy must ensure that Black women are included in research. They must be informed about emerging treatments and supported through care that respects their experiences and meets their needs.

And CAR-T cell therapy may be just that, a new beginning in a story that needs change.

Resources:

Ovarian Cancer — Cancer Stat Facts

Using CAR-T cells to treat ovarian cancer | Stanford Cancer Institute

Study Results | NCT02655016 | A Study of Niraparib (GSK3985771) Maintenance Treatment in Participants With Advanced Ovarian Cancer Following Response on Front-Line Platinum-Based Chemotherapy | ClinicalTrials.gov

Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Health-Care Access Disparities in Ovarian Cancer Treatment and Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | JNCI Cancer Spectrum | Oxford Academic

The post CAR-T Therapy Is Changing Ovarian Cancer Care appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 20,890 newly diagnosed cases of ovarian cancer in 2025, and 12,730 women will die from the disease. An estimated one woman in 91 will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime.

According to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, the condition is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 55 and 64.

Ovarian Cancer By the Numbers

When one is diagnosed and treated in the earliest stages, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent. Due to ovarian cancer’s non-specific symptoms and lack of early detection tests, only 20 percent of all cases are diagnosed at this early stage. If caught in stage III or higher, the survival rate can be as low as 30.6 percent.

Due to the nature of the disease, each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has a different profile, and it is impossible to provide a general prognosis. The five-year ovarian cancer survival rate for white women is 50.6%; in Black patients, it’s 43.2%.

How Ovarian Cancer Impacts Black Women

The journal Obstetrics & Gynecology Health Disparities in Ovarian Care did a deep dive into the differences between Black, white, Asian, and Native American populations, Hispanic populations, when it came to diagnosis, care, and mortality. They looked at several years, going back to 1985.

Black patients overall and any other patient with a low socioeconomic background had worse outcomes.

“Black patients had 17–18% worse survival compared with White patients. Potential explanations include earlier age and later stage at diagnosis and disparities across the entire care continuum of ovarian cancer: diagnosis, treatment, and precision testing.”

Other factors that impacted treatment, according to this literature review, included the type of insurance the patient had. If it is non-private, the patient is less likely to have received the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline-concordant ovarian cancer treatment. This resulted in a 10% increase in the patient’s mortality risk. Non-private insurance also impacts access to genetic testing.

If patients lived in rural areas, who didn’t want to travel, or were treated in a lower volume hospital by a surgeon doing fewer surgeries, they received 16-31% NCCN guideline-concordant ovarian cancer treatment.

Bottom line: it is not as simple as a late diagnosis. It is who is treating us, and where we are treated. And if we are getting the correct protocols.

Who is at Risk For Ovarian Cancer?

According to the Ovarian Research Alliance, about 25% of ovarian cancer cases diagnosed are hereditary. And they can be primarily traced to BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 gene mutations (Black women can also have them). The connection is usually a history of breast cancer.

Other risk factors include:

• Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
• Family history of ovarian, breast, uterine, or colorectal cancer.
• A personal history of cancer or endometriosis
• Early menstruation, no childbirth, first childbirth after 30, late menopause, no oral contraceptives, or infertility increase the risk.
• HRT: Long-term use increases risk, especially with combined estrogen and progestin.
• Obesity is associated with a higher ovarian cancer risk, especially post-menopause.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures Report states, “Some women at high risk because of a strong family history or inherited genetic mutations may consider preventive surgery to remove both ovaries and fallopian tubes (prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), which greatly reduces risk.”

 What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a disease in which malignant or cancerous cells are found in the ovaries. An ovary is one of two small, almond-shaped organs located on each side of the uterus that store eggs or germ cells and produce female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

According to The American Cancer Society, however, the disease was previously believed to start only in the cells of the ovaries. But ovarian cancer may also begin in the fallopian tubes.

Types of Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

The majority of ovarian cancers are categorized here (85-90%) and can start in the cells of the fallopian tube or the ovaries. The cells are further classified based on genetic analysis into the following categories:

• High-grade serous carcinoma (This is the most common type.)
• Low-grade serous carcinoma
• Endometrioid carcinoma
• Clear cell carcinoma
• Mucinous carcinoma

Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma

This is a rare cancer that is related to epithelial ovarian cancer. However, it may have spread to the abdomen.

Fallopian Tube Cancer

Fallopian tube cancer is similar to epithelial ovarian cancer and often spreads to the ovary and peritoneum.

Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors

Ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs) are a group of tumors that originate either from the sex cord or stromal cells:

• Sex cord cells are a type of epithelial cell that eventually develop into ovaries (in females) and testes (in males).
• Stromal cells form the connective tissue that gives the ovaries structure.

Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors

Most ovarian germ cell tumors are benign, but some are cancerous and may be life-threatening. Less than 2% of ovarian cancers are germ cell tumors.

• Dysgerminoma is rare; it is the most common ovarian germ cell cancer.

What Are the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, especially in the early stages. This is partly because these two small, almond-shaped organs are deep within the abdominal cavity, one on each side of the uterus.

According to the Mayo Clinic, these are some of the potential signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:

• Quickly feeling full when eating
• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Weight loss
• Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often
• Fatigue
• Discomfort in the pelvic area
• Back pain
• Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation

Make an appointment with your HCP if your symptoms are persistent.

Getting Evaluated By Your HCP

Your HCP may need to perform several tests before there is a conclusive diagnosis. They may include:

• A pelvic exam
• Blood tests. The most common tumor marker is a blood test called the CA-125.
• Genetic tests
• Surgery

If Your Results Come Back Positive

Consult a gynecologic oncologist immediately. They may want to review your current test and order additional ones, along with the results. However, the only way to more accurately confirm ovarian cancer is with a biopsy, a procedure in which the doctor takes a sample of the tumor and examines it under a microscope.

Getting Diagnosed

Make the most of your appointment. Come with some questions ready after the initial shock has worn off. Or bring a supportive wingperson with you. A significant other, sister, BFF, or work friend, let them ask the questions you have scribbled in your notebook. But we’ve got a cheat sheet down below to get you started, and you can add more from here.

• What type of ovarian cancer do I have?
• Has my cancer spread beyond the ovaries?
• What is the cancer’s stage (extent), and what does that mean?
• Will I need other tests before we can decide on treatment?
• Will I be able to have children after my treatment?

• Should I think about genetic testing?
• What are my clinical trial options?
• This is overwhelming. Where can I find support?

Partner With Your HCP

After your diagnosis, you’ll partner with your oncologist to choose a customized treatment plan that works for you. The treatment will vary based on the stage of the disease, your age, and your health condition. The ACS points out that most ovarian cancer patients may require surgery. But depending on the type of ovarian cancer and how advanced it is, you might need other types of treatment as well, either before or after surgery, or sometimes both.

Treatment Options May Include:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Targeted Drug Therapy
• Hormone Therapy
• Immonotherapy

Consider Genetic Testing

In an article in Nature, Sophia George explores solutions for why Black women have lower survival rates and higher rates of recurrence. In examining data from the NCI, she noticed that we have higher rates of rarer cancers.

“Black women are more likely to have germ-cell and stromal-cell tumours, and less likely to have epithelial ovarian cancers,” she wrote. Despite these differences, new approaches to clinical care — including genomic medicine — are underutilized in this population. ”

Then there are new treatments like PARP inhibitors, but when only 1.6% participants in the trial are, George says, “the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in Black women remains poorly characterized.”

Finally, she notes that Black patients are less likely to have their tumors analyzed. “This exacerbates disparities in the treatment that they receive and limits cancer-prevention opportunities in family members.”

Using Black women’s poorer response to platinum-based chemotherapy as an example, George believes that genetics may play a role. She argues that there is a similar type of inherited breast and ovarian gene variant in West African, Black American, and white women.

“But certain subpopulations of Black women³ experience hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes at rates comparable to or greater than those seen in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, which has considerably higher rates of these cancers than the global average.”

We do know some families within our communities that have been hit hard by breast and ovarian cancers. They could benefit from genetic testing.

Five Preventive Strategies to Fight Ovarian Cancer

Genetic testing also provides insights that enable individuals to identify preventive measures they can take to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer. Here are five that the ORA suggests:

• Using oral contraception for five or more years can reduce ovarian cancer risk by 50%.
• Multiple pregnancies or your first full-term birth by age 26 reduces your risk, and breastfeeding does, too.
• Removal of your Fallopian tubes (Bilateral Salpingectomy). It reduces the risk of cancer forming in the fallopian tubes while preserving fertility with the help of IVF.
• Removal of Fallopian Tubes and Ovaries Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy significantly reduces risk. There is a slight chance you can still get a rare kind of ovarian cancer.  Especially beneficial when performed by age 35-40 for women with BRCA1 mutations or by age 40-45 for those with BRCA2 mutations.
• Hysterectomy and Tubal Ligation: Hysterectomy may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 33%, and tubal ligation by up to 67%.

Resources:

American Cancer Society: Types of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Research Alliance: Prevention and Risks 

Mayo Clinic: Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Health Disparities in Ovarian Care

The post The Silent Killer: Black Women & Ovarian Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

This guide covers what’s normal, what’s not, and what to do when things feel off, physically or emotionally.

Why Does Breastfeeding Feel So Hard at First?

Because it is, you’re learning a new skill while recovering from birth, navigating sleep deprivation, and adjusting to a new identity. Breastfeeding is a supply-and-demand system, and in those early weeks, your baby’s frequent nursing helps build your milk supply. But it’s also a dance, one that takes time, patience, and support to learn.

Why Does My Baby Nurse So Often?

Newborns have tiny stomachs, about the size of a cherry on day one, growing to a walnut by week one. Breast milk digests quickly, so babies get hungry fast. Frequent nursing is normal and necessary. Watch for early hunger cues like lip smacking, rooting, or hand-sucking. Crying is a late sign. If you can catch hunger earlier, feedings tend to go more smoothly.

What Should Breastfeeding Feel Like?

A good latch shouldn’t hurt. It might feel unfamiliar at first, like a gentle pull or stretch, but it shouldn’t make you wince. If you’re feeling sharp pain, pinching, or burning, something’s off. And you don’t have to push through it. Painful nursing is uncomfortable, but it can also lead to cracked skin, low milk transfer, and frustration for both you and your baby. Most latch issues are fixable with minor tweaks, and getting help early can make a huge difference.

Talk to a lactation consultant, nurse, or peer counselor. You deserve to feel supported, not punished, for trying to feed your baby.

What Is Engorgement and Why Does It Hurt?

Around day three to five postpartum, your milk “comes in,” and your breasts may feel full, firm, or even rock-hard. That’s engorgement, your body’s way of prepping for demand. But if you wait too long between feedings, inflammation builds, making it harder for your baby to latch. It can feel swollen, tight, or tender, and for some women, even painful.

Frequent nursing helps prevent it, and cold compresses can offer relief. Even if you’re not sure your breasts are full, it’s okay to nurse. Your baby’s cues matter more than the clock.

What to Do When Nursing Feels Hard

If your baby is struggling to latch or your breasts feel too firm, there are ways to make feeding more comfortable. Between sessions, a cool washcloth or gel pack can help reduce swelling. If the area around your nipple feels tight, try gently pressing with your fingertips for about a minute. This softens the tissue and makes it easier for your baby to latch.

You can also ask your provider if ibuprofen is safe for you; it’s often recommended to reduce inflammation. And if you notice fever, chills, or one breast that feels hot, red, or painful, call your doctor. These could be signs of mastitis, a breast infection that needs medical care.

What About Cracked, Sore, or Bleeding Nipples?

It’s common in the first few days, especially if the latch isn’t deep enough. If your nipples are damaged, take your baby off the breast and try again. Use expressed breast milk or purified lanolin to soothe the skin. Keep breastfeeding. Healing happens faster with continued nursing and latch correction.

What If I Have Large, Flat, or Inverted Nipples?

These variations are normal and don’t mean you can’t breastfeed. A lactation consultant can help with positioning and latch techniques. Nipple shields may help temporarily, but they’re not a long-term fix. With support, most women find a rhythm that works.

Will My Breasts Leak?

Maybe. Maybe not. Some leak during pregnancy, others only when feeding or thinking about their baby. Nursing pads can help; change them often to avoid irritation.

Do I Need to Prep My Nipples Before Birth?

No. Your body already has oil glands that keep the skin soft and guide your baby by scent. Skip the soaps, lotions, and perfumes. Plain water is enough.

The Emotional Side of Breastfeeding Pain

Pain isn’t just physical. It’s emotional too. And now, we finally have language for some of the more complex feelings that can show up during breastfeeding.

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER)

D-MER is a sudden wave of sadness, anxiety, or even rage that happens just before or during milk letdown. It’s hormonal, not psychological, and usually lasts anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.

According to a study published in Archives of Women’s Mental Health, about 15.5% of breastfeeding women report symptoms of Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER). Many describe it as a sudden drop in mood that feels intense but brief, often mistaken for postpartum depression, though it’s a distinct experience.

Breastfeeding Aversion Response (BAR)

Breastfeeding Aversion Response (BAR) shows up as a wave of discomfort, irritation, or even a strong urge to unlatch while nursing. It’s not about disliking your baby or failing at breastfeeding; it’s a physiological reaction that can feel overwhelming and hard to name.

BAR is more common during tandem feeding, nursing through pregnancy, or breastfeeding older babies. A study published in the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health found that more than half of women experiencing BAR ended feedings early, and nearly half received no support from their provider. Emotional discomfort during nursing isn’t a mood disorder, but it still deserves recognition, care, and compassion, especially for Black mothers who are often dismissed in clinical spaces.

Mental Health Matters

Breastfeeding can be healing, but it can also be emotionally heavy. A systematic review in the Journal of Women’s Health found that while nursing may reduce anxiety for some, it can increase stress and depressive symptoms for others, especially when pain, pressure, or isolation are involved.

When Black mothers speak about breastfeeding pain, they’re often met with disbelief or blame. The emotional toll includes shame, isolation, and the unraveling of self. It’s rarely named, let alone addressed. But it’s real. And it deserves care that centers the mother’s wellbeing, not just the mechanics of feeding.

Here’s the truth. Feeding your baby isn’t a test. You’re not a bad mom if breastfeeding is hard. You’re not failing if you need help or take a different path. You’re doing what works. That’s love and care.

What If I Choose Not to Breastfeed?

Even if you don’t breastfeed, your body will still produce milk. You may experience fullness or engorgement. Pain management, cold compresses, and gradual weaning techniques can help. Talk to your provider about safe ways to suppress lactation if needed.

When Is Pain Not Normal?

If pain lasts more than a few days, gets worse, or comes with fever, chills, or red streaks on the breast, call your provider. You may have mastitis or a blocked duct. If nursing feels emotionally unbearable, reach out. There’s no shame in asking for help.

A Quick Recap

We get it. You’re busy, tired, maybe overwhelmed. Whether you’re the one nursing or the one helping, here’s a quick recap of what actually helps, so you don’t have to dig for answers when you need relief now.

If It Hurts, Pause and Reassess

Pain during breastfeeding is common, but it’s not something you have to push through. According to the CDC’s Breastfeeding Report Card, latch pain is one of the top reasons women stop breastfeeding early. If it feels sharp, pinching, or burning, unlatch and try again. A good latch should feel like a tug, not a sting.

Don’t Wait for Your Breasts to Feel Full

Engorgement can happen fast, especially in the first week. Your breasts may feel swollen, tight, or hot. That pressure can make it harder for your baby to latch. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee recommends feeding on demand and using cold compresses between sessions to reduce inflammation. You don’t need to wait for fullness, follow your baby’s cues.

Cracked Nipples Aren’t a Badge of Honor

If your nipples are cracked or bleeding, it’s usually a sign of a shallow latch, not something you need to “tough out.” Expressed breast milk has natural healing properties, and purified lanolin can help soothe the skin. Skip soaps and scented lotions; your body already produces oils that protect and guide your baby.

Your Emotions Matter Just as Much as Your Milk

If you feel dread, sadness, or irritability during letdown, it could be Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER). If nursing feels emotionally unbearable, pause and get support. You’re not failing, you’re responding to your body. And that’s something to honor.

Support That Meets You Where You Are

Call the National Breastfeeding Hotline at 800-994-9662 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET to speak with trained peer counselors through the Office on Women’s Health. You’ll reach people who understand latch pain, emotional overwhelm, and everything in between. Support is free and judgment-free as well.

Also, check out the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee’s resource hub for toolkits, webinars, and updates on breastfeeding protections.

Asking questions about breastfeeding pain doesn’t make you weak; it makes you aware. And that awareness? It’s part of your story, just like it’s part of so many others. From here, you get to decide what comes next. Whether you nurse, pump, wean, or opt for formula, your effort to understand your body and your options is enough. More than enough

Resources:

Dysphoric milk ejection reflex: prevalence and associations with self-reported mental health history | Archives of Women’s Mental Health

Breastfeeding Aversion Response (BAR): A Descriptive Study

The Effects of Breastfeeding on Maternal Mental Health: A Systematic Review | Journal of Women’s Health

Breastfeeding Report Card | Breastfeeding Data | CDC

National Women’s Health and Breastfeeding Helpline

Breastfeeding Resources for Parents

The post Solutions to Your Common Questions About Breastfeeding Pain appeared first on Black Health Matters.

To explore the cultural and structural forces behind this crisis, we spoke with Dr. LaToya Lewis, a nationally recognized nursing professor and healthcare equity strategist.

Why Black Women Carry the Heaviest Caregiving Load

While broader analysis on Black Caregiving includes many experiences, Black women often carry the heaviest load.

Dr. Lewis describes how the stigma surrounds even basic expressions of need. “There is a taboo surrounding the need for support in raising a family and managing multiple responsibilities,” she explained.

“Black women are expected to do everything and be everything to everyone, yet no one accounts for how they are to be cared for in return or allowed to need rest.”

If Being Tired is Unacceptable, Burnout is Inevitable

In these environments, being tired or needing help becomes unacceptable. This contributes to silence around mental health challenges, reduces help-seeking behaviors, and erodes safe spaces for caregivers to advocate for their wellness.

Aside from personal impact, caregiver burnout is also a systemic health equity issue. “Primary prevention activities, such as wellness checkups, follow-up care, or managing underlying illnesses, are often neglected because most of their efforts go toward caring for loved ones,” Dr. Lewis said.

Caregivers Sacrifice Their Health

According to the AARP Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report, nearly 1 in 4 caregivers struggle to care for their health due to caregiving responsibilities. Black caregivers are also more likely to give up paid employment to care for loved ones, citing a lack of affordable and quality care options.

Among caregivers under age 50, 36% of Black caregivers are part of the “sandwich generation,” simultaneously caring for children and aging adults.

Fragmented healthcare, limited access to culturally competent mental health providers, and a lack of training for family caregivers further deepen this divide. “Black and brown communities are at higher risk due to economic divides and systemic barriers in healthcare and mental health support,” she added.

Counting the Emotional and Psychological Costs of Caregiving

Dr. Lewis confirms what data also shows: Black women disproportionately take on intense caregiving roles with fewer supports. “This aligns with my experience interacting with caregivers involved with end-of-life care and palliative care,” she noted.

“These individuals manage the tasks of caregiving, working, and the expectation to perform at a high level,” Dr. Lewis shared. “This can lead to a wearing ‘mask’ at work as they put on a high-performing act, continue to meet objectives, and neglect their needs.”

Behind professional success, many are managing high-functioning anxiety and depression with little rest or reprieve.

The 2025 report found that 64% of caregivers report high emotional stress, and 45% report heavy physical strain, with Black women caregivers disproportionately affected.

Organizations Need Leaders With Emotional Insight

Supporting caregivers requires organizational leadership that prioritizes care, not just output. “Leadership that honors emotional well-being, cultural wisdom, and care-driven values requires emotional intelligence, cultural responsiveness, and cultural sensitivity,” Dr. Lewis explained.

She advocates for leaders who initiate check-ins, anticipate needs, and recognize when cultural norms may discourage vulnerability. “Being proactive, not just reactive, lets staff know you care about their holistic well-being,” she said. “Employees who feel supported by leaders focused on overall well-being will take better care of themselves and understand they are valued beyond being a number.”

Organization Need to Create Safe Spaces to Discuss These Issues

Dr. Lewis’s leadership reflects this philosophy across settings. Whether in the ICU or the classroom, she centers mentorship, emotional safety, and community uplift. “What redefined my understanding of leadership was realizing that my role extended far beyond managing operations and patient care deliverables,” she shared.

Now, she supports future nurses and doctoral students not just with academic guidance, but personal care. “Students who aren’t in my class often reach out to me for career advice or guidance,” she said.

“I strive to create a non-judgmental, empowering environment that focuses on what is most important to them, helping support them in their journey.”

Provide Caregivers With Tangible Support

As caregiving demands intensify, advocates are calling for targeted policy solutions. These include federal caregiver tax credits, expanded paid leave, and respite services that reflect the actual time and emotional toll of care. According to the 2025 report, 69% of caregivers support tax credits, and 55% support paid leave programs.

Dr. Lewis believes recognition is the first step. “We have to stop treating care as a personal problem to solve and start seeing it as a public responsibility.”

Resources

FINAL Caregiving in the Black Community

Caregiving Crisis in America Keeps Growing

The post Who’s Caring for Black Caregivers? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Breastfeeding Benefits the Mother and the Baby.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, followed by continued breastfeeding accompanied by solid foods for at least two years and beyond, as desired by mom and baby.
Honestly, I didn’t know what breastfeeding truly entailed or what to expect, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for how challenging it would be in the beginning.
Almost two and a half years and two babies later, we are still going strong.

The Early Days

In the beginning, breastfeeding was painful. My nipples cracked and bled. My baby didn’t latch well. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and silently wondering why something so natural felt so hard. There were nights when I cried while she nursed. I was in pain and unsure if I could do it much longer. If we’re being honest, there were times when I dreaded nursing because of how painful it was. I found myself counting down the days until my body would tell me I was done.

I’m glad I kept going.

When I think back to that time, I often wonder WHY I kept going. What did I have to prove? Because fed was best, right?

Black Women Have Specific Challenges and Need Multifaceted Support

At that time, I wasn’t aware that many Black women struggle to get help with breastfeeding. Black women have the lowest breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates of any racial group in the U.S. According to the CDC, only around 73% of Black mothers begin breastfeeding compared to an overall initiation rate of about 84%. The solution to this disparity is multi-faceted, but we shouldn’t have to fight to feed our babies. I didn’t know how rare it was to see a lactation consultant who looked like me or understood our specific struggles as Black women. I didn’t know that systemic disparities made this experience even more complicated for moms like me.

I questioned my breastfeeding experience a lot. What I later learned is that breastfeeding can be hard, especially without support. Many Black women face added challenges, including access to lactation consultants, access to mom and baby-friendly hospitals, higher pressure to return to work, and even cultural stigma. I soon realized that even having the resources to breastfeed our babies is a privilege.

Why Black Breastfeeding Matters

We shouldn’t have to choose between our jobs and our health. We shouldn’t feel ashamed for deciding to breastfeed, or not. By the time my daughter was three months old, we had found our rhythm.

Nursing became our quiet time together, our reset. When I became pregnant again, our journey naturally came to an end. I listened to my body when it was ready to shift its focus to my growing son. We weaned gently, just after she turned 18 months. It was bittersweet.

Now, I’m nursing my son with a little more wisdom, knowledge, and much more grace.

Here are four lessons I learned along the way:

1.  Ask for help. If possible, ask for a lactation consultant before leaving the hospital. If that’s not an option, look for local or virtual support groups. My sister-in-law and fellow nursing mama was my saving grace, especially during those early days. My insurance also paid for home nurse visits, and I received additional lactation support from a certified lactation consultant. See what insurance benefits you may qualify for.
2. Advocate for yourself. If something feels off, speak up. Painful latching, clogged ducts, and low milk supply aren’t things you have to “push through” without help, and they are often a result of deeper issues. Ask if your baby should be evaluated for tongue or lip ties. Your experience matters, and your concerns deserve attention.
3.  Ignore the noise. Everyone has opinions, including family, friends, and even strangers. Only you know what works best for your baby and your body. Whether you nurse for two weeks, two years, or not at all, always remember that fed is best.
4. Take care of yourself. Breastfeeding can drain your energy physically and mentally, especially during those early postpartum days. Add in returning to work while also keeping your household afloat, and burnout can sneak up quickly. Keep snacks and water nearby, rest when you can, and don’t forget you birthed a human. Your body and mind are healing. Give yourself grace.

It’s a Journey Worth Taking

I won’t pretend it was all magical. There were days I hated pumping, nights I dreamed of sleeping through without waking up drenched, and many moments I felt weak and defeated. Looking back, I’m grateful I kept going not just for the nutritional benefits, but for the bond it built between me and my babies.

Breastfeeding has given me a new respect for my body. It has reminded me that strength doesn’t always look graceful. Most importantly, it connected me to a powerful legacy of Black motherhood, one I’m proud to carry forward.

We Deserve More Support

August is National Breastfeeding Month, and Black Breastfeeding Week is celebrated during the last week of August. If we want to help close the gap and reduce breastfeeding disparities, we must work towards positive change. We must invest in community-led breastfeeding initiatives and education, train and hire more Black lactation consultants, and end the stigma in our own families and circles.

Nursing is a personal decision that deserves care, dignity, and support every step of the way.

To the mamas starting out, trust your instincts, do your research, lean into community, and know you’re not alone. Your journey might not be perfect, but it’s yours. You are doing an incredible job.

Resources:

Breastfeeding Overview:AAP.Org

Newborn and Infant Breastfeeding. AAP. Org

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Breastfeeding Initiation:CDC.gov

The post My Breastfeeding Journey appeared first on Black Health Matters.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent in June. But for Black women, the trend reads differently: 5.1 percent in March, 6.1 percent in April, 6.2 percent in May, and then 5.8 percent in June. These rates consistently hover near double those of white women, revealing long-standing disparities in access and vulnerability across the labor market.

The Cuts in Healthcare,  Education, and Federal Government Jobs

Black women shape every sector of the economy and contribute across every industry, but our presence is especially felt in fields such as healthcare, education, and federal service, where entire communities often rely on our labor. Recent workforce reductions are reshaping these sectors and cutting deep into places where Black women have historically led.

Between February and March 2025, seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show employment among Black women fell from 10.566 million to 10.300 million. The 266,000-job drop marks the sharpest one-month decline since the early days of the pandemic.

Public sector cuts were especially severe:

• The Department of Education reduced its workforce by 46 percent.
•  The Department of Health and Human Services saw a 24 percent decrease.

Many of the affected roles were tied to equity programs and health outreach, spaces where Black women have shaped systems, built trust, and driven change.

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Black women comprise 11.7 percent of the federal workforce, nearly twice their share of the civilian labor force. This statistic highlights the central role Black women play in the federal workforce and the consequences of their disappearance.

With New Job Market Growth, We Aren’t Getting Hired

In June, healthcare added 39,000 new jobs. Residential care gained 2,800 positions, while nursing added 14,400. However, many Black women continue to struggle to reenter industries where they bring valuable experience and dedication.

Being qualified isn’t always enough. Access to networks, clear hiring pathways, and employer outreach all shape who gets hired and who’s left waiting. Without these supports, short-term industry growth doesn’t deliver lasting stability.

Recessions Cost Us Even If We Are Educated

Black women have faced disproportionate job losses in nearly every major recession. During the Great Recession, their unemployment rate peaked at 13.7 percent, with deep losses across retail, education, and public service, as reported in a UC Berkeley Labor Center analysis.

Even higher education doesn’t guarantee protection. A 2020 Urban Institute analysis found that Black households led by college graduates had less wealth than white households headed by adults who had not finished high school. Systemic barriers persist and disparity cycles repeat, regardless of how far one climbs educationally.

Lost Jobs = Lost Opportunities to Build Generational Wealth

Black women often provide for multigenerational households. A lost paycheck is about more than covering rent; it can stall savings, slow investments, and shrink the possibility of financial mobility.

A Brookings analysis revealed that between 2019 and 2022, median household wealth stood at:

•  Black households: $44,890.
• Latino households: $62,000
• White households: $285,000.

That means that white families held more than six times the wealth of Black families. While some progress may be happening, things are still unfolding within a system where equity is far from guaranteed.

Kristen Broady, senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, told WTTW News:

“Changing or improving just one of those things is not going to change the racial wealth gap. But policymakers can look at any and all of those facts and statistics to decide how they can collaborate across different groups, philanthropy, higher education, state and local government, etc., to work on those policies.”

 Unemployment Carries An Emotional Toll

If this experience feels familiar, you’re far from alone. The emotional toll of job loss, especially in uncertain times, can shape how we move through the day, and how we see ourselves.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports found that unemployment can significantly affect emotional health, triggering symptoms like anxiety, depression, and difficulty with emotion regulation. The research points to how job loss disrupts cognitive control and heightens distress, especially for individuals navigating systemic pressures.

Periods of unemployment, especially extended ones, can carry real emotional weight. Experts call it situational depression, and it may feel like:

•  A drop in motivation or energy.
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
• Changes in appetite or weight.
•  Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or frustration.
• Struggling to focus, make decisions, or stay present.

Naming these shifts doesn’t mean weakness; it’s simply acknowledging the truth, bringing you closer to creating space for healing, support, and recovery.

Charting the Way Forward

We need to take a serious look at how this economy treats us, especially during times of economic hardship. Closing the gap means tracking where jobs vanish, which roles get prioritized, and whether reentry is possible. Productivity numbers don’t tell the whole story. If reentry isn’t possible, how can those skills be used differently?

Historically, no one has ever handed us anything on a silver platter. We know now will be no different. But there are things we know and do better than anyone else. Maybe another industry can benefit from that expertise. The point is to pivot and move forward with purpose.

Resources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Employment Situation – February 2025

African American Women in the Federal Sector

Current Employment Statistics Highlights June 2025

the-great-recession.pdf

Why Do Black College Graduates Have a Lower Homeownership Rate Than White People Who Dropped Out of High School? | Urban Institute

4 Ways to Get Your Neurodivergent Teen Ready for College – Black Health Matters

Black wealth is increasing, but so is the racial wealth gap | Brookings

Unemployment for Black Women is on the Rise. Here’s What Economists Have to Say | Chicago News | WTTW

The post Why Are More Jobs Vanishing for Black Women? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A recent Spring 2025 Poll of Black Women Voters in America, from The Highland Project and brilliant corners Research and Strategy, tells a story many of us know all too well: we’re feeling the heavy weight of what is happening around us in every aspect of our daily lives.

Over 54% of Black women reported feeling financially burdened and like they’re falling behind, and nearly 45% say that their mental health has declined since last year alone.

These aren’t just isolated statistics—they are indicators of systemic erosion and a broader national crisis.

Another report found that 93% of U.S. adults rate their physical and mental health as essential to their well-being. Yet, only 30% say they have good financial health—a number that has dropped 44% since 2022. These numbers reveal what Black women have long known: our systems are not designed for the many, but for the few. And they certainly are not designed to support the well-being of Black women.

What has remained consistent across The Highland Project’s years of polling is this: Black women want real, care-centered solutions. Thriving health is no longer a reward to be earned after struggle; it is a state to be achieved. It is work. And it is already underway.

A New Vision of Wealth: Communities of Care

Over the years, we’ve consistently heard that thriving health and true wealth are inseparable. When people say “health is wealth,” they mean it holistically: the freedom to rest, to dream, to lead without burnout, to experience financial agency, and to feel whole.

Thriving health is not just an outcome, but the precondition for a new kind of collective wealth.

Across the country, leaders are showing us what this vision looks like in action. They are modeling what it means to design systems that center on care, community, and sustainability, moving towards a vision of health and wealth that benefits us all.

From reimaging economic models to dismantling generational poverty, they are strategically investing in our wholeness as a form of revolution and legacy.

A legacy that centers on our physical, emotional, mental, and financial health.

Springboard to Opportunities’ CEO, Aisha Nyandoro, has developed the Magnolia Mother’s Trust program in Mississippi, a guaranteed income initiative that supports Black mothers by transforming lives through the alleviation of financial stress and the easing of the mental load associated with economic precarity.

Social entrepreneur Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon is building entrepreneurial ecosystems through The Village Market and Our Village United, empowering entrepreneurs with resources that prioritize their growth, sustainability, and well-being.

Katara McCarty, founder of Exhale, is creating space for emotional well-being by offering a mobile app that centers the mental health of Black women and women of color, providing tools and guided practices to navigate stress, grief, and collective healing.

Chastity Lord, President and CEO of the Jeremiah Program, is leading a multi-generational approach to educational advancement and addressing generational poverty, making way for the disruption of systemic barriers that often prevent mothers from achieving wealth for themselves and their children.

In the South, Monica Simpson, founder of SisterSong, is leading a reproductive justice movement. Monica and the organization aren’t just fighting for access; they’re fighting for autonomy, safety, and the inextricable link between choice and freedom.

These leaders aren’t just fixing broken systems—they are building new ones.

Systems where thriving is not an exception, but the norm. Systems that put thriving at the center, not just for Black women, but for everyone by default.

Thriving Together

It is often said: when Black women are well, everyone is. This is not just rhetoric—it is a roadmap. The next generation is stronger when Black mothers are supported. Our economy flourishes when Black women entrepreneurs are invested in. Healthcare systems are more just when Black women are believed and treated with care.

Black women are not just a part of the vision for the future—they are the blueprint.

The infrastructure for a more just, more abundant, more liberated world is already being laid by those who know what it means to carry the weight and still build.

Imagine a world where rest is respected, where bodily autonomy is a given, where labor does not define worth, and where care is the cultural standard. That world is not a dream—it is already in motion.

Our Spring 2025 poll reaffirmed that Black women are not retreating in the face of crisis. A 55% majority said now is not the time to pull back.

They are demanding bold action, meaningful leadership, and systems that honor our full humanity.

For too long, our well-being has been treated as secondary. But if we are to build a future where everyone thrives, we must begin with the understanding that thriving health is not a destination. It is the starting point.

________________

Gabrielle Wyatt is the Founder and CEO of The Highland Project, a values-aligned coalition designing and leading a multi-generational vision of wealth and opportunity for all, anchored in belonging, abundant choice, thriving health, and financial freedom.

Resources

The Highland Project Spring 2025 Poll of Black Women Voters

GuardianLife.Com:Americans point to physical and mental health as most important to well-being 

The Highland Project’s Research

Springboardto.org

Magnolia’s Mother’s Trust

The Village Market

Our Village United

Exhale

 Jeremiah Program

SisterSong

The post Making Thriving Health The Strategy For A Better Future appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Lying on The Floor in The Locker Room Before A Final is Scary

One incident occurred before the 2016 Wimbledon doubles finals: “I was just lying on the floor in the locker room; Thank God, Serena went and got the doctor,” Williams said. “And I was able to eat, and start playing… bad luck for our opponents.”

They’re laughing, but it isn’t really funny. She is a Black woman who had to play through her pain because that is what we do. They won, but what did that cost her?

The Stats

Up to 70-80% women will be diagnosed with fibroids in their lifetime. But Black women are 2-3 times more likely to receive that diagnosis, and our symptoms will be more severe.

Was Her Anemia Sjögren’s or Something Else?

Williams believed that because she had been experiencing heavy periods and was in a state of constant anemia, it was caused by her autoimmune disease. In 2011, she withdrew from the U.S. Open, revealing for the first time that she had been diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain.

Williams Didn’t Know the Extent of Her Fibroid Diagnosis

The Grand Slam Champion told Essamuah she didn’t know that her fibroid was the size of an orange. “One doctor told me, at the time I was like 37. Eh, this is part of aging, this is normal,” Williams explained.

A doctor told her her option was a hysterectomy. “I have never been so sad in my life. I had never been running to have kids,” William continued. “But to have that taken away was frightening.”

Williams Saw 12 Doctors Before She Found Someone Who Could Help

When the doctor recommended a hysterectomy, Williams began doing her own research. She found the NYU Langone Health Center for Fibroid Care, led by Dr. Taraneh Shirazian.

Dr. Shirazian said, “I think Venus’ story is a very common story. I think women do not get the care that they need. Even when she came to see me, she said, ‘I’ve seen a dozen other doctors.”

Williams then inquired why Dr. Shirazian recommended a surgical procedure—a myomectomy to remove her fibroids. “Because I know it will make you feel better,” Dr. Shirazian replied.

The tennis champ is now a year post-surgery. “I have been taking this time to rest and recover and be a happy person without fibroids.”

She has been training a bit, and the 45-year-old has not ruled out playing again. When asked if she believes having fibroids impacted her professional tennis career, she said, “I never had enough energy to play a real match the way I wanted to, of course it affected my results.”

Williams said, “You can be denied the best healthcare no matter who you are.”

Check out: TheWhiteDressProject.org

 

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We spoke with Dr. Pratik A. Shukla to explore why this option remains overlooked and what it will take to achieve true reproductive justice.

Why Don’t More Women Know About UFE?

BHM: You perform UFE at Rutgers, yet many women still don’t know it exists. Why is that?

Dr. Pratik A. Shukla: UFE is a minimally invasive procedure that cuts off the blood supply to fibroids, causing them to shrink and ultimately disappear. It’s done through a small incision in the wrist or groin, and most patients go home the same day without stitches. Recovery is fast, and it’s been shown to be as effective as surgery. Still, it’s underutilized, partly because patients typically see a gynecologist first. Unless that gynecologist refers them to interventional radiology, they may never hear about UFE.

The reality matches that concern. A 2024 survey conducted by the Society of Interventional Radiology found that only 17 percent of women diagnosed with fibroids recalled being offered UFE as a treatment, while hysterectomy remained the dominant recommendation. The data highlights a larger disconnect in the way treatment pathways are presented, one that continues to limit how fully informed patients can be.

The Disproportionate Burden on Black Women

BHM: Fibroids disproportionately impact Black women. What’s driving that disparity?

Dr. Shukla: It’s largely genetic. Black and Hispanic women are more likely to develop fibroids and have more severe symptoms. There’s also a cultural aspect; some women delay care because their symptoms seem “normal” within their community, which can lead to later diagnoses and more advanced cases.

National estimates cited by Michigan Medicine report that nearly a quarter of Black women between the ages of 18 and 30 have fibroids, compared to about 6 percent of white women. By age 35, that number rises to 60 percent for Black women. The women in our community are also significantly more likely to experience recurring fibroids and undergo hysterectomies, often during their peak reproductive years.

Reaching the Communities That Need It Most

BHM: In a world of misinformation, what does real education and outreach look like? What approaches have proven most effective in reaching women who might otherwise never hear about UFE?

Dr. Shukla: I work predominantly in an underserved community with low health literacy, where fibroids are endemic to the population, and I’ve been trying to find ways to increase awareness and do patient outreach. I’ve tried it all—education for gynecologists through grand round lectures, patient education tools, traditional marketing like social media, personally going out with a team of educators into the community for health fairs, and even partnering with UFE support groups like The White Dress Project.

What I’ve found is that the only truly effective method, especially in underserved minority communities, is a boots-on-the-ground approach. However, that requires a significant amount of person power and time. Currently, I’m leading the Uterine Fibroid Embolization Awareness Workgroup within the Radiology Health Equity Coalition.

The goal is to build teams of motivated medical students at academic centers in urban areas with similar demographics, allowing us to increase these efforts in a coordinated manner. Medical students and residents have an incentive to engage in productive volunteering, such as patient education and awareness, with the support of attending physician mentors like me.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

According to the Society of Interventional Radiology, 72% of women surveyed were unaware that they were at risk for fibroids. Meanwhile, research compiled by the USA Fibroid Centers shows that over 85 percent of UFE patients report improved quality of life after treatment, often in outpatient settings.

As the data continues to accumulate, access to options like UFE remains fragmented. Awareness gaps and referral breakdowns still limit informed choice, especially for Black women. Reproductive justice requires consistent access to the full spectrum of care.

Shifting the Standard

BHM: If you had unlimited resources to reshape fibroid care for Black women, what would be your first move? What’s the one thing standing between the current reality and a future where treatment disparities no longer exist?

Dr. Shukla: The one thing standing between the current reality and the future is access to these patients. The one thing I would focus on is educating patients directly, those who have the most incentive to treat their conditions safely and effectively, in this case, with a minimally invasive alternative to surgery. I believe the referral pattern remains a hurdle for patients to access an interventional radiologist for these discussions.

If I had unlimited resources, I would launch a nationwide campaign with the help of influential individuals, including legislators, celebrities, and influencers, to increase awareness of this procedure to the point where patients would demand referrals. If we generate enough data suggesting disparities, we can hopefully engage in discussions with major media outlets to help increase awareness.

Resources

Are Black Women More Likely To Get Fibroids?

SIR Patient Resource on Uterine Fibroids Includes National Survey Results on Patient Awareness – Endovascular Today

Understanding Racial Disparities for Women with Uterine Fibroids

The White Dress Project

Uterine Fibroid Resources | Radiology Health Equity Coalition

Survey finds most women with uterine fibroids are offered hysterectomies over minimally invasive treatments | Society of Interventional Radiology

Quality of Life Assessment After Uterine Artery Embolization in Patients with Fibroids Treated in an Ambulatory Setting

The post The Fibroid Treatment They Don’t Tell Us About appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“She’s free, and in His heavenly arms,” Emory wrote beside a series of broken heart emoji symbols. “Lord, rest her soul,” Emory added.

Remembering Ananda’s Treasured Voice

Lewis was one of the most significant voices in the ’90s and early aughts culture. She hosted The Ananda Lewis Show and co-hosted the popular video request series Total Request Live (TRL) on MTV. She also hosted the iconic BET series Teen Summit, where she tackled serious topics relevant to teenagers with compassion. She brought a fun, frothy energy to pop culture topics. Lewis interviewed some of the top names in entertainment, including Brandy, Mary J. Blige, and Destiny’s Child.

She respected her interview subjects and did her research. Her work helped cement cultural touchstones like MTV’s Spring Break and the NAACP Image Awards.

Ananda’s Breast Cancer Battle

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death for Black women in the United States.

“Black women have a higher incidence of breast cancer before the age of 40, more severe disease at all ages, and elevated mortality risk compared to white women,” according to a 2016 journal article published by The American Cancer Society. Black women have also received inconsistent screening recommendations. The Journal of the American Medical Association strongly suggested that Black women begin screening for breast cancer eight years earlier than their counterparts.

Lewis revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in an Instagram post in October 2020. She used her platform to raise awareness and encourage women to get regular mammograms during breast cancer awareness month.

 

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“This is tough for me, but if just ONE woman decides to get her mammogram after watching this, what I’m going through will be worth it,” she wrote in the caption for a six-minute video where she walked her followers through her diagnosis and treatment journeys.

Her diagnosis came after a self-examination she conducted after choosing not to get screened routinely.

“If I had done the mammograms from the time they were recommended when I turned 40, they would have caught the tumor in my breast years before I caught it through my own breast exam, self-exam, and thermography,” she said in the video.

Other Black celebrities, including Monyetta Shaw-Carter and Tina Knowles, have publicly shared their fights with breast cancer to raise awareness as well. Knowles revealed that her stage one cancer might have been detected earlier had she not chosen to skip mammograms.

Lewis commented on her battle with breast cancer during an interview for the January/February 2025 issue of ESSENCE magazine as well. She explained that she questioned the medical advice she was given initially after seeing what breast cancer treatments had done to others in her family. She opted to seek treatment at an integrative facility and make extreme lifestyle changes, including eliminating sugar from her diet and doing a cleanse.

“My goal was to do things that supported my body’s ability to continue to be whole enough to heal, instead of destroying it up front,” Lewis told Victoria Uwumarogie. “ I also couldn’t figure out how to fit the double mastectomy, the full chemotherapy, and, potentially, the radiation they were telling me to have into my already overwhelmed life. More importantly, these methods went against what I believed was right for my body.

Reassessing Assumptions About Access To Care

“Structural and personal factors continue to create barriers to mammography among Black women” and “The more advanced breast cancer stage at diagnosis in Black women when compared with the general population has been largely attributed to inequities in access to quality health care, including screening mammography,” according to the Journal of Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice.

Some assume that every person they see on television has access to unlimited resources, but that is not always the case. Despite her fame and impact, Lewis faced struggles gaining access to the care she needed.

She described the financial barriers she faced following her stay at the integrative facility during her interview with ESSENCE.

“There are no residual checks. I’m a working single mom, and insurance doesn’t cover most of these treatments. When I got back, I was given a set of instructions for things I had to continue doing. But the money problem is a recurring problem. I struggled to pay for the ongoing treatments that would have kept things at bay, and then I lost my insurance,” continued Lewis.

This prolonged her path to receiving the appropriate care. The COVID-19 pandemic’s restrictions also impacted her ability to receive proper treatment. When she was ready to do surgery, non-emergency surgeries were not being scheduled due to concerns about the pandemic spreading.

“It was two and a half years before I could really do any more effective treatment,” she added.

Lewis continued to advocate for others throughout her life, frequently spreading the message that others should undergo screening.

Lewis is survived by Emory and her 14-year-old son, Langston. Our sincere condolences and prayers are with the loved ones of Lewis.

 

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Resources

Johns Hopkins University Press/Journal of Healthcare for the Poor and Underserved

American Cancer Society: Understanding and Effectively Addressing Cancer in Black Women

The Journal of the Medical Association.

Journal of Policy and Nursing Practice

The post Ananda Lewis, the Former TV Host & VJ Has Died at 52 appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Shaw-Carter shared her experience candidly. After taking a private approach to seeking treatment for her breast cancer, the mom and entrepreneur wants to raise awareness by sharing what she went through. She rang the bell on May 2, 2025, after 16 rounds of radiation.

Her First Breast Cancer Scare

“I had a biopsy about 10 years ago and it came back benign,” said Shaw-Carter. Her eventual 2024 diagnosis came after the result of a self-examination.

“Then last year in September I was doing a self-check because I felt this random sensation that I can’t really describe in my left boob. It was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It was literally like my body was alerting me that something was wrong,” she continued.

There are conflicting medical opinions about the merits of self-breast exams. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Being familiar with how your breasts look and feel can help you notice symptoms such as lumps, pain, or changes in size that may be of concern.”

In Shaw-Carter’s case, conducting a self-examination was helpful. The exam revealed to her that something had changed in her body prior to her meeting with a doctor. She prioritized getting further testing.

 Necessary Screenings Were Done Quickly

The following month, she got a mammogram that revealed she was dealing with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. This kind of breast cancer is extremely common. Patients diagnosed with this kind of cancer have many treatment options available.

Shaw-Carter opted for a lumpectomy and radiation after reviewing the methods that could work for her specific situation. Unlike a full mastectomy, a lumpectomy involves removing the cancerous tissue inside the breasts as opposed to removing the entire breast from the body.

She Considered Her Options and Did Genetic Testing Before Making a Treatment Decision

While doing all of the biopsies and MRIs, I was first considering having a double mastectomy. But after my genetic testing came back favorable, and after sitting in my reality for some time, I decided on the lumpectomy,” said Shaw-Carter.

Those who do not routinely receive mammograms are more likely to be diagnosed in stage 3 or 4. Shaw-Carter advocated for taking a proactive approach to getting regular screenings.

“Because I caught the cancer early, I will be here for my kids,” she said. “There’s nothing more important than getting checked often and early to protect your future. Our health is irreplaceable.”

Early detection is important in all breast cancer cases, but studies indicate that it is even more crucial for Black women, who are significantly more likely to lose their lives from it. The Journal of Breast Cancer Research reports that “Breast cancer mortality rates are 40% higher in Black women compared to White women.” For Black women over the age of 50, the disparity in survival rates is even higher.

 Having Breast Cancer Can be Mentally and Emotionally Taxing.

Breast cancer impacts more than the body. It can have a severe mental and emotional toll. “It is a challenging disease that induces a crisis in the patient’s psychological balance and is perceived as a disaster in the eyes of the patient,” according to The Journal of Breast Health. Breast cancer, because of its association with traditional expectations of femininity, can compound these non-physical side effects even further.
Shaw-Carter described how she initially felt about her diagnosis. “It was obviously one of the hardest and scariest moments of my life,” she said. “Everything around me stopped. My heart dropped. I was afraid. I was angry. I was just numb,” she added.

She posted about her current state of mind in a recent Instagram post celebrating her 45th birthday, in which she wore a pink column gown adorned with rectangle-shaped crystals. It was a carousel post. She wore pink boxing gloves, pink boxing trunks, and a pink satin robe in another picture, symbolizing her fight against breast cancer during the previous year of her life.

As a Survivor, Shaw-Carter is Grateful to Be Here.

Shaw-Carter described herself as “stronger than ever” and expressed gratitude for those who supported her throughout the journey, including her family, friends, and the healthcare workers who cared for her.

“This birthday is more than candles and cake…it’s a celebration of life, a reflection of pain & purpose, of healing, and God’s grace. I’ve faced one of the biggest battles of my life… and I WON!!!”

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Resources:

University of Rochester: Breast Self-Exams Are No Longer Recommended- Here’s What to Do Instead.

Centers for Disease Control: Screening for Breast Cancer

National Cancer Foundation/Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Breast Cancer Research Foundation: Black Women and Cancer Disparities: Why They Exist and How to End Them.

The Journal of Breast Cancer Research (Addition of polygenic risk score to a risk calculator for prediction of breast cancer in US Black women)

The Journal for Breast Health (Psychiatric Symptoms and Psychosocial Problems in Patients with Breast Cancer)

The post Monyetta Shaw-Carter Shares Her Breast Cancer Battle appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: How did you first get involved with the Level of the Court initiative?

Napheesa: So, I got involved with them through Opill. It’s a partnership between Opill, the WNBA, and the Black Women’s Health Imperative. I just thought this was such a great initiative because the goal around Opill is to bring awareness to women’s reproductive health, especially with the Black Women’s Health Imperative. You know, they’re often an underserved population of people, and so to get them information about their reproductive rights and their options is essential.

BHM: What does being an ambassador for Level The Court mean to you personally?

Napheesa: It means a lot to me personally. It obviously directly affects my life because I have a daughter, and I want her to grow up learning and knowing about her reproductive health and her rights, and not having it be such a taboo subject.

I think that’s one goal of Opill as well as to take away the stigma of ‘this should be something that isn’t talked about publicly or talked about at all’.

Even with doctors, it can be embarrassing for people. So, kind of getting away from that and learning that this is normal and to know about your body and what options you have, and your reproductive health is really important. So, that’s why it’s really important to me to kind of advocate for that and to bring awareness.

BHM: How do you hope to change how reproductive health is discussed? How do you want conversations to evolve for future generations, including the one in which your daughter will grow up?

Napheesa: I think it’s kind of what I touched on earlier, just having [reproductive health] be a part of everyday conversation, where the first time you’re learning about it isn’t if something is wrong, and you have to talk to your doctor.

Knowing what your body is supposed to be going through, knowing that you have options, and having it be a talk you have early on, honestly. Because it’s something that every woman goes through, and to learn about your body, I think, is a health and safety issue.

I want to hopefully change that in the next generation, so that, again, it’s not a taboo subject, but something that we learn about at home, in school, and with our doctors, especially—just feeling comfortable asking any questions that we have and not that it’s something to be embarrassed about.

BHM: When you were younger, did conversations around reproductive health feel open and supportive, or did they create discomfort and uncertainty for you and your peers?

Napheesa: They felt open and supportive. My mom is a nurse, so I think even from an early age, I felt comfortable asking her any questions. She felt comfortable talking about it. I think that’s like a cycle where, you know, whoever is supposed to explain that feels uncomfortable, so they create an environment where maybe this should be hush-hush. My mom worked in health, and we never really had that. I feel really lucky to have grown up with that experience. I know what it should feel like to talk about those things, and so that’s why, again, I want to bring that awareness to other people.

BHM: How do you see the missions of Unrivaled and Level The Court intersecting? What shared values or goals do they have?

Napheesa: I think we align our values where we want women to grow informed about their body and reproductive health, and empower women to do those things. I think both entities are all about empowering women.

BHM: Have you experienced or witnessed bias in healthcare? How do you hope Level The Court and Opill will help dismantle that and build trust for Black women?

Napheesa: I think everyone knows the statistics, especially with birthing levels of Black and Brown women and their mortality rates being so much higher, it’s just obviously really alarming. I think it is essential to know how things should be going and what to look for, like the warning signs in your body.

Where did you learned about reproductive health in your body and all those things growing up, and where did you have more of an understanding about when something might be wrong?

That’s where many bad things might happen if you don’t know what to expect. You don’t know what is supposed to be happening and what’s not because we have no education on it. By bringing awareness and education, I think it’s gonna save lives.

BHM: What are you most looking forward to when visiting the college students, and what do you think they should be getting out of this experience?

Napheesa: I’m looking forward to the question-and-answer portion so that you can see where people are. Hopefully, they feel comfortable asking the questions they want answered. That part will be interesting because we want to make this an open discourse. We want people to feel comfortable with that. So, hopefully, during the interview part, we can make people feel more at home and a safer space where they can ask those questions. That’s where the learning really starts. I know it’s scary to ask those things, especially in front of a crowd and strangers. But hopefully, this is one step toward taking that stigma away.

In part two of this story, we will talk to representatives from the Black Women’s Health Imperative and Opill at another stop on their HBCU tour and hear from students about the Level the Court initiative.

Level the Court

Opill®, Daily Oral Contraceptive Pill

Black Women’s Health Imperative

Unrivaled League

Former Kansas City Cheerleader Dies of Maternal Sepsis

The post WNBA Star Napheesa Collier Talks About Our Reproductive Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

King noted that the American Cancer Society recommends a mammogram every one to two years for women over 55. Knowles missed hers during the COVID pandemic and forgot to reschedule it until last year. And that’s when doctors found two tumors. One was benign, the other had Stage One cancer.

“It was Stage One, which I thought was the earliest stage. But when I told my sister, she said no, there’s actually a stage 0.’ If I had gone for my mammogram, they would have caught it in the zero stage. Thank God, it was very small and it hadn’t spread.”

Knowles had a very slow spreading cancer and chose a lumpectomy procedure to remove the tumor from her left breast. She told King how all her girls came to the hospital, told her jokes, and showed her videos to make her laugh.

“But then I thought about the song ‘Walk With Me,’ that they used to sing all the time,” she said, getting emotional.”Michelle wasn’t there, Solange filled in, Angie sang, and they sang “Walk With Me.” It’s about God walking with you and protecting you.” Knowles said she felt protected as she walked into the surgery.

Last October, Knowles was honored as Glamour’s Woman of the Year, but she was almost unable to attend because of a complication after surgery. She contracted a terrible infection.

In her acceptance speech, she said, “I’ve been so blessed in my life to do many things.  I’ve had many careers. But I’ve always said that the best job that I’ve had in my life is being a mother. I’ve had the privilege of raising and helping to raise four daughters. Two that were born to me, and two that were a gift to me from God. You know, I was somewhat of a rebellious teen and young adult, and I didn’t always follow the rules, but the day that I became a mother, I decided that this was the one thing that wouldn’t screw up.”

Ms. Knowles has a little anxiety putting her book into the world to be scrutinized because people always have something to say. She said her book was initially 1,000 pages, and she had to whittle things down. “I hope people will be inspired by the things I have overcome.”

Note: In 2021, Ms Knowles’ ex-husband, Matthew, revealed his breast cancer diagnosis. 

 

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Dr. Damali Campbell-Oparaji, an associate professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), highlights the systemic factors contributing to these disparities. “Maternal health is one measure of a nation’s overall well-being. “When left unaddressed, poor maternal health can create a ripple effect on families and reduce women’s productivity at home and work,” she says.

Dr. Campbell-Oparaji adds, “Even college education and increased socioeconomic status do not protect Black women from less favorable outcomes.”

Roadblocks to Motherhood

Black mothers face very specific challenges during and after pregnancy. One of the most pressing issues is recognizing critical warning signs early enough to prevent complications. “It’s important that pregnant women, their families, and healthcare providers recognize post-birth warning signs, since symptoms might be early warnings of postpartum complications,” Dr. Campbell-Oparaji explains. The issue of “institutionalized racism in healthcare” also creates barriers, leaving many Black mothers feeling unheard or dismissed during appointments. Dr. Campbell-Oparaji emphasizes the need to change how providers approach care: “Some colleagues say, ‘I treat everyone the same,’ but that mindset is part of the problem. We need to meet patients where they are.”

Another challenge Black mothers face is limited access to paid parental leave, which can impact their health and recovery after giving birth. According to the National Partnership for Women & Families,

Black employees are less likely than their white counterparts to have paid leave.

This is especially true for those in low-wage or part-time jobs, where access to paid family leave is nearly nonexistent. Only 9% of workers in the lowest income bracket had access to leave in 2020. As you can see, the challenges Black mothers face extend far beyond the walls of hospitals and doctors’ offices; they touch every part of a mother’s life. At the very least, we must ensure that equitable care becomes the standard in our maternal health.

Making Maternal Care Equitable

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is working to close these gaps with several initiatives. Dr. Campbell-Oparaji describes some programs designed to support Black mothers, including “a doula program providing prenatal, labor, and postpartum support, a pregnancy clinic addressing gaps in prenatal care, and the Healthy Moms Clinic, which offers ongoing care for mothers with medical conditions.”

In addition to patient care, NJMS is committed to addressing the maternal health crisis through research, patient care, and community service. It intends to educate the next generation of doctors to be passionate about health equity.

Making Your Voice Heard

For Black mothers-to-be navigating the healthcare system, Dr. Campbell-Oparaji has some advice: “Write down your questions before your visit to ensure you don’t forget them. Ask for an explanation if your provider recommends something you don’t understand. Also, if possible, bring a family member or friend to appointments as an extra set of ears.”

Advocating for yourself can be challenging, but being prepared can make all the difference. Your questions matter, and you deserve clear answers from your care team.

Why This Week Matters

Black Maternal Health Week, created by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, serves as a wake-up call for patients, providers, and policymakers. As Dr. Campbell-Oparaji notes, the week “is significant because it allows us to examine our practices and see how we can change to meet the needs of all patients, including Black women who are experiencing increased morbidity and mortality.”

Supporting Black maternal health means addressing disparities head-on, through advocacy, culturally competent care, and policy changes.

Dr. Campbell-Oparaji emphasizes the importance of using evidence-based protocols and social services to facilitate care, ensuring “that policies and procedures don’t unintentionally disenfranchise certain patients.” Everyone has a role in this fight, whether you’re an expectant mother, a healthcare provider, or a community advocate. Together, we can create a future where Black mothers don’t just survive, they thrive.

Resources

Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021

Closing the Gap: Addressing Black Maternal Health Disparities | Rutgers University

Paid Leave Is Essential for Healthy Moms and Babies | National Partnership for Women & Families

New bill would require New Jersey hospitals, birthing centers to allow doulas • New Jersey Monitor

New Jersey Medical School Opens Clinic for Early Pregnancy Care | Rutgers University

Healthy Moms Clinic: Challenges and Opportunities of Integrating Postpartum Care into Primary Care and Residency Education | AJPH | Vol. 114 Issue S4

Black Mamas Matter Alliance – Advancing Black Maternal Health, Rights & Justice

The post Why Black Maternal Health Week Matters appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What the Report Tells Us

According to the report, one in five hospitals reports racial disparities in C-section rates, particularly between Black and white patients. This points to deeper systemic issues. Some hospitals also lack clear policies to prevent early elective deliveries, which can lead to postpartum complications for moms and health risks for babies.

Access to certified midwives and doulas remains uneven across the country, with significant gaps in certain regions. Where you give birth matters. Outcomes often rely on the hospital’s culture and policies, making it critical for families to research, ask questions, and advocate for themselves.

To explore these issues further, we turned to two leaders driving progress in maternity care, Katie Stewart, Director of Health Care Ratings at The Leapfrog Group, and LaToshia Rouse, Certified Doula and founder of Birth Sisters Doula Services.

Katie Stewart on Maternal Care Improvements

Katie Stewart leads efforts to bring transparency to healthcare systems. With a deep commitment to improving safety and quality, she has advocated for using public reporting to drive change in maternity care.

BHM: Katie, what sets Leapfrog apart regarding maternity care?

Katie Stewart: It’s all about showing the numbers. When Leapfrog started publicly reporting hospital data, it was a big deal. There wasn’t much transparency back then. Today, hospitals use our information to set benchmarks and drive real change.

Look at episiotomies. Since we started tracking them in 2012, rates have dropped by 73%. Those are thousands of women whose experiences were made safer and healthier because hospitals stepped up.

BHM: Progress on cutting unnecessary C-sections has stalled since 2020. What’s holding things back?

Katie Stewart: Research shows that the most significant factor in whether or not a patient will have a C-section is the hospital where they give birth. The culture of the hospital, as well as its architectural design, plays a significant role in shaping C-section rates. Leading up to 2020, we were seeing progress in reducing C-section rates for low-risk, first-time mothers. Transparency has been a powerful driver of that change, and we’ve seen it work before. We’re hopeful it will work again to bring down unnecessary C-section rates.

BHM: One in five hospitals has racial disparities in C-section rates. What’s the solution?

Katie Stewart: Leapfrog started collecting this data last year, and we plan to report it publicly, by hospital, in the future. Transparency is the foundation of progress, and you cannot change what you don’t measure.

In addition, Leapfrog has included a health equity measure in another part of the Hospital Survey to ensure all patients receive safe, high-quality care. Hospitals must analyze their own data to uncover any disparities in outcomes or processes based on race, ethnicity, or language. The measure looks at whether hospitals are doing the following: collecting patient data on race, ethnicity, and language preferences; training staff to gather this information directly; stratifying at least one quality measure to identify disparities; and, if disparities are found, taking action to fix them.

Hospitals are also encouraged to share their progress publicly and report their equity efforts to their boards. By highlighting these differences, Leapfrog aims to galvanize meaningful change in healthcare delivery.

For example, last year, The New York Times did a story called “Doctors Give Black Women Unneeded C-Sections Study Suggests,” which features authors of a study who examined medical records of Black women and white women who were healthy and had low risk factors in New Jersey. Of the nearly one million births they reviewed, the researchers found that Black women were 20% more likely to have their baby via C-section, particularly if an operating room was empty.

A Voice from the Front Lines

LaToshia Rouse is a Certified Doula and the founder of Birth Sisters Doula Services. She directly supports Black families through her work, empowering them during pregnancy and childbirth. She also advocates for equitable maternity care and helps bridge the gap between hospitals and the communities they serve.

BHM: The report highlights disparities in maternal care outcomes for Black mothers. As a doula, what do you observe in your work?

LaToshia Rouse: As a doula, I see firsthand how Black patients are often not believed, not listened to, or have their concerns minimized. They’re more likely to face dismissive attitudes, have their pain downplayed, or experience delays in treatment. There’s also a pattern of being excluded from important conversations about their care.

Hospitals can start to change this by embedding respectful care training into every aspect of practice, adopting shared decision-making models, and investing in community feedback to help shape their policies.

Representation is critical, but so is accountability. Equity is not just a checklist, and it isn’t free; it requires a cultural shift that centers the patient’s voice, ensures transparency, and partners with doulas to offer the support patients need.

BHM: Nearly 90% of hospitals allow doulas, but few employ them directly. What are the benefits of expanding direct access to doulas within hospitals, and how do you see this change impacting outcomes for Black mothers in particular?

LaToshia Rouse: I think doulas need to be a partner to a hospital, but not employed by hospitals. They could be independent contractors who provide the support they were trained to provide to their community while maintaining their autonomy. This is because the system has a culture. Culture will eat away at anything it is introduced to and cause it to conform.

Hospitals can include doulas as a part of their care package and pay the doula directly as long as the doula maintains their autonomy.

Direct access to doulas through hospitals removes barriers like cost, confusion around policy, and can be a bridge to awareness of doula support. It helps ensure that every person giving birth, especially those at higher risk of poor outcomes, can benefit from continuous, culturally aligned support.

Doulas are proven to reduce cesarean section frequency, low birth weight, and premature labor. Additionally, we improve other outcomes such as breastfeeding and mental health.

BHM: How can Black families better advocate for themselves within a hospital system, and what role can doulas play in making the process feel less intimidating and more empowering?

LaToshia Rouse: Black families can start by knowing their rights, asking questions, saying no to interventions, and insisting on being fully informed. I teach families to use their B.R.A.I.N. They need to know the Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives. What does your Intuition say? What happens if we don’t do this now or not at all? This gives families the information they need to make informed decisions.

We help them develop a written birth plan that the medical team can discuss in advance. We also hold space emotionally so families can focus on their experience, not just navigating the system.

That confidence and preparation can transform fear into power, and doulas are often the catalyst for that shift.

BHM: What are some misconceptions about doulas’ roles in maternity care, and how do you break down those barriers to establish trust with medical teams?

LaToshia Rouse: One common misconception is that doulas are anti-medical or there to challenge clinicians and nurses. In reality, most of us are collaborators, and we want to work with them to make this a healthy, memorable experience for the family. We’re there to support the person giving birth and to help the team work more smoothly.

Another myth is that we give medical advice. We educate, comfort, and advocate with information commonly shared in childbirth education. To break down barriers, I introduce myself to staff early, clarify my role, and stay solution-oriented.

I also help the nurses by updating them on what happened when they left out, and I maintain calm when they cannot. We get the mom up and moving around to aid in faster labor. When care teams see that I respect their expertise and am there to enhance support and not disrupt their care, trust starts to build. The best outcomes happen when everyone sees each other as part of the same team.

Black Maternal Health Week reminds us to reflect on the strength of Black mothers and the families they nurture. It’s a chance to recognize the disparities they face and recommit to the work it takes to eliminate them. Every mother should feel supported, respected, and safe during childbirth. By continuing to center our communities in this conversation, we can strive for maternity care that consistently and compassionately serves everyone.

The post Cutting Inequity in Black Maternal Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

 

 

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How many women die every day because of preventable childbirth or other pregnancy-related events or conditions? The CDC estimates around 800. This startling statistic is just one of the many reasons maternal health, both in the Black community and overall, is taken so seriously, with various related objectives from top agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Let’s look at the most common issues that pregnant women face, the many risk factors for preventable complications, some sobering statistics, and what is being done on the national and global levels to improve maternal mortality rates.

Common Pregnancy Health Concerns

There are a few discomforts women can expect during their pregnancy. Women can avoid acidic foods to aid heartburn and eat more fiber to help treat constipation, especially early on, to easily treat some discomforts at home. Women often turn to family or friends for advice to help treat such things, finding unique ways to ease soreness or dry skin. Even expected symptoms of pregnancy can affect maternal health, however, and easing them can increase mood and help expectant mothers look forward to the birth of their child.

Other Symptoms You Might Experience:

• Cramps

• Feeling faint

• Hot flashes

• Incontinent

• Dry skin

• Back pain

• Headache

• Pelvic pain

• Stretch marks

• Tiredness

• Morning sickness

Risk Factors for Pregnancy-Related Complications

The Office of the Surgeon General published a “Call to Action” acknowledging the higher-than-average maternal mortality rates in the United States. In it, they call attention to the disparities within the Black population, suggest what should be done to reduce mortality rates for all mothers, and lay out a long-term plan with strategies to affect this and future generations.

But when do symptoms become risk factors and dangerous for both mothers and the child? Therefore, it’s critical to work closely with an OB/GYN or other health services throughout your pregnancy, so risk they can identify risk factors, monitored, and treated as early as possible.

High Blood Pressure

More women are at risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) prior to pregnancy, mainly due to increased obesity rates. Many women are waiting until later in life to start a family, also contributing to the probability they will begin their pregnancy with high blood pressure, develop it during, or experience a spike during delivery that may all lead to complications. High blood pressure during pregnancy is called preeclampsia.

Diabetes

If a woman did not previously have signs of diabetes but develops it during her pregnancy, they will diagnose her with gestational diabetes. Diabetes significantly increases the chance for complications and it closely related to preeclampsia. Managing maternal health in this condition is vital, as it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, birth defects, and more.

Obesity

With higher rates of obesity, it is becoming a more common risk factor for maternal health in the United States especially. An unhealthy weight can contribute to other conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental health that can contribute to other maternal health concerns, compounding the risk of pregnancy complications.

Illness and Infection

From Covid-19 to a common cold to more serious infections like chlamydia or HIV, illnesses and infections can affect maternal health and the health of the infant. A mother should work closely with a physician if they are diagnosed with an illness or infection prior to or while pregnant. Most times, there are ways to mitigate the risk to the baby before and after birth. However, many of these risks are preventable causes and can be reduced through education and other community resources, such as sexual and reproductive health.

Substance Use Disorders

A substance use disorder can describe everything from nicotine and alcohol to methamphetamine and cocaine. According to the Surgeon General’s report, 12% of the pregnant women polled reported using some type of nicotine product within the last month and 10% reported drinking alcohol. Another 5% reported drug use. Not only does substance use affect maternal health, but it increases health risk to the baby because of pregnancy complications.

Mental Health

Maternal health and mental health are closely linked. This can include pre-existing mood diseases, such as depression or anxiety, or postpartum depression which affects up to 20% of new mothers. In fact, over a ten-year period, they found that nearly 10% of all pregnancy-related deaths were because of a mental health condition. Only by addressing mental health stigma and offering more patient-centered care in the United States can we support maternal health as well.

Domestic Violence

In some states, especially in the south, domestic violence is the single most common cause of maternal deaths for the Black population. This violence often begins during pregnancy or soon after it. Intimate partner violence among Black Americans is one of several preventable causes of maternal and child deaths in the US, especially when addressed at a socioeconomic level.

More Maternal Health Statistics

The United Nations Population Fund offers insight into the global importance of maternal health and that women everywhere are susceptible to preventable causes of maternal mortality. Around the world, nearly 300,000 women died in 2017 alone, mostly due to:

• Severe bleeding

• Obstructed labor

• Sepsis

• Unsafe abortion

• Eclampsia

These deaths are significantly lower than those recorded in 2000, but are still unacceptable. Many of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa or Southern Asia, and global efforts are making an impact.

The Commonwealth Fund analyzed data from the WHO, National Center for Health Statistics, and other studies to get a better picture of who is at the highest risk. In the United States, mortality rates are getting worse year after year, starting in 2000, and worsening significantly since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The current maternal mortality rates are three times that of the country with the next highest death rate, New Zealand. The hardest hit are African Americans, who account for more than half of all maternal deaths.

A National and Global Response

Maternal health is a concern not only in the United States, where it affects the Black population and multiracial people disproportionately but the world over. What is being done to improve health outcomes?

US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Health and Human Services has formed a workgroup comprised of four US federal agencies working together to address maternal health as a national crisis and the disparity affecting the non-Hispanic Black population. The workgroup has focused not only on supporting women and infants directly but also by addressing other emerging health concerns that affect maternal death, such as drug use and sexually transmitted diseases.

American Public Health Association (APHA)

The American Public Health Association is focused on addressing preventable causes of maternal death. They do this by investing in sexual and reproductive health education, preventative health care for women, and more. Like other agencies, they have focused their efforts on the disproportionate affects of poor maternal health on Black Americans, partnering with the Center for Reproductive Rights for “Black Mamas Matter” and the World Federation of Public Health Associations for “Reducing Maternal Mortality as a Human Right.”

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

The focus of the United National Population Fund is sexual and reproductive health care, promoting basic health standards around the world, especially where maternal deaths are most common. Working in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia, and other regions, the UNFPA supports programs that train providers in preventative care during pregnancy, emergency birth response, and critical care for newborns. These initiatives have improved health outcomes over the last two decades and more improvement is expected.

The World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization helps to support all members with their individual efforts to address maternal health, especially maternal deaths. They closely monitor the progress being made and how effective initiatives are at supporting those that are most vulnerable. This includes the United States, where the majority of those affected are Black people and deaths continue to increase.

Maternal Health: Disparity in Preventable Deaths

Yes, women experience common symptoms during pregnancy. Most will agree that these symptoms are well worth the discomfort once their child is born healthy. However, many women don’t have the same access to care or are at risk for miscarriage, preterm labor, cesarian birth, birth defects, other birth complications or even maternal death because of an increase in risk factors that could be preventable.

Maternal mortality rates have only worsened over the last two decades in the US and this trend will only change with more education about maternal health and better access to care for those disproportionately affected. Black Health Matters is helping to do just that by raising awareness, challenging the system, and bringing more resources to the Black population most vulnerable.

The post Coi Leray Reveals Baby’s Gender — Spotlight on Maternal Health! appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The post The Truth About Extrapelvic Endometriosis appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Breast cancer survivors Carlin Hafiz, founder and CEO of Th3 Pink Haus, and Amanda Butler, fitness trainer and founder of Cancer Baddies, shared their experiences with scalp cooling and how it can make a difference.

What Is Scalp Cooling?

Scalp cooling works by lowering the scalp’s temperature to decrease blood flow and reduce the exposure of hair follicles to chemotherapy drugs. There are two types of scalp cooling: automated and manual. Only the computerized systems are approved and reviewed by the FDA. Patients wear a snug cooling cap during chemotherapy sessions. The caps are thick, bulky, and snug-fitting to maintain low temperatures. They must fit tightly to ensure the best results to help reduce hair loss. However, results may vary.

Before considering scalp cooling, discuss it with your healthcare provider to ensure it is appropriate for your specific type of cancer and cancer treatment.

Why Scalp Cooling Matters

Hair is more than just physical for many women, especially those undergoing cancer treatment. Amanda Butler explains, “I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the peak of my fitness career and had grown my career to be on camera. There was no amount of money that I wasn’t willing to spend to be able to try to save this part of my life.”

Carlin Hafiz agrees, adding that it made a huge difference being able to cut her hair on her terms.

She states, “Having this option was liberating to me because I got to decide to sit in that chair and say cut my hair off into this style, not cut my hair off because I’m getting ready to go through chemotherapy.”

Scalp Cooling for Textured Hair

While scalp cooling is effective, women with textured hair face unique challenges. Textured hair, which tends to be denser and tightly coiled, can make achieving a proper cap fit tricky. Carlin emphasized the importance of preparation. “Flat braids or twists were key for me. The day before treatment, I would section my hair and twist it, but I would start the twists mid hairshaft applying light oils and leave-in conditioner.”

Amanda highlighted her workaround: “Initially, when applying the cold cap, none of my scalp was exposed, so I lost a lot of hair after that first round. After that, I twisted my hair into rows so that my scalp was exposed, and that helped so much more, but I had to figure that out on my own.”

Amanda and Carlin attest that applying for the cap can be difficult and tedious. However, this process can vary depending on the company providing the cold caps. You can use the cap on your own or hire a technician through the company to assist with the process.

Amanda, for example, only had help from a technician for the initial visit. She had a family member shadow this process and allowed friends and family to assist with future sessions.

She notes the process was exhausting. “I would start cold capping around 3:00 pm. Then I’d get my first infusion at 4:00 pm, and I wouldn’t stop cold capping until around 10:00 pm. So it was nearly 7 hours of cold capping on chemo days. It is very time intensive.”

On the other hand, Carlin allowed the technician to assist during each session, which can cost anywhere from $500 to $600, not including the cold cap itself. “The technique is very time-consuming. The technician would accompany me to my chemo sessions, along with my husband or children,” she explained. “They changed my cap every 30 minutes and followed me home. They also had to sit with me for hours afterward to switch out my cap at home.” Wearing protective styles such as cornrows or flat twists helped create a smooth base, allowing better contact between the scalp and the cooling cap. Keeping hair moisturized and detangled can help make it easier to manage between sessions.

You Need Access and Resources

Cost can be a barrier, as scalp cooling systems can range from $1,500 to $3,000 per treatment. However, both survivors highlighted the importance of researching grants or financial aid. Carlin and Amanda shared the importance of research, as some organizations and non-profits may offer financial assistance to help cover the cost.

It Requires Emotional Resilience

Both ladies agreed that while scalp cooling isn’t guaranteed to work for everyone, the process can make a difference depending on your goals.

Amanda shared: “I tried cold capping, and at that moment, that was right for me, but I still lost nearly 70 to 80% of my hair. It’s a lottery whether it will work or not. I feel like many cold capping directions are geared toward non-textured hair, so I had to figure out what would work for me, and I still lost a large amount of hair. I would not choose to do it again. It was very exhausting.”

Carlin, however, says she would do the scalp cooling process over again: “I was in control of how I got to cut my hair afterwards. I still had hair. I still felt great, and that was what was important to me. Even though I still experienced hair thinning, it didn’t matter.”

Final Thoughts

Scalp cooling offers an option to preserve hair during a time of immense change, but it’s just one part of the journey. Whether you choose cold capping, rock a bald head, or opt for protective styles, your experience is valid and beautiful. If you’re considering scalp cooling, speak with your doctor, explore resources, and connect with communities like Th3 Pink Haus or Cancer Baddies for guidance and support.

The post Will Scalp Cooling Prevent Hair Loss During Cancer Treatment? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

MyReceptiva

Endometriosis and Black Women

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, triggering inflammation, scarring, and some serious health issues. For many women, it explains the chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and other symptoms that doctors often chalk up to something else. Yet, getting a diagnosis can take 7 to 10 years on average.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Black women are 50% less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than white women, despite dealing with it at similar rates.

These disparities are deeply rooted in biases in healthcare and how this condition has been studied or overlooked over the years.

Meet MyReceptiva

Now, MyReceptiva is stepping in as a less invasive way to detect endometriosis, offering women the chance to get answers sooner. At $585, the test looks for the BCL6 protein, which signals inflammation associated with endometriosis. The test is simple, using a routine endometrial biopsy, with results available within a week. During the biopsy, a thin catheter—comparable in size to a spaghetti noodle—is gently inserted through the vaginal canal, passed through the cervix, and placed against the uterine lining. A suction-like technique is then used to collect cells from the lining and put them into a tube. While patients may feel temporary discomfort or light cramping for 5 to 10 minutes, most can resume daily activities within 15 to 20 minutes after a brief rest. The sample is then preserved and shipped overnight to the lab for analysis.

This procedure eliminates the need for the costly and invasive surgical procedure that has been the gold standard until now.

Endometriosis Advocacy Matters

For Black women especially, MyReceptiva could be transformative. Endometriosis is among the leading causes of infertility in Black women, according to the Resilient Sisterhood Project. It’s also tied to higher rates of chronic pelvic pain, conditions that have all too often gone overlooked or misdiagnosed.

By making it easier to pinpoint the problem, MyReceptiva could help women get referred to specialists faster and start exploring treatment options much sooner.

Dr. Mona Orady, a specialist in endometriosis care, highlights the value of this test, emphasizing how it can streamline the diagnosis process by bringing a meaningful diagnostic option into a regular doctor’s visit. That is life-changing for women who’ve spent years being told there’s nothing wrong, all while their symptoms disrupt their lives, relationships, and careers. In short, MyReceptiva is a game changer.

And yet, there’s still progress to be made in terms of recognizing the full impact of endometriosis.

According to WGBH News, the National Institutes of Health allocated $29 million to endometriosis research in 2023, which falls short compared to the $92 million allocated for Crohn’s disease, a condition affecting fewer people.

This gap in funding highlights the importance of tools like MyReceptiva. Providing a reliable and accessible option, they help bridge existing challenges, empowering women to seek answers, advocate for their health, and move closer to solutions.

The truth is, endometriosis isn’t just a women’s issue. It’s a public health issue that ripples through families, communities, and workplaces. For Black women especially, who’ve faced unique barriers to care, tools like MyReceptiva offer a much-needed step forward. This isn’t the end for endometriosis advocacy; it’s just the beginning. This reflects the possible progress when innovation, research, and advocacy come together to prioritize women’s health.

The post Endometriosis Detection Just Got Easier appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Breast cancer is the number one cause of death among Black women in the U.S. In fact, according to the study. Black women under age 75 have a 38 percent higher mortality rate than their white counterparts

Unfortunately, this is consistent with poor health outcomes from Black women in areas such as cardiovascular disease and stroke, diabetes, and maternal mortality.

The report suggests that the same things that have improved overall cancer mortality rates, including better and earlier screening and aggressive treatment and clinical trials, have not been as accessible to Black women in this country. Health equity advocates are sounding the alarm on behalf of Black women.

Ifeoma Udoh, Executive Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, and Science  at the Black Women’s Health Imperative, says that the screening standards set by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF)’s recommendations “often overlook the specific health needs of Black women.”

The official updated guidelines suggest screening every two years beginning at age 40, a change from previous recommendations that recommended starting at age 50. Being screened and diagnosed earlier has marked progress, but Udoh says it isn’t enough. She says, “It insufficiently addresses the unique challenges and earlier risks faced by Black women.” Often, Black women develop more aggressive cancers, and often at younger ages.

Magnolia Contreras, Vice President of Community Health at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston, says many reasons for the disparities in health outcomes must be addressed. Some are about access, and others could be physical. “Often, Black women have denser breasts,” she says, which can make them harder to screen. “We have hope for continued progress in treatment because science is moving so fast,” Contreras says.

She and Udoh agree that there is a vital role for clinical trials that include Black women. Historically, Black women have not participated in trials and are significantly included in data gathering and analysis.

While advances are being made in cancer treatment, Udoh says, “trials that don’t have a large enough cohort of Black women won’t have enough data.” She says the data should not be generalized—in other words, there is no one sized fits all. “it will take institutions to double down on behalf of Black, Brown, urban and rural women,” and with the uncertainties in federal funding of research and access to care, within the new administration things could get worse. “But we must remember that the Feds are not the only sources of funding.”

Contreras says that DFCI works closely with individuals and communities on access and affordability. She also says that DFCI has a valuable confidential tool on its website called Assess Your Risk that can help any woman assess her potential risk for breast and cervical cancer. “Women can print it out and share it with their own providers,” Conteras says.

Consider the ways that you can manage your risks on your own.

• Here’s what you need to consider doing starting now
• Take time to know your family health history.
• Does cancer run in your family?

Talk to family members on both sides of your family.

• Many women make the mistake of only looking into their mother’s side of their families.
• But breast cancer risks can be passed down from the paternal side of your family.
• Find a doctor or provider you feel comfortable with and set regular appointments. It is always best to have that first visit before you need it. While you are there, schedule your annual mammogram.

Financially, it is easier to get screened if you have health care coverage through your employer, Medicaid, or Medicare.

• But if you are currently uninsured, check out your options within the Affordable Care Act or programs in the community that offer low or no-cost mammograms and other cancer screenings. Many areas even have mobile mammogram vans that offer free screenings.,

 Tweak your wellness and lifestyle.

• Clean your diet by reducing salt, sugar, and processed foods, including sodas. Give up smoking, manage stress, and get into a regular exercise routine to reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, obesity, and other chronic diseases.
• Also, reduce your consumption of alcohol, which can increase your cancer risks.

The post When Cancer Rates Drop, But Not For Black Women appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The statistics are downright frightening.

“Approximately 50% will be dead in utero, prematurely born, stillborn, or dead shortly after delivery,” according to the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Data from The National Library of Medicine  backed that  up, reporting that “Up to half of all babies infected with syphilis in the womb die shortly before or after birth.”

But is syphilis common?

Syphilis, the sexually transmitted disease that leads to congenital syphilis, is extremely common. It is contracted by engaging in sexual acts without a condom and intimate skin-to-skin contact.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported a sharp spike in the number of syphilis cases in recent years. In 2022, the CDC released a report that stated an 80% rise in the number of cases in the United States from 2018 to 2022.

The New England Journal of Medicine considers the increase in congenital syphilis rates an “emerging public health concern.”

Syphilis is a highly treatable sexually transmitted disease, but it is pervasive around the world. Black women are diagnosed with syphilis at higher rates than their counterparts. According to the Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, “nationally, syphilis diagnosis rates were 6.42 and 2.20 times higher among Black and Hispanic heterosexually active women compared with White heterosexually active women.” Rates of syphilis rose dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic as well.

As a pregnant woman, what can I do to protect my unborn child and myself?

Here are three ways to prevent congenital syphilis.

1. Get Proper Prenatal Care

A lack of proper prenatal care can lead to missed screening opportunities that can prevent congenital syphilis. Appropriate screenings are a crucial part of any successful pregnancy. These should include screenings for sexually transmitted diseases.

The Lancet identified a lack of prenatal care as a contributor to adverse pregnancy outcomes in 2024.

“Inadequate access to prenatal care is associated with congenital syphilis across many jurisdictions,” according to a 2023 report published by Public Health Ontario. Nursing for Women’s Health confirmed that “Lack of prenatal care, poor access to prenatal care, and improper prenatal care all have contributed to cases of congenital syphilis.”

2. Get Tested …Again… And Again

In 2022, the CDC reported that “Lack of timely testing and adequate treatment during pregnancy contributed to 88% of cases of congenital syphilis.” Signs of syphilis are not obvious and can be masked by other conditions.

It is essential to request a test at every doctor’s visit. According to Frontiers in Public Health, “The extensive clinical manifestations of T. pallidum infection mimic those of many other diseases during pregnancy, which may lead to delayed diagnosis and serious consequences.”

Testing for syphilis once or twice during a pregnancy is not enough. A pregnant person must be tested before delivery. A 2020 article in IDCases stressed the importance of repeating the screening process to detect congenital syphilis. “For women at increased risk, repeat syphilis testing early in the third trimester and again at delivery in communities and populations with a high prevalence of syphilis is recommended,” and there is “a need for heightened clinical awareness of syphilis by providers,” according to IDCases.

Newborns at high risk should be tested, too, as children born with congenital syphilis can be asymptomatic. According to StatPearls, “If a mother tests serologically positive for syphilis, the newborn should receive a careful physical examination looking for any early signs or symptoms of congenital disease as well.”

If you can’t make it to be screened or rescreened, rapid tests are available for those with limited resources. These can be administered outside of traditional clinical environments.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended an increase in syphilis screenings for pregnant people in a practice advisory they released in 2024.

3. Get Treated Before It’s Too Late

Syphilis can be effectively treated during pregnancy. A CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from 2015 found that “maternal treatment with penicillin is 98% effective at preventing CS (congenital syphilis).” There are limited risks to treating the condition during pregnancy. Still, there are plenty of serious risks associated with leaving it untreated that threaten all of the major organs of a newborn.

The World Health Organization reports that “The risk of adverse outcomes to the fetus is minimal if a pregnant woman, infected with syphilis, receives testing and adequate treatment with benzathine penicillin, early in pregnancy – ideally before the second trimester.”

Frequent testing and appropriate treatment can change or save a life before it starts.

The post Congenital Syphilis Puts Your Unborn Child at Risk appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Know The Symptoms

According to VeryWellHealth, only 5-30% of pregnant women with an infection may have symptoms, but they may include the following:

• Mucus or pus discharge from the vagina
• Burning during urination
• More frequent urination
• Pelvic pain
• More pain during sex
• Vaginal bleeding after sex

Sexual health should be considered and prioritized whenever one is engaging in sexual activity. However, it becomes even more complex and crucial when a pregnant person is involved. Chlamydia is an entirely preventable disease, but RBGO Gynecology & Obstetrics reports that there are at least “131 million new cases per year.”

Those cases disproportionately reflect Black people. In 2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that “In the U.S., chlamydia infections disproportionally affect Native American Indians (NI), Native Alaskans (NA), Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders.” The Journal of Nursing for Women’s Health found that “chlamydia rates among Black women are 5 times the rates among White women” in 2022.

Here are seven things that you need to know about chlamydia and how it can negatively impact a pregnancy:

1. Chlamydia Is Easily Transmissible

All you need to contract chlamydia is to leave the condom behind. It does not matter when you are having sex, where you are having sex or the type of sex that you are having. If there’s no condom present, you (and your partner or partners) are at risk of getting chlamydia. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that “you can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom with someone who has the infection.”

2. The STI Can Sneak Up On You

One of the main reasons that it is so important to be screened for chlamydia is that it does not show up right away. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, “Chlamydial infection is the most frequently reported bacterial infectious disease in the United States.” Its symptoms do not appear immediately, meaning the infection can worsen before you can confirm its diagnosis and receive the appropriate medical treatment.

3. Chlamydia Can Cause Low Birth Weight

Premature birth occurs when a pregnancy concludes prior to 37 weeks of gestation. This is heavily associated with long-term and short-term health problems. The March of Dimes reports that “Preterm babies can have long-term intellectual and developmental disabilities and problems with their lungs, brain, eyes and other organs.”

“In pregnant women, it can cause the baby to be born early (prematurity) or with low birth weight,” according to the World Health Organization. The European Journal of Epidemiology reported that “Chlamydia-positive women also had a significantly higher risk of preterm delivery before 35 weeks.”

4. Chlamydia Can Cause Ectopic Pregnancies

A 2019 article in the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases, “Chlamydia has also been shown to cause long-term reproductive problems such as ectopic pregnancy.”

An ectopic pregnancy is defined as “A condition in which a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes,” according to the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. It is also commonly referred to as an “extrauterine pregnancy.” The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology International published a study that found that “Chlamydia antibodies were found in 60% of patients with ectopic pregnancy” and “the presence of Chlamydia antibodies was associated with a fourfold risk of ectopic pregnancy.”

5. Chlamydia Can Be Passed In Utero

A pregnant person with chlamydia can give it to the baby that they are carrying during the childbirth process. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews reports, “Mother-to-child transmission can occur at the time of delivery.”

A 1994 article in the Journal of Infection found that infants born to someone infected with chlamydia are at risk no matter what mode of delivery was chosen. Still, it reported that “rates of transmission were significantly lower after Caesarean section with rupture of the membranes before delivery than after vaginal delivery.”

6. Chlamydia Can Harm The Eyes and Lungs of Newborns

One of the ways that chlamydia can cause adverse pregnancy effects is by affecting the eyes and the lungs of newborns. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews reports that “the risk of transmission during birth varies, but is about 20% to 50% for eye infections and about 10% to 20% for infection of the lungs.”

The Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection reported that newborns with chlamydia hospitalized after their births showed cases of “diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis, bronchopneumonia or pneumonia.”

7. It Can Increase The Risk Of HIV Transmission

If chlamydia is not properly addressed, it can potentially increase the risk of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases. According to the World Health Organization, “without treatment, chlamydia can cause serious problems and may facilitate the transmission and acquisition of HIV and other STIs.”

The post Chlamydia & Pregnancy: 7 Things You Should Know appeared first on Black Health Matters.

They should be screened for these infections routinely as a part of any sexual hygiene routine. Those who are expecting should screen for them prior to becoming pregnant, during the pregnancy, and before delivery takes place.

The Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases argues that frequent testing could lower the instances of sexually transmitted diseases negatively impacting pregnancies. According to an article they published in 2020, “The prevalence of and likely adverse outcomes associated with curable STIs in pregnant women suggest that etiologic STI screening of all pregnant women followed by targeted treatment might be beneficial.”

This is especially important in our community because, according to a 2022 study published by the Journal of Nursing for Women’s Health, Black women were “more likely to report having an STI over the course of their lifetime.”

Many sexually transmitted infections are curable. Some can be treated during pregnancy with minimal risks to the fetus.

According to the Journal of Transmitted Infections, “Curable STIs are associated with maternal morbidity, preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth.” These are deeply serious side effects.

In 2014, the Journal of Clinical Gynecology & Obstetrics advocated for “recognition and treatment of STDs in a timely manner, especially in an urgent care setting, by the health care professional to prevent both maternal and neonatal complications.”

The Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) reports that sexually transmitted infections can cause “Eye infection, pneumonia, infection in the baby’s blood, brain damage,” and other symptoms. According to the Journal of Sexual Transmitted Diseases, “Sexually transmitted infections (STI), such as chlamydial, gonorrheal, and trichomonal infections, are prevalent in pregnant women in many countries and are widely reported to be associated with increased risk of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes.”

Here are three reasons why you need to have complete and thorough testing for sexually transmitted diseases administered if you are expecting.

1. STIs Can Cause Premature Births

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines preterm birth as a birth that occurs prior to 37 weeks of gestation. “Globally, prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years,” according to WHO.

Premature birth can have lasting effects on the physical and mental health of a child.

It is considered a chronic condition because of its serious impact on health outcomes. According to Frontiers In Pediatrics, “There are numerous long-term medical, educational, and social consequences associated with preterm birth,” and “premature newborns are at risk of acquiring chronic noncommunicable diseases later in life due to interference with organ system development during the in-utero and perinatal period.”

2. Your Sexual Partner Could Be Infected With An STI Without Knowing

The pregnant person is not the only one who needs to be monitored in order to prevent adverse effects. Anyone who they are engaging with sexually must be screened and treated as well. Sexually transmitted diseases can remain dormant for long periods of time, so it is possible that someone can be infected and pass on their infection without being aware.

StatPearls states, “Early screening and recognition of STIs are key to preventing disease spread, morbidity, and mortality. These infections are more frequently underrecognized and have a higher incidence in medically underserved populations.”

“Treating partners reduces the likelihood of re-infecting the index patient and decreases the burden of infection in communities because the partners are often asymptomatic and otherwise unlikely to access care,” according to the Journal of Transmitted Infections.

“Partner notification is essential to halt transmission and prevent reinfection,” according to the Journal of Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine.

3. Some STIs Can Be Potentially Passed Through Breastmilk

Breastfeeding presents an opportunity for bonding. It can be incredibly beneficial in other ways as well. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reports that “breastfeeding provides many health benefits for the mother and her child. Breast milk is the best food for newborns, containing all the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.”

“It can aid mental growth and block the development of certain food allergies.

However, the presence of sexually transmitted infections can make breastfeeding more complicated, according to the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Getting screened for sexually transmitted infections allows a pregnant person to obtain treatment and create a plan to breastfeed or find alternatives that work for their family safely.

The post Pregnant? You Should Get an STD Test appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Monica and Dana shared that their journey began 16 years ago, and they officially founded RedDrop in 2019. Let’s hear from two-thirds of the dynamic trio about their incredible journey and the wisdom fueling RedDrop’s success.

BHM: Could you give us an overview of RedDrop and its mission? We’d love to hear about what your company does and how your passion for this venture began.

Monica: RedDrop exists to own the period care space for elementary, middle, and high school-aged girls. That means the best products and education.

We really believe in providing access to all those forms for young girls. Education is important because, in America, only half of U.S. states require health education, and that’s a valuable resource for families.

Dana: I am a lifelong educator, and about 16 years ago, in my fifth-grade girls’ class, girls were starting their periods with me. I started correlating, like, “Oh my gosh, I don’t want my daughter to be unprepared.” Outside of that, I realized I was a teacher and felt it was my ethical and moral responsibility to care for them. My godsister Monica had a business, and I said, “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”

Fast forward, RedDrop is here, and everything we do in our business is intentional about providing tweens and teenagers, elementary, middle, and high schoolers, with the best possible period experience, from their first to their next period.

BHM: How has RedDrop been received in the market so far?

Dana: We have over 100,000 orders, and we are impacting girls in schools. We’re pretty much in most states in the U.S. We impact over half a million girls in schools every single day.

We get feedback all the time through our social media platforms, saying, “I didn’t know how to have this conversation with my daughter; this just makes it easier. ” I feel like we have become validated in a sense.

Monica: Regarding market validation, we are a mid-seven-figure business that’s bootstrapped. It’s not because we forced it by paying for marketing; we do have a product that people want.

BHM: Congratulations on winning the Black Ambition Prize! What was your initial reaction when you found out you won?

Dana: It was surreal! I honestly get this question probably once or twice a week now from friends, family, and media. It’s surreal. It’s still a surreal experience. I thought I was going to pass out. I thought Monica was going to pass out. Winning this prize not only makes us feel seen and validated but also is a vote of confidence with dollars, mentorship, and resources to help us continue impacting girls worldwide.

BHM: What does winning this prize mean to you personally, and how does it align with RedDrop’s mission and strategic goals?

Dana: It makes you feel seen and validated. For RedDrop, it helps us be very proactive in our planning. It’s hard to plan when you don’t necessarily have funding to follow through on those plans. It allows you to plan with intention and gives you this runway to be a little more creative and innovative.

Monica: We have specific milestones and markers that will allow us to be more impactful and allow our business to grow exponentially. The actual cash prize allows us to do those things, but it also really provides an opportunity for us to prove that we can be the next “Always” or just insert any big brand here.

The reality is that 6000 girls a day experience their first period; no brand in this country really services girls in elementary, middle, and high school. As a brand, it’s our responsibility to do that and do it in an excellent way.

I think you show that as a business through profitability and growth, and that’s the goal.

BHM: What support, besides funding, have you received as Black Ambition Prize winners? Any mentorship or networking opportunities?

Monica: We just won 3 weeks ago. I expect many more opportunities to come. Black Ambition provides networking with past winners, offering a preview of what’s coming. Once you’re in the semifinals, you’re put into pods; our pod had five people and a mentor. That network makes the process less lonely. Dana mentioned how lonely and challenging it is, but Black Ambition connects you with others in similar situations.

As a winner, I had a call with Felicia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition. Her network is amazing! I expect the opportunities we can access are exponentially bigger.

I’m a third-time startup founder with some network, Dana is a lifelong educator, and Jarrod, our CFO, has corporate experience.

Our networks are deep in our field, but now we have access to a whole new realm of people. It’s super exciting. Listening to others, I think it’s going to be amazing.

BHM: What plans do you have for RedDrop? Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’re excited about?

Monica: I think we have an opportunity to help girls both domestically and internationally, especially through education and the right products. I’m excited about helping in Africa and various places throughout and here, not just in shelters but on college campuses and in homes where people are struggling.

I’m excited about those things, and we want to own the period care space for elementary, middle, and high school-aged girls. That’s a big statement. I think we can be impactful with active girls and plan to do that.

We can also be impactful in providing more innovative care and protection, and I’m excited about that.

As our conversation ended, RedDrop’s founders shared some valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs hoping to reach similar success. Dana stressed the importance of addressing meaningful issues, emphasizing, “Look at your business and the problem you’re trying to solve. Does it have a life-changing or positive impact on humanity?” She also highlighted the necessity of trusting someone with financial expertise.

Reflecting on her background, Dana noted how her experience in education adds a unique perspective: “As an educator, wanting to impact the world is one of the pillars of why RedDrop exists.”

Monica praised Dana’s problem-solving abilities, saying, “Dana often sees solutions that the rest of us miss.” Monica brings a lot of analytical depth to the team, while Jarrod’s financial planning is essential. “For us to grow to the level that we’ve grown is impossible without the level of detail to cash that we have through Jarrod,” said Monica.

RedDrop’s journey is a testament to the power of collaboration and shared vision, proving that impactful change is possible with the right team and mindset.

The post RedDrop, a Period Care Brand, Takes the Black Ambition Prize appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Foods to Avoid

Fried foods

Fried foods contain a high-fat content, which can increase your risk of getting Bacterial Vaginosis, or BV, a common bacterial infection caused by an imbalance in the pH of your vagina. BV can cause itching, burning, discharge and produce a fishy odor. Limit your intake of fatty foods by choosing lean proteins and healthier cooking oils. Fried food is not good for your vaginal health.

Alcohol

Alcohol is also not the best choice if you want to maintain a healthy vagina. Alcohol dehydrates our bodies and can get in the way of our vaginas producing its natural lubrication. A vagina experiencing dryness can cause discomfort, itching, pain, and more, according to this Cleveland Clinic article.

Refined sugars

Refined sugars are a sure way to throw off your pH balance. A healthy vagina is a slightly acidic one, and according to a Health.com article, foods like honey, sugar, white bread, and white rice can be harmful when consumed excessively.

“If you’re overeating carbs, pasta, rice, and sweets, you may have an overgrowth of candida in your gut and in turn an overgrowth of candida in your bloodstream”, says Zuleika Tavares, a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

Foods That Help

Water

H20. Your vagina is a mucus surface, the same as the inside of your mouth, so the better hydrated you are, the better hydrated those membranes are going to be. And while some strong-smelling foods can translate into a stronger-smelling vagina, water can help bring things back to whatever is normal for you.

Probiotic-rich foods

Probiotics are good bacteria in your digestive system; many would argue that your immune system starts with them. Think Greek yogurt, kimchi, soy in many forms, tofu, sourdough, and kombucha. These are all foods that contain the excellent, helpful microbes our bodies and vaginas use to maintain a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in our body, per WebMD. Bonus points, foods like edamame and other soy products can help keep your vagina lubricated, which wards off itchiness, infection, and other problems. Aim for a half-cup of daily organic, unprocessed soy milk, beans, or tofu.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a delicious alternative to traditional potatoes; they are also incredibly effective in maintaining good vaginal health. They are filled to the brim with vitamin A, which strengthens our uterine walls and encourages the production of hormones that help us stay energized.

Cranberry Juice

100% cranberry juice helps balance the vagina’s pH level and helps fight bacteria that cause UTIs, vaginal infections and other problems. Drink a glass of unsweetened, organic cranberry juice daily to reap the benefits. You can opt to take cranberry tablets but consult your doctor first.

Garlic

Garlic. You’d think it would have the opposite effect you’d want (smelly). But on the contrary, garlic is excellent for down there because it contains antimicrobial and antifungal properties that help prevent vaginal problems, such as itching, burning, odor, discharge, and even UTIs. This pungent food also boosts the immune system, so your body is ready to fight infection. Eat two to three raw garlic cloves daily by adding garlic or its paste to your dishes and salads. If you prefer to take garlic capsules, consult your doctor first.

Encourage Vaginal Lubrication

To combat vaginal dryness as well as itching and burning, here are some foods you’ll want to sneak more of:

Kale

Kale is a rich source of vitamins A and C and helps improve blood circulation. In addition, it boosts your immunity to help keep infections at bay. Add kale to your salad, vegetable juice, or green smoothie. You can also cook it lightly and eat it as a side dish. Other green vegetables that are good for vaginal health include cabbage, celery and collard greens.

Avocado

Avocado is another food that stimulates vaginal health. The healthy fats in avocado support healthy vaginal walls and keep it naturally lubricated. Just one-fourth of an avocado daily is enough to reap its benefits.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed and other foods rich in phytoestrogens and high in omega-3 fatty acids can increase estrogen levels, which prevents vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms. In addition, the zinc in these seeds helps treat vaginal dryness, itching, and burning. Sprinkle about one tablespoon of ground flaxseeds on cereal, smoothies, yogurt, salads, and juices. When eating flaxseeds, make sure to drink an ample amount of water for smooth digestion.

Ultimately, it’s essential to maintain a balanced diet filled with nutrient-rich foods that your whole body can benefit from. Everything you eat can help or hurt your health, so while you indulge in moderation, always remember to outweigh the not-so-good with the much better choices.

The post The Best Foods To Eat & Avoid For Vaginal Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: Can you share your journey with psoriasis, including when you were diagnosed? How has it impacted your daily life and mental health?

Takieyah Mathis: My journey with psoriasis began in 2016. Though I likely had the disease earlier, that was the year I was first diagnosed. I feel like psoriasis impacted my daily life and my mental health because, around the time I was diagnosed, it had already affected my modeling career. It lowered my confidence, and I worried about how my hair and skin looked. I also had this pain in my foot from walking in heels. This all negatively contributed to my mental health as well because I wondered if I would ever look the same again.

I thought nobody would want to date, touch, or hang around me because I had this thing going on.

When I was diagnosed with psoriasis, that was the start of a new journey with my confidence and trying to build it back. Overall, my journey with psoriasis was long and drawn out at first, but when I got the proper medical help, I was successful with my treatments. I will say that having the right healthcare providers is critical—especially for finding the best treatments that work for you, whether you have mild psoriasis or severe psoriasis.

BHM: Have you personally experienced stigma or discrimination because of your psoriasis? How did you cope with these experiences?

Takieyah Mathis: Yes, I have experienced discrimination with my psoriasis with my employers and dating. I’ve had employers who wanted me to cover up my face with makeup, and that was disheartening because I didn’t realize what was wrong. I didn’t know my face looked so bad, which was hard to deal with.

I coped with these experiences by finding my community, finding other people who had eczema or psoriasis, and hanging around more with them. I also learned from my friends with alopecia, lupus, and other similar conditions. [Understanding more about]  autoimmune diseases and the stigmas also helped because when I had my first flare-up, I didn’t know what was going on. I just knew that when people saw me, they would almost diagnose me and ask, “Hey, do you have this?” I honestly didn’t know what I had; I just knew my face was broken out.

Eventually, I started to cope with all these experiences by taking my diagnosis and speaking out about it, not wearing makeup, showing people what my scalp looked like, showing them my scars, and just being vulnerable about what I was going through. People who supported me also helped me cope because now I know a community of people just like me, and I wasn’t alone.

BHM: As a patient advocate, what are some of the most common misconceptions about psoriasis you encounter?

Takieyah Mathis: As a patient advocate, I’ll say some misconceptions about psoriasis are that we’re contagious. Also, a lot of people look at some illnesses as a disability, almost as a crutch that they’ll have to deal with for the rest of their lives. I would also say that because people can’t see where you’re flared up all the time, they think that you’re not going through something with your psoriasis.

Another stigma is that many people believe that psoriasis is just one thing, just a skin rash, versus realizing it’s a whole system of things going on and that there are different types of psoriasis.

BHM: Has your experience with psoriasis influenced your work as an artist?

Takieyah Mathis: I feel psoriasis has influenced my work in a way that, at first, I panicked. Then later, I thought, “I’ve watched years of America’s Next Top Model and Winnie Harlow, so why did I panic? I’ve already been doing this for so long. Why did I go into this shell?”

At that point, I should be using this to my advantage, still being the model I am, and finding my way to embrace it as I’ve always embraced my modeling structure.

I’ve gotten back into modeling full time versus before, when I was just behind the scenes, becoming a stage director of many events. However, being a stage director also helped me because I realized there were so many other people like me behind the scenes. After all, they’re afraid of what their skin looks like or how they feel. I’ve met so many people in the last year who are behind the scenes, producing a show, and they have psoriasis, or they have rheumatoid arthritis or lupus or something along those lines. So, I think that’s influenced me enough to learn more about everybody’s story and why they do the things they do.

BHM: What role do support systems, such as family, friends, and patient communities, play in your journey with psoriasis?

Takieyah Mathis: I feel like everyone around me, including family, friends, and patient communities, has played a role in a way that makes me never want to give up. I just wanted to push forward a little bit. I know it’s hard to carry the torch sometimes or be the leader because you get drained and always have to play that role. However, other people can motivate you to keep going because some people don’t know how to be a voice for themselves. When people tell me that they’re proud of me and, “Oh, I know I can’t do it. So, I’m very proud she can do it for us.” That’s what keeps me going. That’s what the other patient communities and similar things do for me.

BHM: What advice would you give to others newly diagnosed with psoriasis, especially those in underserved communities who may face additional barriers to diagnosis and treatment?

Takieyah Mathis: The advice I would give to others who are newly diagnosed would be to find out or study your triggers.

For example, what do you think is making your psoriasis flare up? I would also say to find the best care and healthcare provider so you can find things that are for you and within your budget. This way, you’re not causing a flare-up because you’re stressing about finances, and stress is the number one factor with psoriasis.

As Takieyah shared, “Education would be the main change I would like to see. I want people to learn about what psoriasis is so that we don’t have so many people afraid to date people with psoriasis.”

Her words remind us that understanding and awareness are the keys to breaking down stigmas. By educating ourselves and others, we can create space for respect and acceptance in dating, friendships, and everyday interactions, appreciating the diversity that makes each of us who we are.

The post Psoriasis is More Than Skin Deep appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The CDC’s latest recommendations are a source of optimism for many, urging healthcare providers to take a more empathetic and informed approach. According to a CDC study, about 16.9% of us have reported using IUDs as a method of birth control.

BHM: What are the common causes of pain during and after IUD insertion?

Dr. Robinson: There are several reasons why an IUD insertion can be uncomfortable. When an IUD is inserted, it must pass through your cervix into the uterus. It can be especially painful if your healthcare professional needs to dilate your cervix first to insert the IUD properly. There are also specific instruments that are used to help grasp the cervix and straighten out the pathway to the uterus, which can cause pain for some people. It’s also common to feel cramping immediately after IUD insertion, which can be uncomfortable.

BHM: How can healthcare providers better acknowledge and address the pain associated with IUDs?

Dr. Robinson: Communication is critical in acknowledging the issue of pain associated with IUDs.

The patient should always feel informed and know what pain management and care options are available before, during, and after the procedure.

It’s helpful for healthcare teams to talk their patients through the process. [There has to be] Acknowledgement of the patient’s experience and potential fears, along with clear explanations of what to expect. This can ease anxiety and help prepare them for discomfort during the procedure. A good healthcare team can make all the difference when you have an IUD placed or removed.

BHM: What steps can women take to prepare for IUD insertion to minimize discomfort?

Dr. Robinson: You should also feel empowered to ask about pain management options with your doctor beforehand.

In many cases, they may suggest taking an over-the-counter pain medication, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, about an hour before your appointment.

Another option is to take misoprostol a few hours before your IUD insertion, which can help soften and dilate the cervix a bit to help the IUD pass through more easily. Misoprostol is a prescription medication, so you’ll need to talk with your healthcare team about this option in advance. Sometimes, they can also numb the cervix with local anesthesia, which can help ease some discomfort during the insertion.

It also may be helpful to schedule your IUD insertion when you have your period. During your period, the cervix is already slightly dilated, which helps with insertion.

If possible, you may want to take the day off or schedule the procedure at the end of the day to ensure you have time to relax and recover.

BHM: What types of IUDs are available, and how do they differ in effectiveness and side effects?

Dr. Robinson: There are two primary types of IUDs available: hormonal and non-hormonal. The non-hormonal option, Paragard, uses copper to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal options work by releasing hormones that make it difficult to get pregnant. All IUD variations are highly effective at preventing pregnancy.

Hormonal options will vary based on hormone levels, cost, amount of time they last, and side effects. Users of the Paragard IUD (non-hormonal) often experience longer and heavier periods initially, which typically lessen over time.

On the other hand, those using hormonal IUDs may experience irregular periods with spotting, heavy bleeding, or more bleeding days during the first 3-6 months. After about a year, bleeding usually decreases, with 1 in 5 women reporting no periods at all.

BHM: What symptoms should women be aware of post-IUD insertion that may indicate complications?

Dr. Robinson: It’s normal to have light cramping or spotting for a few weeks as your body gets used to the IUD. If your pain or bleeding persists or worsens, or you’re experiencing other symptoms like severe abdominal or pelvic pain, unusual or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, fevers, chills, and continuous heavy vaginal bleeding, you should let a healthcare professional know. They may need to do an ultrasound to ensure the IUD is placed correctly and that there are no complications.

BHM: What are the best pain management options available for women experiencing severe IUD-related pain?

Dr. Robinson: A healthcare professional will first recommend:

• Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen to help minimize the cramping pain associated with IUD insertion.
• You can also try placing a heating pad on your lower abdomen or a warm bath to soothe cramping pain.
• If these measures aren’t working, let your healthcare team know. They may want to prescribe prescription pain management options or bring you in for another visit if your symptoms persist.

BHM: How can women proactively bring up concerns about IUD pain with their healthcare providers?

Dr. Robinson: I recommend scheduling an appointment before your procedure to discuss your pain management options and your pain tolerance. Having a personalized plan that you and the healthcare professional agree on can make a difference in ensuring you feel comfortable during the procedure.

BHM: How do the CDC’s recent recommendations impact how healthcare providers approach IUD insertion and pain management?

Dr. Robinson: I hope these new guidelines will encourage healthcare professionals to set realistic expectations about the pain and discomfort a patient may experience during an IUD insertion. I’m glad we’re highlighting the pain issue and acknowledging that we can take steps to minimize it. It starts with transparent discussions with patients, sharing everything from how to properly prepare for the procedure to what it will entail.

It’s crucial to ensure that every woman is treated with care, respect, and empathy and that her needs and complaints of pain are taken seriously.

As healthcare professionals, we are responsible for leading with sensitivity, acknowledging and addressing the unique healthcare needs of women while actively working to overcome any biases that may influence their care.

The post How to Manage IUD Pain appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Check out our Q & A with her below:

How do people find someone like you?

L. Casey Flowers: With the expansion of telehealth in 2020, it’s been much easier to find a dietitian to work with. If you’re working with an endocrinologist for diabetes or a nephrologist for kidney disease, they usually have someone who works directly within their office. Or they can provide you with a direct referral, making things much more accessible. And your insurance company can give you a list of people as well.

No, not all dietitians are created equal. Some nutritionists may be personal trainers who took a course. Licensed dietitian nutritionists (LDNs) must take a licensure exam and meet continuing education hours to maintain their credentials through the state.

However, not all LDNs feel comfortable talking about weight management. Look for those with a CSOWM certification so you know they are Certified Specialists in Obesity and Weight Management. Most people will include it on their website.

What happens during the initial appointment?

LCF: If someone comes to me for weight management, our first visit will last 45 to 60 minutes. Our follow-up visits are generally 15 to 30 minutes. We do your anthropometrics, height, weight, and blood pressure. I will always ask if you have any specific questions because I will have many questions.

I will ask about your medical history. What if you’re on medication that causes weight gain? I must also know your diet history because every attempt lowers your metabolism. So, we will go through your whole diet, exercise, and weight history. Has it always been like this? Or is it an up and down?

The second half of the visit is the best part. “It is not, ‘Here’s this piece of paper, and you follow this plan,’ We take all the information you shared and make a specific plan to meet your lifestyle.

What you said is pertinent. For example, what has happened in the last six months or five years impacts what will happen now. I just had a death in my family or lost my job; that’s important for you to know.

LCF: Extremely. If your stress hormones have increased, and you haven’t done anything to help lower them, your weight will not go anywhere. So, we must ensure we’re addressing those kinds of baseline concerns.

What surprises patients about their first visit with a dietician?

LCF: We start with small changes. We usually focus on three goals to start and then set them up with a monitoring tool, like a food journal or an app, so that we can do regular check-ins. Today, for example, one of my patient’s three goals was to sleep seven hours a night. However, making that improvement will help in the long term.

How does sleep impact weight?

LCF: Sleep is so essential that I never thought I’d have to discuss it as much as I do. Many patients do not get their seven hours in, so their stress hormone, or cortisol, never has a chance to get lowered. When your cortisol is up, it automatically tells your body to start up, regulating your fat, absorption, and growing fat. It also increases your hunger, specifically for specific nutrients that will boost your dopamine. What’s going to do that is tryptophan, which comes from chocolate.

So, if you’re not sleeping well, many people start craving these simple carbohydrates to help get them through the day.

As a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, I always see this as a red flag. If somebody wakes up between 3 and 5 AM, that’s nighttime or reactive hypoglycemia time, and their blood glucose will drop during those hours. They will spontaneously wake up. We must fix their diet at nighttime so that doesn’t happen. Sleep tells you a lot about a person.

How often do you meet with your patients?

LCF: We’re supposed to meet every two weeks for the first month. Then, we can go every two to three months for maintenance. I am the only dietitian in my clinic and serve three clinics. So, I usually see patients every four weeks. We’ll meet once a month. I also do email check-ins to see how my patients are doing.

 When you keep your food journal, please be honest. I do not care. There is a suspicious amount of grilled chicken salad in people’s diets, but not all of us are eating them.

How long is a patient seen?

LCF: It depends on their insurance and what they’re willing to cover. Sometimes, insurance says you only get three hours of diabetes education a year. So, we make that work. Some people have come into the office and needed a brief education. I never saw them again. Other patients I have known for the last half-decade. At this point, invite me to your cookout; we’re family. It depends on what the person needs.

What if a patient came to you recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes? What advice would you give them?

LCF: This is my favorite question. I love pre-diabetes because these patients are in a great spot to make a huge change that will impact the rest of their lives. Many underutilized resources exist, such as the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Program. Certain health facilities have grants within that program. I always educate my patients on that. Some feel more comfortable doing the one-on-one with me. We work on lifestyle intervention:

• Are you moving your body enough to burn off this extra blood glucose?
• Are you eating in a pattern that you know is conducive?
• Are you having more fiber than sugar?

This isn’t something that you can do well for a month, and now you don’t have pre-diabetes or diabetes; no, your pancreas has officially told us something’s wrong. You will have to pay attention to this forever.

What other conditions do you see in patients often?

LCF: The conditions I see most often include hypertension, high cholesterol, and those trying to get their heart health under control. I work with patients after bariatric surgery. The challenge is that although their stomach anatomy has changed, they see food with the same eyes and brain, so getting support as you make these adjustments is critical. I meet with them every one to two months during the first year.

If you are looking for a Licensed Dietitian, where should you start?

LCF: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a website, eatright.org. You can search for a practitioner based on preferences, including zip code, language, certifications, insurance, and in-person and telehealth options. Check directly with your insurance provider to see whether they have any LDNs or RDNs with CSOWM certifications and Google providers in your area with those certifications to see what comes up. Finding the right dietitian could be essential to maintaining weight loss once you achieve your goal.

Supported by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk Inc. 

The post Why You Need to Work With A Dietitian to Achieve Your Weight Loss Goals appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Early Years

During her tenure as California’s Attorney General, Harris was a dedicated advocate for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). She recognized its potential to significantly expand healthcare access for millions of women and took decisive action to defend the ACA in court. Her efforts ensured that women could access essential health services without financial barriers. This commitment to women’s health laid a solid foundation for her career in the U.S. Senate and beyond.

Her Fight Against Fibroids

Harris’s focus on women’s health intensified as she transitioned to representing California in the U.S. Senate. One of her early legislative efforts was the introduction of the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act in 2020. This bill was geared toward increasing funding for research and raising awareness about uterine fibroids, a condition that disproportionately affects our community.

Her Push for Affordable Healthcare

In 2019, Kamala Harris proposed a plan to prevent the U.S. from paying more for prescription medication than other developed countries. Her plan aimed to cap drug prices at an average of those in different nations.

During her presidential run, Harris also advocated for Medicare for All, a single-payer insurance proposal. She emphasized the deeply personal nature of healthcare for Americans and envisioned a comprehensive healthcare system covering all medically necessary services, from emergency room visits to mental health and reproductive health care. She also proposed empowering the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, aiming to make health care accessible and affordable.

“There is perhaps no more complicated or personal issue for Americans than health care. I know this from my own personal life, caring for my mother as she battled colon cancer. And I also know it from talking to so many Americans in this campaign — seniors and union members, young people and parents, workers and caregivers,” said Harris in the article she wrote for Medium.

She Prioritizes Black Maternal Health

First, the federal Maternal Health Day of Action at the White House called to improve health outcomes for parents and infants in the United States. “Before, during, and after childbirth, women in our nation are dying at a higher rate than any other developed nation in our world,” Harris stated during the Maternal Day of Action Summit. “Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. We should do something about that.” She has highlighted the alarming rates of maternal mortality, especially amongst our community. As a Senator, she co-introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act with Congresswomen Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams in 2020. This bill aims to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly amongst our community and other communities that face disparities. As a result, a significant achievement was the passage of the Protecting Moms Who Served Act on November 30, 2021, which focuses on maternal care for veterans. Still, the complete Momnibus package is being advocated for, with the latest version introduced on May 15, 2023.

Her Support for Reproductive Rights

As Senator, Harris co-sponsored legislation aimed at eliminating state-level restrictions, such as mandatory tests for doctors or the requirement for doctors to have hospital admitting privileges to perform abortions. During her 2019 presidential campaign, Harris proposed that states with a history of violating Roe v. Wade should undergo pre-clearance for new abortion laws, securing federal approval before they could be enacted. In December 2023, Harris launched the “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, aiming to counteract the effects of abortion bans and advocate for the restoration of Roe v. Wade protections.

As reported by CNN, in March of 2024, Harris made history by becoming the first sitting vice president to visit an abortion clinic. She toured a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota, highlighting the ongoing healthcare crisis.

“The reason I’m here is because this is a health care crisis,” Harris said. “Part of this health care crisis is the clinics like this that have had to shut down and what that has meant to leave no options with any reasonable geographic area for so many women who need this essential care.”

Kamala Harris’s advocacy for women’s health is extensive. While we have touched on some of the key highlights, her work spans a much broader spectrum. By looking back at some of her major contributions, we can gain insights into potential future developments. By staying informed, we can collectively strive to create a healthier and more equitable future for ourselves, our mothers, sisters, friends, and women everywhere.

The post Where Does VP Kamala Harris Stand on Healthcare? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

These were fibroids invading my body and interrupting my peace. I knew it but could not prove it, so I consulted a doctor to tell me what I already knew.

After an extended period of listening to a history podcast about the French Revolution in the waiting room, I was able to connect with him and explain my feelings.

His response to the news that I was running through super jumbo tampons like they were going out of style and had days where I could not stand due to the pain did not shock me, but it did infuriate me.

The OB-GYN I was seeing at the time refused to give me an ultrasound. He stared at my mid-section as I spoke, refusing to meet my eyes or acknowledge the urgency in my voice. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports that “Fibroids are more common and more severe among African American women, and African American women have fibroids diagnosed at earlier ages, are more likely to be symptomatic, and are likely to have different responses to medical treatment than White women.”

These facts did not affect his decision-making.

His diagnosis was premature. He did not inform me that having a vitamin D deficiency— which I was later proven to have—was associated with a higher risk for fibroids. He did not ask anything about my stress level or my lifestyle.

It leaped from his lips. “Go to the gym at 6 am daily, then come back and talk to me in a couple of months, okay.”

He refused to commit to ordering an ultrasound despite my protests. It did not matter that I explained my family history. It did not matter that I had been bleeding since I was 11 years old, and I knew that what I was experiencing was not normal for my body.

I was fat, so sending me to the gym was the only logical conclusion to addressing any health problem I had. What else could you do but instruct me to hit the weight room? It’s not like l was a real person or anything.

“Physicians may over-attribute symptoms and problems to obesity and fail to refer the patient for diagnostic testing or to consider treatment options beyond advising the patient to lose weight, according to a 2015 study published in Obesity Reviews. I am living proof that research is accurate.

This kind of weight bias negatively impacts patient outcomes and contributes to some people’s reluctance to seek care.

Fat people are not the only ones who are routinely dismissed by the people they turn to for help. Women Health Reports reported in 2022 that “Racism impacts clinician’s ability to listen to Black women’s experiences and treat them as equal partners in decision-making about their own care and treatment options.”

When you are a Black woman who happens to be fat, you are likely to face more barriers to receiving adequate care.

The Journal of American Medical Association reports that “Chronic pain is an area where substantial racial and ethnic differences in the management and treatment of Black individuals’ pain have been well-documented.”

A few years and a significant amount of pain later, I turned to another doctor at the height of the pandemic. She was a Black woman.

I sought out a Black woman doctor because I was afraid of what would happen if I didn’t. I explained what I was feeling and was immediately told that I needed an ultrasound.

The experience was simple. It revealed what I already knew quickly. I had several fibroid tumors causing my pain.

There was no need to plead and beg for what should have been routine diagnostic care. She felt she could not confidently treat me without knowing what was going on, so she ensured I had tests that would let her develop an informed treatment plan.

It is unconscionable that my healthcare provider refused to confirm that via the appropriate testing.

Editor’s Note: If a doctor does not give you the tests you believe you need, ask again. If they refuse, change practitioners immediately. Do not wait. Before choosing a new doctor, research, research, research, check ratings, read reviews, and get recommendations from current patients. Check out this list for more tips.

The post My Ob-Gyn Denied Me Care Because I’m Overweight appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The report indicates that up to 50% of birthing people retain 10 pounds or more, and up to 25% retain more than 20 pounds.

Being proactive about your patient’s PPWR now could avoid the associated comorbidity medical risks such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in the future.

Recognizing the Roadblocks

There is room to improve the postpartum wellness journey and obesity outcomes for your patients who give birth—currently, care often centers around the most visible challenges associated with the post-delivery period. However, that period is extensive, and patients need instruction on caring for their mind and body during that time.

A review published in Heylion found that “When communicating with patients from different cultural backgrounds, physicians were found to be authoritarian, biomedical-focused, and not involved with patients in decision-making.” Perceptions like these create roadblocks to effective obesity treatment.

Why Cultural Sensitivity Matters

Leah Hairston, a birth and postpartum doula who earned the recognition of John Hopkins Social Innovation Lab and as a semifinalist for Pharell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize last year, Sweet Bee Services, spoke to the need for professionals who understand the cultural sensitivity challenges faced in postpartum.

“There’s a dearth of access to Black dietitians and nutritionists,” she told Black Health Matters.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states, “Reproduction has been identified as an important factor for long-term weight gain among women.”

Hairston and her team offer solutions to the people they serve. “People feel a lot more at ease because there’s somebody who looks like them who also understands,” she explained.

Hairston gave an example of the need for cultural sensitivity in postpartum nutrition: “My family’s Caribbean. So, I’m gonna eat plantains and rice and beans. I don’t want to feel like rice and beans are a punitive meal,” she explained. But I might not need to eat six helpings of rice and beans.”

She values practitioners who are “able to honor the things that are important to me and my family while also honoring our budgetary restrictions and any other needs that we might have.” She brings that awareness to her work.

Rethinking Postpartum Evaluations

Birthing persons require support far beyond the first few months of the postpartum era, but an article from Nutrition Research Reviews reported that “much less attention is being given to the postpartum period beyond 18 months.”

Postpartum patients need thorough evaluations to determine if they have obesity. These evaluations need to go beyond the sparse required check-ins for birthing persons.

“There is a great need for postpartum women to identify the implications of postpartum obesity. There is also a need for healthcare professionals to treat postpartum women with greater competency, having a structured postpartum follow-up with counseling and motivation for weight loss and investigations like hemoglobin, TSH, and blood sugars at follow-up,” according to a 2022 article published by the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India.

The Annals of Hematology noted that “postpartum anemia has been linked to several important postpartum morbidities, including depression, reduced cognition, and fatigue.” Still, it is critical to learn how it plays into postpartum obesity.

Dr. Danielle Wright-Terre, founder of the Honey, a postpartum community and app, commented on gaps in the postpartum care process that begin earlier than that. “Regarding check-ins for the mom, there are gaps,” she said. “There needs to be more guidance on the physical recovery aspect.”

Many doctors focus on ruling out issues for new mothers instead of being evaluated for ways they can thrive.

“The postpartum phase is just to make sure mom is doing well from a mental health standpoint. After that visit, if nothing is identified, her next visit is at 12 months, and that’s the annual visit. So, there’s not a lot of check-ins,” Dr. Wright-Terrell continued.

Key Factors Impacting PPWR

According to the Journal of Clinical Medicine, “Irregular sleep and mealtimes during the postpartum period could also interfere with body weight. Emerging evidence suggests that the misalignment of eating and fasting patterns with the body’s circadian rhythm could impact metabolic function and consequently body weight.”

Irregular sleep can also contribute to an individual becoming obese.

“Individuals who regularly slept less than seven hours per night were more likely to have higher average body mass indexes and develop obesity than those who slept more,” in a study published by BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.

Current Obesity Reports states, “Epigenetic programming that occurs at conception and throughout pregnancy predisposes children born to mothers with obesity to a range of chronic metabolic conditions including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.”

Taking an Individualized Approach

Healthcare practitioners must individualize their engagement with birthing people. Not all people who give birth are the same, and they do not all come from the same culture.

An informed perspective can help a practitioner be more effective.

Dr. Wright-Terrell pointed out that people who deliver without complications might not need to wait the widely recommended six weeks before engaging in movement that might help their mind and body. She said sometimes they “can start moving and gentle exercise as soon as 72 hours after delivery.”

Talking to your patients to determine what is best for them can help you make recommendations that suit their goals best.

“I try not to restrict my patients in terms of movement because movement is really powerful and healthy overall, and it can help you feel more like yourself.”

Referrals are crucial in helping people with uteruses re-engage with their fitness plans. Hairston uses referrals to help her clients understand the resources available to them.

“A nutritionist is covered under your insurance when you’re pregnant and usually in the first couple weeks of postpartum, and so it should be pretty easy to find somebody in-network,” she said.

Dr. Wright-Terrell explained the importance of educating patients on how their fitness goals can be achieved through seeking specific care to prevent sustained weight gain. For example, physical therapy can help build core strength, which is essential to pursuing weight loss through physical exercise. “Another great resource that I feel is underutilized is physical therapists, specifically pelvic floor physical therapists,” she said.

Dr. Wright-Terrell states, “Every OB should have a low threshold to send out the referral” for a specialist to accommodate them.

When HCPs approach patients holistically, we may have a better chance of reducing PPWR in our community.

Supported by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk Inc.

The post A Holistic Approach to Postpartum Weight Gain Benefits Patients appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Her mother, Diann Ash, wrote, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved daughter, sister, and friend, Erica Chantal Ash (1977-2024). After a long and courageous battle with cancer, she transitioned peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones. Erica was an amazing woman and talented entertainer who touched countless lives with her sharp wit,  humor, and genuine zest life. Her memory will live eternally in our hearts.”

When she appeared as a guest on Jemele Hill’s Unbothered Podcast ep 88, “The Year of No F**Ks,” in 2020, Ash talked candidly about battling breast cancer. “I’ve beaten cancer twice. The first time was 2b, the second time was stage 4, and I was trying to decide if I would talk about this…because I haven’t before. But I feel like I should because Black women don’t talk about it, and we need to share our journeys. It was probably the toughest journey for me, but it made me realize the depth of my power. I don’t even know the depth of my power.”

Ash was first diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time she was cast on MAD TV and underwent treatment while doing the show. And didn’t tell any of her friends. It returned for the second time a decade later. Ash’s diagnosis at that time was stage 4 cancer. The cancer also ate away 70% of her spine, requiring her to get screws installed. As a result, she decided to live boldly. And she did things like jump off cliffs in Mexico. “I am going to test the limits of my Black girl magic,” she told Hill in the interview. “I told three girlfriends and my parents.” Everyone else found out listening to Hill’s show. She was shooting “In Contempt” during her stage 4 diagnosis and treatment.

Ash believed that one should listen to one’s body and ask questions of medical professionals until one is satisfied with the answers. She told Hill she wasn’t afraid to fire her doctors, and she did so more than once.

Ash was beloved by her colleagues, friends, and all who knew her. May she rest in peace. The family asks that any donations be made to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation.

The post Actress Erica Ash Has Died After A Battle With Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Jenni A. Shearston, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Berkeley, led the study. According to the study, “Between 52–86% of people who menstruate in the United States use tampons—cotton and/or rayon/viscose ‘plugs’—to absorb menstrual blood in the vagina.

Tampons may contain metals from agricultural or manufacturing processes, which could be absorbed by the vagina’s highly absorbent tissue, resulting in systemic exposure. To our knowledge, no previous studies have measured metals in tampons.”

The team examined “14 tampon brands and 18 product lines and compared the concentrations by tampon characteristics.” (Think: Regular, Super, and Super Plus).  They found 16 metals in total: arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc.

They purchased products in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. All the types tested had detectable levels of metals, which Newsweek reports may cause depression.

Are you safer with organic brands? Not exactly. You are exposed to different toxins. The non-organic tampons tested had higher lead levels, and organic tampons were more likely to contain arsenic.

Newsweek reported, “Despite this large potential for public health concern, very little research has been done to measure chemicals in tampons,” said Jenni Shearston, a postdoctoral scholar at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and UC Berkeley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, said in a statement.

“To our knowledge, this is the first paper to measure metals in tampons. Concerningly, we found concentrations of all metals we tested for, including toxic metals like arsenic and lead.”

What’s the risk to our health? Exposure to metal can cause things like infertility, cancer, diabetes, and dementia. They can impact maternal health and fetal development and cause damage to the liver, kidney, brain, and cardiovascular system. However, it is unclear whether the amount of metals contained in tampons would impact us this way.

Since this is the first study of its kind, be aware of the possible implications. Stay tuned to see if there will be any changes in the laws that will include better labeling.

Also, talk to your GYN about your alternative.

The post Some Tampons Brands (Even Organic Ones) Contain Arsenic & Lead appeared first on Black Health Matters.

To bridge the awareness gap, let’s delve into some essential knowledge every mother needs.

What is Cord Blood?

Following a baby’s birth, the umbilical cord and placenta are often discarded and dismissed as postpartum biological waste. However, they hold something very special: cord blood. This is not just any blood; it’s a unique type of blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth.

What sets cord blood apart is its rich content of hematopoietic stem cells, as outlined by Stanford Medicine. These cells can help strengthen the immune system, and they can even mature and grow into different types of blood cells; they hold the potential to reconstitute an individual’s entire blood supply. Their capabilities make them invaluable in the treatment of various diseases, including leukemia, genetic disorders, and immune system diseases. These reasons point to why as a community, we should think twice before discarding this life-saving resource.

How is Cord Blood Retrieved?

If you decide to store your baby’s cord blood, your healthcare provider will collect it right after they clamp and cut the umbilical cord. As explained by the Mayo Clinic, a needle is inserted into the cord to extract the blood. The blood is then put into a collection bag. This entire process takes just a few minutes and from there, the blood undergoes processing and categorization before it is dispatched for freezing.

Facts You Should Know

If you’re thinking about storing or donating cord blood, it’s important to be well-informed. The Cord Blood Association has shared some interesting, yet not widely known, facts about cord blood. Take a moment to look at these facts:

Collecting cord blood does not harm the mother or baby and does not interfere with childbirth. It is collected by one’s doctor, or the placenta is delivered and given to a cord blood collection specialist. The collection process occurs after the umbilical cord is detached from the baby.

Expecting parents should prepare in advance for the collection of cord blood. It’s recommended to talk to your obstetrical physician or other healthcare providers between the 28th and 34th week of pregnancy about our interest in storing or donating your baby’s cord blood.

Unfortunately, not every hospital offers the option of cord blood donation, so checking in with your preferred hospital is important.

Cord blood is an alternative to bone marrow. It is used in transplants because it contains many natural elements and has amazing blood-forming abilities.

While you can choose to privately bank your baby’s cord blood for potential future use by your own family, donated cord blood can be used by anyone who is a match. Your baby’s cord blood could potentially save the lives of people beyond your family, patients who don’t have a suitable family donor.

When properly stored, cord blood stem cells don’t expire. Unlike bone marrow, cord blood can be frozen and stored for years or even decades.

Will Your Family’s Cord Blood Be a Match?

Most cord blood treatments rely on matching human leukocyte antigens (HLA), these are proteins that are found on most cells in your body. Your immune system uses these markers to recognize which cells belong in your body and which do not. In many cases, cord blood from a family member isn’t always a match. Even though family members share genes, the combination of HLA markers can vary. While cord blood can be a valuable resource, it is not guaranteed to be a match for siblings or other family members. This is one of the primary reasons why cord blood banks and registries are important. They reduce the waste of viable cord blood and increase the chances of finding a match for those in need of transplants.

Public vs Private Cord Blood Banks

When it comes to cord blood banking, public and private cord blood banks offer different services.

Donating cord blood to a public bank is a generous act that comes at no cost to you. Once donated, the cord blood becomes available to any patient in need of a transplant, or it can be used for medical research. Although public banking doesn’t reserve your donation for your family alone, it can contribute to health equity in our community, ensuring that we have the same access to life-saving treatments as patients from other ethnic backgrounds.

On the other hand, private cord blood banking is a personal investment. While it does come with collection and storage fees, it ensures that your baby’s cord blood is exclusively reserved for your family’s use. Initial collection fees can cost thousands of dollars, and annual storage fees can cost several hundred dollars, but for many families, it is worth it. Private banks have more flexible guidelines, allowing them to store any amount of cord blood, regardless of the stem cell count.

If your family ever needs cord blood, retrieving your specific donation from a public bank is highly unlikely. Once you donate to a public bank, the cord blood is owned by the bank, and there’s no guarantee it will be available if needed. If guaranteed access to your baby’s cord blood is what you’re looking for, private cord banking might be the route for you.

Each type of banking comes with its own advantages and challenges. While the financial aspect often stands out in comparison, as a mother, you possess the understanding of what is best for your family. Looking further into your options is always a wise move so that you can make informed decisions that align with your family’s needs.

Why It’s Important That We Participate

Choosing to donate your newborn’s cord blood can contribute to a nationwide effort to create a genetically diverse inventory of stem cells for transplantation and treatments. Patients in need of a transplant are more likely to find a suitable match from a donor of the same ethnic background, and the importance of cord blood awareness, particularly for Black mothers, can’t be understated.

The National Marrow Donor Program has revealed that approximately 70% of patients requiring transplants don’t have fully matched family donors. These patients often depend on cord blood transplants from unrelated donors. Therefore, even if your donation doesn’t directly benefit your own family, it serves as an invaluable contribution to the broader healthcare system.

Engage in conversations about Cord Blood Awareness Month with your loved ones. Spreading awareness can significantly enhance the chances of saving lives and collectively advance the research and treatments for conditions that affect us profoundly. Every conversation counts.

The post Understanding Cord Blood (What Expectant Mothers Should Know) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Corynne Corbett (00:13):

H Everyone.

Corynne Corbett (00:15):

I’m Corynne Corbett, editorial director from Black Health Matters. And today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Monet Farr Cole, who is the founder of New Paradigm’s grief, recovery, and Life Coach. And we’re going to talk about loss, and I’m going to ask Monet to talk about what she does because nobody can talk about what you do better than yourself. So Monet, what is it that you do?

Monet Farr Cole (00:53):

Thank you. Well, as you said, my name is Monet Far Cole, and I am a grief recovery specialist and I’m a life coach. And so I work primarily with women who are dealing with loss, whether it’s from death of a loved one, divorce and some of the other many losses that we suffer in life. And I help them to have some tools that they can use to process their grief. Women who are dealing with loss, whether it’s from death of a loved one, divorce and some of the other many losses that we suffer in life. And I help them to have some tools that they can use to process their grief. And then at the end of that, we then start working on, okay, so what does life look like now with your new set of circumstances and how do you want to move forward? And so, then I help them to actually move forward as well. And I just love what I do.

Corynne Corbett (01:35):

So a lot of times we talk about grief, but really, at the end of the day today, what we’re going to talk about is loss because I think we can all identify with loss whether we’ve lost a job, we lost our way, we’ve all lost our way at some point in our lives, right? Yes. And sometimes, it’s coping with a loss. The finding the tools to even identify that we can find the words to say that that’s lost, how we begin to even say that, to even find the words to say that I’m in a space where I’ve lost something.

Monet Farr Cole (02:37):

Yeah. And I just think we don’t understand the relationship between loss and grief. We have all experienced grief, whether we’ve experienced someone who died or not, because we grieve the things that we lose. And whether it’s a relationship, whether it’s community, whether it’s loss of faith, I mean, there’s a lot of different things that our experiences feel like a loss. And so we’ve been grieving, and we didn’t know that we were grieving. And unfortunately, when people hear grief, they think immediately about death. But if we had an open mind around grief and actually had more tools and conversation around dealing with loss, everyday loss in our lives in a healthier way, I think we have those tools early on in life so that we don’t get stuck when we find that after loss, after loss, after loss, and we haven’t been really dealing with the grief of those losses, that’s what gets us stuck.

Corynne Corbett (03:40):

So you talked about being stuck. So, how do we identify that? We’re stuck?

Monet Farr Cole (03:46):

So a lot of times we lose our verb for life. We just get a little complacent. We find that we’re isolated, we don’t enjoy the things that we used to, or there are very few things that we do that bring us any joy anymore. And so we are just going through, it feels like you’re on a hamster wheel, and day after day after day just looks the same, and you’re not quite sure how to get it back. And so a lot of times because we don’t have the tools, or we don’t have someone to say, look, you’re stuck, and you should get some help through this, we just remain complacent in that space. And it’s unfortunate because I think a lot of things happen when we’re stuck, our health starts to suffer not only our physical health, but our mental health as well. And we’re not interacting with other people. So, our brain health is even. There are a lot of things and a lot of fallout from being stuck.

Corynne Corbett (04:49):

Now that it’s interesting that you said that a lot of things happen. So you’re saying, so your mood changes. For example, you become lethargic. You said something about your brain health. So how would that change, for example?

Monet Farr Cole (05:08):

So when we’re not interacting with other people because we’re isolating, because we’re just stuck and not really putting ourselves out there anymore, then we’re not being challenged to think outside of our own thoughts. And especially if we’re just in this very small microcosm of people that we deal with, it’s incestuous. The thoughts become incestuous. Your thoughts and my thoughts are the same. So we’re not learning more. We’re not growing more so because we’re stuck. And we’ve decided that even if we don’t realize we’re stuck, that we’re okay with things as they are, we feel comfortable in that space, and we don’t even want now to try to learn more or to be with people who have different thoughts and feelings and ideas. So it’s a vicious cycle. You’re stuck, so you’re comfortable being stuck, so you stay stuck unless you have someone or you start to at least read about or find someone like me who can show you the ways in which we get stuck. And to compassionately help you through that because it’s hard. It’s hard to first recognize that you’re stuck and then to take the steps to make a change.

Corynne Corbett (06:26):

Right. So, what made you want to do this work?

Monet Farr Cole (06:33):

So, my own grief journey led me to become a grief recovery specialist. So I lost my mom in 2010, and that was devastating. When you lose your mom, it’s like no matter what the relationship, it’s like the earth beneath you just crumbles. And so I felt that. And then I also suffered the loss of basically the whole generation of her sisters and brothers. But the thing that really just took me out was the loss of my life partner. So when he died, I just really didn’t know what my future looked like and I didn’t care. And so that was an indication that I needed some help. So that’s when I found the grief recovery method, which is the method I use with my clients. And so the grief work is what got me started down this path and working with my clients to give them the tools and help them through the process over a six week time period.

(07:36):

But then I also realized that a lot of them were still stuck, even though they’ve done the work to now release the grief, they still weren’t sure how to move forward. So even though you’ve done that work, you could still get stuck. And then I’ve seen my friends and I felt stuck actually after grieving the loss of my soulmate. And I just felt like there was room for someone to be out here to help. And there are others like me, but I’m passionate about really helping people move forward into a life that they can love. Why just settle for a life that’s just okay and humdrum? Go for your dream life. Why shouldn’t we all do that? And so I really wanted to empower women to move forward and go after what they really want.

Corynne Corbett (08:28):

And why do you think that your passion is for women especially?

Monet Farr Cole (08:33):

I see myself. I do. And I think that as women, a lot of us are empathic. We feel so much and we do so much. And we’re the nurturers. We are the caretakers a lot of time. And not to disparage any men because they also have their roles, and they’ve suffered too. They really do. That’s why I’d never say I’m not open to working with men, but women are my passion to work with women through these issues. Because a lot of times, we just take the hit and keep going. We’ve been told to put big girl panties on and keep it moving. You don’t have time to sit down and feel sorry for yourself or feel bad or to feel the feels right. You don’t have time to feel all those emotions keep going. And I think that’s a very dangerous message, and I just would like to be part of the solution to help more of my sisters live life fully and boldly and

Corynne Corbett (09:33):

Big and bad. So what I like is that we’re having a conversation about loss and grief, but it’s not this too, sad overtone because the perception is when you think about grief and you think about that we’re going to have this conversation that we’re going to be sad and somber, so to speak, we’re going to be like, oh, so this is going to be this discussion, and we’re going to be talking like this, and we’re going to be really thoughtful. What we’re not talking like that, because what we’re saying is that we are trying to recover our lives in this conversation, that you’re encouraging women to find the joy again, to find purpose again, and that it is possible to do that. But one of the things that you said that really stuck with me is that six weeks was not enough. That there’s no time limit, that you can’t identify a time when the journey is over for someone.

Monet Farr Cole (11:07):

No.

Corynne Corbett (11:08):

So, can you talk a little bit more about that?

Monet Farr Cole (11:10):

Yeah, I mean, there are a couple of things I want to say about that. So first is that those five stages of grief are not applying to grievers. That was originally put out there by a psychiatrist who was working with terminally ill patients. So that whole concept of first you go through denial and then anger, and then no, that’s not, so our grief is not linear like that. And so, everyone’s journey is different. And so that’s why the six weeks, even though my program is typically six weeks long, I’ve gone almost a year out, to be quite honest with some people, because we all process our emotions differently. And so we have to be given the time to have our own unique grief journey, and we will have different emotions. You can have two siblings lose their mother and have completely different reactions to the death.

(12:05):

And then my message is more upbeat because grief is every day. It’s an everyday thing. I’m trying to bring normalcy to grief. It’s not this big dark cloud that has to be so burdensome and, like you said, so dark and so gloomy that it feels very out there to us instead of, it’s something that we all go through and especially in normalizing it for our children as well, so that then they grow up with a healthier experience and interaction with grief. And so that’s where the name of my company really came from was new paradigms, having just a new look at grief, looking at it differently, reframing our old vision of what grief is. I want to change that.

Corynne Corbett (12:57):

Yeah, I think that’s so important. So you mentioned that there are so many ways that we experience loss. Can you talk about some of the ways that we experience it?

Monet Farr Cole (13:10):

Yeah. So there are over 40 losses that we can experience through our lives and suffer grief as a result. So death of a loved one is the obvious. Divorce is another one that we are familiar with. But what about moving? You move to a new location, that’s a loss. You’re looking forward to the new place that you’re going to be, but you’re saying goodbye to friends and the neighborhood that maybe you grew up in. So that’s a loss. We have loss of friends. Sometimes our friendships come to an end, and that can be really devastating. And we don’t compare losses. My loss of a friend might hit me harder than the loss of your dad because you didn’t know him. It’s like we don’t compare losses. So they’re all things that we may grieve, we also grieve. And the losses that are intangible, like loss of faith, when something happens and we don’t understand it, and we’re questioning our faith, how could that be?

(14:12):

That goes against everything I thought I knew about my spiritual practice and my beliefs. So you got loss of faith, you have loss of safety. Things happen in our lives and we no longer feel safe, loss of health, loss of career. So there’s a lot, there’s so many things that we go through in life that make us grieve and we don’t even recognize. And so what happens is that grief gets packed on there and packed on and packed on. Then we got Samsonite luggage that we’re dragging around with us from one relationship to another or from one stage life to another. And we don’t even realize it, but it impacts us.

Corynne Corbett (14:57):

Exactly, exactly. And I have a friend who used to say, one carry on allowed, but that’s impossible. If we’re talking like this, that’s actually not feasible. If we’re talking about all the things that we experience in life, how are we carrying one carry on? If we’re actually living, we want to unpack. So we would have to then face some of the things that we’re experiencing and then take them behind some way.

Monet Farr Cole (15:39):

Yeah. How many times do we start a new relationship? And we haven’t really dealt with the grief of the past relationship. We just said, oh, move on. Get a new boyfriend. Get a good new girlfriend. Just keep going. Replace that loss with a new person. And you didn’t really grieve what you had with that person at one time. It was good. So there is some grief there no matter why you broke up. And if we don’t deal with that, we just carry it into relationship after relationship. And then it’s hard for us to show up really healthy in those new relationships.

Corynne Corbett (16:20):

So when you are working with people, what is the process? Is it one-on-one sessions? Is it writing? Is it action? Do they get homework? Talk a little bit about how the work gets done.

Monet Farr Cole (16:45):

So I have a couple of different programs. So the program to really process the grief is the grief recovery method. And that’s one-on-one coaching, but I also do groups for that as well. And there is reading and there is homework involved in that process because it’s important that we start understanding, have a new understanding of what grief is, and then we start getting new tools, new ways to look at things, new ways to process things. So it’s really important that homework piece is a crucial part of the work. And then we meet one-on-one weekly to talk about the assignments. And I give my clients however long they need. Typically it takes them about eight to nine weeks instead of the six weeks because it’s hard stuff that comes up. And while I do keep it light, as light as I can, I am a compassionate specialist.

(17:43):

And so I am very aware of what they’re going through. I’ve gone through it. So it helps that I have experienced what they have. But then I also have the coaching after the grief recovery, and those can be different. So for your listeners, I’m offering that Heal Your Heart Challenge, where it’s just the email inspiration and journal prompts just to get people started. But the bigger program would be another four week program where they actually get one-on-one coaching, as well as homework assignments for the Heal Your Heart Challenge, and then the other coaching programs a little bit longer. So I have another program that’s four to six months, and that’s really intensive. So we get into your beliefs, talk about our values, how to structure your life based on your values, and create boundaries based on your values. So we go a little bit deeper in those programs, but with everything there is an educational component, there’s always an educational component.

Corynne Corbett (18:51):

So just for those of you who are listening, Monet has given you a little tease here. She’s going to offer you a 30 day program. Tell us a little bit more about that. Now we are just giving you a little, just teased it a little bit, but we’re going to give you yes, this a little quick little public service announcement.

Monet Farr Cole (19:19):

Yes. So for your subscribers and listeners, I wanted to offer something special. So free of charge, they’ll get a 30 day program where each of those days, they’ll receive an email in their inbox with some inspiration and also a journal prompt. And so what it’s geared to, our brain works in a way that if we can get small tasks done and completed, it gives us a sense of confidence to allow us to do more work, and we see that we can be effective. So that’s what this program is really about: getting people to take these small steps towards healing their hearts and moving forward in their lives. And so the inspiration is just around giving them the encouragement to move forward and with compassion and with good information. And then the journal prompts get them involved. So now they can start taking it in, self-reflecting, and then writing it out. And that’ll take them even further on this journey.

Corynne Corbett (20:27):

So you’ll see the link right here, but then in the transcript, you’ll also see the link again and just see the link at the end of this program. Tell you again before we’re done. But as you’re listening, we just want to give you the little announcement, but we’re going to keep talking just in case. But this is a little public service announcement for those of you who are listening right in the middle of this show. So we talked about this, all the kinds of losses that we can experience in our lives, but let’s go back to now that we, let’s really talked about loss of a loved one. And because initially we didn’t want to talk about that because a lot of times people shy away from that. But now we can talk about that and that can change people’s lives really significantly. And that’s where many, many people become stuck and don’t really know what to do, particularly women, particularly women. And so let’s talk about ways how that shows up in our lives. And this could be women of all ages. This is not women of a certain age is this is women of all ages who just become lost. This is about being lost, not just lost. This is about lost, but become lost because they don’t see themselves without the other person.

Monet Farr Cole (22:36):

So there’s several things I’d really like to talk about here. And so one of them is around emotional incompleteness. So a lot of times when we have unresolved grief, it’s because we didn’t get to say something, do something. There were things that we thought wish were better or we had more of or even less of. And so because those things just get bottled in because now we can’t tell the person, even if in a divorce, it’s not emotionally safe to have those conversations, probably with your ex, because you might just get re-injured. So regardless of whether it’s death or divorce, those things are bottled up inside. So because of that, we’re just carrying that around and it’s hard to move forward. But you have those friends that just keep replaying the same story. Every time you talk to them, they’re telling you the same story, the same story. A lot of times, it’s in a breakup, and he did this, and he did that.

(23:35):

And it is like, girl, okay, we’ve been talking about this same thing, but it’s hard to move forward even with death. You were supposed to take that trip, and you never took that trip and whatever it is. And so those things absolutely get us stuck. So that’s one way we get stuck. The other thing is the people who are supporting us through grief mean the best. They have the best intentions, but unfortunately, there’s so much misinformation around grief or no information around grief that sometimes we actually injure the griever with little things. So for example, I had friends loved me dearly. I know it for sure. And they would just call and say, how are you? How are you?

(24:25):

And I’m like, I’m sad. I’m still sad. But after a while, I got tired of saying I was the sad one. I didn’t want to be negative Nancy all the time, even though I felt like saying he’s still dead. So yeah, I’m sad, I’m sad. But I started lying. I just started saying, yeah, I’m better. I’m better. And see, that gets us in the motion of not being emotionally honest anymore. And so because we’re not able to be emotionally honest, we’re living a lie. And in living that lie, we get stuck. And it happens more times than it, what’s so sad about it? And it’s done out of, there’s no mouth, bad wishes. People have the best intentions, but unfortunately, that’s one of the ways that we can get stuck. And we just become more and more detached from ourselves, from our true self because we can’t be as sad as we really want to be.

(25:36):

We can’t be not okay with life still a year later, yes, I’m still grieving. Yes, even at work, we can’t do it. People don’t understand. So that’s a big reason why we get stuck. And then the other thing is, a third thing I want to talk about is victimhood. So it’s very natural to feel like a victim when we suffer a loss. Everybody, yes, you didn’t want this to happen to you or to your loved one. The problem is, if we get stuck as victim and it’s easy to do because people expect you to be victim, then that’s another way we get stuck because we’re not empowered now to move forward, to make changes, to make a difference. And so what I encourage my clients to do is if you could take just 1% responsibility, not for what happened, but for your reaction to what happened, that’s the only thing we can really have any control over is how we react. So when the time is right, can you just take the 1% and it could be as small as you got help. Hey, that’s a move in the right direction. It’s the smallest steps. But the more they do that, the more they will and the less victim they’ll feel, and the more empowered they feel. So that’s a way out of getting stuck as well. But being victim is one of the ways we get stuck too.

Corynne Corbett (27:13):

But I’m going to go back to what you just said about the friend who calls, and then you’re like, I’m better. You can’t say to your friend you’re lying. You’re not better.

Monet Farr Cole (27:26):

See, the thing is that I know that when I’ve called my loved ones, and they’re suffering, I am waiting for them to say I’m better. I am not putting the pressure on at all. But in the back of my mind, I can’t wait until she says, yes, I’m better. And the other person can feel it. And so we want to make people comfortable without grief. We don’t want them to suffer with us, so we hide it. Yeah.

Corynne Corbett (28:07):

So it’s like a catch-22. So, the person who’s angry has to carry the burden of making other people feel better.

Monet Farr Cole (28:22):

Yes, absolutely. That’s

Corynne Corbett (28:25):

Jacked up though.

Monet Farr Cole (28:27):

It is. And it is just about not having the right information because you know what you can do instead of just saying, how are you? Do you need something? Can I just come and sit with you? You need some, Rosa, what do you need? I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to say to help, but I just want you to know I’m here. So if we had this information, then we would know not to keep asking, how are you? But we don’t have the information,

Corynne Corbett (28:58):

Right? I don’t think I ever said, how are you? I don’t. I say, how? You don’t think I say that?

Monet Farr Cole (29:12):

How are you holding up?

Corynne Corbett (29:17):

I do say, what do you need? What can I bring you?

Monet Farr Cole (29:21):

Yes, that’s perfect. That is perfect.

Corynne Corbett (29:24):

What can I bring? You need some food. What can I send? What can I bring? Yeah, I do say that. Yeah.

Monet Farr Cole (29:32):

I

Corynne Corbett (29:32):

Think when can I come by? Time

Monet Farr Cole (29:33):

Goes on six months in, a year in. I think it’s harder,

Corynne Corbett (29:44):

And I often say this to my family members: you don’t want to be an expert on death. Nobody wants to be an expert on death. And actually, everyone’s situation is different. So you don’t want to assume that what you know to be true is true for that other person.

Monet Farr Cole (30:07):

You’re right. That is key. That is key. Because I lost my mom and someone else lost their mom. We had completely different relationships with our mom. So I don’t know. All I know is how I felt. I can share that with you, but I don’t know how you feel.

Corynne Corbett (30:25):

That’s right. I do always say that to people. I was like, I don’t know how you feel. However, I will say my only advice to people this moment by moment. That’s my general advice. That’s good. Interesting. So, as people are coming through the programs and establishing a kind of new reality for themselves, what is your advice to them as they’re doing it?

Monet Farr Cole (31:09):

To have an accountability partner is really important, and to have a plan. So at the end of my programs, I definitely set up an action plan and we follow up. But it’s so important to be able to keep the promises that we make to ourselves. Because if no one else knows about it, it’s really easy to just go back to your old ways because it’s difficult to do something different. It is. So having an accountability partner is very important. Even if it’s just a friend that you say, look, I promised myself I was going to do this. I’m going to go out once a week and just meet people. I’m just going to go into public places and try to just meet some new people, whatever it is, but just share that with them that these are the things that you’re going to do so that someone can hold you accountable.

Corynne Corbett (32:02):

I think that’s really important. So the person doesn’t have to be, let’s say if you’re doing groups, they don’t have to be in that group. That could just be a friend or someone.

Monet Farr Cole (32:11):

An accountability department can be somebody. It’s whoever they want to choose. They might choose someone in the group because they’re going through very similar things. But yeah, it could be just a friend, someone who really cares about you and would call you on it. But it’s like having patience with themselves, too. It’s like having that balance of compassion and courage. So we want to have the courage to do the things that we say we’re going to do, but also being compassionate with ourselves too. So, just having a good balance.

Corynne Corbett (32:47):

And in your program, are there steps? So if I start in one program, could I go to a next program? Could I go to a next program? I feel like if I’m in a situation where I’m trying to come to terms with a loss of some sort, I may need more tools and more help than just one program, for example. So, if there were more opportunities for help, it’d be nice to know they’re there.

Monet Farr Cole (33:29):

So I have a tier because I realized that my clients are in different places. So I actually have a free unstuck event. So, it’s a free webinar. The next one is actually next Saturday at 12 June 15th if anyone wants to tune in. But I have the free one. So that starts to get you thinking about, wow, so that’s what stuck looks like. I think I’m stuck. So then we go into the Heal Your Heart challenge. So the one I’m doing with your listeners is abbreviated to just the 30 days, but I have a more extended program, but that’s still another tiny step because that’s a short program for just four weeks. And you start getting the one-on-one coaching, you do some journal prompts and you have the lessons. So that’s another step into the process. And then after that, then we have the untangled program. And so that’s the four to six-month program, and that’s more intensive. So that’s when you’re really feeling, okay, I really want to dive in and really make some changes in my life. And so then you would go there. But I did recognize that not everyone is ready to just go deep dive, right? Sometimes, we need those baby steps.

Corynne Corbett (34:46):

Absolutely. So what advice would you give to people who just want to dip a toe in?

Monet Farr Cole (35:02):

So if they just want to dip a toe in, there’s a couple of things they can do. I have conversations with everyone before I start working with them, and sometimes it’s just a conversation to have someone talk to you that understands what you may be going through to maybe give you some ideas of some of the things you could do, whether they’re my programs or whether they’re something else, then to at least get that going. The other thing I think is really good is the unstuck event. Because it is a free webinar on a Saturday, you’re in your home. It’s really easy. You just tune in for an hour, and then you see it might give you some indication of where you are in your process, whether you need to maybe do some grief work, you could do that too, or whether you’re really ready to move forward.

Corynne Corbett (35:56):

Right. Okay. That makes sense. That makes sense. Is there anything, excuse me, that you think we’ve missed in this discussion?

Monet Farr Cole (36:17):

I don’t think so. I think we did such a good job of covering everything. Thank you for being perfectly suited for this conversation. I really appreciate it. But I think we really covered a lot. I think we covered the grief as well as moving forward. And it’s important to distinguish the two and to be able to have tools for each of those, because the tools are a little bit different, but they definitely help. And the only other thing, I guess,

Corynne Corbett (36:49):

Go ahead.

Monet Farr Cole (36:51):

The only other thing we didn’t really talk too much about was emotional honesty. And that’s a big one for me too. Oh,

Corynne Corbett (36:56):

Let’s talk about that emotion. Emotion. Let’s talk about emotions.

Monet Farr Cole (37:00):

Honest is so important. If you’re not going to be honest with the people around you, at least be honest with yourself. And so I have what I call a five-step gut check. And so it’s every morning you wake up, and you’re like, okay, how am I feeling? Okay, so today I’m feeling afraid. Okay, so now the next step is, okay, why am I feeling that way? Why am I feeling afraid? Well, doing some new things. This is scary to me to try new things. Okay, so then the next step is, so are there some beliefs attached to that? So maybe I have some limiting beliefs around my ability to be different.

(37:48):

Then the next step would be, so is there anything I can do about it or no? First, is it true? Is it true? Is it true that I’m limited? No, it’s not true. And then you want to ask yourself, is there anything you can do about it? And yes, I can do more with my prayer meditation. I can read and do things that, I can take these small steps that will show me that I’m making progress, and I can build my confidence. And then, so those are the steps in that gut check. But I think it’s just really important. And to be able to name the different emotions. Don’t just always settle for angry. Really dig deep and figure out what it is you’re feeling, why you’re feeling it. And then basically, is there something you can do about it? And if not, it’s about acceptance, right? Accepting that this is just what is and having some

Corynne Corbett (38:53):

Peace. And you do that in the morning.

Monet Farr Cole (38:55):

In the morning, every morning. Just check in, check-in, just get into the habit. It’s a good habit to start really understanding our emotions. Our emotions are here to tell us something. They don’t just exist. They’re here to tell us something. And there are no bad emotions. They just are. So, if we’re jealous and envious, it’s not bad. It just is. Now, what you do about it could be bad. That’s where the good and bad could come in.

Corynne Corbett (39:30):

So for everyone listening today, this is something that we all can do, whether we have experienced loss or not, this is a five step process that we all need to make a habit starting tomorrow. That is something we could take away right now. So, let’s do the five-step gut check. Let’s start making that a habit right now that is a takeaway for us. All right? Now, the other thing is that the 30-day challenge is something that we could all do ourselves. Whether we’ve experienced loss or not, that is the other thing we could all do. So, Monet, please tell us again about the 30-day challenge that you’re offering.

Monet Farr Cole (40:20):

Us. So it’s a 30-day Heal Your Heart challenge. And what we’ll do is the link will take you to a page on my website where you can put your name and your email address. And so for 30 days after you subscribe, you’ll get an email in your inbox with an inspirational message as well as a journal prompt to help you start reflecting and looking inward to decide how you can move through that inspiration message and how you can apply it to yourself. And it just allows you to make these small steps forward to create a life you love.

Corynne Corbett (41:03):

All right? And who doesn’t want a life that they love?

Monet Farr Cole (41:07):

Yes, we all do

Corynne Corbett (41:09):

Think about that. Who does not want a life that they love? So Monet, for our call, I cannot thank you enough for being here with me.

Monet Farr Cole (41:20):

Thank you so much for having me. It’s my pleasure.

Check out Monet Farr Cole’s Events Page for additional upcoming sessions.

The post BHM Interview Monet Farr Cole on Navigating Loss, Emotional Honesty and Creating a Life You Love appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Finding Out What is Relevant For Us.

In approaching this study, researchers knew that persistent disparities exist when it comes to our health, particularly in cancer diagnosis and Black women. “In having a population of all Black women, we can understand what’s driving better outcomes for some Black women, less great outcomes for other black women. That way, as we partner with patient outreach and support and our local and national leaders, we can develop interventions that will be relevant for Black women,” Dr. McCullough says. “Often, when we think about disparities, we think about the reference or comparator group being white women. But by augmenting this population, we can better understand what works for us and what works for our health, and help drive interventions that will be relevant.”

This a 30 Year Study

The goal is to enroll over 100,000 women. This is not the most extensive study of Black women. But it will be the most extensive study to have Black women focused on cancer. To start, they are looking for Black women between the ages of 25-55 who have never been diagnosed with cancer (skin cancer is the only exception). Potential participants fill out a pretty comprehensive questionnaire, so they find out about your lived experience.

Dr. McCullough provides more details. “You will complete a short registration survey to get your demographic characteristics, name, address, phone number, and email. And that’s so we can keep up with you over the time you’re in the study for the next 30 years. That entire process takes about 10 or 15 minutes.,” she explains.

“After that, you would complete the first life and health histories survey, which takes about an hour, and some of the usual things you would expect in a health survey, previous medical conditions and family history; we’d also ask about lifestyle and behavior. Physical activity, diet environment, or food environment, we’d ask about your sleep. And then, there are several questions that we think are specific to this demographic group, including social support and caregiving, mental health, and experiences of racism and discrimination. And that survey, again, takes about an hour, and you’ll be fully enrolled in the study.” However, the health history is designed to be self-paced so participants can return to finish it when their schedules permit.

“Over time, we follow the population for all health outcomes, including cancer. So we’re able to understand then how all of these different things that someone may be exposed to, through their environment, their lifestyle, their job, their family, or medical, personal medical history, and so on, as well as other social and structural aspects, how all of these different factors may influence the risk of developing different types of health outcomes,” Dr. Patel explains, “Then we keep following the populations. So, for instance, if a woman is diagnosed with cancer, we don’t stop following her; we continue to follow the population for potentially the next 30 years, really to be able to understand how also to improve outcomes after a cancer or other disease diagnosis.”

You Don’t Have to Go Anywhere

You can participate in the Voices of Black Women study from the privacy of your home. You never have to go anywhere. “It is not a clinical trial. It is not an intervention,” Dr. McCullough says. “We just want to know about you, your experiences, your lifestyle, and then we can link that with various health outcomes that will emerge throughout the study.”

Dr. McCullough notes that over 30 years, the study researchers will reach out to participants twice a year to complete a 30-minute survey. And that’s it. “So an hour investment every year is what we’re looking for when we partner with Black women, and having this information on this number of women can help augment the research in health and cancer for Black women,” she says.

They Are Recruiting in 20 States

Recruitment is already underway, according to Dr. Patel.”We are recruiting right now across 20 states, including the District of Columbia. These 20 states and D.C. represent where over 90% of the Black population in the United States lives,” she says.

The States include Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Researchers Want to Build a Bidirectional Relationship

Dr. Patel says that this study is building upon previous studies. “So, an important thing for us has been and will continue to be for voices of Black women to share what we learned from the study. The more our participants feel connected to the discoveries we’re making to inform their health and understand their impact on a much greater scale, the more important it is to us,” she says. “We plan to build a bidirectional relationship through that participant portal. This is not something that we want women who choose to participate to feel like they are doing for us. But this is something they are doing with us. We will share findings as we uncover them over the next 30 years with our study participants.”

What They Hope to Learn

Dr. McCullough says, “I think we hope to learn why Black women are getting more aggressive types of disease. Cancer relatively impacts Black and white women pretty equally. But we know Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with tumors that are harder to treat, as well as late-stage tumors,” she says. “Even though for breast cancer, for example, Black women are equally likely to get screened as their white counterparts. And so, trying to get more insights on why this is the way we can tailor our prevention messages would be another goal. And then, finally, why Black women tend to die more or less often than other counterparts. And again, that we’re focused on Black women. But I think we can glean nice insights from understanding which participants, you know, survive longer. Are there things that they’re doing differently? Are there different systems that they’re operating in that better attend to their social needs? But certainly, some early insights will hopefully begin to narrow those gaps and create optimal health for all Black women.”

To enroll in VOICES of Black Women, go here.

If you still have questions about the program, check out the FAQs here.

The post Everything You Need to Know About the VOICES of Black Women Study (Focused on Us and Cancer) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

In our pursuit of more clarity, we turned to a trusted expert in the field, Dr. Eboni January, a board-certified obstetric gynecologist deeply committed to women’s health and education.

BHM: Why are Black women disproportionately affected by late diagnoses of uterine and endometrial cancer, and what can be done to address this issue?

Dr. January: Black women are disproportionately affected by late diagnoses of uterine and endometrial cancer due to disparities in healthcare access, socioeconomic status, and implicit biases in the medical system. Studies have shown that Black women are less likely to undergo regular gynecological exams and may experience delays in diagnostic testing and treatment initiation. To address this issue, we need to increase awareness and education about uterine cancer within Black communities, improve access to healthcare, and train healthcare providers in cultural competency to reduce these disparities.

Black women may face longer wait times for appointments, fewer referrals to specialists, and inadequate follow-up care.

Addressing these disparities requires systemic changes, such as expanding healthcare access, improving provider education on implicit biases, and fostering a more inclusive and culturally sensitive healthcare environment.

BHM: What are the most common symptoms of uterine and endometrial cancer that Black women should be aware of, and why might healthcare providers overlook these symptoms?

Dr. January: The most common symptoms of uterine and endometrial cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, and unexplained weight loss. Healthcare providers can sometimes overlook these symptoms due to implicit biases and a tendency to attribute them to benign conditions, especially in Black women. Both patients and providers need to recognize the significance of these symptoms and advocate for thorough evaluations to help in early detection.

BHM: How can tools be improved to ensure better detection rates?

Dr. January: Currently, there is no specific screening tool for endometrial cancer, but tools like transvaginal ultrasound and endometrial biopsy are used for diagnosis when symptoms such as vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain are present. To improve detection rates, we need to develop more sensitive diagnostic methods, incorporate genetic and molecular markers, and ensure regular follow-ups and patient education occur. Research into tailored screening protocols that consider racial and genetic differences can also be beneficial.

BHM: How important is the patient-doctor communication in early detection of uterine/endometrial cancer, and what steps can be taken to improve this for Black women?

Dr. January: Effective patient-doctor communication is crucial for early uterine and endometrial cancer detection. As healthcare providers, we must ensure patients feel comfortable coming to us. We should understand that although patients are adults, we are the experts, and consideration of the social determinants of health is crucial. Improving this includes training healthcare providers in cultural competency, encouraging open and respectful dialogue, and ensuring patients feel heard and understood. Providing patient education materials that are culturally relevant and accessible can also enhance communication and early detection efforts.

BHM: Considering that obesity and diabetes are known risk factors for uterine cancer, how can awareness and management of this risk be better communicated and managed in our community?

Dr. January: Obesity and diabetes are significant risk factors for endometrial cancer, as they can lead to hormonal imbalances and chronic inflammation, which may promote cancer development. Black women have higher rates of obesity and diabetes, contributing to an increased incidence of endometrial cancer. Addressing these risk factors through lifestyle interventions, preventive care, and targeted education is essential for reducing cancer risk.

2015 I developed a text weight loss coaching program in response to my patients. Working with the underserved community, I found uterine cancer in women under the age of 45 who had excess weight. Due to the lack of a screening tool like we have for cervical cancer, I decided to help prevent it through weight loss and preventive health measures. Awareness and management of obesity as a risk factor for uterine cancer can be improved through targeted community outreach programs, culturally sensitive health education, and accessible weight management resources. Healthcare providers should engage with community leaders and organizations to disseminate information and support lifestyle interventions that promote healthy eating and physical activity.

BHM: What are the main factors contributing to the higher mortality rates of uterine and endometrial cancer among Black women compared to other demographics?

Dr. January: Higher mortality rates among Black women are attributed to factors such as later stage at diagnosis, less access to high-quality care, and potential biological differences in tumor behavior. Socioeconomic disparities and implicit biases in treatment recommendations also play significant roles. Improving access to timely and high-quality care, addressing socioeconomic barriers, and conducting research on tumor biology specific to Black women can help reduce these mortality rates.

BHM: Why is it important for Black women to participate in clinical trials and genetic research related to uterine cancer?

Dr. January: Participation in clinical trials and genetic research is vital to ensure that findings apply to diverse populations. It helps in understanding how uterine cancer affects Black women specifically and can lead to the development of tailored treatments and interventions. Encouraging participation requires researchers like myself to build trust, address historical mistrust, and ensure that trials are accessible and inclusive.

The battle against uterine and endometrial cancer in our community is complex; we face unique challenges when it comes to diagnoses and the specific types of cancer we encounter. Let’s continue to raise awareness about what we need to decrease our mortality rates. Every step we take towards more awareness, prevention, and early detection holds the potential to save lives. For all those reasons, we must keep this conversation going and push it beyond our recognition into active engagement to ensure change is documented.

The post Endometrial & Uterine Cancer: Combating Black Women’s Rising Rates appeared first on Black Health Matters.

• We have higher rates of specific diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis than white women. The CDC reported that Black Americans had 31% of cases reported in 2022. Rescripted says that those of us who identify as Black women also contract long-term STIs like herpes simplex more frequently.

But our high rates are not the result of sexual activity alone but also access to quality healthcare, education, and medical racism. Add in the shame and fear of asking a partner to wear protection. We wanted some insight into this sensitive topic and the need for more discussion among women of all ages, so we turned to Dr. Shea Graham, a published researcher, university instructor, licensed psychotherapist, and Clinical Supervisor at Addiction Recovery Systems Supervisor at ARS-Pantops in Central Virginia. She is recognized as an “expert” under Virginia code §19.2-300 and collaborates with courts to provide mental health evaluations.

She offered us some insight into why we need to start talking about sexual health with current and future partners, what happens when we don’t, how STIs impact us emotionally and mentally, and how therapy can help.

BHM: How can we advocate for ourselves when navigating our sexual health?

Dr. Graham: The first thing is to realize that you deserve to have good health, to be in good health, to protect your good health if you have been blessed with it. Sometimes, there is a lot of guilt around safeguarding your health, which means, “Oh, I don’t want to ask my partner to wear a condom because that will signal to him that I don’t trust him.” Or “I don’t want to ask my partner to get tested because that will signal that I don’t trust him even if he says that he is clean.”

The bottom line is that your responsibility is to protect your body and health status. Your partner could be unintentionally misrepresenting his health status.

Most STIs don’t have symptoms, so unless he presents you with his test results, you should operate like every test is positive. So, when you enter a relationship with a new partner, assume they are positive for every STI possible, and if so, what would you do differently? Being an informed partner is one way to empower yourself to protect your health. Communicating is another way to protect your health.

BHM: How can we break down barriers to discussing sexual health and prevention with our partners?

Dr. Graham: When talking to your partner, do it as soon as possible. The moment that you realize that you want to have sex with someone, you should talk about sexual health. It could be as simple as saying, “Hey, when was the last time you were tested?” If you have your test results, feel free to share your test results with your partner. This will also signify your willingness to be vulnerable, which can aid in reciprocating vulnerability; sometimes, you must initiate discussion.

Also, within our community, because there is such a heavy stigma around STIs, most people feel ashamed even just mentioning it.

Introduce the health discussion and frame it in a way that allows your partner to know that you are asking these questions because, as an adult, it is your responsibility to know your medical status and to protect yourself against STIs.

It is okay to open the conversation by acknowledging how uncomfortable the topic can be, but it is crucial to push through and address the matter to protect your and your partner’s health. So, start the conversation with honesty, and hopefully, if your partner is serious about health and sexual health, they will be open to the discussion.

Ladies, it is a red flag if you start a sexual health conversation and your partner is dismissive. That is a massive red flag, and you should not ignore it. You should take a step back and examine if this is a person you want to trust your body with and risk your health for.

So, communicate, get tested, advocate for yourself, and sit with those uncomfortable feelings. Just because something is uncomfortable does not mean you should avoid it.

BHM: What role does emotional well-being play in managing STIs?

Emotional well-being plays a huge part because every human experience has that emotional undertone. It would be impossible to go through any stage in life without experiencing some emotion: the human experience. Sometimes, when things happen to us, our bodies hold onto that. If a trauma happens or something significant happens, our initial response is what our body does. So, our initial response is our stomach may turn, or something will happen, and we will get hot; that’s our nervous system at play, our fight, flight freeze response.

Once our bodies respond, our mind starts to make sense of it. Once our mind starts to process these things, our emotions respond. You can’t have one without the other. Sometimes, your body will respond, and there is such fragmentation; for some people, their minds, bodies, and spirits are fragmented. It can be difficult for these people to understand what is happening around them; their bodies will respond, and they won’t know why. They are in this constant state of fight, flight, freeze, and that is when seeing a therapist can help. You can process stressors with a professional who can give you the coping skills to either deal with your reality or who can help you construct a narrative to take those fragmented pieces of trauma and put them together in a way that is empowering to you.

BHM: Is there a way to make therapy a more prominent option for those living with STIs?

Dr. Graham: One of the central tenets of talk therapy is self-determination. The client enters therapy, and then the therapist provides the service. If you are thinking that you can push a loved one into treatment so that they can get the help that they need, that is not going to be helpful. For those seeking treatment, there are resources to find a qualified therapist in your area. The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) is an excellent platform to find a certified therapist in your area to process these things with. Not every therapist is qualified or trained to support you in an affirming way. Some therapists have not done the necessary work to challenge their own biases, and they may pass negative judgment on your medical situation.

BHM: When Black women receive STI diagnoses, how can they address the internalized shame that they may feel?

Dr. Graham: Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy solution. My suggestion would be to start to journal about the untruths that you internalize that you carry as it relates to your diagnosis. Then, bring those notes to therapy to process and challenge them. A great therapeutic intervention called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps my clients identify, challenge, and replace negative thoughts about their reality.

BHM: What advice would you give to someone looking for ways to manage their STI diagnosis as it relates to their psychological and social wellness?

Dr. Graham: Know that you are not alone. You do not have to cope with this new diagnosis by yourself. There are support groups, and once you are diagnosed, if you utilize a wraparound clinic along with your diagnosis, your provider should give you resources so that you can get linked to a nonprofit or a community board in your area. Start attending those weekly support groups. If you are in an underserved area, meaning you are not provided with these resources, you can attend a NAMI support group. You can also do individual therapy with a certified sex therapist; I cannot stress that enough; if you want to talk about STIs and don’t want to be judged by your therapist, work with someone who understands that these things happen to humans. You are not any less human or any less deserving of evidence-based care simply because of a medical diagnosis. Remember that awareness and action are great tools in managing an STI or proper prevention.

To end things off, we’d like to leave you with one of Dr. Graham’s favorite phrases: “Emotions are wonderful consultants; they are terrible CEOs, and they should not be calling the shots.” Don’t be afraid to break the silence regarding your sexual health and to care for yourself in all ways, including medical and psychological services.

The post The High Price Black Women Pay For STIs appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But her perspective informed her story and made her an accomplished storyteller today. Having been diagnosed with lupus at 30, Alford has made adjustments, like learning to say no, but she can still define success on her terms.

Click to listen to our chat or read the transcript of our chat below:

00:00

Hi, everybody. I’m Corynne Corbett, editorial director of Black Health Matter, and I have the pleasure of chatting with an award-winning journalist, Natasha S. Alford, about her memoir, American Negra. Today, I want to focus on cultural issues, identity, hair, and health issues.

What were your challenges with cultural identity and growing up as a Puerto Rican/Black girl in Syracuse, New York.?

00:39

First, Corynne, thank you for having me on; I’m so honored to join you all. And you know, health is a part of this story, both from a cultural and identity perspective and just literally talking about physical health.

This story really highlights what it is like to grow up between two cultures. Growing up in a multicultural family, you’re often told you are both. In my case, I had very supportive parents. They’re like, you know, you are an African American Girl, you’re a Puerto Rican girl, nobody can take that away from you.

But I found that our society was not always accepting of the diversity within those cultures. And so there were a lot of people who sometimes questioned how I could be Latina. Some people asked me to sort of perform my identity; they wanted to know if I could speak Spanish or if I could cook certain foods.

And in all the African American side, although I was generally welcomed, right, most people saw me as a black girl, there were still questions about, you know, just what was my ethnic makeup? So I got a lot of questions of, you know, what are you, and people will look at my hair and be like, are you mixed? Are you something else?

So when you grow up with those questions constantly being thrown at you so early in life, you start to ask the question of yourself, what am I can I truly be 100% of both of these cultures. And so American Negra is the story of finding myself and my voice, but also finding my way as a young person, particularly regarding health and accepting what it means to live a healthy life.

2:19

Yeah, and that’s so important just finding yourself and I think everyone is finding yourself but when you also layer in health, culture and identity, that you know that’s a lot of things that add on to finding yourself right. So tell us how that played out in your hair story and how others saw you both in a Latina in the back cultures and how you saw yourself?

3:18

Hair is such a complex issue. It is an issue that can sometimes spark confidence, if you love the way you look you sort of move through the world in a different way. But if you lack confidence, that can also show up, you or question yourself, that can also show up when it comes to hair. Growing up as an African American and a Latina girl, what I found is that in one culture that my hair texture was celebrated. It was seen as exotic it was seen and long, curly, black hair, but when I was on the other side and looking at Spanish language media, I always saw straight hair. I always hair that was very, very long and Eurocentric, that was the standard of beauty. So in that culture, the texture of my hair, the African influence, the descendency, it would be more likely that me perming my hair would make me fit in.

4:33

So, looking back, what do you wish you could have told your younger self?

5:00

I see that I actually am most beautiful when I’m just myself. You know, I’m most comfortable, I’m able to move through the world with a freedom that I didn’t have before when I was trying to conform, whether it be with hair, or and just sort of presenting myself a certain way culturally.

And so yeah, I think it would be not to waste an ounce of time and that you know, there’s so many aspects of our society that want us to feel shame about our bodies about the way that we look. So we will spend money so we will we will change and there’s such power and taking back that narrative and saying I love myself the way I am.

5:41

So, I’ve got to tell you I was recently just last weekend at the National Black Writers Convention, no, National Black Writers Conference, and a woman, that was a vendor there, said, I want to give you a book recommendation American Negra, and she said, she loved it because she’s a Black woman married to a Panamanian man. And she has daughters. She said that she felt like this was something that she could see. She could give it to her daughters. As an example of, you know, this is a reflection of, you know, something that you can be proud of. This is how you can go up to live biculturally. And she was really, really excited about it. She was like this: this woman who wrote this book, she went to Harvard, you should read it. I said I’m reading, so she was, she’s issues, really excited about it. So you know, you are making an impact, and lots of different spaces.

So, let’s talk about your time at Harvard and how culture and identity evolved while you were there.

6:48

I am blown away, and I can’t believe that it is amazing.

07:10

Well, first, I have to acknowledge that the story is incredible. So thank you to that woman for being, you know, an ambassador for the book. That’s exactly why I wrote it in the sense of, even if you don’t have the exact ethnic background that I have, or you know, cultural background, that people who haven’t felt seen and representations of blackness and Latino ness and American identity see themselves. You know, the book explores what it means to go to a place and to learn that you belong. A lot of my struggles at Harvard, in some ways, were centered around belonging and centered around deservingness. There was a part of me, I think, this duality that WEB DuBois often talked about. There was a part of me that felt that I certainly belonged there.

But there was this other part of me that felt that I still had to prove I belonged there. And so it created a lot of pressure for me. Sometimes, academic insecurity, holding back in class, not using my voice, and not raising my hand are things that I think a lot of young people can relate to if they’re first or second-generation going to college. And so what American Negra does is it shows the journey of finding your voice, finding your confidence, you know, shedding imposter syndrome, and accepting your talents and gifts in that space. And one of the reasons I was able to do that was because of the Harvard Black community, which is a very strong community, a very deep-rooted community that has been around since really the beginning of the college. Black people have always been at Harvard. Harvard tragically built its institution in many ways off of the wealth of slave labor. And so even indirectly, you know, our existence is a part of this institution in this really interesting way, a really sad way. And yet, there have been so many brilliant scholars who’ve come through this place. And so what I wanted to show in American NACADA was our belonging. There’s a lot of conversation right now about DEI. And you know, whether, when people say DEI, they’re referring to Black people, even though DEI benefits so many, but it’s this question of do we deserve what we have, and I think the book really shows, both historically and in my personal story, what it means to know that you belong someplace and know that you deserve to be there.

9:35

Absolutely, absolutely. Now, let’s talk about the Dominican Republic for a minute. What did your time in the Dr. Contribute to your thoughts about being an Afro Latina?

9:53

Readers who see American Negra will see that the Dominican Republic was a turning point for me. I remember landing It was in 2005, the summer of 2005. And, or it was the summer of 2005 or 2006, I have to double-check. But when I got there, I was completely blown away by how many brown-skinned people were there. And it’s not brown in the sense of, you know, the way that we talk about Latina that in the US, we think of sort of tan. So, with just little hints of color, I saw black people everywhere. I saw Afro-descendants everywhere. They were speaking Spanish, you know, they were born and raised in the Dominican Republic. And many of them saw me and assumed that I was Dominican. And so, for the first time in my life, I’m experiencing what it is to blend in as a Latina, to sort of fit in not to be seen as another just because I’m black, but for people to assume just from looking at me that I must be one of them. So I talk in the book about what that does to me, you know, on an emotional level, but also intellectually, this sort of curiosity that it sparks for me to say, Okay, wait a second, I’ve been hearing that Black people have been across the diaspora for years, right, that there were boats that stopped in all these places. But what does it mean to really know that history? How are we connected? But also, what ways are we divided. And so I also learned a bit about the country’s relationship to Haiti. And times when, you know, the relationship was actually really devastating and violent. And so I talked about that in the book as well, which, you know, in modern times, is obviously very relevant to a lot of what we’re seeing in the news right now.

11:34

Yes absolutely so now let’s talk about your health receiving a Lupus diagnosis tell us that story.

11:48

Well, I was just turning 30, or I had just turned 30 years old. And when you turn 30, it’s a it’s a new phase of adulthood, but you’re still pretty young, right, there’s still some assumptions that you make about what it means to be a 30 year old. And so when I got this diagnosis, completely unexpected, you know, I was running in the gym one day and unable to move my wrists. All of a sudden, it felt like my legs were heavy weights with sandbags, tied to them. It took me a while to realize I even had to go to the doctor because I learned so early that the doctors only to be gone to when it’s an emergency. Other than that, you push through the pain. That’s the sort of culture that I came from. That was the kind of upbringing that I had and watching my parents and, you know, my family and the examples around me.

So by the time I went to the doctor, I was blindsided when I was told that I had lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks healthy cells. So rather than attacking the invaders, it’s attacking healthy cells that can cause joint damage, organ damage, sometimes it manifests in skin rashes and other pains in the body.

But there’s also a mental toll, depression, and anxiety that comes with having an illness like this because your body is under attack, and it is so unpredictable, even with the different ways that you can manage it. And so what American Negra does is it takes you inside the experience of getting a diagnosis like this, but also what it means to get a diagnosis when you’re at the peak of your career, the right things are about to take off.

You know, you have high expectations for yourself, and how do you manage having big dreams with having a big illness? And so you know, it’s not easy; the spoiler is that it took me a while to accept it took me over a year before I really committed to taking my medication to go into the doctor to taking care of myself. And there were consequences to that which I do talk about but ultimately, the journey of acceptance was a really powerful one because then it allowed me to create a new normal for myself that didn’t require me sacrificing my health in order to succeed.

14:10

It’s an it’s, so let’s talk about lupus not just in the black community. It is also in the Latino community. It is yet so. So, raising awareness of this American mega is a vehicle that raises awareness about the prevalence of lupus is also an opportunity to discuss having lupus because also in our communities, we don’t talk about having autoimmune diseases. You know we keep quiet about these things because that’s our culture.

14:24

Yes

14:55

Yes, and I think that it’s a larger field. Share of American culture is that we put our work first, our health comes second, and there’s a lot of shame and stigma around being a person with a chronic illness because it begs the question, well, what can you do? How productive can you be? Can you still work? And so much of our value in this country is defined by what we do for work. So there’s a reeducation, I think that needs to happen. And you’re right that I’m trying to raise awareness about how this disproportionately affects different communities. First and foremost, lupus disproportionately affects women. So that’s just like across the board: women are more likely to get lupus. But then, when you look at race and the way that we categorize race, generally, in the United States, black women are three times more likely to get lupus than our white female counterparts. Hispanic women are also more likely to get lupus. And one of the questions I post in the book, it’s just because of the way that we track race, ethnicity, you know, for the black Latina, I don’t know what the exact numbers are, I’m not sure that anybody’s looking to see how we are affected by lupus, but they should certainly ask the question. And because of that, you know, we, as Black women, are already facing all of these stressors, right? You look at Black maternal mortality rates, you look at our rates of heart disease, you look at our rates of breast cancer. And so it’s yet another burden that we have to carry, which I think highlights the need for us to be open about it and talk about how we’re coping and getting through to lean on each other. And not feel shame because this is not something we asked for. There’s nothing that we did to deserve lupus, but we do deserve to live rich, meaningful, healthy lives, even despite having this illness. And so I hope to break the stigma by being so public about it at this young age.

16:10

Right. And so let’s talk about caring for yourself. How are you caring for yourself as you continue with your career? What adjustments are you making? Because it’s not that your life has stopped, right? But you make adjustments, and you carry on?

Yeah, certainly has it. Yeah. As the mother of a toddler, you know, between this book, being on CNN, and working at the Grio, it definitely has gone on. Life is going on. You know, I think the big difference between me now and before is that I know how to say no, I didn’t know how to say no before, anytime I was invited to do something. Anytime I had a chance to take on more projects, I did more work. I was doing it because that was how I was cultivated and acculturated, you know, to think that you have to grind and take every opportunity and make the most of it. Now, it’s all about quality over quantity, you know, the quality of my experiences, the quality of my relationships, the quality of the work I’m doing. That’s what matters more than squeezing everything I can into a day. And so even with this book tour for American Negra, we did, you know, the northeast, we went to all these cities DC, Boston, New York, Montclair, New Jersey, Syracuse, my hometown, Rochester, but I built in a pause, because I said, you know, the temptation will be to run myself down to the ground promoting this book. But I have to be a living example of what it means to care for yourself. And the truth is, I’m going to need a break. And so we will pick up the rest of the tour. We’ll go to the south. I’m going to Chicago next month. But I needed to live out those values even as I was doing something like promoting a book where I talked about having lupus.

18:55

[Fo] young women who are growing up in areas where not many people who look like them have their cultures and identities questioned. What should they do?

20:10

Well, I think the first step is realizing you’re not alone. Wherever you are in the world, you are not alone. There’s somebody who shares your experience. And so, even in this digital world where we have all these connections, it is very easy to feel isolated. And so I encourage you to find a community where you can find others who share your experience. That’s the first thing. But I think the second thing is that finding who you are is layered. There’s who you are at work, the jobs you enjoy, and the career you want. There’s also who you are in terms of your family story. One of the things I did in writing American Negrae was go and get genealogy assessments done. So I learned about my ancestry things that I had gone years, never knowing about my family. We were connected to a plantation in Darlington, South Carolina, and my ancestor was enslaved there. My ancestors in Puerto Rico worked in sugarcane fields, and you know, essentially me, these big, rich business owners even richer, but those were the histories that I had been denied. Because, you know, how often are you born and you only know your immediate family’s history. And so it was something about learning where it came from that was so powerful, and it made me feel so much more empowered. Again, it was much more like I belonged as an American; I deserved to be here and proud of what my family has contributed. So I encourage people to get to know themselves and maybe do some of that deeper work to discover your family story and your story. I think that it helps you to see yourself in context in a different way.

22:07
But it, it’s been a joy to talk with you. Thank you so much for having me. I want to encourage all your listeners to follow me I’m right on Instagram, it’s Natasha S. Alford, American negative also has its own Instagram account where we’re posting pictures from book tour events, people’s different reviews. It’s just its really community building is what we’re doing with this book. And you can learn more if you go to AmericanNegra.com is just N E G RA. But we are online and we’re doing this tour we’re traveling around the country went to Puerto Rico for an event. So if you don’t come to see me in person in person, you can always go online, and of course, you can get the book on Amazon, where it is a top book in African American history right now, even four weeks after it’s released. So go ahead and check it out and leave us a review, too. You too.

The post Natasha S. Alford: On Culture, Identity, Health, Hair and Her Book, American Negra appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Their collaboration began earlier this week when the two penned a powerful essay in Time entitled We Shouldn’t Have to be Willing to Die to Give Birth in the United States. Among the facts shared in their piece is that 3.400 women have died since Serena and Elaine had their children. The CDC reports that Black women are three times more likely to die during or after childbirth. But the two don’t want to frame this as only a problem faced by Black women or poor women. (However, here, that is our primary concern.)

The roots of Birth Fund began with Welteroth’s desire to give back. According to Afrotech, she started with a birthday fundraiser in December 2013. The Birth Fund is a coalition of Founding Family Funders who raised $16,000 to support out-of-pocket midwifery care for two families at Kindred Space LA.

The two believe that providing access to midwives may be one way to prevent the staggering maternal death rate in our country. Check out this conversation with Jennie Joseph to learn more about the maternal health crisis.

The Founding Family Funders include John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Kelly Rowland, Abby Phillip, Ayesha Curry, Savannah James, Karlie Kloss, and Ashley Graham.

You don’t have to be a celebrity to contribute to Birth Fund, but they will match any contribution up to the first $100,000.

The post Elaine Welteroth & Serena Williams Launch The Birth Fund appeared first on Black Health Matters.

PCOS Explained

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)is a hormonal condition, it consists of an imbalance that occurs when the ovaries produce excessive androgens, these are sex hormones that contribute to puberty, reproductive health, and body development according to The Cleveland Clinic. Although males produce more androgens, they are produced by both males and females. This excessive production can lead to imbalanced reproductive hormones.

What are the Symptoms?

The Mayo Clinic has provided insight into the symptoms of PCOS, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should visit your healthcare provider. PCOS symptoms include the following:

• Irregular periods, having few menstrual periods or having periods that are not regular are common signs of PCOS.
• Excessively lengthy periods, having periods that last for many days or longer than is typical for a period can be a cause for concern.
• Fertility issues.
• Too much androgen, elevated levels of the hormone androgen may result in excess facial and body hair, this is called hirsutism. High androgen levels can contribute to male-pattern baldness and severe acne as well.
•  Polycystic ovaries, the ovaries might become bigger, and many follicles containing immature eggs may develop around the edge of the ovaries. This can contribute to cysts and difficulties with the function of the ovaries.

Additionally, PCOS can be a risk factor for other complications in a woman’s life. The Mayo Clinic has created a list of complications that can occur for women diagnosed with PCOS, the list includes:

• Infertility.
• Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.
•  Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, this is a severe liver inflammation caused by fat buildup in the liver.
• Miscarriage or premature birth.
•  Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
• Sleep apnea
•  Metabolic syndrome, this is a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol or triglyceride levels that significantly increase one’s risk of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease.
•  Depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
• Endometrial cancer, this is cancer of the uterine lining.

Hirsutism

According to the Resilient Sisterhood Project, Black women with PCOS are shown to have higher rates of hirsutism, insulin resistance, obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood sugar and a higher risk or cardiovascular disease or metabolic syndrome. People with PCOS hirsutism typically have course, visible, dark hairs growing in these parts of the body. These hairs are commonly called androgenic. Many women select from the following methods to manage their hair growth:

Manual removal, such as shaving, plucking, or waxing.

* Depilatory agents, such as topical gels, lotions, or hair removal creams.

* Hormonal medications, such as birth control pills that boost estrogen levels and anti-androgen drugs that can decrease testosterone levels.

* Electrolysis, this technique kills the growth center of a hair with electricity.

* Laser hair reduction, this kills hair with a laser, it has been proven to work best on fair-skinned people with very dark hair. (Editor’s note To avoid an adverse reaction you must go to a board-certified dermatologist experienced with dark skin that has a laser designed for use for dark skin).

If you are experiencing signs of hirsutism , this is not enough to equate to a direct PCOS diagnosis, we urge you to visit your healthcare providers to get a thorough understanding of your symptoms, this can aid in proper diagnoses regarding PCOS or other conditions.

Treating Your PCOS

Since PCOS does not have a cure, treatment focuses on managing the symptoms and complications that concern patients, these focal points can be different for every individual. This could include infertility, hirsutism, acne, or obesity, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lifestyle changes and medication may be suggested for patients to achieve their health goals. To regulate periods and ovulation, healthcare providers may recommend some of the following options:

•  A combination of birth control pills, that contain both estrogen and progestin decrease androgen production and regulate estrogen. Regulating these hormones can lower the risk of endometrial cancer and lessen symptoms associated with PCOS.
• Progestin therapy, taking progestin for 10 to 14 days every 1 to 2 months can regulate periods and protect women against endometrial cancer.
•  Clomiphene, this oral anti-estrogen medication is taken during the first part of a woman’s menstrual cycle, it can help with ovulation and the process of getting pregnant.
• Letrozole (Femara), this breast cancer treatment can work to stimulate the ovaries.
• Metformin, this medicine for type 2 diabetes that can be taken orally improves insulin resistance and lowers insulin levels.
• Patients can also discuss topical gels, creams, and medications to reduce the speed of excessive hair growth and the effects that high androgen levels can have on the skin.

Navigating life with PCOS can certainly be tough and many women suffer mentally as they struggle to find support in an experience that can be very isolating. Here at BHM, we want to remind you that you are not alone, and we urge you to find support whether it be from healthcare providers, friends, family, therapists, other women living with this condition, or a combination of all these things.The Resilient Sisterhood Project has reported the experiences of many black women with PCOS who have felt invisible and invalidated when seeking help from medical practitioners. Others have had their symptoms dismissed. been bullied about their weight  instead of the root cause of their issues.

It is imperative that Black woman try their absolute best to research their doctors, read patient reviews, and remain confident in their knowledge of their experiences and the questions that they are seeking answers for. We don’t deserve to be profiled or dismissed when we are trying to take care of our health, advocating for ourselves is one of the keys to attaining proper healthcare and holding our healthcare providers accountable

If you happen to have PCOS, your story and experiences are valuable. Remember to always advocate for yourself and your health and have compassion for yourself as you go through this journey.

The post How Does PCOS Impact Your Health? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole – Fourth Phase

Fourth Phase is an exceptional company founded by Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole. The duo are good friends and philanthropists and decided to combine their skills from their former careers as magazine and digital editors. Much of the inspiration for Fourth Phase came from a trip Nana took to Ghana; there, she saw a gap in the attentiveness and care provided for new mothers. At the time, Nana and Marcia were already heavily involved in women’s maternal and reproductive care. As Nana held events to provide free postpartum care packages to women in Ghana, Marcia launched a non-profit to deliver sanitary napkins to homeless shelters. From their shared interests and diligent research, Fourth Phase was launched in 2021.

Fourth Phase offers a range of postpartum care boxes perfectly tailored to different birthing needs. Most of the products on the website are below $200 and provide breastfeeding, c-section, mental well-being, and pelvic care kits. Fourth Phase products are cruelty-free, phthalate-free, organic, and sustainably sourced. Nana and Marcia have worked hard to create a support system for mothers and expectant mothers that holistically targets maternal health, highlighting the importance of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Latham Thomas – Mama Glow

After giving birth to her son Fulano in 2003, Latham Thomas made it her mission to help women reclaim birth. Latham is a graduate of Columbia University and The Insititute for Integrative Nutrition. She is a maternity lifestyle maven, a world-renowned wellness leader, and a master-birth doula. With her impressive wellness background, it was only right that Latham founded Mama Glow. Based in New York City, Mama Glow delivers an array of offerings for women and families along the paths of fertility, pregnancy, and new motherhood to provide women with confidence and maternal satisfaction. Mama Glow provides resources that nurture the wellness of women from conception to delivery; their services include:

• Doula packages.
• Yoga packages.
• Personal development and lifestyle coaching.
• Spirit, self-care, and ritual packages.
• Wellness residency.
• Corporate consulting.
• Training and gatherings.

Mama Glow takes holistic care to an entirely new level as the company works to bridge gaps in maternal care in all spaces, including the workplace. Latham Thomas has successfully designed a safe space that helps mothers and expectant mothers stand in power and embrace motherhood for its beauty and radiance.

Kimberly Allers – Irth 

Kimberly Allers is an award-winning journalist, speaker, advocate, and entrepreneur who deserves recognition for her innovative stride toward deconstructing racism and bias in maternity and infant care and equalizing the country’s birthing experiences. She created Irth, the only app where you can find prenatal, birthing, postpartum, and pediatric care reviews from other Black and brown parents.

Kimberly’s passion for Black maternal health is intricately connected to her experience. She had a firsthand encounter with the bias in American maternal health care. After completing her master’s degree at Columbia University, Kimberly gave birth to her first child at a hospital that was supposed to be one of the best in New York City. Her experience there did not live up to her expectations. She felt disrespected, ignored, traumatized, and violated. Unfortunately, Kimberly’s experience is shared by many Black women, and we tend to wonder how hospitals with such high ratings can continue to fail us. Well, Kimberly has the answer: it is biased; implicit bias is often cast onto Black women as we try to navigate our health and wellness, especially during the journey to motherhood.

Kimberly believes that everyone deserves an empowered birth experience where they are honored and respected for who they are. To help bring this belief to reality, she created the Irth app. With a platform like “Yelp,” you can search for reviews regarding prenatal, postpartum, pediatric, or birth care. Once you have searched, you will see reviews from Black and brown parents that can aid your search for good healthcare. Kimberly has set a new standard for healthcare, focusing on the importance of representation in the navigational process. Irth can be downloaded from the App Store or on Google Play.

Courtney S. Hall – Baby Bump Bliss

Courtney S. Hall earned her undergraduate degree in Social Work from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and her master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Courtney is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, a Certified Birth Doula, and a Certified Mindfulness-Informed Professional. Amidst her passion for social work and mental health, Courtney also has a passion for maternal health and helping couples. She is an advocate as she provides emotional and physical support to families. After experiencing her journey to motherhood, she realized that the mental health of women before, during, and after pregnancy is important. To contribute to the world of maternal health, Courtney designed Bump.Baby.Bliss. 

Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, Bump.Baby.Bliss. is a one-stop shop for all your pre and postpartum needs. The studio offers a comprehensive range of services, including the following: 

• 2D, 3D, and 4D ultrasounds. 
• Early DNA gender testing. 
• Doula support. 
• Placenta encapsulation. 
• Perinatal therapy. 
• Childbirth classes. 
• Breastfeeding assistance. 
• Mentorship  

Through her business, Courtney has provided confidence and support for families during all stages of the journey to having children. She has increased accessibility and awareness to compassionate, skilled doula and counseling care. 

Kimberly Durdin and Allegra Hill – Kindred Space LA 

Kimberly Durdin is a Licensed Midwife, Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, Childbirth Educator, and Doula Trainer. She has over 29 years of experience in her work, but she credits a lot of her learning experiences to her six children and five grandbabies. Over the last 29 years, Kimberly has interwoven her life with the lives of thousands of families throughout New York City, Washington DC Metro Area, and Los Angeles. Her skilled background in providing lactation care, postpartum support, groups, counseling, childbirth education, labor support, and mentorship speaks volumes regarding her impact on the Black maternal health community. Her non-profit, the Birthing People Foundation, empowers people of color by providing free and low-cost education, training, and certification about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, such as doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants, birth assistants, and midwives. With her extensive resume, Kimberly is directly addressing the maternal and infant health disparities in communities of color and restoring awareness and comfortability regarding Black and brown people being wellness providers.

Allegra Hill is a Licensed Midwife, Certified Professional Midwife, and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. She began her journey as a doula in 2010. She is the co-owner of the Birthing People Foundation, along with her close friend, Kimberly Durdin. She has trained and mentored birth doulas since 2013. She uses her extensive knowledge and training in nonviolent communication, conflict resolution, early child development, and cultural competency in all areas of her work.

Allegra and Kimberly started Kindred Space LA. Their business is unique and impactful as they provide top-notch midwifery services. They provide families with prenatal and postpartum care and aid in preparing for birth and life with a newborn. Those who choose Kindred Space LA receive excellent care and a warm and welcoming community. Kimberly and Allegra have supported each other through their births and big life milestones, and they have developed a deep sisterhood rooted in love. They share that joy with their clients as they provide comfort and community during the biggest transitions in their lives.

These five entrepreneurs are creating history with their businesses and bridging the gap in maternal healthcare for Black women. These women have been able to understand and create impactful services that uplift and support Black mothers. They are building legacies, and with their contributions, a brighter future for Black maternal health will be a reality.

The post Looking for Maternal Resources?These Entrepreneurs Are Making a Difference appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: When did you first notice the symptoms of HS, and how did it impact your life?

Cydney Carter: My symptoms started somewhere around the age of 12; around that prepubescent time is when I began noticing bumps on my inner thighs, and I had no idea what was happening to my body. I remember that for a while, I kept it to myself, but sometimes it would get so painful that I had to tell my mom.

BHM: How long did it take you to receive an accurate diagnosis?

Cydney Carter: I didn’t get diagnosed until around 2014 or 2015; at that time, I was a junior in high school. There was a 7-year gap between getting the symptoms and then getting diagnosed with HS.

BHM: Have you made any lifestyle modifications to manage your HS symptoms, and if so, what would you recommend to your fellow HS warriors?

Cydney Carter: the most significant lifestyle adjustment I have made thus far is ensuring that I am aware of the things that put me in a stressful environment. I know stress is a trigger for me, and life is just life sometimes, and you can’t help it. When my HS was at its worst, I was enduring so much trauma and mental overload. So now, I try to do my best to make sure that I am in open communication with my partner about my HS flares. I try to journal if I can about how I feel, and honestly, just talking about it has helped me in such a fantastic way. That is the advice I would give: find somebody you can talk about this with because keeping it to ourselves for so long is stressful, contributing to more flares. We all must have a safe space or person to talk about HS with.

BHM: How can people support their loved ones living with HS?

Cydney Carter: The best way to support someone living with HS is not to judge them. They can remind them that the scars on their body don’t define who they are and that they are beautiful. I think society is pushing so many cosmetic surgeries and procedures, and that is something that people with HS put in the back of their brains. We have already felt like we have imperfect bodies, so with society right now and the place we are in, it is essential to have someone in your corner who constantly reminds you and gives you that reassurance that you are perfect the way you are.

BHM: What is your opinion on the treatments available for HS?

Cydney Carter: I think learning and educating myself on what antibiotics do for those living with HS has empowered me to learn more about other treatment options. Initially, I thought antibiotics were solely used to treat infections, but they hold an anti-inflammatory property. So, educating myself more about the treatment options has given me more options as a patient and enabled me not to be afraid of everything. It is worth giving it a shot if it will lighten up the symptoms and ease your HS.

BHM: Do you think there is a lack of representation regarding dermatologists and doctors speaking about the condition and how it can be presented in patients?

Cydney Carter: Absolutely, there is so much stigma around the HS community about it being a black person’s disease, and honestly, the more we learn about HS, the more we see that it does not discriminate. The more we learn, the more I push to ensure we have inclusivity and the proper representation on all fronts, including dermatologists, patient care, and even the ER techs. So many people don’t talk about their HS until there is an emergency and they are sitting in an emergency room. We want to ensure we have the representation of doctors who know what HS is, not just in a dermatologist’s office but in the emergency room. We have so much work to do. We want to empower and educate HS patients so they don’t feel less than or unimportant as they may encounter doctors who don’t know about HS. Then, we also ensure we reach those doctors, dermatologists, and surgeons who can help us later in our journey.

BHM: When did you begin your journey on social media, and how has your impact changed your perspective on HS?

Cydney Carter: I began sharing my journey with HS about two and a half years ago. I was already sharing parts of my life on social media, but I felt like there was such a massive part of me that I was hiding. I would have to take pictures in certain positions; I didn’t want to show flares, and I didn’t want anyone to know what I was dealing with. I remember one day feeling like I did not want to do it anymore; I did not want to keep hiding a huge part of my life and myself. I remember sharing pictures and videos of my flares on TikTok, and before I knew it, there were so many people in the comments, and organically, it grew. Now that I have more followers, it is bigger than me. God has placed a responsibility on me to help bring awareness, and I am passionate about learning about HS. It turned from something I hid for so long and became my lifelong purpose.

HS is a very complex condition, but there is an opportunity for progress within that complexity. According to MedlinePlus, HS affects at least 1 in 100 people, and although it commonly starts during puberty, it can be seen in people of all ages. Those living with HS may experience a variety of symptoms and different progression rates.

By properly understanding HS and who it impacts, patients can advocate for continued research and clinical trials while uplifting the voices of those living with the condition as we strive toward finding more treatment options and a possible cure.

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of HS, please seek medical attention. Raising awareness and limiting the fear surrounding HS is possible; we can take it one conversation at a time. To learn more about the condition, check out our story, Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Removing the Stigma and Understanding the Condition.

The post Living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Cydney Carter Shares Her Story appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Why The Terms Advanced Maternal Age and Geriatric Pregnancy Are Used

The most significant decline in women’s fertility happens in our mid-to-late 30s. This means that the quality and quantity of eggs within our ovaries decrease with age. Although these things can make pregnancy after 35 seem more challenging, having a healthy and happy pregnancy after 35 is possible.

Black Women and Maternal Health Risks

According to the CDC, we are three times more likely to pass away from pregnancy-related causes than white women. The Mayo Clinic reported that for Black women 25 and older, pregnancy-related mortality is nearly four times higher than it is for their white counterparts. This gap in mortality can be attributed to many things, including quality healthcare, chronic conditions, implicit bias, and structural racism.

Editor’s Note: This is one of the reasons the Birth Justice movement is vital in our community. It is trying to save lives. Check out this critical interview with Jennie Joseph, Founder of Commonsense Childbirth. 

What Are the Risk Factors?

AMA pregnancies can include numerous risk factors. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the risk of the following may be increased:

• Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure, protein in urine, swelling, headaches, and blurred vision.
•  Gestational diabetes is a condition in which women develop high blood sugar during pregnancy.
• Premature birth is when a birth takes place before the 37th week of pregnancy.
• Low birth weight is when babies weigh less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.
•  Miscarriage is the loss of a fetus before 20 weeks of pregnancy.
• Genetic disorders: with age, the chances of having a child with conditions such as Down syndrome increase.
• Cesarean section (c-section) is the delivery of a baby through surgical incisions made in the abdomen and uterus.
• Stillbirth is when a fetus is lost after the 20th week of pregnancy.

How We Should Take Care of Ourselves If We Are Pregnant After 35

A significant aspect of a healthy AMA pregnancy is how we look after ourselves and lean on our support systems. According to the Cleveland Clinic, we can do a few things to make the journey much easier. These include:

• Maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy.
• Attend all prenatal appointments and screenings.
• Exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.
• Reduce stress and maintain a good sleep schedule.
• Manage any preexisting or new pregnancy conditions.

When creating an exercise and diet plan, we should consult with our healthcare professionals to ensure their practices are safe for us and our babies.

Choosing Our Prepartum and Postpartum Team

An AMA pregnancy can be an exciting journey requiring a trusted team of medical professionals. We will most likely encounter obstetrician-gynecologists and nurse practitioners, but all medical teams are not identical, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). During an AMA pregnancy, our obstetric care team can consist of many people besides an ob-gyn. For instance, midwives, doulas, and specialists may also be helpful. This process is holistic, and medical care teams are designed to provide information and support for us. This can extend to postpartum care, as mending the effects of pregnancy and its potential complications can be long-term.

Check out this Decision Decoder story for more information on choosing a birth team.

We Can’t Forget to Advocate for Ourselves

The CDC suggests taking action if any of the following occurs during pregnancy after 35:

• Talk to a healthcare provider if anything does not feel right.
• Know and seek immediate care if experiencing any urgent warning signs such as severe headaches, extreme swelling, complications with breathing, heavy vaginal bleeding or discharge, extreme fatigue, and more.
• Share recent pregnancy history during each medical care visit for up to one year after delivery.
• Connect with healthcare and social support systems during all stages of pregnancy, including postpartum.

If there are any complications within your pregnancy journey, these tips can help you to get ahead of the complications, especially if they are life-threatening.

Now that caution has been dispersed, we should remember that Advanced Maternal Age pregnancy is not only warning signs and frightful tales. It is also a journey of life lessons and joy. Giving birth after 35 is amazing, and it is possible with proper practices and care. So, hold your head high and embrace the journey.

The post Are You Pregnant After 35? Here’s What You Need to Know appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa?

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a condition that occurs when painful lumps and bumps begin to form under the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. When HS appears, it typically flares in places where skin rubs together. Common areas, including the armpits, groin, breasts, and buttocks, often occur where hair follicles become blocked and inflamed.

The flares are compounded when the bumps or abscesses burst and blood and pus leak. HS bumps may heal slowly and become recurring. As a result, those with the condition could experience scarring. When the abscesses recur in the same area, the scarring may progress to tunneling when the sinus track beneath the skin is filled with pus.

We spoke with Dr. Kenyatta Mireku, a board-certified dermatologist, who provided insight on HS and common misconceptions.

BHM: What do dermatologists look for to reach an HS diagnosis?

Dr. Mireku: We look for recurrent painful lesions such as nodules, abscesses, and tunnels in intertriginous (skin folds) and creased areas such as the axillae (underarm), buttocks, breasts, and groin.

BHM: How do dermatologists classify HS regarding its severity?

Dr. Mireku: We use  something called the Hurley stages:

• Stage 1 – solitary or multiple, isolated abscess formation without scarring or sinus tracts.
• Stage 2 – recurrent abscesses, single or multiple widely separated lesions, with sinus tract formation
• Stage 3 – diffuse or broad involvement, with multiple interconnected sinus tracts and abscesses.

BHM: Are there any things that specifically contribute to people developing HS?

Dr. Mireku: Yes, HS is more commonly seen and more challenging to treat in those who are overweight and those who smoke. HS is also more commonly seen in those with a history of inflammatory disorders such as cystic acne and pilonidal cysts and those with scalp disorder, dissecting cellulitis.

In addition, there is likely a genetic predisposition as approximately 40% of patients with HS report a family history of the disease in a first-degree relative.

BHM: Do you have any thoughts regarding why Black people are more prone to HS diagnoses?

Dr. Mireku: Honestly, the exact reason isn’t entirely clear yet. For sure, research has shown that there are higher rates of autoimmune disease and obesity, which are two known associations of HS, in black patients. These may be contributors; HS also seems to have a genetic predisposition.

BHM: How can we promote more healthy conversations about HS?

Dr. Mireku: I think awareness is critical. Many patients are either embarrassed or believe that they have a hygiene issue. Because of this, I feel that the incidence of HS is under-reported. Many people live with it for years before being diagnosed.

Patients need to understand that they have done nothing wrong, are not contagious, and have nothing wrong with their personal hygiene.

Additionally, they shouldn’t feel alone. There are things we can do to help.

Treatment Options

The HS Foundation has provided information about a few approaches for treating HS, including:

• Topical medicines, such as washes and medicines, are applied to the skin’s surface.
• Systemic medicines and pills can help reduce inflammation, reduce bacteria, and boost the immune system.
• Procedures, depending on the severity of one’s HS, laser treatments, lancing, minor surgeries, and more extensive surgeries can be beneficial for reducing inflammation and restructuring the skin.
• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) targets one’s diet, nutrition, and supplements and promotes mind and body techniques.

Treating HS looks different for everyone, and for many, a combination of treatments will be used, and specialists may be involved as well. Those living with an HS diagnosis or those who think they may have HS should visit their healthcare providers.

The post Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Removing the Stigma and Understanding the Condition appeared first on Black Health Matters.

How do you think knowledge of cervical and its treatment have changed?

Felder: We’re doing better than we were but are not where we should be. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not an expert, but I am because I have experienced the disease. I have my ear to the streets talking to patients.

But the biggest problem I see is  Black women are still falling through the cracks.

Women of color across the board are being overlooked, but Black women are falling through the cracks because:

1. We are diagnosed late.
2. Our follow-up isn’t good, whether it is on us or our medical team.

I can speak to that firsthand. I often say the only difference between me and someone else who looks like me who has been diagnosed is I had great insurance and a primary care doctor who found my cancer and woman-handled me to make sure I followed up.

I kept saying, “I don’t have cancer.” My father had died from cancer, and I thought I knew what it looked like. I got all of these second opinions. One of them, an older Black female doctor at Howard University Hospital, was the catalyst that led me to schedule my hysterectomy when she told me my cervix looked like chewed-up meat. I was mad when she said that, but I scheduled the surgery.

What is different today?

Felder: We have better tools. When I was diagnosed in 2001, we only had the PAP test. The HPV test came in 2003, and the vaccine in 2006. There is still a lot of controversy surrounding the HPV vaccine, but I wholeheartedly believe in it because I see too many people of every ethnicity die of cervical cancer.

But when I see someone who looks like me and is around the same age, I have survivor’s guilt because, unlike breast cancer and blood cancers, we should absolutely be winning the war. After all, we know the cause of most cervical cancers.

We have diagnostic screening tools to detect abnormal cells to ensure that if people are diagnosed, we can get them treated early, and we have a vaccine to prevent it in future generations.

What made you start Cervivor?

I was pissed off, I was sitting at my desk in the newsroom, and there was information about a breast cancer walk. I thought, where is the walk for cervical cancer? The doctors I saw for second opinions and the one who found my cancer kept saying they saw my situation all the time. How come I am not hearing about it? They told me women thought their husbands were cheating and vice versa. I saw the need for education. Patients weren’t talking about cervical cancer because it’s embarrassing. I saw that the disease had a marketing problem.

And I couldn’t stop talking about cervical cancer. Here we are decades later and still have to talk about it. I am a Black woman from South Carolina, you don’t tell all your business. But I am also a storyteller because I worked as a television producer for many years. I created a toolbox for telling your story and getting involved. I wasn’t the first person to talk about cervical cancer, but I was the first black woman to be vocal about the disease.

I am okay being the coochie cancer lady. That wasn’t my dream growing up, that this would be part of the legacy that I leave, but I own it now.

I thought my legacy wouldn’t be the lives I brought into the world. It was going to be the lives that I saved.

But a little over a year ago, your life changed when you and your husband became parents with the help of egg donation and surrogacy. How has your son Chayton impacted your work?

This baby has become a beacon of hope for people because it is another way to share my story. A woman sent me a message that I was her surrogacy mentor. And I said, “God, you have stirred up some stuff in me.” Who knew that becoming a mother would be the continuum?

One survivor said, “It’s like your story has come full circle.”

For me, that means my son won’t have to worry about HPV. My stepdaughter won’t have to worry about HPV-related cancers. And if someone is diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer, it’ll be something that they got, not something they did to themselves because it’s so common.

The post Tamika Felder On Cervical Cancer Survivorship, Motherhood & Leaving a Legacy appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Be Present.

Don’t worry about what you will say to your friend or family member. Start by showing up for them. She may or may not want to discuss their diagnosis, but follow her cues. If she wants to sit in silence, get comfortable with that. But begin by watching and listening to her.

Don’t Try to Be a Medical Expert. 

Once she has decided on a treatment plan, “don’t go to Dr. Google and tell them to drink all the garlic, oregano, oil, and other stuff,” Felder says. “I believe in that stuff, too. But I also believe in chemo, radiation, and all that. When an individual decides how they want to be treated, and it really is their decision, you have to support it as a loved one.”

Take Her to a Rage Room (or Set One Up Yourself).

She may be feeling angry and helpless after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Allow her to express her frustration by booking a rage room. In these rooms, participants (who wear protective goggles, gloves, and a hard hat) get to express their anger by smashing, breaking, and crushing everything in the area for between 15 and 20 minutes (price varies based on the number of people). You can also set up a spot in your backyard with items she can break, protective gear, and a baseball bat. It won’t solve all her woes, but it will provide a cathartic release.

Set Up a Meal Train. 

Food may be the last thing she is thinking about when your friend or family is managing a cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment. But she must eat, and if she has children and a spouse/significant other, they could also benefit from a meal train. A meal train is now a technology-assisted version of what our community has been doing forever: providing food for those experiencing challenges. In this case, you can get together with her family and friends to organize meals for her during recovery and treatments. Two free sites that will help you get started are mealtrain.com and takethemameal.com.

Give Her PJs With a Purpose.

One of Felder’s favorite suggestions is KickIt Pajamas. The collections designed for cancer patients’ hospital stays, treatment, and recovery have functional elements like front wrap closures, snap sleeves, and interior pockets and are made from soft cotton fabric. Choose from gowns, pajamas, capes, wraps and accessories.

Don’t Forget to Check On Your Strong Friend With Cancer.

Your girl, mom, or sibling may say she has everything under control but don’t assume that is the case. Make a habit of checking on her. She is used to doing it all, but you can look for ways to lighten her load with cleaning or laundry services, for example.

Know That Her Journey Continues After Treatment.

Cancer is a gift wrapped in barbed wire, a therapist once told Felder. “The gift is coming out on the other side, leaving you feeling like a worn puzzle piece. After you’ve played with the puzzle countless times, the pieces never fit together the same way,”  she explains. And once your loved one is finished with treatment, don’t assume everything will return to normal. “We’re done with treatment, but treatment isn’t done with us. It sometimes takes months to a year for the residual effects of that chemotherapy and radiation to be out of our bodies.” Your loved one may have secondary concerns, including GI issues, and move slower than she used to.

Please check out Cervivor.org for more support resources.

The post 7 Ways to Support A Loved One With Cervical Cancer (During & After) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Make Sure You Get a Second Opinion.

According to Dr. Carol Brown, MD, FACOG, FACS, a Gynecologic Surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, “If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, the most important thing is to get an opinion from a gynecologic oncologist, a specialist who has had many years of training just to be able to take care of women with cervical cancer.” To find a Gynecologic Oncologist near you, visit the Society of Gynecologic Oncology website. Check with your insurance company to ensure that the second opinion is covered.

Understand Your Diagnosis.

Your doctor will categorize the type of cervical cancer according to stages. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) says staging describes where the cancer is located, if or where it has spread, and whether it affects other body parts. Those stages will range from I to IV, with substages within each group. And they factor into your treatment recommendations.

Cancer.net suggests asking the following questions:

• What is my diagnosis, and what does it mean?
• What is the stage of the precancer or cancer? What does this mean?
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?

Treatments Plan Will Depend on the Stage of Your Cancer.

Rachel Clark Sisodia MD, Associate Professor of Harvard Medical School and a Gynecologic Oncologist and Gynecologic Surgeon at Mass General Brigham Hospital, notes that precancer dysplasia, for example, can be fixed with an in-office procedure. “With early-stage cancers, it is important to know that surgery gets pretty aggressive, pretty quickly, and that is what is required to cure your cancer,” she explains. “For more advanced cancers, those tend to be harder to cure. They are almost always treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.”

Know Who May Be Part of Your Medical Team.

A gynecologic oncologist will oversee treatment, but they may work alongside a gynecologic surgeon, a medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist, depending on your care plan.

Discuss Fertility Preservation Options If You Are Of Childbearing Years.

Treatment of cervical cancer can trigger early menopause. If you want to have children, it is important to discuss fertility preservation options with your healthcare team before embarking on your treatment. At NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, those with smaller tumors may be candidates for radical trachelectomy. In this procedure, doctors leave in place the uterus, the ovaries, which contain a woman’s eggs, and the fallopian tubes, which carry the eggs to the uterus. Another option to preserve fertility is freezing your eggs before treatment.

Don’t Neglect Your Mental Health.

The shame associated with having a form of cancer connected to a sexual organ comes with stigmas that make us want to hide it. Don’t. Remember that cervical cancer is a result of HPV, a sexually transmitted infection that nearly all sexually active people get in their lifetime. Talk about your diagnosis with family and friends. Make sure they are being screened. Add a social worker, therapist, or counselor to your team to discuss your concerns.

Get Support For Those Who’ve Been in Your Shoes.

Finding virtual and in-person support can assist you further in managing your cervical cancer journey. A few organizations to explore are Cervivor, a global non-profit education community of patient advocates who can provide inspiration, empowerment, and a safe place to learn more. Founded by Tamika Felder, a Black woman who survived the disease, it serves all women impacted by the disease, but the organization also has groups like Cervivor Noir for Black women. The Resilient Sisterhood Network promotes education on women’s reproductive diseases through in-person events and webinars.

The post You Have Been Diagnosed With Cervical Cancer, Now What? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Several regional studies have proved that these guidelines may need further examination. At the University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, researchers found that 1 in 5 cervical cancers diagnosed from 2009-2018 were 65 and over. A large majority, 71%, of these women received a diagnosis at a late stage. The patient’s 5-year survival rate for late-stage patients 65 and over was between 23.2%-36.8%. However, that percentage shrank the older the patient, with the lowest survival rate for women over 80.

According to Human Rights Watch, In Georgia, data shows that from 2014 to 2018, Black women had cervical cancer mortality rates almost one and a half times as high as white women, even though overall cervical cancer rates for both groups are nearly the same. While in that state, Black women over 70 are almost three times as likely to die. Researchers believe that guidelines that end screenings at age 65 represent missed opportunities to save lives. Racial disparities are especially glaring in rural areas where Black women face a cervical cancer incidence rate almost 50 percent higher than white women. In Appalachian Kentucky, the cervical cancer rate is also twice the national average.

Last year, The American Cancer Society said that:

• About 13,960 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed.
• About 4,310 women will die from cervical cancer.

While most diagnoses are caught between the ages of 35-44, the average age for a cervical cancer diagnosis is 50.

In a previous study, researchers found that the incidence of cervical cancer rose steadily with age, peaking at ages 65 to 69. In fact, in this study, the incidence of cervical cancer among women ages 65 to 69 was 84 percent higher than previously reported.

For black women, the numbers are even more alarming. In this study, black women had higher cervical cancer rates than white women at nearly every age, with the most significant difference among the 65 to 69 set.

“Our corrected calculations show that women just past 65 when current guidelines state that screenings can stop for many women, have the highest rate of cervical cancer,” study lead author Anne Rositch, an assistant professor of epidemiology and public health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said in a release. “It will be important to consider these findings when re-evaluating risk and screening guidelines for cervical cancer in older women and the appropriate age to stop screening.”

According to Rositch, we need further studies to determine “whether the continued increase in cervical cancer rates with age and the higher rates in African-American women represent a failure in our screening programs or a failure of the women to be screened so that appropriate interventions can be applied.”

Many women in our community don’t consider the importance of gynecological screenings when they are no longer of childbearing years. But, a study found that women over 65 were less likely to be screened for cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control says, “The only way to know it is safe to stop being tested after age 65 is if you have had several tests in a row that didn’t find cancer within the previous ten years, including at least one in the previous five years.”

• You should have three normal tests in a row for the Pap test alone.
• You should have two normal tests in a row for the Pap-HPV co-test.
• Women at high risk should talk with their doctors about how often to get screened and at what age.
• The CDC says screening after age 65 may be appropriate for some women at high risk, including women with a history of cervical lesions or cancer, women whose mothers took a hormone called diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant, or women who have a weakened immune system.

If you or a loved one is approaching 65 or they are all older, make sure you ask about whether continued screening for cervical cancer is appropriate.

The post Why Black Women Over 65 Still Need Cervical Cancer Screenings appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But what is screening these days? The American Cancer Society recommends the first screening (and HPV test) at age 25. It also recommends a primary HPV test* every five years up to age 65. If primary HPV testing is unavailable, a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test every five years or a Pap test alone every three years. This is important for you to understand because women with SLE have a higher incidence of genital infection.

A study by J. Patricia Dhar, M.D., a Clinical Professor of Medicine and a rheumatologist at Wayne State University, used a self-sampling brush to collect cell samples for HPV screenings. The cells were tested for HPV genetic information, gene activation of local inflammatory factors, or cytokines, in the vagina, and cervical cytopathology.

The results showed that 70% of the 30 study participants, all Black women, showed infection with HPV, and half of those showed multiple HPV types. Subjects also had a higher-than-expected frequency of abnormal pre-cancerous Pap smears.

In an interview, Dr.Dhar said, “I did expect they would have higher rates of HPV infection and abnormal Paps based on my experience, but I did not expect to see multiple HPV types, including new types that are just being identified as being high risk for cancer,” she explained. “It verified what I was trying to demonstrate – that this is a high-risk population and needs more monitoring for cervical health.”

So what does this mean for you?

1. Use condoms to prevent transmission of HPV.
2. Stay on top of cervical health screenings (gynecological examinations, Pap smears,  HPV screenings, or co-tests).
3. Get the HPV vaccine if you are eligible for it.

The post Are You a Black Women With Lupus? Why Cervical Cancer Screenings Are a Must appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The study looked at routines including straightening, curling, waving, and oiling our hair and the products and appliances used. It examined their potential impact on our health as well as the environment. When we use hair products like shampoo or conditioner, the exposure to the compounds is small.

But the risk increases when we use protectant or smoothing sprays and follow that with heat from a curling iron or flat iron. And the higher the temperature of our tools, the higher the emissions we are inhaling. 

If you have been following the news, you know about the potential ban on keratin treatments designed to straighten hair and the controversy surrounding relaxers. This study also impacts those of us wearing wigs. We use flat irons and curling irons when we style them, too.

The news is not all bad. However, there are habits we can adopt to minimize exposure to the emissions:

• Cut back on the use of heated tools. Get out of the habit of relying on them daily.
• When you use a flat or curling iron, work with the lowest temperature possible.
• If the bathroom has an extractor fan, turn it on. (According to the study, the emissions will clear in about 20 minutes.)
• Switch to hairstyles that don’t require heat (even if it is occasionally).

The post Is Your Hair Routine Causing You Harm? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The timing of the alleged abuse coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which intensified violence against women and girls, according to the United Nations. Other information in the filing accused Jackson of berating Palmer and destroying her personal property. The filing also confirmed that the former couple had split up. The term “Intimate Partner” refers to current and former spouses and dating partners in the Center for Disease Control’s definition. Their interpersonal issues first courted public attention when Jackson drew ire on social media for publicly criticizing Palmer’s outfit for Usher’s Las Vegas residency. Former Spice Girl Mel B told Cosmopolitan how coercive control impacted her fashion choices during her former marriage to Stephen Belafonte in 2021. “I didn’t even know what color I liked anymore because those choices were taken away from me for so long. And I just accepted it,” said Mel B.

Women facing abuse from intimate partners are often painted as penniless victims without any resources or options.

Scene after scene of them fleeing, while clutching nothing more than a diaper bag and fear, have played out in popular culture. But they’ve excluded the many powerful women, like Palmer, who have suffered as a result of intimate partner violence. This happens to women on stages, courts, and in boardrooms. Dr. Angela Mailis published Smart, Successful & Abused: The Unspoken Problem of Domestic Violence and High-Achieving Women in 2019. “Just as many ‘smart and successful’ women are victims as the stereotype of an ‘un-empowered’ female,” said former Liz Claiborne CEO Jana Kasperkevic in a 2014 piece for The Guardian. Academy award-winner Halle Berry, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Kelly Rowland, and former WNBA player and two-time Olympic gold medalist, “Mighty Ruthie” Bolton have each publicly addressed their experiences with intimate partner violence.

Palmer’s situation is another disturbing example of how domestic violence can penetrate even the most prosperous circles. A Journal of Population Economics study published in September found that “women who earn more than their male partners are subject to a 33% increase in partner violence and a 20% increase in emotional abuse compared to mean levels.” Psychologist and executive coach Perpetua Neo explained how powerful women can be inclined to invest time and energy into abusive relationships. “High-performance women tend to be highly conscientious too,” she said in a 2019 interview with INSIDER. “It means they work really hard for their relationship. So they’re likely just to keep giving and giving and giving.

To learn more about intimate partner violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233; toll-free).

The post It’s Not Just Keke Palmer: High-Achieving Women Are Not Immune To Domestic Violence appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The groundbreaking survey conducted by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Los, Inc. Angeles Chapter brought together a diverse and representative group of respondents to shed light on the breast cancer disparities faced by African American women. In total, over 1,000 African-American women participated in this comprehensive survey, representing a broad spectrum of backgrounds and experiences. The age range of the respondents was carefully selected, focusing on women between the ages of 35 and 45, as this demographic has been identified as particularly vulnerable to breast cancer disparities. By including women from various geographic locations and socioeconomic backgrounds, the survey aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and barriers faced by African-American women in their fight against breast cancer.

Approximately 20% of the survey participants reported that they had been diagnosed with breast cancer, highlighting the significant prevalence of this disease within the African-American community. For the remaining respondents who had not been diagnosed, the specter of breast cancer loomed large due to concerns related to family history, genetic factors, or other circumstances. This diverse group of respondents, including both those who had faced a breast cancer diagnosis and those who lived with the fear of it, allowed for a nuanced exploration of the breast cancer landscape among African-American women. The demographic diversity and the range of experiences shared by the survey participants made the study a powerful platform for identifying disparities and advocating for change.

The Harsh Reality

Breast cancer disparities among African-American women are deeply concerning. The study highlighted several alarming trends: late-stage diagnosis and aggressive cancer. A significant number of African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a late stage, leading to more aggressive forms of the disease. These late diagnoses result in higher mortality rates among younger African-American women.

Dr. Linda James (past president of the National Coalition of the 100 Black Women, Inc. Los Angeles chapter) is proud of this study because of the way it brings the community together, “It means we have a voice. The community says what it thinks and it’s not just one person saying it…it’s everyone’s experience.”

Dense Breast Tissue and Triple-Negative Genotype: The study found that African American women often have dense breast tissue, which is associated with a triple-negative genotype. This particular type of breast cancer can be more challenging to treat and is often detected later, leading to poorer outcomes.

Underrepresentation in Clinical Trials: African American women are markedly underrepresented in breast cancer clinical trials. This underrepresentation not only hampers progress in understanding the disease but also raises ethical concerns rooted in historical medical injustices.

Limited Access to Advanced Screening: While some advanced screening methods like MRI have been shown to be more sensitive and effective, they are not widely accessible to African American women. Inadequate access to these technologies contributes to disparities in early detection.

The Urgent Need for Action

Addressing breast cancer disparities in African-American women demands immediate action on multiple fronts.

Clinical Trials Inclusivity: Efforts must be made to ensure that clinical trials are inclusive and diverse. African-American women should be actively recruited for breast cancer trials to ensure that treatment strategies are tailored to their specific needs.

Improved Screening: The study underscores the importance of early detection. Accessible and affordable screening methods, including advanced technologies like MRI and 3D mammography, should be made available to African-American women.

Education and Advocacy: Community education and advocacy programs should be launched to increase awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early screening among African-American women. Collaboration with trusted community leaders and organizations is essential in this regard.

Genetic Testing: The study also highlights the importance of genetic testing, especially for African-American women with a family history of breast cancer. This can help identify those at higher risk and guide treatment decisions.

Trust-Building: Healthcare providers must work diligently to rebuild trust within African-American communities, addressing historical grievances and ensuring transparency in medical research and care.

Collaboration: Collaboration is key in the fight against breast cancer disparities. Organizations like the CDC, FDA, NIH, and medical societies should collaborate with community organizations and advocacy groups like the National Coalition of 100 Black Women to develop comprehensive strategies.

The study conducted by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Los Angeles Chapter serves as a stark reminder of the disparities that persist in breast cancer care for African American women. These disparities are deeply rooted in historical injustices and systemic issues. However, it is not a hopeless situation. With concerted efforts from healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and communities, we can bridge the gap in breast cancer outcomes for African-American women.

The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated. It’s a call for action, a plea for change, and an opportunity to save lives. Breast cancer does not discriminate, and neither should our efforts to combat it. By addressing these disparities head-on, we can move closer to a world where all women, regardless of their background, have equal access to early detection, effective treatments, and, ultimately, better chances of survival.

The post Comprehensive Study on Breast Cancer Disparities conducted by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Los Angeles Chapter appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Raising Awareness On Social Media

In a long-running TikTok post, Shannon M. Clark, MD, pointed out that specific groups of women, notably those of color, from low-income backgrounds, those with tattoos, and those perceived as “difficult” by medical professionals, are more often subjected to these tests without their informed consent. This type of decision-making, driven by apparent bias rather than evidence, is referred to as patient profiling.

@babies_after_35

This type of practice is harmful. Hospitals have been found to routinely drug test pregnant people without their informed consent. Drug testing should be performed only with the patient’s consent and if indicated. #pregnancy #implicitbias #pregnancytiktok #profiling #bias #discrimination #criminalization #criminalizationofpregnancy #informedconsent

♬ original sound – Sam | Ur Social Media Bestie

Shedding Light Through Studies

Furthermore, a recent study published in the JAMA Health Forum analyzed electronic medical records from a large healthcare system in Pennsylvania, spanning from March 2018 to June 2021. The results were stark: Black women were less likely than white women to test positive for drugs, yet they were more frequently tested. The fact that Black patients were no more likely to test positive debunks any rationale for the disparity in testing frequency based solely on substance abuse concerns.

The study suggests that racial bias is the sole explanation for this discrepancy. After adjusting for multiple demographic and medical factors, Black women, even those with no prior substance use, faced a higher probability of being subjected to urine tests upon delivery. This is concerning not only because it represents an obvious racial bias but also because of the broader implications for the trust Black women can place in the medical system.

Such practices erode the bond of trust between healthcare professionals and patients. As Dr. Alison Stuebe pointed out, such practices further the mistrust Black women have towards the healthcare system. This, in a country already grappling with high maternal mortality rates among Black and Native American women, further amplifies the urgent need for reform.

Continuing The Discussion

The discussions emerging from revelations like Dr. Clark’s video and the JAMA Health Forum study spotlight the wider issue of racial disparity and biases in healthcare. Whether it’s profiling based on tattoos, socio-economic status, or race, the healthcare system’s commitment should always prioritize unbiased, respectful, and evidence-based care.

It’s imperative for healthcare institutions to recognize and rectify such discriminatory practices. This can start with training programs to raise awareness about patient profiling, reviewing hospital policies to ensure the rights and privacy of patients, and fostering an open communication environment between healthcare providers and patients.

Every individual, irrespective of their race, appearance, or socio-economic background, deserves dignified, fair, and respectful treatment. As the conversations around these discriminatory practices grow, it is hoped that they will instigate tangible change in the medical community.

The post Why Are Pregnant Black Women Drug Tested More Often? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Statistics

Approximately 70% of individuals with a uterus will have uterine fibroids by age 50. Although uterine fibroids can be asymptomatic, 25%–50% of those with uterine fibroids experience symptoms, such as heavy bleeding, bulk symptoms, or pain, which can negatively impact quality of life according to the journal Fertility and Sterility.

It’s important to note that many cases are asymptomatic and go undiagnosed. Researchers estimate that up to 80% of us could develop fibroids by age 50, and African Americans are up to three times more likely to develop them than White people. In addition, they are seven times more likely to require surgery to treat them.

According to an editorial in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Black women may be at an increased biological risk because of our genetic makeup.

“Collectively, these 2 studies suggest an increased biological risk for fibroids in Black women. The distinct transcriptomic, molecular, and multiomic profiles observed in both studies inform the disparities we see in clinical presentation in daily practice. On the basis of these results, it is reasonable to suspect that fibroids in Black women may respond differently to medical therapies than White women.”

What Are Uterine Fibroids?

Fibroids grow in various locations on, in, or around the uterus. This includes the wall of the uterus, the uterine lining, near the fallopian tubes, or nearby internal organs. Some locations are more common than others.

Types of Fibroids:

• Intramural fibroids develop inside the muscular wall of the uterus and are often the most difficult to treat.
• Submucosal fibroids grow in the uterine cavity.
• Subserosal fibroids develop close to the muscular wall on the outside of the uterus.
• Pedunculated fibroids develop on the outside of the uterus but not as closely as the subserosal fibroids. They connect with a stem and sit farther away. This is the least common type of uterine fibroid.

Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids

Fibroids are quite common, but many women are unaware they have them. Those with symptoms may experience a wide range of effects, depending on the number, location, and severity of the symptoms. While very heavy bleeding and pelvic pain are the most common signs of fibroids, every person’s experience will be unique, which is why personalized attention from a knowledgeable provider is essential.

Possible Signs of Uterine Fibroids:

• Pelvic pain
• Painful periods
• Pain during sex
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Long menstrual cycle
• Frequent urination
• Inability to urinate or empty your bladder
• Constipation
• Low back pain
• Leg pains

Possible Complications

With very heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods comes the risk for anemia, a condition in which your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Symptoms of anemia include lethargy, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Close management by a physician is necessary if fibroids cause anemia to become life-threatening.

Some fibroids may twist at their stem and cause severe pain and symptoms that mimic those of an illness. They may also grow quickly, requiring surgical intervention if medication does not slow their growth. If fibroid tumors begin to break down, the body may react with symptoms such as fever or nausea. Treating the fibroids can often resolve infertility, which is one of the more common complications of uterine fibroids.

Fibroids: Causes and Risk Factors

It’s still unknown what causes uterine fibroids, but research suggests that there are several risk factors for them. One of the biggest risk factors is hormones. Those who take hormones or who have natural hormone imbalances seem to be at higher risk of developing fibroids. This is only one of many contributors, however, and those at risk of developing fibroids should discuss their concerns with their healthcare provider.

Risk Factors for Uterine Fibroids:

• Age
• Black women
• Weight
• Family history of fibroids
• High blood pressure
• Food additive consumption
• A diet high in red meat
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Never being pregnant
• Chronic stress
• Major stress events

Diagnosing Fibroids

Because many uterine fibroids are first detected through a routine pelvic exam, it may be difficult to detect them in very heavy women. However, if your provider suspects them or notices changes in the size or shape of your uterus, they may order additional diagnostic tests to determine their presence, size, and location.

Diagnostic Tests for Uterine Fibroids:

• Ultrasound: An ultrasound probe uses sound waves to view internal organs. Your provider may order a sonohysterography test in which they inject saline into the uterus during an ultrasound so that it is easier to see the uterine cavity.
• MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be more effective at visualizing uterine fibroids once they’ve been detected with ultrasound.
• Hysteroscopy: A lighted scope is used to view the inside of the uterus. This is a minimally invasive procedure done in the clinic.
• Endometrial Biopsy: While nearly all fibroids are benign (non-cancerous), your provider may suggest a biopsy to confirm this with a diagnostic fibroid biopsy.

Treatment Options for Uterine Fibroids

There are many treatments available for uterine fibroids, including things you can do at home to complement your doctor’s care, making it more effective, medications, and even surgery to help manage your symptoms, depending on severity. Because there are many options, it’s essential to discuss them with your healthcare provider so you can make the most informed and best choice for your care.

Best Home Care

Many home remedies are simple and may already be part of your routine, such as using a heating pad and over-the-counter pain relievers. However, there is more you can do to help manage your pain without or in addition to the help of your medical provider.

Diet

A mostly vegetarian diet may help alleviate symptoms of uterine fibroids, although cold-water fish like salmon and tuna, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids, can also be beneficial. You may choose to supplement your diet with fish oil.

Many women with fibroids find that avoiding high-calorie foods can also help reduce symptoms, instead choosing green vegetables, apples, and citrus fruits that all contain high levels of flavonoids. You may decide to work with a dietician or nutritionist if you are overweight, as weight management is a large part of managing symptomatic uterine fibroids.

Stress

There are many ways stress levels affect the female reproductive system, and this is especially true for those with fibroids. A study by the Department of Epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, found that significant and stressful life events appear to be a contributing factor in the presence and growth of uterine fibroids. To help manage stress, consider working with a therapist, receiving regular massages, exercising regularly, or practicing meditation. Certain types of yoga can help manage stress and offer exercise benefits to support weight loss.

Available Medications

Taking over-the-counter pain relievers may help reduce the pain and control heavy bleeding because they also act as anti-inflammatories. However, they won’t treat fibroids long-term because they don’t shrink them. Birth control pills or an intrauterine device (IUD) may work the same way. However, medications that regulate hormones could help shrink fibroids over time, so long as you continue taking the medication. Your physician may recommend medication as one of the first treatment options.

Non- or Minimally Invasive Procedures

Some procedures are minimally invasive or non-invasive and would be the next step in treating fibroids. These procedures are often very effective at treating fibroids that haven’t responded as well to medication alone or your doctor feels your fibroids need more aggressive therapy to control your symptoms.

• Forced Ultrasound Surgery: A specialized MRI machine targets high-energy, high-frequency sound waves at each fibroid to destroy them.
• Myolysis or Cryomyolysis: These procedures use either extreme heat or cold, such as water, electric current, laser, or other forms, to destroy the uterine lining.
• Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE): A plastic or gel material is inserted into the blood vessels of the fibroids, cutting off their blood supply and causing them to shrink.

Surgery to Treat Fibroids

It may be necessary to remove fibroids surgically through myomectomy. If uterine fibroids return frequently or no other treatments have been successful at managing symptoms, the last treatment option is usually a hysterectomy to remove the uterus completely. This is a permanent solution, and many healthcare providers will exhaust all other treatments or consider it only for those nearing menopause.

Questions to Ask Your Provider

The US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health answers many questions that women may have about uterine fibroids, especially for those recently diagnosed. They also provide a list of questions to ask your provider that can help you better understand the condition and its impact on you, such as the number and size of your fibroids.

Other questions you may want to ask are:

• Where are the fibroids located?
• Will they grow larger, and how will you know if they do?
• What potential problems could they cause?
• Are there any future tests needed to monitor the fibroids?
• Do the fibroids require treatment immediately?
• What treatment options do you suggest?

If you feel uncomfortable with your doctor’s answers or wish to verify the results or suggested treatment, be sure to schedule a second opinion with another provider. This is another way you can take control of your health.

The Final Word On Fibroids

Although not all fibroids cause symptoms, some women may only experience inconvenient, heavy bleeding, while others require extensive treatment like surgical intervention. Those of reproductive age are at a higher risk of developing fibroids. Black women are even more susceptible. Black Health Matters is working to raise awareness about conditions affecting the Black community by sharing information and providing solutions. However, all women should know their risk of uterine fibroids and discuss the possibility and treatment options with their provider.

The post Empowering Women: Understanding Fibroids and Taking Control of Your Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

EC is the most common type of uterine cancer. It’s also one of the few cancers where diagnoses and deaths are on the rise. According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that there will be over 66,000 new cases of uterine cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2023 alone, accounting for over 13,000 deaths. It’s important for people to learn more about this disease so they can spot the potential signs at an early stage and take action.

Early detection can help save lives

EC may be more treatable when detected at an early stage. If diagnosed when the cancer is local and has not spread from the uterus, a patient’s five-year survival rate is 96%. Early detection and treatment is particularly important for communities of color, many of whom already experience health disparities. Black women are nearly twice as likely to die of EC compared to white women and are more often diagnosed at a later stage.

Risk factors and signs of EC

It is important that women and all people with a uterus are aware of the factors that may increase their risk of developing EC, which include but are not limited to obesity, age, family history of uterine cancer, high-fat diet and lack of exercise, conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or a hereditary cancer syndrome such as Lynch syndrome. Knowing the signs of EC can also empower women to advocate for their health and help catch EC at an early stage. Look out for these common signs:

• Abnormal bleeding
• Spotting or brownish discharge after menopause
• Irregular or heavy bleeding before menopause
• Pelvic area pain or pressure.

“Prior to my diagnosis, I experienced symptoms like abnormal bleeding and intense cramps that were so painful, I knew I needed to see my doctor,” said Shawn Smith, an EC survivor.  “I’m now sharing my story because I want other women to be able to spot the signs of EC and speak up for themselves and the women in their lives.”

Engaging in open conversations with your doctor can make a big difference. It’s vital for all women — especially Black women — to speak to a doctor if they experience any potential symptoms of concern.

End the silence and raise awareness

SHARE Cancer Support, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), Black Health Matters, Endometrial Cancer Action Network for African-Americans (ECANA), The Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC), and Eisai Inc. came together to launch Spot Her^® to help end the silence around EC by educating the public about the signs and symptoms of the disease.

If you want to help raise awareness and show your support for women living with EC, join the conversation on social media by tagging your posts with #SpotHerforEC. For every post shared using #SpotHerforEC, Eisai will donate one dollar (up to $20,000) between SHARE, FORCE and ECANA to support women living with EC.

Know the signs, spot them early, and help save lives. For more information and resources on EC, visit SpotHerforEC.com.

The post Empower Yourself and Others To Spot The Signs of Endometrial Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Researchers found that all single births in the United States between 2016 and 2017 — 7.5 million births total. More than 93,000 of those babies were born via IVF technology. Within the first 28 days after birth, death rates among IVF babies born to Black mothers were four times higher than those born to white mothers. In addition, infant mortality rates were twice as high for babies of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic mothers who conceived with the help of IVF.

Dr. Sarka Lisonkova, the study’s lead author, admitted she was shocked by the results. Most mothers who utilize IVF treatment have the resources and access to better neonatal care regardless of their race. Thus, her team ultimately believed there wouldn’t be such a gap. But systemic racism in medicine still rears its ugly head. Furthermore, Dr. Lisonkova added that most infant deaths happen in the first 24 hours of birth because “something has gone wrong either with pregnancy or childbirth, or the baby was not developing well in utero.”

Factors for IVF Infant Mortality Rate

Dr. Lisonkova believes that a few factors could be at work. For instance, most Black women conceived at older ages than white women. Therefore, age might have increased their likelihood of pre-term birth. Another factor was reproductive health conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Unfortunately, PCOS disproportionately impacts Black women.

“More research is needed to identify preventive measures for reducing risks among vulnerable women who use medically assisted reproduction,” Dr. Lisonkova.

According to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), between 1987 and 2105, more than 1 million babies were born using IVF technology in the U.S. Regardless, Black mothers and their babies fare far worse during and after pregnancy. Some states and medical professionals, such as doulas, have worked to find ways to close that gap and provide Black mothers with the assistance they need.

The post IVF Babies Born to Black Mothers Face Higher Infant Mortality Rates appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The post Chanel Porchia-Albert: A Doula’s Fight For Black Maternal Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

In October 2019, 30-year-old Shamony Gibson died thirteen days after her son’s death. Two months later, filmmakers Tonya Lewis Lee and Paula Eiselt began filming Gibson’s surviving mother and partner. Viewers see how Shawnee Benton Gibson and Omari Maynard earn a new normal. Unfortunately, less than a year later, viewers meet the family of 26-year-old Amber Rose Isaac. She died from an emergency c-section, and Omari reaches out to her surviving partner, Bruce McIntyre. Omari forms a lifelong bond with Bruce as they fight for justice for their partners. They have their community’s support the entire step of the way during the process.

Throughout the “Aftershock,” the two families seek justice through legislation, medical accountability, community, and the power of art. During their journey, we meet a growing brotherhood of surviving Black fathers and the work of midwives and doctors fighting for institutional reform.

Check Out “Aftershock” Trailer Below:

https://youtu.be/k63RC0rJEd8

“Aftershock” is now streaming on HULU.

The post New Documentary ‘Aftershock’ Addresses Death Rates of Black Women During Childbirth appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Midway through my appointment, my gynecologist went silent. Her face screwed up a little, and she announced, “I don’t hear a heartbeat.”

My own heartbeat stopped, too, for a second, maybe two. “What?” I managed to croak.

She was suddenly all business. What had been a jovial visit—with a joke-filled few minutes discussing the difference between amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling—turned into quiet desperation.

I don’t remember getting dressed, but moments later I was in my car, driving through rush-hour traffic to a radiology center. Their ultrasound equipment, my doctor explained, was more sophisticated. She hoped she was wrong and that I’d return to her office and yell at her for scaring me.

Understanding a High-Risk Pregnancy
We hear about women getting pregnant after age 40 all the time these days. The miracles of reproductive science are so commonplace they don’t even seem like miracles anymore. Even before the age of test-tube babies and in vitro fertilization, both my grandmothers had their last children in their early 40s. Though my maternal grandmother’s final pregnancy netted twins, I don’t think anybody ever said the words “high risk” to her.

Times have changed. I knew my pregnancy was high risk. I was 43 (nearly 44), I’d already started perimenopause and the whole event was completely unplanned. Throw in a severely tilted uterus (it has caused every gynecologist I’ve ever visited to exclaim, “I’ve never seen such a tilted uterus!”), and forget the wall; the handwriting was on the ceiling.

But if I had any doubts about my pregnancy’s status, they were erased by the bright red, all-caps, 5-inch-tall words stamped across the front of my medical file: “ADVANCED MATERNAL AGE.”

Three months into a new relationship with a newly divorced guy (who said during our second or third conversation that he a) no longer believed in marriage, and 2) didn’t want any more children), and I was knocked up. Preggers. With child. Confused. Bewildered.

But mostly I was thrilled. I started taking prenatal vitamins immediately and eliminated caffeine. I upped my intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Normally a type-A workaholic and a night owl, I made sure I got the proper rest. I pulled out the list of baby names I’d been compiling since seventh grade. And I began planning how to scale back my 90-hour workweek. I was a week away from the start of my second trimester, a week away from sharing my good news with family and friends.

Then I had the missing heartbeat doctor’s appointment.

Why Miscarriages Happen

After two ultrasounds, the radiology center confirmed my doctor’s diagnosis: There was no heartbeat. (The technician was pretty rough and cold, but that’s another story for another day.) All my early preparation was fruitless; I was no longer having a baby.

I was hardly alone in my misery. Statistics show 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, and most, like mine, occur within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.

The reasons for miscarriage vary, but most of the time the cause cannot be identified. During the first trimester, the most common cause is chromosomal abnormality, meaning something is not correct with the baby’s chromosomes. But other causes can include:

• Hormonal problems or infections
• Improper implantation of the egg into the uterine lining
• Lifestyle (excessive caffeine, drug use, exposure to radiation)
• Maternal health issues (uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease, lupus)
• Maternal age
• Maternal trauma

Types of Miscarriage

To many women who have lost a pregnancy, a miscarriage is a miscarriage is a miscarriage, but your health-care provider may use one of the terms below to refer to the type:

• Threatened Miscarriage: Some early pregnancy uterine bleeding accompanied by cramping or lower backache. The cervix remains closed. This bleeding is often the result of implantation.
• Inevitable or Incomplete Miscarriage: Abdominal or back pain accompanied by bleeding with an open cervix. Bleeding and cramps may persist if the miscarriage is not complete.
• Complete Miscarriage: The embryo has emptied out of the uterus. Bleeding should subside quickly, as should any pain or cramping. A completed miscarriage can be confirmed by an ultrasound or by having a surgical curettage (D and C).
• Missed Miscarriage: Embryonic death has occurred but there is no expulsion of the embryo. It is not known why this occurs. Signs of this include a loss of pregnancy symptoms and the absence of the fetal heartbeat on an ultrasound. (This is the type I had.)
• Recurrent Miscarriage: Three or more consecutive first trimester miscarriages.
  Blighted Ovum: A fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall, but fetal development never begins.
• Ectopic Pregnancy: A fertilized egg implants itself in places other than the uterus, most commonly the fallopian tube. Treatment is needed immediately to stop the development of the implanted egg. If not treated right away, this could end in serious complications.
• Molar Pregnancy: A genetic error during fertilization that leads to growth of abnormal tissue within the uterus. Molar pregnancies rarely involve a developing embryo, but often entail the most common symptoms of pregnancy, including a missed period, positive pregnancy test and severe nausea.

If you are pregnant and experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately:

• Brown or bright red bleeding with or without cramps
• Mild to severe back pain (usually worse than normal menstrual cramps)
• Sudden decrease in signs of pregnancy
• Tissue with clot-like material passing from the vagina
• True contractions (very painful and happening every five to 20 minutes)
• Weight loss
• White-pink mucus discharge

Miscarriage: The Aftermath

After my miscarriage—which I handled alone and terrified—it took a full year for the emotional effects to hit me. During that year I got the “there wasn’t anything you could’ve done; it probably wasn’t your age; it was probably a chromosome problem” discussion from my doctor. I told a couple of close friends, but only in an off-hand, “don’t ask me any questions” kind of way. (“I had a miscarriage last month. Where are you going for summer vacation?”) I went back to my 90-hour workweeks without missing a beat. Of course, I did. I’m a strong black woman.

A year later I agonized. Was it that glass of wine 48 hours after conception? Perhaps the caffeine in my venti hot chocolate; I was certain I’d had five or six of them before I knew I was pregnant. I was envious of two friends who had been pregnant at the same time (though they didn’t know about my pregnancy), and who both went on to have healthy, beautiful babies. Then I was wracked with guilt over the envy. I cried with cause (mom-related Facebook posts sent me over the edge) and without provocation (the garbage man is late; bring on the tears!).
The relationship with the newly divorced guy died a quiet death, largely because we couldn’t deal with the pregnancy or our shared loss. We had one brief conversation about it that went something like this:

Me: Are we ever going to talk about it?

Him: Why? It self corrected. It wasn’t meant to be.

The handful of folks I let in on my misery squirmed when the “M” word came up. I realized that as a society we’re not comfortable with a pregnancy unfulfilled. There was no memorial service for an 11-week-old embryo. I didn’t get flowers or cards, and because I didn’t want to distress other people, I stopped talking about it. I was alone in my grief.

The American Pregnancy Association suggests women who have lost a baby take the necessary time to grieve, seek counseling and accept help. In my haste to move beyond such a painful and sad time, I tried to rush my emotional healing process. It is only now, more than three years later, that I’m able to comprehend my loss and put things in perspective. When folks ask why I don’t have children in that “don’t you like kids?!” disdainful way—as a new guy I started dating did—I say, “I had a miscarriage when I was 11 weeks pregnant.”

And you know what? I didn’t care one bit that it made him squirmy and uncomfortable.

—Kendra Lee

The post Anatomy of a Miscarriage appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Nearly half of all black, Hispanic and indigenous women had discontinuous insurance coverage between preconception and after delivering their babies compared to about a fourth of white women, according to the research in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Spanish-speaking Hispanic women had the lowest rates of steady insurance, with nearly one in 10 not being insured at all between preconception and the postpartum period.

The study comes as women from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds face greater risks of maternal morbidity—unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that negatively impact a woman’s health—and mortality associated with childbirth. Black and indigenous women are two to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared with white peers.

“Racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and child health outcomes are a national public health crisis,” says senior author Lindsay Admon, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist at Michigan Medicine Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital.

“We found that disruptions in insurance coverage disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority women. In the United States, insurance coverage is an important prerequisite for accessing healthcare.

“Throughout the most critical periods of pregnancy, we identified wide racial-ethnic disparities related to women’s ability to access to preconception, prenatal, and postpartum care.”

Admon notes that the findings are especially relevant as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified lack of access to quality health care as a key contributor to pregnancy-related deaths.

Researchers analyzed data from 107,921 women in 40 states between 2015 to 2017 to establish insurance status at three at time points, including the month before conception, at the time of delivery and 60 days after birth.

Admon’s previous research finds that women of color and those of Hispanic heritage had higher rates of severe birth-related health issues than non-Hispanic white women even if they were otherwise healthy.

Income gaps between white and black populations play a big factor in insurance disparities. Nearly half of black, non-Hispanic women in the study had household incomes below the federal poverty level, which were linked to higher rates of Medicaid coverage during pregnancy.

Among the biggest factors for disrupted care is Medicaid discontinuity, authors say. Pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage is only offered for up to 60 days after a baby’s birth, but there are bipartisan federal and state efforts to extend the coverage to a year.

“Medicaid stability before and after pregnancy is critical for ensuring continuity of coverage and access to care for women of color,” says lead author Jamie Daw, Ph.D., researcher with the Department of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University.

“Extending pregnancy Medicaid to one year after birth is likely to reduce racial disparities in insurance disruptions and ultimately, disparities in postpartum health.”

Improving coverage before conception is also critical in identifying underlying health issues that may negatively affect a mother or baby’s health.

“We know that complications associated with pre-existing conditions chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and substance use are among the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality,” says Admon, who is also a researcher at the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

“It’s important for women to have quality health coverage and care to manage these conditions to have the best chance of a healthy pregnancy.”

From Michigan Health

The post Racial Disparities in Mom and Baby Outcomes Are a Public Health Crisis appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“It is unacceptable that the maternal and infant mortality rate among Black and Indigenous communities remains significantly higher than the state average. California is committed to tackling discrimination and disparity whenever and wherever it occurs, and with today’s signing, we’re doubling down on our commitment to both reproductive and racial justice,” Newsom stated.

The Momnibus Act is vital to protect Black mothers! The American Medical Association reports that Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die due to a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Think about how crazy that number is. Now, think about how it is even crazier we need a bill to help protect us. Unfortunately, racism and unconscious bias play a major role in these numbers, and the numbers don’t lie.

In 2016, a survey given to white medical students revealed heartbreaking results. Nearly half believed false facts about Black patients, including thicker skin and less sensitive nerve endings. In 2020, a study showed that Black babies are more likely to survive if cared for by Black doctors. Many Black women are opting for doulas because of this reason alone. Numbers like these are the reason why the CDC officially declared racism as a public health threat earlier this year. Too many Black mamas are dying.

This bill is a victory for Black expecting families!

The post Governor Newsom Signs Momnibus Act to Close Racial Gap in Maternal and Infant Death appeared first on Black Health Matters.

It’s important to keep an accurate record of your vaccinations. Share this information with your pre-conception and prenatal health care professionals to help determine which vaccines you’ll need before and during pregnancy. If you or your health care professionals do not have a current record of your vaccinations, you can:

• Ask your parents or other caregivers if they still have your school immunization records. Ask them which childhood illnesses you’ve already had because illnesses in childhood can sometimes provide immunity in adulthood.
• Contact your previous health care professional or other locations where you may have received vaccinations (e.g., the health department, your workplace, or local pharmacies).

Even if you can’t find your records, your health care professional can still protect your health and your baby by recommending the appropriate vaccines. Check out the seven tips below for important information you should know about maternal vaccines:

1. You aren’t just protecting yourself; vaccines during pregnancy give your baby some early protection, too. Did you know a baby gets disease immunity from mom during pregnancy? When you get the flu shot and Tdap vaccine while you’re pregnant, your body creates protective antibodies and you pass on some of those antibodies to your baby. This immunity can protect baby from some diseases during the first few months of life before your baby can get vaccinated. But immunity decreases over time.

2. Maternal vaccines are safe for you and your little one. Tdap and flu vaccines are safe for you and your baby. Experts carefully reviewed the available safety data before recommending Tdap and flu vaccines during pregnancy. Vaccines are like any medicine, which means they can have some side effects. But most people who get vaccinated have no side effects. Those who do experience side effects typically see mild redness, swelling and tenderness at the shot site.

3. Whooping cough can be dangerous for your baby. You’ll need a Tdap vaccine during the 27th through 36th week of each of your pregnancies. Tdap protects against whooping cough, which can be life-threatening for newborns. About half of babies younger than 1 year old who get whooping cough need treatment in the hospital. Some of these babies, particularly those  younger than 2 months, don’t survive. While some babies cough a lot, other babies with whooping cough don’t cough at all. Instead, the disease can cause them to stop breathing and turn blue. Siblings, parents or caregivers who don’t know they have whooping cough can infect babies, since the disease often causes mild symptoms in older children and adults.

4. Catching flu when you are pregnant can lead to serious complications. You’re healthy, and maybe you’ve had flu before and it wasn’t that bad. But changes in your immune, heart and lung functions during pregnancy make you more likely to get seriously ill from flu. You also have a higher risk of pregnancy complications such as preterm labor and preterm birth if you get the flu. Catching flu might also increase your chances for serious problems for your baby. Children younger than 2 are more likely to end up in the hospital from flu. Get a flu shot if you are pregnant during flu season; it’s the best way to protect yourself from flu and prevent flu-associated pregnancy complications. Flu vaccine can be given during any trimester.

5. Timing is everything. You know all about timing. Week after week, you are tracking your baby’s growth and development and counting down the days until you meet your little one. When it comes to vaccines, timing is also key. Flu seasons vary in their timing from season to season, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting vaccinated by the end of October. This helps ensure you are protected before flu activity begins to increase. While a flu shot protects you and your newborn baby, the Tdap vaccine primarily protects your baby. For this reason, you should get it in your third trimester, between the 27th and 36th week, so you pass the greatest number of protective antibodies to your baby before birth.

6. Anyone who is around your baby needs vaccines, too. Newborns do not have fully developed immune systems, making them particularly vulnerable to infections. Older kids and adults can infect babies with flu and whooping cough, even if they don’t feel sick themselves. Because of this, anyone who is around babies should be up to date on all routine vaccines, including Tdap and flu. This includes parents, siblings and any other caregivers, like grandparents, nannies or babysitters. Anyone who needs vaccines should get them at least two weeks before meeting the baby because it takes that long to develop antibodies after vaccination.

7. If you get pregnant again, you’ll need vaccines again. One and done doesn’t apply when it comes to vaccines that are recommended for pregnant women. The amount of antibodies you have in your body after getting vaccinated decreases over time. When you get a vaccine during one pregnancy, your antibody levels may not stay high enough to provide protection for future pregnancies, even if your babies are close in age. So, make sure you give baby number 2 (and 3 and 4) the greatest number of protective antibodies and the best disease protection possible by getting your whooping cough vaccine each time you are pregnant. You should also get a flu shot every influenza season.

The post Baby-Ready Body: 7 Things to Know About Maternal Vaccines appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The big issue isn’t whether well-educated, middle-class moms choose to breastfeed their babies. The real problem—and one we should be talking fiercely about—is breastfeeding inequality.

Socioeconomic forces are drastically affecting breastfeeding rates in the U.S., and globally. The result: A huge number of mothers are not getting an equal opportunity to breastfeed their babies.

The stats may shock you.

Why It’s a Problem

• Socioeconomically disadvantaged moms are far less likely to breastfeed (or meet the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for optimal breastfeeding).
• Babies born into conditions of hardship tend to receive less adequate health care, parental involvement and nutritious supplementary solid food once weaning begins.
• Essentially, the health benefits of breastfeeding are even more important for less-well-off mothers and their babies, and yet far fewer are breastfeeding.
• This inequality is a shocking reality that must be tackled.

Let’s dig into the data to see the extent of the problem.

The Zip code lottery. State to state, breastfeeding rates vary enormously. Mothers living in richer states, like California, are far more likely to breastfeed than those in poorer states, such as Louisiana. Breastfeeding rates are correlated with family income and local hospital practices, among other factors.

With regards to hospitals, 24 percent of babies born in the U.S. are born in Baby-Friendly designated facilities. The Baby-Friendly designation is awarded to hospitals that meet the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding guidelines. These are a set of practices and procedure such as educating families to make informed decisions about infant feeding and offering expert lactation support throughout and beyond the hospital stay.

Currently, 1 in 6 hospitals or birthing centers in the U.S. is Baby-Friendly designated. These are disproportionately represented in wealthier states where there is more money available to implement the initiative.

Education. The higher her level of education, the more likely a mother is to breastfeed her child. Only 36 percent of mothers whose education level is high school exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first three months. In contrast, 56 percent of mothers with an advanced degree do so.

Earnings. Just 38 percent of mothers living below the poverty threshold will breastfeed their baby until 6 months, whereas 68 percent of mothers from wealthy families (earning six times over the threshold) will do so.

That is a huge disparity, which is made all the more stark when you consider that in 2016 there were 40.6 million people in poverty in the U.S. That’s a lot of babies not breastfed, simply because of the socioeconomic conditions they were born into.

Some reasons that well-off mothers have improved breastfeeding rates are:

• Longer maternity leaves;
• Jobs that allow for pumping breaks;
• Better support networks;
• Better hospital practices;
• Ability to hire outside help;
• A culture that unconsciously views breastfeeding as a desirable status symbol.

Urban/rural divide. Mothers in rural communities are less likely to initiate breastfeeding (42 percent of rural mothers will breastfeed to 6 months as opposed to 55 percent of urban mothers).

Studies indicated that rather than being caused by some inherent urban or rural culture, it has far more to do with confounding factors, such as maternal ethnicity and poverty level. Mothers living in rural communities are more likely to have a lower income and work in a job that doesn’t allow as maternity leave and doesn’t provide a lactation programme. They are also less likely to receive social breastfeeding support.

Ethnicity. There are significant disparities in breastfeeding rates among Asian, Black, Hispanic and White mothers. A major part of this trend has to do with socioeconomic measures such as poverty, education and relationship status.

Reasons for the difference, however, run deeper than income. Other influencing factors include whether a mother receives supplementary breastmilk in hospital, whether she has experienced a close family member breastfeeding and whether she believes breast is best.

One startling statistic is that Black mothers are nine times more likely to be given formula in the hospital than White mothers.

Another interesting insight is that Hispanic mothers from low-income families are more likely to breastfeed than their Black or White counterparts. The reasons appear to be that Hispanic mothers tend to experience another family member breastfeeding. This intergenerational influence plays a huge role in whether a mother chooses and successfully breastfeeds.

Formula use in the hospital. Breastfeeding rates differ from hospital to hospital. It is in part a worrying reflection on the differing quality of maternity and lactation support. (The silver lining is that this area may be one of the easier wins in the fight to reduce inequality.)

Use of formula within hospitals is an issue. Firstly, 66 percent of hospitals reported giving breastfeeding mothers free infant formula in their hospital discharge packs. Hospitals generally do this as part of an agreement with commercial formula brands in return for free formula provision.

Perhaps even more worrying is that 24 percent of maternity services provide supplements of commercial infant formula as a general practice within the first 48 hours after birth.

Both practices have been shown to negatively affects whether a mother exclusivity breastfeeds and for how long she does so.

Lactation support in the workplace. In the U.S., only 28 percent of workplaces are lactation friendly (i.e., provide comfortable and private rooms where mothers can use breast pumps and store milk safely). These tend to be in middle to high-income jobs. This is bad news for the majority of working mothers and creates another dimension of inequality. Especially since 25 percent more women breastfeed to six months if their workplace provides decent lactation rooms and breaks to express.

Clearly, there is a long way to go before mothers are properly supported in their breastfeeding efforts within their workplace. This is having a significant impact on the number of babies getting breastfed across the U.S.

Marital status. Married women are more than twice as likely to breastfeed for  six months than mothers who have never married. Clearly, the support fathers can bring plays a significant role. New Zealand researchers found when dads cooked dinner (and washed up), it had a positive effect on the mother’s breastfeeding success. It allowed Mom time to focus on feeding the baby and provided her with rest that helped with maintaining her milk supply.

How to Reduce Breastfeeding Inequality

The post The Shocking Reality of Breastfeeding Inequality appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The post Postpartum Depression Is My Truth appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But last year, they shared similar stories: Each experienced life-threatening pregnancy complications.

In that one way, these two superstars are just like millions of other black women in the United States.

Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s partly why the overall rate of pregnancy-related deaths has climbed over the past two decades, making the maternal mortality rate in the United States the worst in any industrialized country, according to a 2016 analysis published in the journal The Lancet.

“It’s basically a public health and human rights emergency because it’s been estimated that a significant portion of these deaths could be prevented,” said Dr. Ana Langer, director of the Women and Health Initiative at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

The reasons behind the racial disparities are many and complex, she said. Lack of access and poor quality of care are leadings factors, particularly among women at lower socioeconomic levels.

But there’s a bigger problem, Langer said. “Basically, black women are undervalued. They are not monitored as carefully as white women are. When they do present with symptoms, they are often dismissed.”

That’s what happened to Williams when she experienced a pulmonary embolism a day after giving birth to her daughter via cesarean section. Williams was gasping for breath and recognized that blood clots were blocking one or more of the arteries in her lungs.

“Because of my medical history with this problem, I live in fear of this situation,” she wrote in an essay about the issue last February. “So, when I fell short of breath, I didn’t wait a second to alert the nurses.”

But medical employees initially dismissed her concerns, wasting crucial time before her diagnosis and the treatment she specifically requested.

Williams’ story illustrates the biggest problem facing black women, even when they are successful and affluent, said Dr. Allison Bryant Mantha, vice chair of quality, equity and safety in the obstetrics and gynecology department of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

“Racism affects so many things before the patient even gets to the clinical encounter,” she said. “Both implicit bias and structural racism affect how women are cared for in the health care system.”

The cards are stacked against them once they enter that system, she said, pointing to the report, “Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care,” published by a division of the National Academy of Sciences.

The report’s researchers found that, among other factors, bias and stereotyping regarding people of color can impact the level of health care they receive.

That differential treatment can happen through direct care or from communication gaps in which crucial details about a patient’s medical history fail to get passed along, Bryant Mantha said.

“All told, some African American women are probably entering pregnancy less healthy than other women,” she said.

Last summer, Beyoncé revealed she had experienced toxemia, also known as pre-eclampsia, while she was pregnant with her twins. The condition left her entire body swollen and she was confined to bed rest for more than a month before she had an emergency C-section.

Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of all maternal death. Women who experience pregnancy complications – including pre-eclampsia – have a higher risk for developing heart disease following childbirth.

Dr. Emily Petersen, a medical officer in the CDC’s reproductive health division, said the federal government is working with state-based health care networks to standardize care and look for situations when interventions could make the biggest difference.

There’s also a push to increase education about bias.

“Some hospitals and health care systems have implemented training on implicit or unconscious bias,” Petersen said, “to think about how people’s backgrounds and unconsciousness may be affecting their care.”

Langer said publicizing cases such as Williams’ or those profiled in investigative stories in recent years by NPR and ProPublica also help tackle the problem.

“It’s important to illustrate what’s happening and make the public aware because it can encourage the health establishment to take on this crisis much more seriously,” she said.

In the end, said Bryant Mantha, the blame – and the solution to the problem of black women and pregnancy complications – belong to everyone.

“It feels like an (obstetrician) problem, but really, maternal mortality is a broader societal problem,” she said. “If everyone pays a little more attention to their piece of the pie, hopefully we can start to move the needle.”

From American Heart Association News

The post Why Are So Many Black Women Dying From Pregnancy Complications? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“I would just hold her and cry all day,” Smith said.

At 18, Smith was caring for two children, 4-year-old Kelaiah and newborn Nelly, with little help from the partner in her abusive relationship. The circumstances were difficult, but she knew the tears were more than that.

“I really didn’t have a connection for her,” said Smith, now a motivational speaker and mother of three living in Philadelphia. “I didn’t even want to breastfeed because I didn’t want that closeness with her.”

The emotions were overwhelming, but Smith couldn’t bring herself to ask for help.

“You’re afraid to say it because you think the next step is [for the authorities] to take your children away from you,” she said. “You’re young and you’re African American, so it’s like [people are thinking], ‘She’s going to be a bad mom.’”

Smith’s concern was echoed by several black women interviewed for this story. Maternal health experts said some black women choose to struggle on their own rather than seek care and risk having their families torn apart by child welfare services.

Nationally, postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 mothers. Medical guidelines recommend counseling for all women experiencing postpartum depression, and many women also find relief by taking general antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft).

In March, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first drug specifically for the treatment of postpartum depression, which can include extreme sadness, anxiety  and exhaustion that may interfere with a woman’s ability to care for herself or her family. The mood disorder can begin in pregnancy and last for months after childbirth.

But those advances help only if women’s needs are identified in the first place—a particular challenge for women of color and low-income mothers, as they are several times more likely to suffer from postpartum mental illness but less likely to receive treatment than other mothers.

The consequences of untreated postpartum depression can be serious. A report from nine maternal mortality review committees in the United States found that mental health problems, ranging from depression to substance use or trauma, went unidentified in many cases and were a contributing factor in pregnancy-related deaths. Although rare, deaths of new mothers by suicide have also been reported across the country.

Babies can suffer too, struggling to form a secure attachment with their mothers and increasing their risk of developing behavioral issues and cognitive impairments.

For many women of color, the fear of child welfare services comes from seeing real incidents in their community, said Ayesha Uqdah, a community health worker who conducts home visits for pregnant and postpartum women in Philadelphia through the nonprofit Maternity Care Coalition.

News reports in several states and studies at the national level have found that child welfare workers deem black mothers unfit at a higher rate than they do white mothers, even when controlling for factors like education and poverty.

During home visits, Uqdah asks clients the 10 questions on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale survey, one of the most commonly used tools to identify women at risk. The survey asks women to rate things like how often they’ve laughed or whether they had trouble sleeping in the past week. The answers are tallied for a score out of 30, and anyone who scores above 10 is referred for a formal clinical assessment.

Uqdah remembered conducting the survey with one pregnant client, who scored a 22. The woman decided not to go for the mental health services Uqdah recommended.

A week after having her baby, the same woman’s answers netted her a score of zero: perfect mental health.

“I knew there was something going on,” Uqdah said. “But our job isn’t to push our clients to do something they’re not comfortable doing.”

About a month later, the woman broke down and told Uqdah, “I was lying to you. I really did need services, but I didn’t want to admit it to you or myself.”

The woman’s first child had been taken into child welfare custody and ended up with her grandfather, Uqdah said. The young mother didn’t want that to happen again.

Another hurdle for women of color comes from the tools clinicians use to screen for postpartum depression.

The tools were developed based on mostly white research participants, said Alfiee Breland-Noble, an associate professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center. Often those screening tools are less relevant for women of color.

Research shows that different cultures talk about mental illness in different ways. African Americans are less likely to use the term depression, but they may say they don’t feel like themselves, Breland-Noble said.

It’s also more common for people in minority communities to experience mental illness as physical symptoms. Depression can show up as headaches, for example, or anxiety as gastrointestinal issues.

Studies evaluating screening tools used with low-income African American mothers found they don’t catch as many women as they should. Researchers recommend lower cutoff scores for certain African American women in order to better identify women who needs help but may not be scoring high enough to trigger a follow-up under current guidelines.

It took Smith six months after daughter Nelly’s birth to work up the courage to see a doctor about her postpartum depression.

Even then, she encountered the typical barriers faced by new mothers: Therapy is expensive, wait times are long, and coordinating transportation and child care can be difficult, especially for someone struggling with depression.

But Smith was determined. She visited two different clinics until she found a good fit. After several months of therapy and medication, she began feeling better. Today, Smith and her three daughters go to weekly $5 movies and do their makeup together before big outings.

Other mothers never receive care. A recent study from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia found that only 1 in 10 women who screened positive for postpartum depression at the hospital’s urban medical practice sites sought any treatment within the following six months. A study examining three years’ worth of New Jersey Medicaid claims found white women were nearly twice as likely to receive treatment as were women of color.

Noticing that gap, the Maternity Care Coalition in Philadelphia tried something new.

In 2018, the nonprofit started a pilot program that pairs mothers with Drexel University graduate students training to be marriage and family counselors. The student counselors visit the women an hour a week and provide free in-home counseling for as many weeks as the women need. Last year, the program served 30 clients. This year, the organization plans to expand the program to multiple counties in the region and hire professional therapists.

It was a game changer for Stephanie Lee, a 39-year-old who had postpartum depression after the birth of her second child in 2017.

“It was so rough, like I was a mess, I was crying,” Lee said. “I just felt like nobody understood me.”

She felt shame asking for help and thought it made her look weak. Lee’s mother had already helped her raise her older son when Lee was a teenager, and many members of her family had raised multiple kids close in age.

“The black community don’t know postpartum,” Lee said. “There’s this expectation on us as women of color that we have to be … superhero strong, that we’re not allowed to be vulnerable.”

But with in-home therapy, no one had to know Lee was seeking treatment.

The counselors helped Lee get back to work and learn how to make time for herself—even just a few minutes in the morning to say a prayer or do some positive affirmations.

“If this is the only time I have,” Lee said, “from the time I get the shower, the time to do my hair, quiet time to myself—use it. Just use it.”

From Kaiser Health News

The post Black Moms Get Less Treatment for Postpartum Depression appeared first on Black Health Matters.

She was scared to carry her son downstairs or drive him in a car. She couldn’t manage to continue law school―and could hardly leave the house―because she didn’t trust anyone to watch him. Her weight dropped from 140 to 115 pounds.

“It was very stressful for me mentally,” said Johnson, now 29, who lives in Clayton, N.C. And she found it hard to secure medical assistance because her Medicaid coverage ran out just two months after her son’s birth. Public health advocates are pushing to change that.

The difficulties Johnson faced contribute to the United States’ dismal record on maternal health. The U.S. is one of only three countries where maternal deaths are on the rise, joining Sudan and Afghanistan, according to the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health, a program of the Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health. And data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that about 700 women die in the U.S. every year from pregnancy complications. Sixty percent of those deaths are deemed preventable.

The post Medicaid Tweak Might Offer Means to Improve Maternal Health appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“People didn’t go out with the intention to be racist, but you still saw the impact that racism had,” said Payne, a labor and delivery nurse. “Black families were always held to a different standard, seen as more suspect. White patients were given leeway that black patients were never given.”

Payne tried raising the problem with her colleagues at the time, but no one wanted to listen. So, in between shifts at the Kansas City, Missouri, hospital, Payne began writing down what she saw and imagining how she would design a maternity care system that treated all women humanely.

“Uzazi Village was born in those journals on those night shifts,” she said.“I wanted to create models of care that basically circumvented systems that weren’t really intended to benefit black folks. Actually, I’d go even further and say they were designed specifically to exclude blacks folks.”

Now seven years old, Uzazi Village is a Kansas City-based nonprofit working to narrow disparities in maternal and infant health, particularly in black communities. Its signature program is Sister Doulas, which both trains doulas and serves as a community-based doula agency.

A growing body of research shows that doulas—nonclinical professionals who provide support and guidance to women during pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period—are a promising strategy for improving health outcomes, closing disparities and advancing equity in maternity care. In fact, a handful of states are beginning to extend Medicaid coverage for doula care.

“Just having an African American doula accompany an African American mother is really the secret sauce,” said Payne, who is also co-founder and executive director of Uzazi Village. “Having that cultural companioning and comfort really makes a difference to our mothers and fathers … When you wrap families in a cocoon of love and acceptance, they do better.”

The Sister Doulas training program includes an intensive eight-day curriculum that covers a range of reproductive care, from birth to breastfeeding to sexual health in between pregnancies, and requires all students to complete a 100-hour community health worker course. To date, Uzazi Village has trained hundreds of doulas and served hundreds of families.

“I created a work-around to protect black families until the system changes,” Payne said. “This is not an entirely clinical problem—this problem is rooted in systemic racism.”

From The Nation’s Health

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“There are a lot of myths surrounding uterine fibroids,” she says about the noncancerous growths of the uterus.

Symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia, changes in bowel and bladder habits, pelvic pain and pressure, and difficulty getting or staying pregnant. Stewart believes a lack of accurate information about fibroids may keep some women from getting proper treatment. 

Here, she presents crucial facts about fibroids:

Myth 1: Hysterectomy is the only effective treatment.

“That’s clearly not true,” Stewart says. “There are many alternatives to hysterectomy, including less-invasive procedures called focused ultrasound and uterine artery embolization.” 

Myth 2: A growing fibroid is a cancer.

“Sometimes, cancers can be mistaken for fibroids, but that’s pretty rare,” Stewart says.

Myth 3: Fibroids only affect women in their 30s and 40s.

“Even if you’re 24 and if you’re having eight days of menstrual bleeding a month, it’s appropriate to ask if you might have uterine fibroids,” she says.

Another note about fibroids and age: Black women are more likely to develop them at a younger age. 

Myth 4: You can’t get or stay pregnant. 

Stewart says fibroids can make pregnancy difficult, but not impossible.

The post Four Myths About Fibroids (And the Facts) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

In fact, breastfeeding rates among all races stand at 49 percent at 6 months and 27 percent by the time baby is a year old. In 2012, 83 percent of white moms initiated breastfeeding, followed by 82 percent of Hispanic moms. African-American moms came in third place, with only 66 percent of us initiating. By the six-month mark, only 20 percent of us are still giving our babies nature’s first, best food.

Why is this still a problem in 2016, when we know well that breastfeeding provides myriad health benefits to both baby and mom, as well as reducing stress, supporting good mental health and strengthening the bond between mom and child? Why do we continue to ignore the reasons we should be breastfeeding when African Americans bear a large proportion of disease burden, morbidity and mortality, with the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality, all health concerns breastfeeding helps reduce?

Camille Clare, M.D., a New York OB/GYN and an associate professor at New York Medical College, recently sat down to discuss breastfeeding stumbling blocks and what we need to consider as we overcome these obstacles on the path to getting more black moms to breastfeed.

Black Health Matters: Talk to us about the reasons black women don’t breastfeed.

Camille Clare, M.D.: For over 30 years, African Americans have had the lowest breastfeeding rates. The reasons are many. Some include poverty, young moms and less social support. We know that age is one reason. Women younger than 20 are less likely to initiate breastfeeding. Those between 20 and 29 have a 60 percent initiation rate. Older moms initiate at 77 percent.

It’s more complicated than age, though, right?

Dr. Clare: There’s aggressive marketing by formula companies. White women led the charge to formula and black women followed. When white women switched back, led by celebrity cache, black women didn’t buy into it. There’s the role of racism, both internalized, which is a lack of self worth and confidence, and institutionalized, which includes poor hospitals and poor hospital practices. Cultural taboos play a part. For many women, breastfeeding was a topic that couldn’t be addressed in their families. Women were told breastfeeding is nasty. And you don’t talk about boobies, because breasts are seen as sexual. And there’s the enduring legacy of slavery. Older black women wanted to disassociate themselves from the past, from slavery and wet nursing, which gave breastfeeding’s benefits to white masters’ offspring, denying or limiting those advantages to slave infants.

What are some other things we need to consider when we look at the reasons black women don’t breastfeed and try to increase the numbers of those of us who do?

Dr. Clare: On a societal level, current policies affect whether people are successful in terms of breastfeeding. This is insurance, paid-leave policies, cultural attitudes about breasts, societal norms about bottle-feeding. On the community level, there’s a lack of peer support groups, cultural attitudes about formula or breast milk adequacy, the role formula companies and hospitals play. On the organizational level: What are the hospital’s practices? Is it Baby-Friendly? This is also where we take doctors’ influence and authority and workplace barriers into account.

On the interpersonal level, we know there is little or no intergenerational support. We also have to look at the role friends’ lack of knowledge or misinformation plays in whether or not a mom breastfeeds. Plus, general disapproval of nursing in public, a lack of support from partners and fathers, and a lack of discussion by health-care providers. And on the individual level, what are the personal obstacles—pain, discouragement, worry about baby? When there’s a lack of knowledge where can they seek answers and from whom? And again, cultural attitudes about breasts.

Besides increasing the percentages of women breastfeeding at the six-month and 1-year marks, what other goals has Healthy People 2020 set?

Dr. Clare: Employers with onsite lactation support, to reduce the proportion of breastfed newborns who receive formula supplementation in the first two days of life, to increase the percentage of live births occurring in facilities that recommend the Baby-Friendly environment.

The post Camille Clare, M.D.: Climbing Breastfeeding Stumbling Blocks appeared first on Black Health Matters.

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Hearing that a baby has died is devastating for families.
Which is why clinicians who share the news must be sensitive and well-trained; parents often remember the exact moment they found out for years and decades to come.
“It’s almost as if a video camera starts in their mind and they remember those details about how they were told forever,” said Katherine J. Gold, M.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Michigan Medicine.
Dr. Gold and other U-M researchers recently examined the importance of this exchange in a mail-based survey of 1,400 mothers who experienced a perinatal loss—either due to a stillbirth in the second half of pregnancy or a death within the first month of a newborn’s life.
The researchers also wanted to know who was there to support the mother during delivery of a stillborn baby and who was present when her infant died.
Results showed a troubling divide: Women who had a stillbirth were far less likely to have social support—a partner, friend or family member—present at the time of delivery than women with live births.
And the survey found that black women were less likely than white women to receive the initial diagnosis of stillbirth from a physician or midwife, hearing the news more often from a nurse or ultrasonographer instead.
“These findings were pretty poignant because it’s such a difficult experience for any woman to go through this alone,” Dr. Gold said. “It’s also worrisome because we know social support dictates outcomes for future mental health issues.”
Dr. Gold’s findings were drawn from the Michigan Mothers Study, a survey that was done in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Gold’s research, published in the Journal of Perinatology, measured longitudinal mental, physical and reproductive health outcomes among bereaved mothers and those with a live birth over two years.
According to the National Institutes of Health, stillbirths occur in approximately 1 in 160 pregnancies. The majority of stillbirths happen before labor.
Stillbirth and infant mortality are associated with a variety of factors that include socio-economic status, older maternal age, maternal health, birth weight and preterm delivery.
There are several reasons why mothers are more likely to deliver a stillborn baby with only medical staff present and without friends or family.
“Often with a stillbirth, a baby is not full term and may be very small,” Dr. Gold said. “Women can go into labor and deliver rapidly, especially if this is not their first birth. They might deliver before a partner, spouse or family member can get to the room.”
Black babies, she notes, are more likely to be born to unmarried women, which might explain why black mothers went through a stillbirth delivery alone.
Still, Dr. Gold was surprised to find that black mothers—who have consistently had higher stillborn and infant mortality rates compared to other ethnic groups—were half as likely to have first heard about their stillbirth from a physician or midwife.
“Initially, I thought: ‘Wow, why aren’t physicians the ones telling these mothers their babies have died?’” Dr. Gold said. “I didn’t expect to find this and I think we need to understand why that is and if it’s something in the health system where we’re not treating patients equally—or does it have to do with their access to a physician or midwife?”
It’s common for a trained technician to administer ultrasounds during pregnancy, Dr. Gold said, which often makes those individuals the first ones to discover a stillbirth diagnosis.
Some mothers may find out their baby has died by asking during the scan; others may wait until a physician is available to explain the situation and answer questions.
“Physicians or midwives may not necessarily be the best people to share that information, but we don’t know if the people who are giving this bad news are trained to do so,” Dr. Gold said. “Parents may have lots of questions—particularly why and what happens next—and the person sharing bad news may not be in a position to answer those questions.”
Beyond training for physicians, midwives and other hospital team members who might end up telling a mother her baby has died, Dr. Gold also indicated a greater need for loss doulas.
Doulas are not medically trained but usually assist women during childbirth and provide support to the family after a baby is born.
Loss doulas specialize in a variety of types of perinatal loss—ectopic pregnancies, molar pregnancies and other miscarriages, stillbirths and neonatal loss. They are often present with families before or during delivery.
Loss doulas can help explain to a mother what has happened to her baby and inform her of options for creating memories of their baby.
It is also crucial for health systems to provide quality support and resources for grieving mothers and families once they return home, Dr. Gold notes.
Dr. Gold said she will continue to investigate the topic and gather more details about the experiences of bereaved mothers.
Her goal: encouraging health systems to get the appropriate clinicians properly trained to deliver difficult diagnoses and support to families once they leave the hospital.
“There are a lot of issues around improving care for these families,” she said. “Thinking about how we support families after a death is really important.”
From Michigan Health

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My colleagues and I work with mothers to help them navigate their breastfeeding journey and meet their personal feeding goals.
Through years of supporting new moms, we’ve identified a few pieces of advice. They’re not about what to buy or arrange your nursery but rather about how to prepare for one of the most beautiful—yet challenging—experiences you’ll encounter as a mother.
Clear out distractions. The time you’ll spend feeding your baby during the first weeks can be shocking for new moms. Newborn babies have small tummies and typically need to be fed around the clock every two to three hours. Especially for moms who struggle a bit with feeding at the beginning, it can seem that there is little time for anything other than feeding and changing your baby.
Freeze dinners in advance for those first couple of weeks. Initiate conversations with family and friends about when visitors will be welcome and how they can help. Prioritize the need to rest, bond with your baby and establish your breastfeeding relationship.
Sleep. Really. Sleep becomes a precious commodity after the birth of a baby. Interrupted sleep can play havoc with maternal moods when accompanied by hormonal changes and breastfeeding challenges. Try and compensate for interrupted night sleep by taking frequent naps during the day when baby is sleeping. Resist the urge to resume all prior chores and responsibilities, and delegate to family and friends during the newborn transition.
Identify a support system. In addition to lactation consultants and your pediatrician, every breastfeeding mother needs a breastfeeding “cheerleader.” Have a person (or persons) picked out—someone who supports your decision to breastfeed, has been through the breastfeeding journey and will know where you’re coming from. It can also be helpful to look into local breastfeeding support groups.
Trust yourself. Breastfeeding challenges are common in the first couple of weeks and most resolve with time and a little guidance. Unfortunately, when compounded by lack of sleep and postpartum hormones, breastfeeding challenges can make you feel confused and vulnerable.
Social media, in particular, can be a great source of support for breastfeeding mothers, but it can also cause angst and confusion. Don’t compare yourself to others. Every breastfeeding mother’s relationship with her baby is different. What worked for one mom may not work for you, but that is not something you can control and is certainly not your fault.
You will know your baby better than anyone else. Rely on your breastfeeding support system to help filter out discouraging information and on lactation consultants and breastfeeding-friendly pediatricians to help you sort through all the “advice” and help you make a plan for any challenges you face.
Know it’s worth it. Despite the challenges, most mothers do not regret the time and effort they invest in breastfeeding or providing breast milk to their babies. It is for the lifelong health of both mom and baby, though it takes time, patience, and perseverance.
The loving bond between a mother and her infant is unlike any other human relationship. The desire to provide your baby with the best nutritional start in life is a powerful motivation, and the time you spend feeding your baby during these early days is one of the most important moments you’ll ever spend.
You will settle into the right routine for you and your baby with patience and support.
From Michigan Health

The post 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Breastfeeding Journey appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Obesity before pregnancy increases the likelihood that women with low-risk pregnancies and who haven’t previously had a cesarean section will deliver by C-section, according to a new study.

“The likelihood of a primary cesarean increased consistently across categories of obesity in a population of low-risk women who would otherwise be likely candidates for a vaginal birth, even after controlling for demographic and medical risk factors,” said lead author Eugene Declercq, professor of community health sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health.

The study, published online in the journal Birth, has the strongest evidence yet identifying pre-pregnancy obesity as an independent risk factor for cesarean delivery. The research  team analyzed birth certificate data from 2012 for more than 2.2 million new mothers in 38 states who had not had prior cesareans. Overall, 46 percent of mothers were considered overweight (25 percent) or obese (21 percent).

Rates of cesareans were 1.6 to 2 times higher for obese women than for those of normal weight category, the study found, with higher rates among very obese women. The rate of cesareans for lower-risk women in the normal-weight range was 14.6 percent, according to the study. That increased to 22.9 percent for women in the lower obesity range, and 35.1 percent for women at the high end of the range. Among first-time mothers, more than two in five with pre-pregnancy obesity had C-sections.

Earlier research has shown a connection between obesity and C-sections, but several factors limited those studies, including reliance on survey samples or use of older data. Rates of both obesity and cesarean deliveries have increased in recent years. African-American women carry the largest burden of obesity in this country.

Researchers say there is no clear-cut reason why the primary cesarean rate would be higher in obese women, even when they controlled for maternal age, hypertension, and other medical and social risk factors. One possible reason could be that obese patients are monitored more closely because of a greater risk of stillbirth, which could trigger more interventions. Another reason is that labor management could be influenced by maternal weight, and practitioners may initiate surgery earlier on obese patients to avoid an emergency procedure or complication, though there are added risks associated with surgery in obese patients.

Declercq said that though the once-rapid growth of pre-pregnancy obesity in this country has slowed, “the consequences of having hundreds of thousands of United States mothers begin their pregnancy obese remains.” And while campaigns to prevent maternal obesity may be “challenging,” they are “necessary steps in mitigating the negative effects of obesity on maternal and infant health.”

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