MONDAY HEALTH REPORT: Conflicting mammogram guidelines may delay breast cancer screening for US women, doctor says

Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Are Conflicting

Nearly 322,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in U.S. women in 2026. However, doctors say that conflicting mammogram guidelines are causing some women to delay getting screened. Different medical organizations recommend different ages to start screening, which can confuse both patients and doctors about when screening should begin.

Different Organizations Have Different Recommendations

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women start mammograms at age 40 and screen every other year. The American Cancer Society suggests women at average risk can start at age 40 with annual screening, move to age 45 for yearly mammograms, and switch to every other year at age 55. The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging recommend starting at age 40 with annual screenings. This confusion may lead to delayed screenings and cancers being detected at later, harder-to-treat stages.

Risk Assessment Can Help

Dr. Alyssa Cubbison from Ohio State University emphasizes that most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease, so screening should not be skipped based on family background. She recommends that women take a risk assessment survey with their doctor around age 25 to determine the most appropriate age to begin screening.

PMOS or PCOS isn't just about hormones: Here are the lifestyle factors experts want women to know

Understanding PMOS/PCOS Beyond Hormones

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), previously known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), is increasingly recognized as more than just a hormonal disorder. While it traditionally affects menstrual cycles, fertility, and skin health, experts now understand it as a broader reproductive and metabolic condition involving multiple hormones and lifestyle factors.

The Bigger Picture: Lifestyle and Metabolic Health

According to medical experts, PCOS should not be viewed solely through irregular periods or ovarian cysts. The condition is closely linked to insulin resistance, unhealthy weight gain, poor sleep, stress, sedentary lifestyles, and dietary imbalances. Modern lifestyle patterns—including late nights, excessive screen time, irregular meals, processed food consumption, and reduced physical activity—are contributing to how the condition presents in young women today.

Why Early Diagnosis Matters

Early medical diagnosis is important not only for managing menstrual symptoms but also for reducing future health risks. Women with PCOS face increased risk of diabetes, fertility problems, and other long-term health complications. Doctors are increasingly diagnosing this condition in younger women and adolescent girls, making awareness of both hormonal and lifestyle factors essential for prevention and management.

Oncologist rates popular women’s period products on comfort, hygiene, safety: Sanitary pads get 5 and menstrual cup…

An oncologist has evaluated popular women's period products based on their safety, comfort, and hygiene to help women make informed choices. Dr. Arrjun Sankaran, a surgical oncologist from Hyderabad, emphasizes that since women use menstrual products for thousands of hours throughout their lives, it's crucial to consider product quality and ingredients.

Key factors to consider when choosing period products include: the quality of materials used, whether products contain unnecessary fragrances or additives, how breathable the product is, and the risk of irritation or infections. The doctor stresses that women should be aware of what they're putting against the most sensitive skin on their body.

According to the doctor's ranking, scented wipes and panty liners receive the lowest score (2/10). These products rank poorly because fragrances and preservatives can disrupt the body's natural pH balance and cause irritation. The evaluation continues up the scale to better options, with sanitary pads and menstrual cups receiving higher safety ratings. This assessment aims to help women understand which products are safest and most appropriate for regular use.

Most IVF add-ons lack evidence of fertility benefits

Most IVF add-ons lack scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness. A comprehensive review published in The Lancet examined ten commonly used add-on treatments designed to improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates. The study found that the majority of these expensive extra procedures and treatments have no proven benefit for patients trying to conceive, even though more than 70% of IVF patients in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK use at least one add-on during treatment.

The research evaluated add-ons with weak or no evidence of benefit. Out of 157 potential studies reviewed, researchers analyzed 85 high-quality trials and found no effect or inconclusive results for seven popular add-ons, including acupuncture, corticosteroids, genetic testing, and various plasma injections. Only three treatments showed weak evidence of possible benefit: EmbryoGlue (an embryo transfer medium), endometrial scratching (a minor uterine procedure), and PICSI (a sperm selection technique).

Unproven add-ons can harm patients financially and emotionally. According to the researchers, offering unproven treatments can create false hope, increase financial burden, and lead to unnecessary medical procedures during an already difficult time. Since many IVF clinics are privately operated and these add-ons are expensive, the lack of evidence is particularly concerning. Researchers recommend that clinics carefully reconsider whether offering unproven add-ons is appropriate, as patients often interpret their availability as a sign that they actually work.

Menopause and the Failure of Women’s Health Care

Melinda French Gates called for better menopause care in America, highlighting a significant gap in women's health. Her article sparked several responses from readers who agreed with the core problem but offered different perspectives on its causes and solutions.

One reader emphasized that the crisis is not just medical but also cultural. Historically, postmenopausal women played important roles in their communities, yet menopause is often framed as decline. Rhode Island recently passed the nation's first law requiring workplace accommodations for women experiencing menopause, showing that policy changes can help address this issue as both a health and dignity concern.

A physician argued that the problem isn't a lack of caring from doctors, but rather insufficient scientific research on menopause treatments. She cautioned that blaming the medical profession could push patients toward unregulated alternatives and undermine trust in evidence-based care. Another reader expanded the discussion beyond menopause alone, noting that women's hormonal health issues—including endometriosis and premenstrual disorders—have historically been understudied and undertreated across the entire lifespan.

A final concern raised by a Boston reader warned that while workplace accommodations are important in theory, openly discussing specific menopause symptoms at work could backfire, providing ammunition for employers to justify pushing out experienced older women rather than supporting them.

Every irregular cycle is a clue: Fertility experts explain what to look for

Understanding Menstrual Cycles as Health Signals

On World Menstrual Hygiene Day, fertility experts are encouraging women to take irregular periods seriously rather than dismiss them as normal stress. Changes in menstrual cycles can reveal early signs of hormone imbalances, ovulation issues, PCOS, thyroid disorders, endometriosis, and other reproductive health conditions—often before fertility problems become apparent. Experts emphasize that while an irregular cycle isn't always dangerous, it is rarely meaningless and should be investigated.

What Your Cycle Reveals About Your Body

The menstrual cycle reflects deeper health markers including hormone balance, ovulation quality, metabolism, stress levels, and thyroid function. Many women incorrectly assume that regular periods automatically mean good fertility, while irregular cycles are casually dismissed. However, some women may menstruate regularly while not ovulating properly. Signs worth investigating include cycles shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, missing periods, spotting between cycles, severe PMS, painful cramps, and sudden heavy bleeding.

Modern Lifestyle as a Risk Factor

Fertility clinics across India are seeing more young women with delayed ovulation and hormone imbalances. Experts attribute this to modern lifestyle factors including poor sleep, excessive screen time, long work hours, processed foods, sedentary routines, obesity, and chronic stress. Chronic stress particularly affects the hormonal system responsible for regulating ovulation, potentially causing irregular or absent periods. Fertility specialists now ask patients about sleep patterns, mental health, work schedules, and exercise habits as part of fertility assessments.

Mount Sinai opens integrated clinical center for womens health

Mount Sinai Health System Opening New Women's Health Center

Mount Sinai Health System has opened the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women's Health and Wellness, a new 11,000-square-foot facility on Manhattan's Upper East Side. This center brings together multiple medical specialties in one location to provide coordinated, comprehensive care for women. The facility was made possible through a philanthropic gift from Mount Sinai Trustee Carolyn Rowan.

Services Offered Under One Roof

The center offers a wide range of women's health services including gynecology, obstetrics, menopause care, cardiology, mental health, orthopedics, and nutrition counseling. It also provides on-site diagnostic testing such as bone density testing and advanced ultrasounds. This integrated approach addresses the challenge that women often have to visit multiple providers across different locations for interconnected health issues.

Personalized Care Pathways

The center uses a unique care model called MyPath, which organizes services around themed clinical pathways tailored to different life stages. The first pathway, MyPath Balance 40+, focuses on women ages 40 and older and addresses hormonal changes, heart health, and metabolic concerns during midlife. Future pathways will address other life stages and specific health needs, combining medical treatments with supportive services like nutrition counseling and physical therapy.

Study links eight heart-healthy habits to lower diabetes risk in postmenopausal women

A new study has found that following eight heart-healthy habits is linked to lower rates of type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women. Researchers analyzed health data from nearly 20,000 women tracked over 16 years. The study used "Life's Essential 8" guidelines from the American Heart Association, which include improving diet, exercising, quitting smoking, getting adequate sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.

Women who scored highest on these health measures had significantly lower diabetes risk. Among women evaluated using all eight factors, those with the highest scores had a 57% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with the lowest scores. When looking at five lifestyle factors alone (diet, exercise, smoking, sleep, and weight), the highest-scoring women had a 40% lower risk. Blood sugar levels and body weight showed the strongest connections to diabetes risk.

The findings suggest that cardiovascular health and diabetes prevention are linked. The study also revealed that younger women and Hispanic women saw greater benefits from maintaining these healthy habits. Researchers emphasize that it's never too late to improve cardiovascular health and reduce diabetes risk, and they plan to study how these guidelines can be better used in clinical settings and real-world diabetes prevention programs.

LifeMD Offers Novo Nordisk's Industry-First Wegovy® Telehealth Subscription Program

LifeMD, a provider of virtual primary care, has launched a new subscription program for Novo Nordisk's Wegovy® (semaglutide), which is the first of its kind in the GLP-1 therapy market. This program aims to improve patient access to obesity treatment while offering significant cost savings, potentially up to $1,200 annually for injectable forms and $600 for oral treatments.

According to LifeMD's CEO, Justin Schreiber, this subscription model represents an important step forward in the distribution of branded GLP-1 products. The collaboration with Novo Nordisk has evolved from a pharmacy integration into a comprehensive partnership that includes both Wegovy® and Ozempic® therapies.

Patients using LifeMD for Wegovy® will receive a complete care experience, which consists of virtual consultations, clinical supervision, diagnostic testing, and streamlined billing. The Wegovy® subscription is now accessible to eligible patients through LifeMD’s website, marking a new era in weight management and obesity treatment.

Charlotte Hornets Foundation awards $100,000 to women-led organizations

The Charlotte Hornets Foundation has awarded a total of $100,000 to four women-led organizations in the Carolinas. Each organization, which includes Moms Moving Forward, Code the Dream, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, and NAMI Charlotte, will receive a grant of $25,000. This funding aims to help these organizations increase their impact in areas such as education, mental health, workforce development, and family stability.

This grant announcement aligns with Women’s History Month and is part of the foundation's commitment to championing the next generation, creating opportunities, leading with care, and empowering communities. Whitney Tarver, the foundation’s director, expressed hope that the funding will amplify the organizations' efforts.

To celebrate their achievements, the selected organizations were recognized during a Hornets home game in March. This initiative highlights the foundation's focus on supporting community-driven projects led by women.