Women's Health

Smart bras, molecular imaging and genome sequencing: Innovations take on breast cancer

What if a bra, taking images like an MRI, could detect breast cancer? With recent technological innovations, there may soon be cheap, non-invasive ways to screen people for breast cancer in their own homes.

Our Surgeries, Ourselves

Columnist Anne Borden King combines meticulous research with moving reflections about living with breast cancer to expose an overlooked form of medical paternalism and explore the thought-provoking relationship between one’s body and most intimate self-image.

Scrap the Pap

We need to switch from traditional Pap testing to oncogenic HPV screening to save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of cases of cervical cancer. The longer we put off switching, the more we needlessly put people at risk.

The need for no-cost contraception

Yesterday was World Contraception Day. Let's ensure that, by this time next year, Canadians have access to no-cost contraception. No one should have to ask, “Do I buy birth control this month, or food next week?”

‘We became more confident’: Pandemic proving value of no-touch abortions

The pandemic accelerated the roll out of telemedicine abortion care. Now, as restrictions on clinical medicine ease, we must consider whether to revert back to in-person assessments, or embrace telemedicine as a new normal.

When it comes to breastfeeding, we should practice what we preach

As medical professionals, we encourage breastfeeding in our patients, so why do hospitals make it so hard to breastfeed at work?

Preventing violence against older women: A time for action

There is an epidemic that is often overlooked that has gotten worse during COVID-19 – the abuse and neglect of older adults, particularly older women.

Family medicine-maternity care: A romantic idea facing an uncertain future

Physicians who practice family medicine and offer maternity care are shrinking in numbers. Their future is uncertain. What do we stand to lose?

Weaponizing science: Effort to misuse evidence to drive anti-abortion policy fails

A recent bill that misused research to justify restricting abortion rights was defeated in Parliament. But skewing scientific evidence this way still threatens our democracy.

Episode 25 – Women’s Heme Health

Prioritizing pregnant COVID patients is not altruism, it’s a necessity

Deprioritizing pregnant people in vaccine campaigns across Canada will result in more severe maternal infections, more strain on our intensive care system and ultimately, preventable deaths in this otherwise healthy, young cohort.

Vaccine rollout ignoring needs of women

Will we use COVID-19 as an opportunity to take off the blindfold and tailor our vaccine strategies to the unique needs of each gender or will we continue to ignore the needs of women?

‘Do we have space to pump’: Another barrier for female physicians

More than half of Canada’s young doctors may be women, but our hospitals force breastfeeding physicians into shower stalls, bathrooms, hallways and makeshift lactation spaces.

‘Our hearts are breaking’: Disparities in access, funding put IVF treatments out of reach for many Canadians

Despite the praise Canada receives for its universal health-care system, the current patchwork of financial coverage and unequal distribution of IVF clinics is failing too many people.

Episode 21 – COVID-19 and Pregnancy with Dr. Kuret

What is known and what is not known about COVID-19 and pregnancy.

Stillbirth in Canada: A Call to Action

In Canada, stillbirth is a public health issue that is neglected by public policy—despite there being more than 3,000 stillbirths in Canada every year. It's time the government acted.

Menstruation is having its moment – Let’s turn it into a movement

Out of the shadows: Addressing the stigma of pregnancy loss

Pregnant women warned to avoid some pain-relief drugs

Critics claim epidural study instilling ‘fear and guilt’