Home | Newsletters|
Bookstore | News | Community
| Links | Articles/FAQs | Diet Info Ctr | Top Drs | Contact
Women OB-Gyns Benefit from Insider Knowledge
According to Gallup Survey
According to Gallup Survey
|
December 2003 -- Women obstetrician-gynecologists practice what they preach according to a national survey of their health habits conducted by the Gallup Organization. In this survey that was conducted for The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), it was reported that most women ob-gyns get regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight. It appears that as women in a woman’s health care profession, female ob-gyns employ an insider’s perspective to beneficially address health challenges in their own lives. By doing this they are in a unique position to help American women live healthier lifestyles. Among women ob-gyns, seventy-two percent report that they exercise regularly and sixty-seven percent say that their weight is just about right. Walking is the preferred form of exercise of the majority of women ob-gyns. Many also cite weight training and running or jogging regularly. An impressive eighty-one percent rate their physical fitness as being good or excellent. Other survey results from this group include the view of ninety-nine percent of the women ob-gyns that menstrual suppression achieved by the daily use of oral contraceptives to stop monthly periods is safe for their patients. They point out that this practice is not only a matter of convenience but also because suppressed ovulation can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Women ob-gyns are sharply divided on the subject of elective or “patient choice” cesarean delivery with thirty-six percent saying they would not perform a cesarean at a woman’s request if not medically necessary, thirty-two percent say they would, and twenty-eight say it would depend on the woman’s circumstances. The method of contraception most favored by women ob-gyns is oral contraceptive pills followed by use of an IUD, a flexible ring, contraceptive patch, or diaphragm. While most women ob-gyns have not used emergency oral contraception, they have a greater awareness of this option than the general public. Thus, they are in a position to make women in need this of this option aware of its availability. Not surprisingly, most female ob-gyns report eating a healthy diet to maintain the proper weight. More than half of female ob-gyns take a daily multi-vitamin and nearly half take a calcium supplement daily. Women ob-gyns also are more likely to have been screened for cervical and breast cancer than women in the general public in the US. Among women ob-gyns age 48 or older, about three out of four report having menopausal symptoms. The most frequent treatment for these symptoms was hormone therapy involving about fifty percent of those surveyed. Despite the early reports of the Woman’s Health Initiative data appearing to discount the very prevalence or severity of patient symptoms, women ob-gyns are stating that symptoms of menopause are real! From this survey, it was clear that obesity was considered the greatest health risk to women today. Heart disease is the greatest health concern for women over fifty. Other significant health concerns of women are menopausal symptoms, stress, depression, smoking, and cancer. Source: ACOG (12/09/03)
| |||||||||
|
All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician or health practitioner before starting a new treatment program. Please see our full disclaimer. | ||||||||||
