Survey Shows Women ill- Informed on Reproductive Health
 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 23, 2003: Despite high numbers of women in their forties having babies (American Infertility Association), many women are ill informed about their ability to safely conceive in these later years.

In your thirties? What you don't know can cost you your dream of motherhood
 

The finding, part of a survey of 500 women conducted by PKS Research Partners for the VWHC called "Feminine Health Myths & Misconceptions," shows that in some highly critical feminine health areas, women may not be well informed about the latest, most accurate information that impacts their health and well-being. The survey was conducted as part of a new campaign to help educate women and shows that what they don't know can hurt them.

"Women need accurate information to make informed decisions about important feminine health issues," says Faye Wattleton, president of the Center for Advancement of Women and former president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). "This research shows that while we're making headway, there are still key feminine health concerns for which women need facts."

Wattleton, in her years as a certified nurse and mid-wife, and with Planned Parenthood, saw first-hand how misinformation can have a dire affect on women's lives. She is acting as advisor to the VWHC in its "Feminine Health Myths & Mis-conceptions: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You" campaign. Other key survey findings showing women's misconceptions about key health issues (See sidebar).

Pap Smear Guidelines

• 86% of women believe that yeast infections are the most common type of feminine infection. The most common vaginal infection is bacterial vaginosis (BV). It is caused by an imbalance of the organisms usually found in a healthy vagina.

• 59% of women do not know to refrain from sexual activity 24 hours prior to having a Pap test. Participating in sexual intercourse during the 24 hours prior to a Pap test can alter results.

• 50% think it is just as easy for a woman to conceive and have a healthy, normal baby at anytime during their reproductive years. While some women can have babies until their forties and later, most women will not be able to do this successfully without the help and expense of modern medicine.

• 20% of women think there is little or no risk associated with using fertility drugs. While many women are turning to fertility medications to increase the chance of pregnancy, pregnancy rates are generally poor among women over 40 and the risk of miscarriage still exists. Using fertility drugs can produce multiple births. This places additional strain on the mother's body and possible life-long health problems for the babies.

• 48% of women believe that breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women. According to most sources, heart disease is the number-one cause of death in women, resulting in about 366,000 deaths annually.

• 42% of women do not know that ovarian cancer has no symptoms in its early stages. Women should see their gynecologist regularly so that potential problems can be caught in early stages. Ovarian cancer symptoms are often subtle, so it's important to note any changes or irregularities in your body and report them to your doctor.

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