Common Corpus No. 12: Quarterly Review
For all women, for life
Welcome back to Common Corpus, our weekly curation of the best evidence-based women’s health content designed to help you navigate, optimize, and advocate for your well-being at every stage of life.
This week marks the first three months of Common Corpus, so instead of our usual roundup of the latest news in women’s health, we take a look back at the content we’ve covered over the last three months and recap some of the highlights. We review the most interesting and important stories and research of the last few months, in case you missed it. Catch up on content you missed, or share something interesting with someone you care about.
And a new feature: a Spotify playlist with all the podcasts included in past editions, now all in one place to make it easier to search and keep up on audio content.
News & Noteworthy
What made the news in women’s health this quarter
Clitoral nerves fully mapped for the first time
Nearly 30 years after the penal nerves were first mapped, researchers have, for the first time, fully mapped the entire network of nerves running through the clitoris. A milestone not only in our understanding of female anatomy, but also for greater attention to how genital surgeries may impact female pleasure. LINK (edition no 1)
Should endometriosis be classified as a whole-body inflammatory disorder?
Experts argue it is time to redefine endometriosis, shifting its medical classification from a localized reproductive issue to a systemic, whole-body inflammatory disorder based on emerging research highlights that endometriosis is fundamentally driven by systemic immune dysfunction, much like many other autoimmune diseases. LINK (edition no 5)
Why colorectal cancer is missed more often in women
Early warning signs of colorectal cancer in women are frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed as routine gynaecological or hormonal issues, delaying diagnosis and care. LINK (edition no 6)
PCOS has been renamed PMOS in the hopes of better care for millions of women
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has officially been renamed to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) to shift away from the harmful perception of a purely reproductive/fertility condition, and to better reflect its complex, whole-body impact, including the hormonal and metabolic impacts. LINK (edition no 6)
The Latest Research
Highlights in academic research in women’s health this quarter
Teenage period pain linked to chronic pain later in life
New research suggests that adolescent period pain could be a key predictor of chronic pain later in life, changing how the nervous system processes pain. TLDR: period pain should not be dismissed just a part of being a women, but believed and actively managed. LINK (edition no 1)
Inflammation and cardiovascular risk in women
A new study found that women with elevated levels of the inflammatory marker hsCRP had a significantly increased lifetime risk of heart disease, even without other common risk factors, like smoking, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. LINK (edition no 3)
Does social connection matter more than physical intervention for longevity?
Women with high levels of social connection had a 10% longer overall lifespan and a 41% greater likelihood of surviving to age 85 or older compared to their more isolated peers, even after adjusting for chronic diseases, health behaviours, and depression. This is your sign call that friend, go for coffee, chat a little longer. LINK (edition no 11)
Listen & Learn
Editor’s picks in women’s health audio content this quarter
Does the gender of your physician matter?
Dr. Christopher Wallis delves into fascinating data, showing how patients operated on by female surgeons experience significantly lower rates of death, hospital readmission, and major medical complications, the specific behavioural differences driving these superior outcomes, and the systemic gender biases that still pervade our health care systems. LINK (edition no 10)
What every woman must know to prevent Alzheimer’s with Dr Lisa Mosconi
Neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Mosconi argues that Alzheimer’s is a disease of midlife. She breaks down the links between menopause, hormones and brain health, and explains why brain health is something we all need to be thinking proactively about now. LINK (edition no 2)
Breast health at every age with Dr. Heather Richardson
Breast cancer surgeon Dr. Heather Richardson debunks pervasive breast health myths, breaks down exactly what women should be doing and screening for in every decade of life, explains the importance of understanding breast density in choosing appropriate screening modalities and schedules, and provides one of the best explanations of how to perform a proper self-exam we’ve come across. LINK (edition no 4)
Female Hormone Health, PCOS, Endometriosis, Fertility & Breast Cancer with Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi
OB/GYN Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi unpacks what we know about PCOS (now PMOS) and endometriosis, two highly common yet frequently undiagnosed drivers of female infertility and chronic pain, why they are often missed by the medical system and what women need to know about navigating diagnosis and treatment. LINK (edition no 3)
The Global Perspective
Quarterly highlights in women’s health around the world
Violence against women remains a persistent global health crisis
Nearly 1 in 3 women globally have faced physical or sexual violence, a figure that has remained virtually unchanged for the last two decades. The WHO argues this violence not just as a social issue but a chronic health emergency. LINK (edition no 2)
Nurses for new parents sets a new global standard of postpartum care
The Netherlands sets the global gold standard for postpartum care with its unique, state-funded “kraamzorg” system that sends maternity nurses into new parents’ homes to provide comprehensive in-home care for the first eight to ten days following childbirth. The support includes everything from maternity and newborn care to household chores, providing a model of what comprehensive and equitable postpartum support can look like. LINK (edition no 5)
Common Interest
Quick hits that we found interesting, thought-provoking, or useful this quarter
New data from a Kings College London and IPSOS Mori survey suggest global views on gender roles and gender equality are moving in a negative direction — Gen Z men hold the most traditional views of gender roles compared to Millennial, Gen X and Boomer men. LINK
A fascinating and highly important read on why algorithmic censorship of women’s health content on social media is so damaging and perpetuates shame, stigma and health illiteracy. LINK
This campaign song to de-stigmatize anatomically correct vocabulary when talking about women’s bodies by UK-based GP, Dr. Aziza Sesay, is rather catchy. LINK
This brief history of pubic hair offers a fascinating look at shifting trends over the centuries and what they suggested about wealth and health. LINK