The female athlete triad.

The female athlete triad is a spectrum of interrelated pathophysiologic consequences of low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density. Components of the triad are not only counterproductive to athletic performance goals, but can lead to serious long-term negative health outcomes. Practitioners caring for female athletes play an important role detecting at-risk athletes early in their course along the disease spectrum.

Resident physician preventive health behaviors and perspectives on primary care.

Unlabelled: Little is known about lifestyle choices and preventive healthcare seeking behaviors among resident physicians. Residents function under unusual working conditions requiring extensive duty hours. This may significantly affect attentiveness to personal health and wellness.

Comprehensive cancer screening among unmarried women aged 40-75 years: results from the cancer screening project for women.

Objectives: We explored self-reported rates of individual on-schedule breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings, as well as an aggregate measure of comprehensive screenings, among unmarried women aged 40-75 years. We compared women who partner with women (WPW) or with women and men (WPWM) to women who partner exclusively with men (WPM). We also compared barriers to on-schedule cancer screenings between WPW/WPWM and WPM.

Patient-provider communication about sexual health among unmarried middle-aged and older women.

Background: Although past studies have highlighted the importance of patient-provider communication about sexual health and intimate relationships (SHIR), much of the research has focused on young women's or married women's experiences when discussing SHIR with their providers.

Objective: To describe experiences of unmarried, middle-aged and older women in communicating about SHIR with their health care providers.

Design And Participants: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 unmarried women aged 40-75 years.

Caring for vulnerable populations: curricula in U.S. internal medicine residencies.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) encourages internal medicine training programs to include specific curricula devoted to health care issues of vulnerable populations. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of curricula involving selected vulnerable populations among U.S.

Hormone therapy for the prevention of bone loss in menopausal women with osteopenia: is it a viable option?

Osteopenia is a state of low bone mass, the appropriate clinical management of which is not always clear. The use of hormone therapy for postmenopausal bone loss has become controversial given recent data regarding the risks of therapy. Fragility fractures are common, and result in substantial morbidity and mortality.

Women and alcohol.

Primary care providers are uniquely positioned to educate women about alcohol use and misuse. Early identification and intervention can significantly limit the adverse consequences of alcohol abuse. Physicians must recognize the risk factors, presentation, and treatment issues relevant to women.

Principles of diagnosing and managing postmenopausal osteoporosis for the podiatric physician.

Osteoporosis is an asymptomatic disease until a fracture occurs. The prevalence of osteoporosis will rise with the aging of the population. Recent advances have led to more efficacious treatment options.

Perioperative care of the patient with hip fracture.

Primary care physicians can intervene to reduce perioperative complications due to comorbid medical illness in patients hospitalized with hip fracture. We review the role of the primary care physician in the treatment and prevention of perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Diagnosing and managing post menopausal osteoporosis: opportunities for fracture prevention.

Osteoporosis is an asymptomatic disease until a fracture occurs. Management includes primary prevention, early detection through targeted screening, and implementation of appropriate treatment and monitoring strategies. This article explores these issues in depth.

Alcohol use disorders in women. Screening methods and approaches to treatment.

Primary care physicians have a unique opportunity to educate women about alcohol use and to identify those with alcohol problems. Early identification and intervention can significantly limit the adverse consequences of alcohol abuse. To identify alcohol abuse and intervene most effectively, physicians need to recognize the differences in risk factors, presentation, and treatment relevant to women.

Evaluating a lesbian and gay health care curriculum.

Background: Many physicians are not prepared to deal with the health care concerns of their lesbian and gay patients.

Purpose: To examine the impact of a seminar on the self-reported level of preparedness and comfort in dealing with lesbian and gay patients among general internal medicine residents.

Methods: General internal medicine residents at Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University participated in the 3-hr seminar.

Utilization of preventive health services by HIV-seronegative injection drug users.

Little is known about the use of preventive health services by HIV-seronegative IDUs. This study examines screening and preventive health services use by two populations of HIV-seronegative IDUs recruited from a needle exchange program and methadone program. We found high rates of HIV and tuberculin skin testing in the past year as well as tetanus vaccination among both groups of IDUs.