Plasma prolactin and postmenopausal breast cancer risk: a pooled analysis of four prospective cohort studies.

Background: Prolactin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, regulates breast development and may contribute to breast cancer etiology. However, most epidemiologic studies of prolactin and breast cancer have been restricted to single, often small, study samples with limited exploration of effect modification.

Methods: The Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Risk Prediction consortium includes 8,279 postmenopausal women sampled from four prospective cohort studies, of whom 3,441 were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer after enrollment.

Factors associated with postpartum use of long-acting reversible contraception.

Background: Contraception use among postpartum women is important to prevent unintended pregnancies and optimize birth spacing. Long-acting reversible contraception, including intrauterine devices and implants, is highly effective, yet compared to less effective methods utilization rates are low.

Objectives: We sought to estimate prevalence of long-acting reversible contraception use among postpartum women and examine factors associated with long-acting reversible contraception use among those using any reversible contraception.

Venous Thromboembolism Among Women Initiating Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Immediately Postpartum.

Objective: To estimate the absolute and relative risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among women who initiate depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) immediately postpartum compared with those who do not initiate hormonal contraception.

Methods: The IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters databases were used to identify delivery hospitalizations among women aged 15-44 years during 2005 through 2014. Diagnosis, procedure, and drug codes were used to identify contraception, VTE, and potential confounding chronic or pregnancy-related conditions.

Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2015.

Problem/condition: Since 1969, CDC has conducted abortion surveillance to document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions in the United States.

Period Covered: 2015.

Description Of System: Each year, CDC requests abortion data from the central health agencies of 52 reporting areas (the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City).

Cigarette Smoking and Risk of Early Natural Menopause.

Menopause before 45 years of age affects roughly 5%-10% of women and is associated with a higher risk of adverse health conditions. Although smoking may increase the risk of early menopause, evidence is inconsistent, and data regarding smoking amount, duration, cessation, associated risks, and patterns over time are scant. We analyzed data of 116,429 nurses from the Nurses' Health Study II from 1989 through 2011 and used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios adjusted for confounders.

Dietary Protein Intake and Early Menopause in the Nurses' Health Study II.

Early menopause, which is the cessation of ovarian function before age 45 years, affects 5%-10% of Western women and is associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Literature suggests that high levels of vegetable protein intake may prolong female reproductive function. We evaluated the association of long-term intake of vegetable protein, animal protein, and specific protein-rich foods with incidence of early natural menopause in the Nurses' Health Study II cohort.

Vitamin D and calcium intake and risk of early menopause.

Early menopause, defined as the cessation of ovarian function before the age of 45 y, affects ∼10% of women and is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and other conditions. Few modifiable risk factors for early menopause have been identified, but emerging data suggest that high vitamin D intake may reduce risk. We evaluated how intakes of vitamin D and calcium are associated with the incidence of early menopause in the prospective Nurses' Health Study II (NHS2).