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In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued cervical cancer screening guidelines that, for the first time, include an option for women to perform an at-home human papillomavirus (HPV) test. HPV causes about 95% of cervical cancers.
Sleep architecture is the pattern and sequence of sleep cycles and stages. People cycle through four to six periods of light and deep sleep each night. Aging, stress, illness, and alcohol consumption can influence people’s sleep architecture.
People on a weight-loss regimen should aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week, which translates into eating 500 to 750 fewer calories each day than they expend. Losing weight faster often causes excess muscle loss and lowers metabolism, making it harder to burn fat.
A 2026 study suggested that helping care for grandchildren can offer cognitive benefits, helping older adults maintain stronger memory and language skills. Grandmothers who helped with childcare-related tasks also showed less overall cognitive decline over time than non-caregiving peers.
Data from apps or wearable devices can help people spot patterns, track changes, and notice potential problems earlier—information that’s valuable both between and during clinician appointments.
Bifocals have two vision zones: the top helps with distance and the bottom for close viewing. Trifocals add a third zone in the middle for middle-distance tasks, such as computer work. Progressive lenses cover all distances, but with no lines in the lenses.
A 2026 study suggested that women with uterine fibroids may have far higher long-term risks of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.
A 2025 study suggested that self-administered hypnosis can reduce hot flash frequency and intensity in menopausal women.
Adjusting to bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses can be challenging. Unlike traditional glasses, these versions include two or more vision zones. Because people use different parts of the lens for different tasks, objects can seem slightly distorted when they move their eyes.
Femtech (short for female technology) has expanded dramatically since its genesis a decade ago. Encompassing apps, wearable devices, medical hardware, and online platforms, femtech tools have increasingly focused on midlife and older women.