Women's Health

CHR researchers are passionate about improving women’s health. Our research spans women’s reproductive health, pregnancy, mother and child health, cancer screening and prevention, diabetes prevention, menopause, and osteoporosis.

CHR helped conduct the Women’s Health Initiative, the largest-ever study of women’s health in the U.S. We also helped lead the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures, which examined how aging relates to cognitive function, bone density, and body weight.

Our research makes a difference. Our early investigation of human papillomavirus infection led to the discovery of its link to cervical cancer, and ultimately, an effective vaccine. We showed the connection between diabetes that develops in pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, and childhood obesity. We showed that older women who fall and break a hip have a much higher risk of dying compared to women who don’t, and therefore how important it is to protect them from falls.

Investigators

•  Joanna E. Bulkley
  Investigator
•  Jillian T. Henderson
  Senior Investigator, Evidence-based Practice Center
•  Erin S. LeBlanc
  Distinguished Investigator
•  Mary Anne McBurnie
  Distinguished Investigator
•  Allison Naleway
  Distinguished Investigator
  Associate Director, Science Programs
•  Amanda F. Petrik
  Investigator
• Natalie D. Ritchie
  Senior Investigator
•  Mark A. Schmidt
  Senior Investigator
•  Kimberly K. Vesco
  Distinguished Investigator
•  Sheila A. Weinmann
  Distinguished Investigator

We’re still pursuing important questions. Today, our projects include:

Pregnancy and Childbirth

• Looking at how women’s pre-pregnancy weight affects their health during and after pregnancy (MatTrack, Kim Vesco, PI) and assessing how a weight loss program before pregnancy affects mother and child health (Prepare and PrepareD; Erin LeBlanc, PI)
• Examining blood sugar fluctuations in pregnancy and newborn complications among more than 2,000 women (GO MOMs study; LeBlanc & Vesco, PIs). The goal is to improve how we identify and treat gestational diabetes, so moms can get the care they need and their babies can be healthy.

Menopause

• We conducted a randomized trial to increase effective treatment for KPNW members with symptoms caused by low estrogen, including vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, and urinary urgency or frequency.
• We then developed an effective six-episode podcast to improve physicians’ knowledge about treating menopause (Kim Vesco, MD and colleagues).

Cancer

• Evaluating breast cancer survivorship and use of the OncotypeDx recurrence score among African American women (Amanda Petrik, PI).
• Working to prevent cancer through the Connect for Cancer Prevention Study from the National Cancer Institute (Mark Schmidt, PI).
• Improving cervical cancer screening by testing ways to distribute self-test kits, which allow patients to collect their own sample instead of having a Pap test (STEP-2 Trial; Amanda Petrik, PI).

Diabetes

• Working to prevent the risk of obesity and diabetes from being passed down from one generation to the next in a clinical trial (NDPP-Next Gen; Natalie Ritchie, PI). This study is comparing an online class promoting diet, activity, and weight loss for women ages 18-39 to standard health information before pregnancy. What we learn can better support women to make healthy changes.