Data from 44 studies showed women with an unwanted pregnancy have a higher incidence of mental health problems in general. This is not affected by whether or not they have an abortion or give birth. But anti-abortion campaigners said the review sought to "minimise" the psychological effect of terminating a pregnancy.

Experts from the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH) used the same research methods they use to assess evidence on other mental health issues for NICE. The work - funded by the Department of Health - came after concerns that abortion may adversely affect a woman's mental health.

Usually, a woman's risk of suffering common disorders such as anxiety or depression would be around 11-12%. But the researchers said this rate was around three times higher in women with unwanted pregnancies.

'Equal risks'
The director of NCCMH, Prof Tim Kendall, said: "It could be that these women have a mental health problem before the pregnancy. "On the other hand, it could be the unwanted pregnancy that's causing the problem. "Or both explanations could be true. We can't be absolutely sure from the studies whether that's the case - but common sense would say it's quite likely to be both.

"The evidence shows though that whether these women have abortions - or go on to give birth - their risk of having mental health problems will not increase. "They carry roughly equal risks. "We believe this is the most comprehensive and detailed review of the mental health outcomes of abortion to date worldwide."Prof Kendall said many previous studies had failed to adequately control for instances when women previously had mental health problems.

After a project which involved a three-month consultation, the researchers believe it would not "be fruitful" to carry out further studies into how pregnancies are resolved. They say future work should concentrate on the mental health needs associated with an unwanted pregnancy.

Support need
Dr Roch Cantwell, a consultant perinatal psychiatrist who chaired the steering group, said the review was called for in 2008. He said: "At that time, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) issued a position statement saying the evidence on abortion and mental health was imperfect and conflicting.

"We all recognise abortion is a very sensitive and emotive topic. Our aim was not to debate the moral and ethical issues, but to focus on the available scientific evidence."The scope of the review excluded reactions such as guilt, shame and regret - although these were considered important - and also assessments of mental state within 90 days of an abortion.

This was because the research was not about "transient reactions to a stressful event". Sophie Corlett, director of external relations at the mental health charity Mind, said: "It is important that medical professionals are given the correct information to provide support for all women, but particularly those with a pre-existing history of mental health problems.

"This study makes it absolutely clear that this group is at the greatest risk of developing post-pregnancy mental health problems and should be given extra support in light of this."Dr Kate Guthrie, speaking for RCOG, said: "Abortion including aftercare is an essential part of women's healthcare services, alongside access to contraception and family planning information."

However a spokeswoman for the ProLife Alliance said: "Once again the politics of abortion blinds those who should be rigorously objective in assessing epidemiological evidence. "This is a pick-and-mix report trying to minimise the psychological effects of termination of pregnancy in a way which does our so-called medical experts little credit."

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Mathangi is in her 50s. She makes every effort to maintain her health. She is fit and spry and looks much younger than her years. She jump-starts her day by doing a set of stretches when she gets up in the morning. She finds that she is flexible and pain-free if she keeps up this routine.

Wake up your body with stretches: Why should you stretch in the morning? Simple stretches in the morning have benefits for both your body and mind. They give you an emotional boost because you have done something positive toward maintaining your body.

Waking up in the morning is not always the most pleasant thing! When accompanied by back discomfort and stiffness, hip or leg pain or just general aches, it becomes even more unpleasant. Sleeping at night causes your muscles to stiffen. The stress of the previous day may also cause some of your muscles to tighten. It is not unusual to wake up in the morning with a stiff neck and shoulders or with a mild low back pain.

Getting our muscles and joints loosened up and limber, without placing a lot of stress on them, is important. Early-morning stretches also realign your spinal column and improve your posture. They are a great way to increase blood flow throughout your body.

Principles of stretching

* Timing of each stretch

A 10-15 second stretch is effective. Start the stretch, feel it in the muscle group that you are stretching and hold it for 10 seconds. Take a deep breath and intensify the stretch and hold it for 5-10 more seconds. Then exhale gently. The stretch should be comfortable and should stop short of pain.

* Muscle groups to stretch

Focus on stretching the major muscle groups in your legs, gluteals, lower and upper back. Neck stretches and shoulder rotations will help loosen the tension in your neck and shoulders.

Stretches to do while lying down (even before you get out of bed!)

1. Trunk rotation: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the bed. Roll the knees side to side as far as possible while keeping the knees together. Repeat this 10 times on each side.

Benefit: it will get the kinks out of your back muscles.

2. Single knee to chest: Pull one knee toward your chest and hold for about 20 seconds. Keep the other leg straight or bent slightly. Repeat for the opposite side and do each side 3 times.

Benefit: this exercise stretches your gluteal (buttock) muscles and the back of your thighs.

3. Lower back: Lying on your back, slowly bring the right knee up and across over the straightened left leg. Hold the right knee with your left hand and press gently toward the ground until you feel a stretch in the muscles on the side of the body, your thighs and your lower back. To increase the stretch, hold the free arm at right angles to the body and rotate your neck towards the same side. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds, and then repeat on the opposite leg.

4. Back and hip joints: Lie on your back with your legs straight. Place the ankle of your right leg over your left knee. Grab the right foot just above the toes and gently pull the foot upwards while pushing your knee towards the ground. Hold the stretch for 10-15 seconds. Switch legs and repeat on your left leg.

Benefit: it will stretch the thigh muscles and keep the hip joints flexible.

Stretches to do while sitting on the side of the bed

1. Neck: Sit on the edge of your bed with your feet on the floor. Rotate your neck in a circle, touching your ears to your shoulder. Rotate clockwise slowly for 5 seconds, then rotate counterclockwise slowly for another 5 seconds.

Benefits: loosens the stiffness in your neck.

2. Shoulders: Bring the right arm across your chest while using your left palm to pull it towards your chest. After 15 seconds of stretching your first shoulder, switch arms.

Benefits: loosens your shoulder muscles.

Stretches to do while standing by the side of the bed

1. Upper back, arms and rib cage: Lace your fingers together in front of you and slowly raise them over your head with palms facing the ceiling, stretching your rib cage. Take a deep breath as your arms go up and exhale when you bring your arms down.

2. Back and legs: As you remain standing at the side of the bed, take your fingers and reach down to your toes as much as you can while keeping your knees straight. Hold for 10-15 seconds.

Benefits: stretches the back of your thighs and flexes the lower back.

3. Front of thighs: Stand on one leg and pull the heel of your other leg towards your bottom until you feel slight tension in the muscles in the front of your thigh. Hold on to something so that you don't lose balance. After 15 seconds, repeat with the opposite leg.

Benefits: loosens the area in front of the thighs, the largest muscle in the body.

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Roller derby is back! Yes, teams of women with cheeky names wearing short shorts as they skate around a loop, knocking each other over, are right here in the Capital Region, and watching them do their thing on a Saturday night is something you won't soon forget. Whether you're old enough to remember roller derby from bouts on late night television, or know it from movies such as Kansas City Bomber, starring Raquel Welch, or Whip It, starring Drew Barrymore, or you play "Jam City Rollergirls" (released January 2011) on a Wii, you cannot escape its resurgence — and now Capital Region residents can see it live.

What To Expect
The two main local teams are the Albany All Stars and the Troy Hellions. The All Stars began in 2006; the Hellions, in 2008. The Hellions have just been accepted as an apprentice affiliate of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, meaning the team can now play in regional, national and international bouts. The All Stars have regular intra-league bouts with the Capital City Legislayers, Department of Public Hurts, and Empire Skate Troopers.

As those team names suggest, word play is part of the roller derby game. Skaters boast names like Eloda Sarcasm and Isabella Bruisalini. And the women play to their characters. These tongue-in-cheek pseudonyms are meant to add entertainment to the sport; heavy on wordplay, some verge on double-entendres meant to go over children's heads. The uniforms consist of tight shirts, short skirts or shorts, stockings/leggings/fishnets, and lots of protective gear.

While the names and costumes are all part of the fun, don't think for a second roller derby isn't a real sport. It involves strategy, endurance, strength, athleticism ... and a solid chance many skaters will be knocked out of the oval and into the laps of spectators.

"The beauty of the sport is that any woman can play," says Karen Riley, aka Sin & Tonic of the Albany All Stars. Indeed, these women are all shapes and sizes, with day jobs ranging from librarian to state worker — and they're constantly holding recruitment nights.

The Rules
Each team has five players on the track at a time. Four are blockers; one is the jammer. "Jammers tend to be the fastest and often, most fearless," says Andrea Pagano Chen, aka Flexi Wheeler of the Hellions. The jammer's helmet has a cover with a star on it; the striped cover on one of the blocker's helmets signifies she's the pivot, who's "there to keep the pack together," Riley says. "She has the plan."
The pivot and three blockers for each team start at the pivot line while the jammer stands 30 feet back, behind a second line. When the whistle blows, the pack starts to move. Once all skaters have gotten past the pivot line, the jammer referee (each jammer has her own ref) blows a double whistle and the two jammers start skating as quickly and deftly as possible to catch up to the blockers; their objective is to get through the throng of people. Whichever team's jammer gets through first, without incurring any penalties, is designated lead jammer and she then gets points for each person on the other team that she passes, starting with her second loop around the track. Jams last two minutes at most, or until the lead jammer signals the jam is done by placing her hands at her hips. Then they line up and start again.

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Pathology Holdings, Inc., parent company of its flagship laboratory Pathology, Inc., the West Coast's premier women's health laboratory, today announced the merger of West Coast Clinical Laboratories (WCCL), a leading California provider of full-service laboratory testing focusing on women's health and reproductive donor testing, with Pathology, Inc.

"We are thrilled to have West Coast Clinical Laboratories merging with our organization," says Pathology, Inc.'s President and CEO, Vicki DiFrancesco. "This is an exciting opportunity for our customers to participate in a novel partnership combining expertise from two laboratories that have been successfully servicing the women's health community in California for decades. The resulting synergies will provide expanded specialized services for our clients."

"It's a wonderful opportunity to offer expanded testing services to our clients and their patients," says WCCL General Manager, Shuli Suman. "Together our laboratories will provide a truly unique combination of comprehensive clinical and anatomic pathology services focused on women's health and reproduction, with unparalleled support, innovation, and patient care."

Pathology, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pathology Holdings, Inc., is a full-service laboratory offering both clinical and anatomic pathology testing, with nationally recognized pathology expertise in gynecology, genitourinary pathology, gastrointestinal pathology, dermatopathology, hematopathology, and cytopathology. Pathology, Inc. performs an array of tests focusing on women's health including comprehensive liquid-based Pap testing, associated molecular diagnostic assays, and computer assisted interpretation techniques. The women's health market represents one of the largest anatomic pathology segments, with the U.S. cervical cancer screening market alone estimated at over $1.7 billion.

WCCL offers a comprehensive menu of clinical and AP testing services for OB/Gyns, family practitioners, and primary care physicians, as well as specialists including gastroenterologists, urologists, and dermatologists. WCCL has been serving the Los Angeles community of California for over 20 years and has a reputation of providing unparalleled service and support to its clients and patients. Specializing in fertility testing, WCCL provides quality FDA donor testing for in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics and OB/Gyns and offers STAT testing services, facilitated through 14 patient service centers throughout Los Angeles County.

About Pathology, Inc. Pathology, Inc. is a full-service provider of anatomic and clinical pathology testing services, with a 30-year foundation in the Women's Health market. With expertise in molecular and digital pathology, the Company has built a solid reputation for quality and customer service with clients that include OB/Gyns, dermatologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, and family practitioners, as well as surgicenters, endoscopy centers, hospitals, and independent laboratories. Pathology, Inc. is located at three separate facilities; its Torrance headquarters, a second facility in Templeton, CA (Central Coast Clinical Laboratories) and a third laboratory in Monrovia, CA. All three facilities are CLIA certified and CAP accredited.

Pathology, Inc.'s pathologists, through its association with Affiliated Pathologists Medical Group (APMG), are all board certified and have a variety of multi-specialty interests and expertise, as well as extensive cumulative experience in outpatient pathology. Pathology, Inc. has provided pathology services to physician offices and pathologists for over 25 years.

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Women in their 40s with no family history of breast cancer are just as likely to develop invasive breast cancer as women whose mother or sister has had the disease, according to a new study. These preliminary findings support a recommendation for all women 40 to 49 to get annual mammograms, not just those with a family history of breast cancer, said Dr. Stamatia V. Destounis, a Rochester, N.Y., radiologist. Women with no family history are typically considered low-risk.

Destounis evaluated cancer patients who were seen from 2000 to 2010 at the Elizabeth Wende Breast Care facility, where she is a managing partner. "Invasive cancer (cancer that spread to the lymph nodes) was diagnosed in 64 percent of patients without family history and 63 percent with," she said. She is scheduled to present her findings Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago.

During the decade studied, 373 women 40 to 49 years old were diagnosed with breast cancer after mammography screening at the center. Of the nearly 40 percent who had a family history (meaning a primary relative with the disease), 63.2 percent had invasive breast cancer, while in the no-family-history group, 64 percent of the patients had invasive disease. (Of those without a family history, 16 had a personal history of breast cancer.) When the researchers looked at the cancers' aggressiveness, they found 29 percent of cancers in women without a family history and 31 percent of those with a family history had spread to the lymph nodes.

While some experts agree with Destounis that annual mammograms should begin at 40, others do not. The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening with mammograms for women starting at age 40. However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women 40 to 49 discuss screening with their doctor and then decide. The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care earlier this month recommended that women age 40 to 49 at average risk not get routine mammograms.
"I don't see that this study helps inform a woman about whether she should start mammograms at age 40 or at age 50," said Dr. Michael LeFevre, co-vice-chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. One limitation of the study is that it was conducted at a single facility, a limitation that Destounis acknowledges. However, she said the women are ethnically diverse and from all income levels.

The study finding, LeFevre said, "doesn't say anything about the probability of a woman dying in her 40s."
LeFevre also pointed out that "having an aunt die of breast cancer at age 85 is not the same as having a mother or sister with breast cancer at 42," when it comes to family history. When a woman discusses with her doctor when she should begin mammograms, LeFevre said that discussion should definitely include details about family history.

Destounis and some of her co-authors report being investigators for diagnostic imaging companies, including Siemens, Hologic and others. The study was not funded by outside sources, however, Destounis said. Research presented at a medical conference is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

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A $1 million pledge to endow the directorship of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture at Duke University has been made by journalist, activist and women’s health care pioneer Merle Hoffman, President Richard H. Brodhead announced Thursday.

“The Bingham Center is one of the leading women’s history research centers in the U.S., documenting centuries of women’s public and private lives, including education, literature, art and activism,” Brodhead said. “We at Duke are grateful for this generous gift by Merle Hoffman, which will help further the Bingham Center’s mission to preserve and promote the intellectual and cultural legacy of women from all walks of American life.”

The center, part of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, is home to many of Hoffman’s papers. After abortion laws were liberalized in New York state in 1970, Hoffman founded Choices Women’s Medical Center, one of the first ambulatory surgical centers for women, which has become one of the largest and most comprehensive women’s medical facilities in the U.S.

In 2000, the Bingham Center acquired both Hoffman’s papers and the records of Choices Women’s Medical Center. Since then, the center has collected the papers of numerous other providers, clinics and reproductive rights organizations that document the work of activists, health care workers, attorneys and others involved in reproductive health.

The center also has a large body of works that document four centuries of political activity surrounding women’s reproductive rights in the U.S., thanks in part to several generous gifts from Hoffman, said Deborah Jakubs, Rita DiGiallonardo University Librarian and vice provost for library affairs.

“Associating Merle Hoffman’s name with the directorship creates an enduring connection between the Bingham Center’s leadership and Hoffman’s outstanding contributions to the health, safety and empowerment of women everywhere,” Jakubs said.

Hoffman is also the publisher and editor-in-chief of On the Issues Magazine, and her autobiography, Intimate Wars: The Life and Times of the Woman Who Brought Abortion from the Back Alley to the Board Room, is set to be published in January 2012.

Hoffman said she decided to endow the center’s directorship as a way “to continue to support the visionary efforts by Duke University to honor and document the many courageous women who have fought their own ‘intimate wars’ in the long struggle for reproductive justice. I hope that the Bingham Center will become the bridge between theory and practice that will catalyze future generations to joyfully go further and deeper in the continual battles for women's equality.”

Center director Laura Micham said Hoffman’s latest gift “will enable us to expand our activities and impact, bringing us closer to our goal of building one of the premier research centers for women’s history and culture in the world.”

The Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture was established in 1988 to acquire, preserve and provide access to published and unpublished materials that reflect the public and private lives of women, past and present. It is named in honor of author, playwright, teacher and feminist activist Sallie Bingham.

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Women who appreciate their morning cup of java have yet another reason to continue indulging. Harvard researchers have discovered that coffee consumption can cut the risk for developing endometrial cancer by as much as 25 percent. The details of the study were recently published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. The study adds to the fast-mounting evidence that the health benefits of drinking coffee far outweigh the risks posed by downing the miraculous, golden nectar.

While too much coffee can lead to nervous jitters and heart palpatations for some, previous studies have shown the powers of the almighty coffee bean help protect against a growing number of maladies including brain tumors, multiple schlerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. In addition, research has shown that women who drink a moderate amount of coffee can expect to lower their chances of gout, depression, stroke, and certain types of breast cancer.

Endometrial cancer forms in the tissue that lines the uterus, where a fetus develops. The majority of endometrial cancers develop in the cells that make and release mucus and other fluids, known as adenocarcinomas. According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, an estimated 46,470 new cases of endometrial cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States alone, with 8,120 women losing their lives to the disease.

For their study, Harvard School of Public Health researchers analyzed data on 67,470 women who were a part of the Nurses’ Health Study. Findings showed that over the 26-year study period, a total of 627 cases of endometrial cancer occurred among the study participants. However, women who consumed four or more cups of coffee daily were shown to have reduce their risk for developing the disease by 25 percent when compared to those who drank an average of less than one cup per day. Women who drank two to three cups of java a day had a seven percent reduction in risk.

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While many women in sports continue to build their legacies, there are some who have yet to scrape the edge of stardom. They may lack the dramatic lifestyles that some of their peers are clearly entrenched in, but these unknown women are ready to earn respect for their beautiful impact on sports.

From exotic WAGs and vivacious athletes to mysterious reporters and eager cheerleaders, these women are moments away from fame. Here are the hottest women in sports who have yet to be fully introduced.

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Fans of all actresses voted in their thousands and for the last three years Katrina Kaif has come out on top but such is the dream run of Bebo that she bags another accolade to go with her many achievements in the last 12 months. Her Eid release Bodyguard smashed all records and is the highest earner so far this year. Then on Diwali she repeated the magic of her previous Diwali film Golmaal 3 when her Ra-1 became her fourth film to hit triple figures at the Box Office. Not only is she dominating with her movies but she has been immortalized at Madame Tassauds and will break many hearts when she says 'I do' next year in her marriage to Saif Ali Khan. In the recent Airtel Awards she bagged the best Jodi award with Salman Khan and one wouldn't bet against her winning the best actress award too.

As 2011 draws to a close three of her releases next year trailers will be revealed starting with Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Agent Vinod and Talaash. She has also started work on the very exciting Heroine. There seems to be no stopping this Heroine and 2012 could again be her year. Asjad Nazir (South Asian showbiz journalist, Entertainment Editor of Eastern Eye) who can be found here revealed the results and only 1% separated the top 2.

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Model-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who is considered as one of the sexiest women in the world, has revealed she was an 'Ugly Betty' as a teenager. The 24-year-old admits she resembled the spectacle-and-brace wearing character Betty Suarez from the comedy-drama television series 'Ugly Betty', reports femalefirst. "I was a bit of an Ugly Betty when I was 15," Huntington-Whiteley told America's Harper's Bazaar magazine.

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