Dr. Jennifer Young sounded off on the HPV vaccine in the November issue of skirt! magazine.  Read more. 

Dr. Jennifer Young shared tips for reducing your risk for gynecologic cancers in the Moxie section of the Post and Courier.

Read more.

MUSC Gynecologic Oncologist, Dr. Jennifer Young, spoke at the press conference for Lowcountry Women with Wings on Wednesday, September 30th.  Dr. Young encouraged women to learn more about the symptoms of ovarian cancer, which may lead to early detection of this deadly disease.  Below are pictures from the event by Penny Hoey Photography.

• Symptoms of ovarian cancer

In our family roles as wives, mothers, daughters, nutritional coaches, and caregivers, we women make countless healthcare decisions.  The groceries we buy and the food we prepare determine lifelong preferences for our families.  Our conversations with our children about drugs, alcohol, and sex may have lasting impact on their behavior.  And from well-baby checks for our infants to end-of-life care for our parents, we make countless choices about where our families receive medical treatment.  In fact, it is estimated that 80% of all health care decisions are made by women.

Women Leading Wellness is a workshop series sponsored by women faculty of MUSC in partnership with the Center for Women.  As women we understand the complexities, challenges, and joys of our multiple family roles.  The goal of the series is to engage with the women of the tri-county community to discuss the pressing concerns of women as healthcare leaders within their families and within society.  Each workshop will consist of a panel discussion with MUSC women and community women, with plenty of time allotted for free-ranging discussion with participants.

Please click on www.musc.edu/women for a complete listing of the workshops and for registration information.  Call your sister or best friend, and join us for evenings of discussion that will educate and inspire you in one of the most important roles of your life – a woman leading wellness for her family.

The Center for Women will be announcing its newest program, Lowcountry Women with Wings, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 30.  The event will take place at Colonial Lake, at the intersection of Queen Street and Rutledge Avenue. September is ovarian cancer awareness month.

Representatives from a wide variety of women’s organizations from the Lowcountry as well as ovarian cancer patients and survivors have been invited to attend the press conference. Speakers will include Jennet Robinson Alterman, Executive Director of the Center for Women; Jennifer Young, MD, Gynecologic Oncologist at MUSC and Veronica Walsh, ovarian cancer survivor and entrepreneur.

The Lowcountry Women with Wings program provides online and individual, local resources for ovarian cancer patients, survivors and their families.  The goal of the program is to raise awareness of ovarian cancer by teaching the symptoms, demonstrating the urgent need for ovarian cancer testing and research and offering non-medical support to the women who have been diagnosed. 

“In 2008 The Center received a donation from ovarian cancer patient Terry Scharstein to develop a program that helps women battle the non-medical issues, as well as the disease,” said Jennet Robinson Alterman, executive director of the Center for Women.  “We are delighted to unveil our expanded website and outreach program which includes a list of local volunteers who are offering their expertise gratis to assist with the non-medical issues such as filing for disability, understanding health insurance claims and terminology, as well as legal and financial considerations.”

Every year in the U.S more than 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and within 5 years 15,000 will be dead.           

The outreach program will include the distribution of ovarian cancer awareness information to every OB/GYN in Charleston County.  The Francis Marion Hotel is underwriting this outreach effort.

The Lowcountry Women with Wings program was developed with the generous support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of S.C., Amanda’s Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation and the many friends of Terry Scharstein.

The event will also showcase the Lowcountry Women with Wings logo, an original piece donated by local artist L. Jaye Bell.  In celebration of ovarian cancer patient’s lives, this artwork will be displayed on banners at Colonial Lake.  The logo is based on the program’s “rising above ovarian cancer” theme and features a winged woman with a heart resting on her pelvic area. 

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Medical University of South Carolina, William T. Creasman, M.D., Matthew F. Kohler, M.D., and Paul B. Underwood, M.D. are pleased to welcome the newest member of the Gynecologic Oncology team:

Jennifer L. Young, M.D., M.P.H.



Hometown: Sumter, South Carolina
Advanced Degree: M.D. awarded by The Medical University of South Carolina; M.P.H. awarded by University of Virginia
Residency: Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard University)
Fellowship: University of Virginia Health System
Special Interests: Minimally invasive robotic surgery, research in the human papillomavirus and its effects on the female genital tract, health disparities and cancer prevention, and clinical trials

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common newly acquired sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States.  Furthermore, the incidence of HPV infection has increased during the past two decades, with approximately 6.2 million newly diagnosed cases annually.  HPV infection has a very high prevalence rate in sexually active adolescent girls and young women. One study showed that 36% of women 25 years of age or younger are HPV-positive. Although HPV can cause genital warts, cervix dysplasia (a precursor to cervical cancer) and cervical cancer, most HPV infections do not cause symptoms.

Transmission typically occurs at the time of sexual intercourse.  Increased risk for contracting HPV has been associated with multiple sex partners, younger age of sexual debut and failure to use condoms.  One study reported that 20% of women became infected with only one lifetime sex partner, suggesting that both partners must be sexually naïve to prevent infection.  The risk of infection increases substantially when initiating a new sexual relationship. The transmission of HPV infection can be blocked by latex condoms if the infected area is physically covered.  However, HPV lesions often occur on external genital sites not covered by a condom, and so the latter does not prevent all infections.

The currently available HPV vaccine is effective in preventing infection with HPV types 16 and 18, the types that cause abnormal Pap smears and are related to cervical dysplasia and 70% of cervical cancer.  The vaccine also prevents infection due to types 6 and 11, the types responsible for 90% of genital warts.  Since other HPV types are not covered by the vaccine you should continue to have regular Pap smears. 

Girls and women aged 9 to 26 years old are candidates for the vaccine.  The vaccine is administered in three separate doses with an initial dose followed by additional doses at 2 months and again at 6 months.

Women with a history of an abnormal Pap smear are still candidates for the vaccine.  Most abnormal Pap smears are due to infection with a single type of HPV.  Since the vaccine covers 4 different types of HPV (types 6, 11, 16, and 18) it will offer protection against the types of HPV not causing the prior abnormal Pap smear.

by:  David Soper, M.D.

Request an appointment with a MUSC provider.

Are you interested in receiving a vaccine that protects against Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?  If so, you may be eligible to participate in a research study being conducted through the MUSC OB/GYN department.

STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

• This is a 42-month research study consisting of 11 visits to the doctor’s office.

The purpose of this study is to:

• Test the safety and effectiveness of the investigational drug 9-valent HPV as compared to GARDASIL®.

• This study includes a pelvic exam, pap smear, physical exam, and vaccination at no cost to you.

Contact Betty Oswald @ (843) 792-0347 for more information.

Compensation is available for qualified individuals.

FREE talk
April 1, 2009
9:15 a.m.
Citadel Mall
Dillard's common area

Margaret Villers, M.D., MUSC OB/GYN, will address what every woman should know about HPV and the HPV vaccine. 

For those interested in HPV and other women's health topics, this is a great opportunity to get information from a highly skilled physician.  These talks will be given on the first Wednesday of every month.  No registration required.

For those of you who missed my talk on February 4th about “Common Breastfeeding Myths,” I will address a question seen on this blog about which is best “breast milk or formula.”   I will explain below the benefits of breast milk and why The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization both recommend breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of life.

Infection fighting
The infection fighting factors of breastfeeding cannot be replicated in formula. A breastfed infant is protected against infection. Breast milk strengthens the infant’s immune system by increasing the barriers to infection and decreasing the growth of organisms like bacteria and viruses. The breastfed child is protected from allergies, asthma, diabetes, obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome. As a group breastfed babies have fewer infections and hospitalizations than formula-fed infants.

Perfect food
Breast milk is often called the “perfect food” for a human baby’s digestive system.  Breastfed babies generally have less difficulty with digestion than do formula-fed infants, therefore less diarrhea and constipation. Breastfeeding is also equally convenient for parents since there are no last minute runs to the store for formula and there is no need to warm bottles in middle of the night since breast milk is always fresh and available. It is easy for moms to be on the go with their babies since all they need is a quiet and private place to nurse when the baby is hungry.

Free
A big advantage of breast milk is that it does not cost anything and formula costs can quickly add up. Because of the immunities and antibodies passed onto babies through their mother’s breast milk, breastfed infants are sick less often than infants who receive formula. Research has shown that infants who are breastfed exclusively have fewer episodes of ear infections. This means fewer trips to the doctor’s office, fewer co-pays, prescriptions, and fewer days missed from work.

Benefits mom, too!
Breastfeeding is beneficial for mom as well. The ability to nourish a baby helps a new mother feel confident in her ability to care for baby. Breastfeeding also burns calories and helps shrink the uterus, so nursing moms may be able to return to their pre-pregnancy shape and weight quicker. Studies show that breastfeeding helps lower the risk of breast cancer and also may also decrease the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.

So you see while manufacturers have tried and tried they just cannot improve on nature’s “perfect food!”

Classes at MUSC
MUSC offers a breastfeeding class free of charge as a service to our patients and community.  All classes are held from 6pm - 8pm, in the 2 West Classroom in the main University Hospital.  To register, please call (843) 792-5300.

by:  Adina Garner, BSN, RNC, IBCLC, MUSC's 2008 Nurse of the Year

Request an appointment with a MUSC provider.