Roshini Raj, MD and Shan Boody Collaborate to Empower Women to Take Control of Their Gynecologic Health
New online resource – www.KeepHerAwesome.com
– educates about bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most prevalent
gynecologic infection in the U.S., and other women’s health issues
New national survey reveals the serious impact BV has on women
NEWARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Roshini Raj, MD, a board-certified physician and women’s health
advocate, author and medical correspondent and Shannon Boodram, AKA Shan
Boody, a clinical sexologist and author, have teamed up with Symbiomix
Therapeutics, LLC, a Lupin Company, to launch Keep Her Awesome, a
national awareness campaign focused on educating and empowering women to
take control of their gynecologic health. The new resource provides
consumers and healthcare professionals with information on critical
women’s health issues that too often go unnoticed, related
misperceptions, and the importance of proactively speaking with a
healthcare provider and taking charge of a woman’s gynecologic health.
“Though many women are reluctant to discuss ‘embarrassing’ health issues
– especially those pertaining to vaginal health – it’s important to
highlight the impact these same issues can have on a woman’s physical
and emotional health when not addressed,” said Shan Boody. “That’s why I
share my story. I have had bacterial vaginosis (BV), one of the most
common gynecologic infections, and I’m not alone – one in three women
get BV at some point in their lives. I joined Keep Her Awesome to
empower women to have more open conversations and visit their healthcare
providers for proper diagnosis and treatment.”
According to a new national survey conducted online by Harris Poll on
behalf of Symbiomix Therapeutics and the American Sexual Health
Association (ASHA) of 304 U.S. women aged 18 to 49 who have been
diagnosed by a healthcare professional with BV within the past two
years, 76 percent stated they would have gone to see a healthcare
professional sooner if they were aware of the risks associated with BV
if left untreated. Additionally, not only did more than three in five
women with BV (62 percent) mistake it for a yeast infection before
diagnosis, but one in five (20 percent) still believe that BV is a yeast
infection. [1]
BV affects 21 million women ages 14 to 49 annually. However, women of
any age can get BV, even if they have never had sex. Common signs and
symptoms associated with BV include unusual vaginal discharge that can
be white or gray; watery; or have a strong fish-like odor. If left
untreated, BV increases the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted
infections, including chlamydia, trichomaniasis, gonorrhea, herpes and
HIV. BV also increases the risk of pre-term birth and low birth weight;
and pelvic inflammatory disease. [2,3]
“It can be difficult to tell common gynecologic infections from one
another because the symptoms can be similar,” said Roshini Raj, MD.
“However, if ignored or mistreated, gynecologic infections can increase
the risk of serious health concerns. Over-the-counter or holistic
remedies do not effectively treat some gynecologic infections; several
can only be treated properly with a prescription antibiotic, which is
why it’s important to visit a healthcare provider.”
BV and gynecologic infections don’t just affect women’s physical health.
They can also impact women’s emotional health. [4] Results from the
national survey found that many women with BV feel self-conscious (68
percent) and/or embarrassed (66 percent) due to their condition. In
fact, women with BV admit that they have avoided certain everyday
activities that may often be taken for granted, including being intimate
with their spouse/partner (79 percent), working out (27 percent), going
on a first date (17 percent), performing everyday activities (e.g.
running errands, doing chores) (16 percent), and spending time with
family/friends (15 percent). [1]
“These survey results reaffirm what we hear from women affected by BV –
the impact goes beyond the physical symptoms. BV can greatly impact
women’s emotional health as well, causing feelings of anxiety and
embarrassment that can influence healthy sex lives, dating and personal
relationships,” said Deborah Arrindell, Vice President of Health Policy,
American Sexual Health Association. “It’s important for women to know
their bodies, and to proactively speak with their healthcare provider
when something doesn’t seem right.”
Visit www.KeepHerAwesome.com
to learn more about women’s health issues, additional results from the
national survey and how women can take control of their gynecologic
health.
About the Survey
The survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Symbiomix
Therapeutics, LLC, a Lupin Company, and the American Sexual Health
Association (ASHA) within the United States between September 14 and 29,
2017 among 304 U.S. women aged 18 to 49 who have been diagnosed by a
healthcare professional with bacterial vaginosis (BV) within the past 2
years (“women with bacterial vaginosis”). Figures for age, income,
race/ethnicity, region, education, and size of household were weighted
where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in
the population.
About the American Sexual Health Association
The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) is a not-for-profit
organization founded in 1914 to improve the health of individuals,
families, and communities, with a focus on educating about and
preventing sexually transmitted diseases. ASHA’s educational web sites
include: www.ashasexualhealth.org,
www.iwannaknow.org
(teen site), and www.quierosaber.org
(Spanish language site).
About Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC
Symbiomix (sim-bye-OH-mix) Therapeutics, a Lupin Company, is a
biopharmaceutical company focused exclusively on bringing innovative
therapies to market for prevalent gynecologic infections that can have
serious health consequences.
Symbiomix was founded in 2012 and acquired by Lupin Inc. in 2017. Please
visit https://symbiomix.com/
and follow the Company on LinkedIn
and Twitter
for more information.
© 2017-Symbiomix Therapeutics LLC, A Lupin Company
REFERENCES
| 1. | Data on File. | |
| 2. |
Koumans E.H., Sternberg M, Bruce C, et al. (2007). “The Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis in the United States, 2001-2004: Associations with Symptoms, Sexual Behaviors, and Reproductive Health. Sex Transm Dis. 34(11): 864-869. |
|
| 3. | ||
| 4. |
Bilardi JE, Walker S, Temple-Smith M, McNair R, Mooney-Somers J, |
Contacts
Media:
For Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC
Becky Vonsiatsky
O:
415-946-1080
M: 413-478-2003
bvonsiatsky@w2ogroup.com
