A recent global Geographic Atrophy Insights Survey (GAINS) of 203 adults with GA found the condition causes a profound emotional burden and loss of independence. Key highlights from the survey include:
• Three out of four people attributed their loss of vision to a natural part of aging prior to diagnosis.
• A majority feel the disease has negatively impacted aspects of everyday life such as the ability to drive, read and travel.
• Nearly 70% of people with GA believe the loss of independence and impact on quality of life due to their vision loss is worse than they expected.
More than 90% of patients wish to be empowered with more information to help them take control of their disease. These findings underscore the urgent need for education to prepare patients and their loved ones for this debilitating disease.
On Wednesday, May 18, Dr. Nancy Holekamp, Director of Retina Services at the Pepose Vision Institute, Missouri will be available to discuss the GAINS survey, including common misconceptions and the emotional burden and loss of independence that can be caused by GA.
. Interview courtesy: Apelllis Pharmaceuticals

NEW SURVEY IS SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE EMOTIONAL BURDEN & IMPACT ON INDEPENDENCE AMONG THOSE WITH A LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS – CALLED GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY OR G-A. G-A IS THE ADVANCED FORM OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION OR A-M-D WHICH CAN CAUSE IRREVERSIBLE VISION LOSS.

RESULTS FROM A GLOBAL SURVEY FOUND THAT 7 IN 10 ADULTS WITH G-A BELIEVE THE IMPACT ON THEIR INDEPENDENE AND QUALITY OF LIFE DUE TO THEIR VISUAL DECLINE IS WORSE THAN THEY EXPECTED.

DISCUSS THE SURVEY RESULTS AND THE NEED FOR EDUCATION SURROUNDING THE DISEASE IS DR. NANCY HOLEKAMP (NAN-CEE HOLE-CAMP), DIRECTOR OF RETINA SERVICES AT THE PEPOSE VISION INSTITUTE, MISSOURI.

Dr. Nancy Holekamp, Director of Retina Services at the Pepose Vision Institute, St. Louis, Missouri
Dr. Nancy M. Holekamp is Director of Retina Services at the Pepose Vision Institute in St. Louis. She was previously Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Holekamp received her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College Summa cum Laude. She received her Medical Degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Holekamp completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in ophthalmology at the Washington University School of Medicine. Her fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery was with the Retina Consultants in St. Louis.

Dr. Holekamp is actively involved in clinical research, having been principal investigator or sub-investigator in over 35 national clinical trials dealing with age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular occlusion, and diabetic retinopathy. Her efforts in research have resulted in 80 peer-reviewed publications, 22 book chapters, and more than 120 speaking invitations both nationally and internationally. She is a member of the major subspecialty societies, including the Retina Society and the Macula Society. She acts as a reviewer for all the major ophthalmology journals and as a consultant to numerous ophthalmic pharmaceutical companies. After 6 years on the American Academy of Ophthalmology Ethics Committee, she has developed an interest in medical ethics.

#geographicatrophy #drnancyholekamp #agerelatedmaculardegeneration #amd #ga #blindness #irreversiblevisionloss #disease #geographicatrophyinsightssurvey #gains #travel #results

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New Campaign FindingtheWords.com Increases Awareness About Painful Intercourse Due to Menopause and Encourages Women to Speak Up to Their Doctors

 Academy Award-nominated actress Virginia Madsen (http://www.virginia-madsen.org) is never one to shy away from a conversation, even if the topic at first blush seems awkward or embarrassing. Impacting many women in the United States (U.S.), painful intercourse due to menopause is one of the most bothersome symptoms of a chronic and progressive medical condition called vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA).

“When I found out how many women don’t talk about their painful intercourse, I was surprised. It amazes me that in this day and age, when it seems there is no topic considered off limits, that so many postmenopausal women remain silent,” said Virginia Madsen. “It’s very important for women to know they’re not alone. The more women who are able to find the right words to begin this conversation, the more widespread attention we can bring to this topic.”

As an advocate for women, Madsen has teamed up with Shionogi Inc. to launch a new awareness and educational campaign, Finding the Words (visit: http://www.findingthewords.com), to inspire women to break their silence around this common but seldom discussed medical condition. A recent survey revealed that 44% of women indicated that they never discussed symptoms such as painful intercourse with a healthcare provider. One of the most common reasons cited for not discussing their symptoms is that they believed it was a natural part of aging (REVIVE).

“These days, about one-third of a woman’s life could be spent in her menopausal years. I’m a confidante to many of my close girlfriends and we talk a lot about what we are experiencing as our bodies change, and I can tell you that intimacy remains important to women at any age,” added Madsen.

FindingtheWords.com offers important resources to help women who are seeking information feel more empowered to begin the conversation with a healthcare provider about painful sexual intercourse due to menopause.

“Painful intercourse due to menopause is a symptom of a real medical condition caused by physical changes of the vagina that lead to vaginal aging. There are treatment options that can be considered, especially as sexual health plays an important role in a woman’s overall general health,” said Ricki Pollycove, M.D., M.S., OB/GYN and Clinical Faculty at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco. “But treatment cannot happen without an open and honest dialogue occurring between women and their healthcare provider.”

About Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy (VVA)

Vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) is a chronic and progressive medical condition caused by decreased estrogen levels. Declining estrogen levels during menopause can cause tissues of the vaginal lining to grow thinner and become more fragile. Menopause also causes increases in vaginal pH. These physiological signs that characterize aging of the vagina can lead to moderate to severe dyspareunia (painful intercourse) due to menopause.

About Shionogi

Shionogi Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Shionogi & Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical company with a distinguished 135-year history of discovery and development of innovative therapies. Shionogi Inc. continues this focus on the development and commercialization of high quality medicines to meet patient needs, while recognizing and addressing the highly personal nature of healthcare. In the U.S., Shionogi Inc. is primarily focused on two therapeutic areas, women’s health and pain. Pipeline products are in the areas of allergy, oncology, anti-infectives, and endocrinology. For more details, please visit www.shionogi.com. For more information on Shionogi & Co., Ltd., please visit http://www.shionogi.co.jp.

The post Virginia Madsen appeared first on Good News!.

To Empower Postmenopausal Women To Break The Silence Around Painful Intercourse Due To Menopause

New Campaign FindingtheWords.com Increases Awareness About Painful Intercourse Due to Menopause and Encourages Women to Speak Up to Their Doctors

 Academy Award-nominated actress Virginia Madsen (http://www.virginia-madsen.org) is never one to shy away from a conversation, even if the topic at first blush seems awkward or embarrassing. Impacting many women in the United States (U.S.), painful intercourse due to menopause is one of the most bothersome symptoms of a chronic and progressive medical condition called vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA).

“When I found out how many women don’t talk about their painful intercourse, I was surprised. It amazes me that in this day and age, when it seems there is no topic considered off limits, that so many postmenopausal women remain silent,” said Virginia Madsen. “It’s very important for women to know they’re not alone. The more women who are able to find the right words to begin this conversation, the more widespread attention we can bring to this topic.”

As an advocate for women, Madsen has teamed up with Shionogi Inc. to launch a new awareness and educational campaign, Finding the Words (visit: http://www.findingthewords.com), to inspire women to break their silence around this common but seldom discussed medical condition. A recent survey revealed that 44% of women indicated that they never discussed symptoms such as painful intercourse with a healthcare provider. One of the most common reasons cited for not discussing their symptoms is that they believed it was a natural part of aging (REVIVE).

“These days, about one-third of a woman’s life could be spent in her menopausal years. I’m a confidante to many of my close girlfriends and we talk a lot about what we are experiencing as our bodies change, and I can tell you that intimacy remains important to women at any age,” added Madsen.

FindingtheWords.com offers important resources to help women who are seeking information feel more empowered to begin the conversation with a healthcare provider about painful sexual intercourse due to menopause.

“Painful intercourse due to menopause is a symptom of a real medical condition caused by physical changes of the vagina that lead to vaginal aging. There are treatment options that can be considered, especially as sexual health plays an important role in a woman’s overall general health,” said Ricki Pollycove, M.D., M.S., OB/GYN and Clinical Faculty at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco. “But treatment cannot happen without an open and honest dialogue occurring between women and their healthcare provider.”

About Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy (VVA)

Vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) is a chronic and progressive medical condition caused by decreased estrogen levels. Declining estrogen levels during menopause can cause tissues of the vaginal lining to grow thinner and become more fragile. Menopause also causes increases in vaginal pH. These physiological signs that characterize aging of the vagina can lead to moderate to severe dyspareunia (painful intercourse) due to menopause.

About Shionogi

Shionogi Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Shionogi & Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical company with a distinguished 135-year history of discovery and development of innovative therapies. Shionogi Inc. continues this focus on the development and commercialization of high quality medicines to meet patient needs, while recognizing and addressing the highly personal nature of healthcare. In the U.S., Shionogi Inc. is primarily focused on two therapeutic areas, women’s health and pain. Pipeline products are in the areas of allergy, oncology, anti-infectives, and endocrinology. For more details, please visit www.shionogi.com. For more information on Shionogi & Co., Ltd., please visit http://www.shionogi.co.jp.

The post Actress Virginia Madsen Partners With Shionogi Inc appeared first on Good News!.