In a support group, members provide each other with various types of nonprofessional, nonmaterial help for a particular shared burdensome characteristic. The help may take the form of providing relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. A support group may also provide ancillary support, such as serving as a public relations voice or engaging in advocacy.

Maintaining contact

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Support groups maintain interpersonal contact among their members in a variety of ways. Most groups have traditionally met in person in group sizes that allowed conversational interaction. Support groups also maintain contact through printed newsletters, telephone chains, internet forums, and mailing lists. Some support groups are exclusively Online_support_groups.

Membership in some support groups is formally controlled, with admission requirements and membership fees. Other groups are "open" and allow anyone to drop in at an advertised meeting, for example, or to participate in an online forum.

More on [ Support group ]

UPHS - Penn's Women's Health Newsletter

Managing Bladder and Pelvic Floor Problems
Bladder and pelvic floor health is very important to a woman's overall good health. Here is what you should know about your pelvic muscles and organs including your bladder and urinary system. And if you are having problems in this area, we hope you’ll talk not only to your friends—because chances are they are having similar issues—but most importantly, talk to your health care provider.
Heart Health: Important at Any Age
Women often have symptoms of heart disease before they experience a heart attack. Many women may be able to intervene early, before a heart attack and for those who don't or have congenital heart issues, effective management and treatment options exist.
New Safety Measures For An Optimum Birth Experience
Increased Staff, Full-Time Attention for Women in Labor at Pennsylvania Hospital. The face of obstetric care in the United States is changing, and Pennsylvania Hospital is making certain that prenatal care and delivery remains effective, personal and safe.

Women's Health / Gynecology News From Medical News Today

Study Identifies How Tamoxifen Stimulates Uterine Cell Growth And Cancer
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0700
UCSF researchers have identified a new "feed-forward" pathway linking estrogen receptors in the membrane of the uterus to a process that increases local estrogen levels and promotes cell growth. The research is significant in helping determine why tamoxifen and other synthetic estrogens are linked to increased rates of endometriosis and uterine cancer, and identifies a pathway that could be targeted in drug therapies for those diseases, researchers say.
Eye Disorder Research Benefits From Grant
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Researchers at the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth and Exeter have received a grant of £9,600 from the Northcott Devon Medical Foundation to continue its research into the genetic causes of eye movement disorders. Last year, the team - along with colleagues from the Children's Hospital in Boston (USA) and King's College London - identified a gene that, when mutated, causes Duane syndrome.
Sexist Jokes Favor The Mental Mechanisms That Justify Violence Against Women
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Sexist jokes (and all the variants of this kind of humour) favour the mental mechanisms which urge to violence and battering against women in individuals with macho attitudes.
New Georgia Law Allows Families To 'Adopt' Embryos
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700
A Georgia law (HB 388) that took effect on Wednesday allows state residents to "adopt" embryos created for fertility treatments, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (Gould Sheinin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/1). According to the
More Women Seek Nonprescription Remedies For Menopause Symptoms
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700
Over-the-counter remedies for menopause symptoms are growing in popularity among some women who fear potential risks from prescription hormone replacement therapy, the New York Times reports.
Work Status Changes More Common Among Women Receiving Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer, Study Says
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700
Women with breast cancer who receive chemotherapy appear more likely than those treated with radiation therapy to experience a major change in work status, according to a study published in the journal Cancer, Reuters reports. For the study,

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