Pap smear update
It’s flawed—but still the best cancer test available.
Two new studies in The New England Journal of Medicine suggest that testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV)—the leading risk factor for cervical cancer—is nearly twice as effective as the standard Pap smear. Should you ask your doc for an HPV test instead? Not so fast. Right now the HPV test (which, like the Pap, collects cells that are sent away to a lab) is more expensive, has twice the false-positive rate, and isn’t U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved as a primary cervical-cancer screen—so insurance providers are reluctant to pay for it. Plus, experts say a series of Paps may be just as effective as a series of HPV tests; more research is needed.

Burgers and fries for PMS?
Go ahead—if feeding a fast-food fix helps.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis (UCD) found that middle-age women who reported “greater fat intake” had fewer premenstrual food cravings and less bloating. “Pay attention to your diet and your symptoms,” says lead study author Ellen B. Gold, PhD, a professor of epidemiology at UCD, “and try to make connections about what patterns increase or decrease them.” If French fries reduce your symptoms? Lucky you.