WENDY
Women’s Health Study (WENDY) is a protocol of a population-based study assessing gynecological and metabolic health in women.
Several common gynecological conditions are poorly recognized in health care due to a lack of knowledge and resources. Moreover, some women are reluctant to report their symptoms due to social or cultural aspects. The Women’s Health Study (WENDY) includes a population sample of 1918 women and explores gynecological and overall health in women in their mid-thirties.
Data Resource Profile
The majority of the study participants were female members of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC) 1986, a population-based birth cohort originally including 9432 live newborns (4567 girls) in the Northern Finland area between July 1985 and June 1986. Invitations were sent to 4292 women, from whom 1544 participated (36%). The WENDY population was also expanded to a randomly selected 1112 women born in the Northern Finland area between August 1986 and December 1987. From these women, 374 participated (34%).
The WENDY data included a broad clinical examination, including several different measurements by study nurses and gynecologists, biological samples, ultrasound examinations, as well as a vast range of questions and validated questionnaires on gynecological and reproductive history, physical and mental health, quality of life, lifestyle, life situation, health awareness and opinions. The WENDY data can also be linked to the Finnish national registers and to the earlier birth cohort data collected in the NFBC1986.
WENDY provides a unique and comprehensive data source that can be broadly utilized to gain deeper insight into women’s health at reproductive age, gynecological diseases and symptoms, and to improve collaborations and women’s health worldwide.
Related Publications:
WENDY team:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center, University of Oulu:
- Professor Terhi Piltonen, Principal Investigator
- Riikka Arffman, University Researcher
- Marika Kangasniemi, Research doctor
- Jenni Kinnunen, Research doctor
- Pekka Pinola, Research doctor
- Susanna Savukoski, Research doctor
- Lotta Vuokila, Coordinating research nurse
Department of Dermatology, Oulu University Hospital, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center, University of Oulu:
- Laura Huilaja, Research doctor
- Suvi-Päivikki Sinikumpu, Research doctor
Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Research Unit of Translational Medicine, Medical Research Center, University of Oulu:
- Tero Rautio, Research doctor
- Katariina Kilpivaara, Research doctor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki:
- Kaisu Luiro-Helve, MD, PhD, Research doctor
- Maria Rajecki, MD, PhD, Research doctor
