Facts At A Glance

• 85 percent of online searches for health information were conducted by women.
             — Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2003
  
  
• Women account for 52 percent of home Internet users and represent 55 million Internet users last year alone.
             —Nielsen NetRatings, 2004

Aetna Women's Health Online

According to the United States Department of Labor, women are the primary health care decision makers and caregivers for a family member who is ill or requires health care services. Aetna Women's Health Online provides the resources to help women make informed choices about health care. The innovative website includes information on breast, cardiovascular and reproductive health and menopause and pregnancy information. Visitors to the site can also obtain age-based recommended health screenings, depression information and information about the prevention of chronic conditions.

A suite of interactive tools is also available on the website. The tools include a due date calculator, baby growth timeline, calculator to determine body mass index and a guide to food serving sizes.

Aetna Women's Health Online is available on Aetna.com under the “Members and Consumers” category by selecting Health Information and then Women's Health. To learn about Aetna Women's Health Online, visit the website.


Heart Health

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in American women. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that more women die each year from heart disease than stroke, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and HIV combined (2004). This site includes information on gender differences in cardiac care, signs and symptoms of cardiac disease, diagnostic tests, treatment and prevention strategies/approaches for common heart conditions.

The website also highlights ethnic disparities in heart health. Research conducted by the American Heart Association shows that African-American and Hispanic women have higher mortality rates from heart disease than their white counterparts (2004). Aetna Women's Health Online provides visitors with pertinent statistics about heart disease risk in ethnic minorities.

Moms-to-Babies®

The Moms-to-Babies section features a range of information on what to expect before, during and after pregnancy. In the “before pregnancy” section, visitors to the website can learn about the menstrual cycle, a glossary of terms associated with pregnancy, genetic testing and the facts about pregnancy after age 35.

The section entitled “during pregnancy” offers information specific to the three trimesters of a pregnancy, multiple births and tips on preparing siblings for a baby's birth.

The “after delivery” area features breastfeeding support and information, a postpartum depression overview, information about sudden infant death syndrome and tips for sleep and good health for new mothers.

Breast Health

Aetna Women's Health Online features a variety of information to help women understand breast care and health. The breast health website offers general breast health information, as well as information on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and options for members who are newly diagnosed with the disease. The site also includes a secure breast health survey to help identify women who may meet the criteria for women's health and disease management programs.

Migraine Health

According to the National Headache Foundation, migraine pain and associated symptoms affect 28 million Americans, striking three times more women than men. Aetna Women's Health Online features the most current information on migraine symptoms, triggers and treatments and a useful comparison to help people distinguish between tension and migraine headaches.

Coming Soon to Aetna Women's Health Online:

Later this year, Aetna Women's Health Online will include additional health conditions and information on osteoporosis and children's health.