Women's Journal — Health, Beauty, Fitness & Lifestyle
Female Coaches Remain Underrepresented As Women’s Sports Grow
Female coaches remain underrepresented as women’s sports draw larger audiences, stronger media coverage, and wider public attention. Public coaching data shows progress in some college conferences, but women still hold fewer than half of many head coaching roles tied to women’s teams. Key Takeaways female coaches held 47.7 percent of women’s team head coaching roles in the 2024-25 Select Seven NCAA Division I report. USAFacts found women held between 41 percent and 45 percent of NCAA women’s team head coaching jobs from 2003 through 2020. ESPN said 2025 WNBA regular season games on its networks averaged 1.3 million viewers across 25 games. Deloitte projected women’s elite sports revenue at at least $3 billion globally in 2026. Female coaches are gaining attention at the same time women’s sports are reaching larger audiences. That contrast has made coaching representation a sharper issue across college athletics, basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, gymnastics, and other women’s programs. The gap is not about whether women’s sports are growing. Public data shows stronger audience and revenue indicators. The question is whether head coaching roles are expanding for women at a similar pace. Head coaches shape staffing decisions, recruiting, program standards, and athlete development. When women remain underrepresented
Study Finds Heart Health Risks Rise During Perimenopause
Perimenopause heart health concerns are receiving renewed attention after researchers identified evidence that cardiovascular changes in women may begin earlier than many physicians previously recognized. The findings emerged from a large-scale study examining metabolic and vascular indicators among women transitioning into menopause, with researchers observing measurable shifts in cholesterol, blood sugar regulation, and blood vessel function during the perimenopausal stage. The study focused on women who had not yet reached menopause but were already experiencing hormonal fluctuations associated with the transition period. Researchers analyzed cardiovascular markers over time and found that several risk indicators linked to heart disease appeared before menopause officially began. The findings are prompting additional discussion among medical professionals about earlier screening and preventive care strategies for women entering midlife. Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death among women globally. While menopause has long been associated with increased cardiovascular risk, the latest findings suggest the biological changes contributing to that risk may start years earlier than previously emphasized in clinical practice. Researchers involved in the study examined how shifting estrogen levels during perimenopause may influence vascular function, inflammation, and metabolic health. The research adds to a growing body of evidence connecting hormonal changes to
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NHS Guidance Calls for PMOS Checks in Women
PMOS checks could become more consistent under new draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which calls for closer assessment of women and girls with irregular periods, hormone-related symptoms, and related long-term health risks. The guidance is still under consultation, with final publication scheduled for December 2026. Key Takeaways NICE draft guidance calls for PMOS checks in people aged 10 and over with suspected symptoms. PMOS is the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome, previously known as PCOS. Irregular periods, androgen-related symptoms, and metabolic health concerns are central to the guidance. NICE recommends annual reviews for people diagnosed with PMOS. The draft consultation runs from July 1 to August 11, 2026. PMOS, or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, is the newer name for the condition long known as polycystic ovary syndrome. The name change was formally introduced in May 2026 after international medical groups said the older term placed too much emphasis on ovarian cysts and did not fully describe the condition’s endocrine and metabolic features. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, known as NICE, has now published draft guidance on PMOS for consultation. The draft runs from July 1 to August 11, 2026,
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