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Jennifer Williams
Affiliations
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Postdoctoral Fellowship with the University of Toronto
Education
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BAH and MSc from Queen’s University
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PhD from McMaster University
Lab Website
Research
Jennifer Williams is investigating the effect of sex hormones, including those found in hormonal contraceptives, on early risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women. Williams, a PhD candidate in the Vascular Dynamics Lab, is working under the supervision of Maureen MacDonald, the dean of the Faculty of Science.
Approximately 1.3 million Canadian women are currently using oral contraception pills (OCPs) and they are the most common prescription for women in Canada between the ages of 15 and 44. Yet, minimal research exists exploring the short- and long-term effects of hormonal oral contraception pills on measures of cardiovascular health. Williams’ doctoral research aims to investigate these effects using artery response to a series of stimuli, alongside other indicators, such as the stiffness of arteries and markers found in blood, observed using ultrasound technology. Williams is an advocate for women’s health and inclusion of women in basic and clinical research and is passionate about education and research on the integration of sex/gender in biomedical research.
Resources I Recommend
Research on the menstrual cycle's impact on blood vessel function shows that there is some evidence, though not very strong, suggesting better blood vessel health during the late follicular phase. This effect seems to be more pronounced in larger blood vessels rather than smaller ones. However, methodological differences in how studies were conducted may influence these findings, indicating a need for more research to fully understand how the menstrual cycle affects vascular function.
This review explores the impact of hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control pills, on blood vessel health in women. While these contraceptives appear to affect both large and small blood vessels, the specific type of progestin, ethinyl estradiol-to-progestin ratio, and administration method may play a role, with no apparent impact on smooth muscle function or overall vascular structure. The findings provide insights for future research and considerations for using hormonal contraceptives in study designs.
This study investigated how the natural menstrual cycle and different oral contraceptive pills affect how the body uses energy during rest and exercise in women. The results showed that, overall, there were no significant differences in how the body burns carbohydrates and fats across different phases of the menstrual cycle or with different contraceptive pills. This suggests that researchers may not need to consider the menstrual cycle or contraceptive pill phases when studying how the body uses energy during exercise.
This study aimed to understand how the menstrual cycle affects exercise performance in women. The findings, based on a review of 78 studies, suggest that exercise performance might be slightly reduced during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle compared to other phases. However, due to variations in study quality and the relatively small impact observed, the researchers recommend a personalized approach to exercise during the menstrual cycle rather than general guidelines.