All articles tagged: Obstetrics & gynaecology

When you're an elite athlete, the stakes are high. But add pregnancy to the mix and the challenges can rise—not only from mixed messages about the safety of training while pregnant, but also from a lack of support from coaches, health practitioners, and governing bodies.

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University's Center for Mental Health Innovation have identified why increased adiposity, or the amount of fat in the body, during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk for mental health disorders in offspring.

A new technology developed by the "Bioengineering in Reproductive Health" team at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) is able to visualize the metabolism of embryos obtained through in vitro fertilization in order to decide which are most likely to implant correctly in the uterus and reaching full-term. It is a more accurate and reliable technique than traditional methods.

Female cyclists have overwhelmingly reported that menstrual symptoms affect their training and competitive performance, but according to new research, these factors are sometimes managed alone and not adequately relayed to and/or considered by coaches and training staff.

Maternal use of quit smoking medicine aligns with current clinical advice, but low completion rates of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) may mean that pregnant women need more support to successfully quit smoking, a review of prescription medicine data has revealed.

More than 1,700 pregnant women in South Australia have reportedly been given the wrong "due date" due to a technical error in their computerized medical records. This has prompted concerns some women may have had an early induction of labor as a result.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a highly effective and long-lasting form of birth control placed in the uterus. Research shows that many people who get IUDs experience moderate to intense pain during the insertion. But it wasn't until recently that providers began to acknowledge this and do something about it.

Children conceived by using egg or sperm donors have the same well-being outcomes as non-donor-conceived people. However, they are more likely to have identity difficulties and issues with trust, says a new study.

More than one in 10 households in the United States last year did not have access to adequate and nutritious food, according to the U.S. government. Further, food and nutrition insecurity lead to a higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes.

A proposed framework by La Trobe University's Judith Lumley Center, in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, is challenging traditional categorizations of coping strategies in a bid to promote autonomy and create empowering childbirth experiences that are aligned to women's individual preferences and values.

Women residing in states with the most restrictive abortion policies after the Supreme Court's reversal of "Roe v Wade" also experienced declines in the use of birth control pills and emergency contraceptives, according to a new USC study evaluating the impact of the decision.

Women experiencing opioid-use disorders may face unique challenges accessing treatment, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers. The study—published in the journal Women's Health—provides new insight into how pregnancy and parenting can make getting medications for these disorders particularly difficult.

A program guaranteeing income for pregnant residents of three Philadelphia neighborhoods launched on Monday in a city-led effort to decrease infant mortality rates that are higher here than in any other major city.

More than 85% of women—and more than 300 million people worldwide at any given time—use hormonal contraceptives for at least five years of their life. Although primarily taken for birth control, many people also use hormonal contraceptives to manage a variety of symptoms related to menstruation, from cramps and acne to mood swings.

Though exposure to "trace" (an extremely small amount) elements has been shown to affect ovarian functions in experimental studies, there has been little research on the impact of trace levels of non-essential elements, such as lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), on female reproduction. Studies have shown that high levels of these non-essential elements may lead to decreased female fertility and reduce th

Following state legislation passed in 2021 that essentially banned abortion in Texas, the rate of infant deaths rose by almost 13%, compared to a much smaller 1.8% rise nationwide, a new study finds.

An unexpectedly versatile and regenerative stem cell in early embryos may be key to creating new effective fertility treatments, suggests a new study in mice from the University of Copenhagen.

A new study reveals inadequacies in menstrual health education provision in English schools. Findings highlight a lack of practical information being offered, pupils being taught too late, and attitudes that perpetuate stigma. The research is published in Women's Reproductive Health.

Abortion care providers in North Carolina report spending more time on administrative tasks, voice frustration with new required consent forms, have feelings of anxiety and burnout, and fear for the future pipeline of providers since the state adopted regulations in 2023 limiting abortion care, according to a new RAND report.

In October 2018, Canada enacted the Cannabis Act in Canada (CAC), which legalized the non-medical use of cannabis. A new study has found that the rate of cannabis-related disorders diagnosed among pregnant women in the Canadian province of Québec increased by more than 20% after the enactment of the CAC, while rates for all other drug- and alcohol-related disorders remained stable. The study is pu

Mothers whose pregnancies span two calendar years could face higher out-of-pocket costs for maternity care simply because of when they became pregnant, according to a USC study published in the American Journal of Managed Care.

Pregnant women who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are less likely to have a cesarean section or experience hypertension, according to a study.

New research from Monash University has found substantial variation in prenatal screening across Australia, with health care professionals reporting ongoing challenges in providing equitable access and pretest counseling.

Opioid overdoses for pregnant patients are at an all-time high in the United States, even as overall numbers are improving. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly correlated with substance use disorders, yet treatment protocols to help expecting parents manage opioid use disorders and ADHD together are essentially nonexistent.

Babies born after exposure to famine in-utero show signs of accelerated aging six decades later, according to a study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center. The effects of famine were consistently larger for women and near zero for men. The results are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Early-stage cervical cancer patients see better survival and decreased recurrence rates after open radical hysterectomy than minimally invasive laparoscopic approaches, according to a five-year study led by Houston Methodist researchers and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

A mother's contribution to the makeup of a newborn baby's microbiota has been well documented. Now a paper published June 12 in Cell Host & Microbe shows the important contributions that fathers make to the composition of microorganisms colonizing a baby's gut as well.

In the United States, an estimated 58,000 pregnant women enter correctional facilities each year, with many presumed innocent while awaiting trial. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has profound implications for them.

New research confirms that for women with an uncomplicated pregnancy, having a waterbirth is as safe as leaving the water before birth. The research, "Maternal and neonatal outcomes among spontaneous vaginal births occurring in or out of water following intrapartum water immersion: The POOL cohort study," was published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

Immune activation in a pregnant woman can have negative effects on the development of fetal brain microglia—or macrophage immune cells in the brain—and even lead to neurodevelopmental disorders in newborns.

An international research collaboration conducting a comprehensive review of studies from across the globe has reaffirmed that magnesium sulfate, a medication widely used during pregnancy, significantly reduces the risk of cerebral palsy and death for very preterm babies.

In a new study, researchers from Yale and 11 other institutions found "no association between COVID-19 vaccination and stillbirth."

A review of existing research shows there is a growing benefit to using specialist scanning to diagnose endometriosis. The paper is published in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

Many women are unhappy with the state of U.S. maternal health care, but a major new poll finds most Americans don't understand how badly the nation lags behind other wealthy countries in this area.

A lifesaving package including early detection and bundled treatment for women who have heavy bleeding during childbirth has been found to incur minimal additional cost according to new analysis from 78 hospitals around the world.

Treatment options for those suffering from endometriosis are currently few, but research at Umeå University provides new opportunities to understand the disease. A new thesis answers the question of how cells, which are normally found inside the uterus, can gain a foothold in the abdomen and evade the immune system. The results can hopefully contribute to new treatments.

Why are babies born prematurely? Researchers still don't really know.

Urinary incontinence affects millions of women, especially those in the senior age bracket. According to the Mayo Clinic, as many as 50% of women experience some form of leakage, and that number rises to around 75% in women over the age of 65.

Exposure to some endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that harm the thyroid gland has increased over the past 20 years among U.S. women of childbearing age and pregnant women, especially among those with lower social and economic status, a new study finds. The results are presented at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston, Mass.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been identified as one of the many unmet needs in women's health and affects more than 25% of reproductive-aged women. It is caused by pathogenic bacteria that push the healthy microbiomes in the female vagina and cervix—the small gatekeeper canal that connects the uterus and vagina—into a state of imbalance known as dysbiosis.

Florida has become the first state to allow doctors to perform cesarean sections outside of hospitals, siding with a private equity-owned physicians group that says the change will lower costs and give pregnant women the homier birthing atmosphere that many desire.

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) economists have investigated social influences on the menstrual hygiene of workers in Bangladesh.

Every year, medical diagnostics get better and better thanks to the tremendous development of new methods that enable the precise detection of the many different molecules present in biological fluids during an infection. Nevertheless, the rapid and even real-time analysis of bacterial, fungal or viral infections is still far from ideal, which is why many efforts are being made around the world to

More out-of-state women, largely from Texas and Alaska, are traveling to Washington state to obtain an abortion than were doing so before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion, according to research published today in JAMA Network Open.

Pelvic health is crucial to a woman's overall well-being but is often misunderstood or overlooked. When symptoms such as urinary incontinence, pain or discomfort, or pain during intercourse occur, they are dismissed as a byproduct of pregnancy and childbirth or just something that comes with age like arthritis.

The average age at menarche—the first menstrual period—has been decreasing among younger generations in the U.S., especially those belonging to racial minorities and lower socioeconomic statuses, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It also found that the average time it takes for the menstrual cycle to become regular is increasing.

A recent study has uncovered a troubling link between exposure to PM2.5 air pollution during pregnancy and the risk of low birth weight in newborns. This study highlights the significant impact of air quality on prenatal development and emphasizes the urgent need for stricter air pollution controls. The research team includes Hebrew University's School of Public Health and Hadassah Medical Center

A new study shows that hyperandrogenism—a key characteristic of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—affects immune cell populations in reproductive, metabolic and immunological tissues in a PCOS-like mouse model.

The increased frequency and intensity of heat waves due to climate change puts women at a higher risk of experiencing preterm and early-term labor—jeopardizing the health and well-being of their babies.

Louisiana has become the first state to pass a law that designates abortion pills as dangerous controlled substances.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry has shown that nurse-led oral hygiene education has been proved to reduce gingival inflammation in pregnant women. The findings are published in the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health.

Children who were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) while in the womb or as newborn babies may face greater difficulties with social skills and have more respiratory symptoms than non-exposed children, according to a new University of Bristol-led study published in eClinicalMedicine.

Earlier this year, revelations surfaced indicating that women who freeze their eggs are being misled by some U.K. clinics about their chances of having a baby. Now a recent investigation from Queen Mary University of London, sheds light on the disparities in information provision regarding Time-lapse Imaging (TLI) on U.K. fertility clinic websites.

Late 2023, geneticist Marlena Fejzo and colleagues made the discovery that morning sickness's most serious presentation, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), is caused by the hormone GDF15, not human chorionic gonadotropin as previously thought. In an opinion article published May 22 in the journal Trends in Molecular Medicine, Fejzo dispels common morning sickness myths and discusses potential treatments

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Warwick has unveiled crucial insights into the complex factors shaping vaccination decisions among pregnant women, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The dramatic decline in childhood mortality during the 20th century has added a full year to women's lives, according to a new study.

If during a pregnancy a fetus grows below normal thresholds, at each week of gestation there is an increased risk that some of its organs may not develop properly, which can adversely affect the baby's health after birth. The life-long effects of restricted fetal growth on brain and cardiovascular development have been the subject of much research, but there is a lack of scientific evidence on its

Heather Crivilare was a month from her due date when she was rushed to an operating room for an emergency cesarean section.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade nearly two years ago, paving the way for states to usher in new restrictions on abortion, doctors started seeing more young adults seeking vasectomies or getting their tubes tied, emerging research has found.

A woman's egg reserve is finite. Gonad-damaging therapies, such as certain chemotherapies, can therefore lead to infertility. One of the options for preserving fertility is the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue. This involves removing and freezing part of the ovary before a so-called gonadotoxic therapy. This can later be thawed and reimplanted so that undamaged eggs can be returned to the body.

Though their states severely restrict abortion or place limits on having one through telehealth, about 8,000 women per month late last year were getting abortion pills by mail from states with legal protections for prescribers, a new survey finds.

A study by the University of Cambridge, UK, and Fudan University, China, has found that a single dose of the measles jab is up to 2.6 times more likely to be completely ineffective in children born by C-section, compared to those born naturally. The results are published in the journal Nature Microbiology.

Fewer U.S. medical school graduates are applying to residency programs, but the drop is more striking in states that ban abortion compared with other states.

When the Arizona Supreme Court ruled on April 9, 2024, that the state's Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions was enforceable, it brought into stark reality the potential impacts of leaving reproductive rights up to the states to regulate, and the related consequences for women's health.

In one of the first studies of its kind, UC Santa Barbara researchers have found that the immune status of postpartum mothers shifts with how she feeds her baby. According to a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, certain inflammatory proteins—substances that are secreted as part of an immune response—peak at different times of day, correlating with whether the mothers breastfeed, pu

A recent review article provides critical insights into the management of acute agitation in reproductive-age females and during pregnancy within the emergency departments (EDs). The study emphasizes the importance of considering the safety of psychotropic medications in this demographic population, given the potential risks to both the patient and the fetus.

A growing number of states and territories in the United States have legalized medical and recreational cannabis use. As such, recreational cannabis has been associated with a lower perception of risk of harm in the general U.S. population.

In a new study, Oregon Health & Science University researchers report that combined cannabis and nicotine use during pregnancy is associated with significantly higher risk of poor health outcomes for newborns compared with use of either substance alone.

A cesarean section is an important surgical intervention that can save the lives of mother and baby. Cesarean sections are essential in complicated labors such as prolonged or obstructed labor or if the baby is distressed.

More than half of women who smoke before pregnancy quit while pregnant, according to research published in the May 2 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

An alternative method of transferring blood cells to weakened newborns through their umbilical cord does not carry long-term neurodevelopmental risks compared to standard practice, a recent study found. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2–6 in Toronto.

When its six-week abortion ban went into effect on May 1, 2024, Florida joined nearly two dozen other U.S. states that ban abortion or greatly restrict it.

The US maternal mortality rate in 2022 returned to the same level as two years prior, after a spike in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, health authorities announced Thursday.

New research has turned up another reason for women to avoid smoking during pregnancy. A recent study published in the journal Gut Microbes has found an association between mothers smoking during pregnancy and a higher risk of their children becoming overweight or obese.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects about one-quarter of reproductive-age women and is linked to adverse health outcomes, such as increased HIV risk. Yet for decades, BV treatment in the United States has largely relied on antibiotics, and BV recurrence is common following antibiotic therapy.

Deciding to have an abortion is a deeply personal choice, and so is what comes next: determining the type of abortion that's best for you.

As the battle over abortion continues to rage in the courts and American politics, a new report estimates that one in every four U.S. women will undergo the procedure during their lifetime.

New research led by Western Sydney University has shown that treatment of gestational diabetes from early pregnancy can not only reduce birth complications among babies and mothers, but can also reduce health costs by up to 10%.

A new study from the University of Bergen and the University of Exeter shows that pregnant women who quit smoking may prevent an abnormal mismatch between the weight of the placenta and the growth of the fetus.

Routine nutrition interventions to support moderate- to late-preterm infants until full nutrition with mother's breast milk does not impact outcomes, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

With the creation of safe and efficacious vaccines to target human papillomavirus in the first decade of this century, WHO has an ambitious target to lower cervical cancer incidence (mostly caused by HPV) and mortality by 30% by 2030, meaning each country has a target of vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15, 70% of women receiving a high precision screening test at least at age 35 and 45 years of ag

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have discovered in a preclinical model that cytokines, proteins that control immune response, circulating in maternal blood during pregnancy may mitigate an offspring's risk for psychiatric conditions. The findings are surprising because circulating maternal cytokines are at such low levels that they were not implicated in fetal brain development and offspring

In a paper published in Science Bulletin, a Chinese team of scientists presented a global study of over 10,000 microbiome samples from pregnant women and mapped links between maternal microbiomes and pregnancy disorders.

In the era after the introduction of publicly funded in vitro fertilization (IVF) mandating elective single embryo transfer, the multifetal pregnancy rate decreased significantly for IVF, but the contribution of ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (OI/IUI) to multifetal pregnancy still needs attention, according to a new study from ICES and Queen's University.

Compared to their civilian counterparts, excessive pregnancy weight gain is more frequent among military health care beneficiaries, in particular active duty personnel, and is associated with costly maternal/neonatal complications. Women in this sample with excessive pregnancy weight gain were also three times more likely to have substantial postpartum weight retention, according to a new study pu

Active military service may heighten a woman's risk of having a low birthweight baby, suggests a review of the available scientific evidence published online in the journal BMJ Military Health.

Low birth rates have become a serious problem in many developed countries throughout the world, with Japan being a prime example. In Japan particularly, aging and stress have led to a massive rise in infertility, which now affects one in every 4.4 couples.

A surprising thing is happening to some women on weight-loss drugs who've struggled with fertility issues: They're getting pregnant. That's leading to questions about the safety of medications from Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly & Co. during pregnancy.

Researchers from St George's, University of London have identified key barriers to vaccine uptake for whooping cough, flu and COVID-19 in pregnant women, and outline recommendations for addressing vaccine hesitancy. The results are from the first review of its kind and are published in the journal PLOS ONE.

A new study published in Pain from the University of South Australia is putting people's experiences of pelvic pain at the front of pain education to develop better pain management strategies and improved outcomes.

In recent years, media and social networks have brought to light growing denunciations of obstetric and gynecological care that is considered violent, disrespectful, abusive or neglectful. These behaviors, words, acts and omissions are known as obstetric and gynecological violence (OGV).

Severe morning sickness in pregnancy, known medically as hyperemesis gravidarum, can negatively affect both maternal and infant health. A review published in Canadian Medical Association Journal provides information to clinicians on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition.

Sterilization rates abruptly spiked after the national right to an abortion was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2022, a study said Friday.

Midwives are in a prime position to help support pregnant women to stop or cut down on alcohol and other drug use and to improve outcomes for the women and their children.

A woman begins losing blood during childbirth. Some vaginal bleeding is normal, but is it too much?

Increasing midwifery continuity of care has been identified as a key priority for maternity services in the United Kingdom (UK). Published today in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, a study led by Professor Jane Sandall and colleagues, which builds on previous research, compares how outcomes for women and their babies who received a midwife continuity of care model differed from other model

Companies have increasingly offered generous fertility benefits to attract and keep top-notch workers. Now, the federal government is getting in on the act. Starting this year, federal employees can choose plans that cover several fertility services, including up to $25,000 annually for in vitro fertilization procedures and up to three artificial insemination cycles each year.

The introduction of a policy protecting parental leave benefits in Sweden in 1980 had unintended consequences on child health. The policy led to an increase in premature birth rates. This is shown by a study from researchers at Stockholm University, published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Labor induction with vaginal misoprostol during childbirth achieves vaginal delivery rates similar to the oral alternative while significantly reducing the need for oxytocin, the most commonly used labor-inducing drug, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

Niklas Björkström's research group at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH) has conducted a study that provides new knowledge about how the immune system in the uterus works. This knowledge contributes to a better understanding of how pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia occur.

The birth rate in the United States was essentially unchanged from 2021 to 2022, according to the April 4 National Vital Statistics Reports.

In a small, investigator-initiated Phase II study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators, a novel combination of an antibody-drug conjugate and an immune checkpoint inhibitor showed notable activity in pre-treated patients with a difficult-to-treat form of endometrial cancer. In this study, tumors were reduced in six out of 16 patients treated with the combination, including one case in whi

A new "atlas" of the human ovary provides insights that could lead to treatments restoring ovarian hormone production and the ability to have biologically related children, according to University of Michigan engineers.

Increasing numbers of pregnant women in Norway are overweight. Heidi Sandsæter has studied what overweight and obese pregnant women perceive as the cause of this trend.

Lack of respectful maternity care in the U.S. culminating in mistreatment in childbirth is a regular occurrence, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Yet until now experiences of this mistreatment had not been widely documented in the United States. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open.

University of New Mexico researchers have found that even low to moderate alcohol use by pregnant patients may contribute to subtle changes in their babies' prenatal development, including lower birth length and a shorter duration of gestation.

Florida's Supreme Court on Monday paved the way for a ban on abortion after just six weeks of pregnancy, even as it allowed an abortion rights amendment to be on the ballot in November.

The guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy in obese women have long been questioned. New research from Karolinska Institutet supports the idea of lowering or removing the current recommendation of a weight gain of at least 5 kg. The results are published in The Lancet.

The majority of childbearing-age people would value predictive testing for preeclampsia and report they would act on this information, according to a study published online March 13 in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

Researchers from the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research (IOI) and Cardiff University have found evidence that bacteria resistant to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, were present in mothers and babies under a week old in Nigeria in 2016, despite limited clinical use of colistin at that time in the country. The findings have been published in Nature Communications.

In the United States, community health centers (CHCs) mainly serve historically marginalized populations. New research reveals that both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, females receiving care at rural CHCs were less likely to be up to date with cervical cancer screening than those in urban CHCs.

A multicomponent intervention improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for women with moderate-to-severe overactive bladder, according to a study published online March 13 in JAMA Network Open.

Living in neighborhoods where residents have lower incomes and limited food access during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of babies born small for gestational age or with lower birthweight, according to a new study from the NIH Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

The world is approaching a low-fertility future. Although by 2100 more than 97% of countries and territories will have fertility rates below what is necessary to sustain population size over time, comparatively high fertility rates in numerous low-income countries, predominantly in western and eastern sub-Saharan Africa, will continue to drive population increases in these locations throughout the

Getting screened for cervical cancer isn't fun. And getting an alert that your initial exam showed a potential sign of trouble, and that you need to go back for a test or procedure to rule out cancer, is even less fun.

Early intervention with a minimally invasive treatment called uterine artery embolization (UAE) can help women avoid hysterectomy due to severe bleeding after childbirth, according to a new study being presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting held March 23–28 in Salt Lake City.

The onset of menstruation is an impactful milestone as a marker of the start of reproductive potential and as a social cue for transitioning further into adolescence. Although the first period is often confusing, can trigger embarrassment, and is frequently laden with stigma, timely guidance can empower patients to advocate for their health throughout life, according to a paper at Columbia Univers

A new paper in Rheumatology finds that rheumatic diseases can lead to reproductive problems, though some conditions have more detrimental effects than others.

A study aiming to assess an innovative "SMARTeeth" program that provides a digital tool-enabled oral health screening for underserved pregnant women at an obstetric office facilitated by community health workers (CHWs) was presented at the 102nd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Res

Direct potable reuse (DPR) water systems add purified wastewater directly to a water distribution system, instead of first passing water through an environmental buffer such as a lake or reservoir. These systems are being considered in some water-stressed regions across the U.S. to address water shortages. However, little is known about the health outcomes of people who receive DPR drinking water.

Research presented at The Society for Reproductive Investigation Meeting summarized preliminary findings from patients with known or suspected endometriosis who were imaged with a SPECT-CT camera and subsequently underwent planned laparoscopic surgery, a key-hole surgical procedure to establish the presence, absence and location of endometriotic lesions. The imaging findings were compared to the s

A much-awaited treatment for postpartum depression, zuranolone, hit the market in December, promising an accessible and fast-acting medication for a debilitating illness. But most private health insurers have yet to publish criteria for when they will cover it, according to a new analysis of insurance policies.

Research from the University of Southampton has identified common issues women face when experiencing periods while homeless.

The number of women having unassisted births, or 'freebirths' across the UK is believed to be rising, as more expectant mothers are unable to access high-quality individualized maternity care.

The pregnancy and post-partum experience is stressful, but for pregnant adolescents the barriers to accessing supportive care can have fatal consequences.

Acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are two interchangeable treatments to relieve pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy. Both treatments also alleviate the pregnant woman's concern about pain, according to a thesis from the University of Gothenburg.

A new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, challenges the prevailing view on the maternal death rate in the United States.

At around 20 weeks of pregnancy women with a short cervix have an increased risk of preterm birth. Preventing preterm birth in pregnant women with a short cervix is a crucial step in protecting the health of the child. Research from Amsterdam UMC now shows that, in pregnant women with a short cervix around 20 weeks, progesterone is better than a cervical pessary at reducing the risk of severe pret

Women who have a cesarean section in the late stages of labor are at increased risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies. But UCL researchers have now found a way to prevent this from happening.

The day before the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created and used for in vitro fertilization are children, my wife, Gabby, and I were greenlighted by our doctors to begin the IVF process. We live in Alabama.

Search engine data could be used to detect gynecological cancer cases earlier, potentially months ahead of GP referrals, according to new research.

Matthew Treviño and Emily Fletcher are self-described DINKWADs—double income, no kids, with a dog. The Sacramento couple, who met and work at UC Davis, are as committed to each other as they are to not having children, which makes reliable birth control especially important. But except for condoms or a vasectomy, all birth control options currently available are for women. Treviño, 35, and Fletche

Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are increasing and considered high compared to other wealthy nations. And Medicaid coverage plays a large role in maternal health, as it funds nearly half of all the births in the country.

New research from Oregon Health & Science University describes the science behind a promising technique to treat infertility by turning a skin cell into an egg that is capable of producing viable embryos.

University of Queensland research has led to the development of a practical framework to help medical professionals around the world diagnose and manage early menopause.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting women, often resulting in painful symptoms such as menstrual cramps and pelvic pain. Pain caused by endometriosis significantly lowers the quality of life and reproductive health of affected women, with around one-third of women still experiencing pain and discomfort despite treatment. While hormonal therapies and surgeries are common treatments, they

The COVID vaccine is safe to administer during pregnancy, reports UC San Francisco in an important finding on the safety of the vaccine in infants—despite widespread fear and misinformation.

Abortion rights will play a pivotal role in determining how people will vote in the 2024 election, a new KFF poll has found.

Declining fertility rates and aging populations in Western nations have recently set off alarm bells, but continued global population growth will actually raise the pressure billions more people place on a destroyed environment, according to new research.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aims to broaden health care access, but its effect on maternal and newborn health among women with gestational diabetes—or diabetes that develops during pregnancy—across diverse demographics is unclear.

A new approach to menopause that better prepares and supports women during midlife is needed—going beyond medical treatments, to empower women using high-quality information on symptoms and treatments, empathic clinical care and workplace adjustments as required, says a new four-paper Series published in The Lancet.

A vaccine against Zika virus is safe and effective when administered both before and during pregnancy, according to new research published in npj Vaccines.

Obesity is a risk factor for stillbirth, and the risk increases as pregnancy advances to term, according to a large study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

A new international study led by La Trobe University researchers, and published in PLOS One, has revealed the reasons why some new mothers produce less breast milk than others.

Oregon Health & Science University researchers have confirmed that the timing of COVID-19 vaccination is associated with slight, temporary changes in menstrual cycle length.

New Zealand girls and young women, as well as nonbinary persons who bleed every month, have a limited understanding of menstruation. This lack of knowledge about their own bodies is affecting their overall health and well-being.

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 ended the federal right to abortion, legislative attention has extended to many other aspects of reproductive rights, including access to assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization, or IVF, after an Alabama Supreme Court ruling in February 2024.

In 2021, 14.6 percent of women aged 18 years and older had received a hysterectomy, with the percentage increasing with age, according to a February data brief published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Uterine contractions are a key part of childbirth, but they can temporarily reduce oxygen supply to the fetus. During high-risk childbirth, monitoring of contractions is crucial to ensure the safety of the mother and unborn child. However, traditional monitoring techniques can be affected by maternal movements, or they are quite invasive.

Raw tuna. Copious caffeine. Cigarettes. Unpasteurized brie. Alcohol. Most women know to avoid these potentially harmful substances while pregnant, plus certain risky activities such as rock climbing, ice skating, and skiing. But what if your job could negatively impact your pregnancy?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concludes there is currently insufficient evidence regarding screening and supplementation for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) during pregnancy. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online Feb. 27.

Nearly 1 in 12 newborns in the United States in 2020—or about 300,000 infants—were exposed to alcohol, opioids, marijuana or cocaine before they were born. Exposure to these substances puts these newborns at a higher risk for premature birth, low birth weight and a variety of physical and mental disabilities.

It was about midnight in June 2022 when police officers showed up at Angela Collier's door and told her that someone anonymously requested a welfare check because they thought she might have had a miscarriage.

In the face of increasing temperatures globally, a new Monash-led study of 1.2 million births in Sydney over two decades has shown a strong association between the risk of pre-term birth and exposure to extreme hot temperatures in the third trimester of pregnancy. The data suggested that this association with extreme temperature might be reduced by the level of greenery in a pregnant person's resi

An international study of COVID-19 in pregnancy, which included Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, found that neonates of booster-vaccinated mothers had less risk of being infected with COVID-19 compared to those of unvaccinated mothers.

CureLab Oncology, a clinical-stage, pre-IPO biotech company, announced that its novel biological agent, Elenagen, has been shown to significantly enhance standard chemotherapy and provides clinical benefits for the patients with the deadliest form ovarian cancer. Elenagen belongs to a novel class of biological agents, supercoiled circular DNA (plasmids).

Children whose mothers have received antibiotic treatment during childbirth are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases compared to their counterparts, according to a recent registry-based study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland, involving nearly 46,000 children.

Increased numbers of preterm births, higher incidence of respiratory disease and death, and more children in hospitals are some of the stark health outcomes the world is facing from the impacts of extreme climate change.

In a new study, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University highlight disparities in maternal mental health care among low-income immigrants, and call on more states to expand Medicaid access in order to address mental health conditions new parents face during the perinatal period, or the time before and after birth.

Worldwide in 2020 a baby died every 40 seconds because of complications of prematurity. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death among children under 5 years old.

Each year, thousands of women are diagnosed with gynecologic cancers in the U.S. While cervical, ovarian and uterine cancer affects all races, Black women are often diagnosed at later stages and are more likely to die from these diseases.

A research team from Tel Aviv University and the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer conducted an investigation of seasonal fluctuations in AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) levels. Their pioneering study revealed that during the summer, women of late reproductive age—between the ages of 30 and 40—experience increased secretion of the hormone from their ovaries.

As Kate, a participant in our research on birth experiences, struggled with the pain she was experiencing during labor, the midwife was stern. She referred to Kate as a "silly girl" and told her she needed to calm down. Finally, the anesthetist arrived to give Kate an epidural. He asked if this was "the silly girl" he'd heard about, and then told her to control herself.

Many Australians using Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to conceive are paying for costly "add-on" treatments that lack high-quality evidence that they will improve their chances of taking home a healthy baby.

There are approximately 130 million births per year. A substantial proportion of the women giving birth are treated with oxytocin or undergo cesarean sections.

Every mother wants to have the healthiest child she can, and new research shows that the nutritional status of the mother during pregnancy can affect outcomes for the baby—with male and female offspring affected differently.

Opioid exposure is associated with increased odds of spontaneous preterm birth, according to a study published online on Feb. 14 in JAMA Network Open.

Breastfeeding rates among women who are overweight or obese can be increased by providing education and support, according to new research.

Women who receive an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination or booster during pregnancy can provide their infants with solid protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infection for at least six months after birth, according to a study from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrate that Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than are white women. Health disparities among people of color are the result of broader social and economic inequities rooted in racism and discrimination.

For middle-aged women plagued by migraines, or hot flashes and night sweats, another worry may linger in the backs of their minds: whether these experiences have set them up for a heart attack, a stroke or another cardiovascular crisis.

"An absurd decision," "a scandal," and "I meant nothing." These are some harsh words when describing the ban on partners in postnatal wards during the pandemic, from a partner perspective. A study from the University of Gothenburg reveals a picture of how the exclusion was perceived.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and gestational diabetes (GDM) are two of the most common pregnancy complications and put pregnant people at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life.

Neighborhood deprivation is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), with body mass index explaining a considerable proportion of the relationship, according to a study published online Feb. 1 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Four babies are born every second in the world, and there are only two options for their first food at birth: human milk or formula.

A single test to speed up diagnosis of a serious disease in pregnant women does not need to be repeated, new research has found.

Pregnant women living in states with limited access to abortion are experiencing higher rates of intimate partner homicide, particularly by firearms, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS).

During pregnancy, the human placenta plays multiple essential roles, including hormone production and nutrient/waste processing. It also serves as a barrier to protect the developing fetus from external toxic substances. However, the placental barrier can still be breached by certain drugs. In a study appearing in Nature Communications, a team led by researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental Univers

During pregnancy, a woman's immune system changes dramatically but researchers don't yet understand all the underlying mechanisms. A new study shows how the gut microbiota may play a role.

La Trobe University researchers have credited new contraceptive methods, such as long-acting reversible contraceptives, for the overall decrease in abortion rates among child-bearing women in Victoria, despite regional and rural areas witnessing an increase. These and other findings are reported in the Medical Journal of Australia.

A large team of ob-gyns, regenerative medicine and fetal development specialists and metabolic researchers in China has tested macaques and mapped many of the changes that happen to metabolic pathways in primates during pregnancy.

One of the most common add-ons to IVF procedures undertaken in Australia and globally by infertile couples may be a waste of time as well as expensive and invasive, and maybe even reduce the chances of success, according to a report in The Lancet.

A Doppler ultrasound that measures the blood flow of small unborn babies can reveal whether or not the placenta is working properly. In case of repeated deviations from these Doppler measurements, additional monitoring of the unborn baby would be necessary. Such deviations indicate a higher risk of oxygen deficiency and other health problems for the baby. This study by Amsterdam UMC in collaborati

Across the United States, Black women are three to four times as likely as their white peers to experience life-threatening pregnancy complications or die giving birth. Given that the U.S. maternal mortality rate of 32 deaths per 100,000 live births is 10 times higher than that in countries with the lowest rates of maternal death, the inequity is setting off public health alarms.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, population-level rates of adolescent pregnancy and sexual health-related care utilization were lower than expected, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in Pediatrics.

Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate exposure in utero does not appear to increase the risk for childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in JAMA Psychiatry.

Women with depressive symptoms during pregnancy may experience an alteration in the circadian rhythm of cortisol—a hormone that is necessary for fetal development—which could affect the course of pregnancy. Cortisol increases naturally in pregnant women during pregnancy, but excessive cortisol levels in early pregnancy can negatively impact fetal development, especially if cortisol increases over

From 2014 to 2022, there was a shift toward shorter gestational age, according to the Jan. 31 National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cardiotocography (CTG) refers to the electronic recording of the fetal heart rate and uterine contractions. Fetal heart rate recorded through the mother's abdomen is the most commonly used fetal monitoring method during childbirth.

Experiencing a pregnancy from sexual violence is common in the United States, according to research conducted by investigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

New digital contraceptive methods, such as apps or wearables to determine fertile days, are gaining in popularity. University of Amsterdam medical anthropologist Ellen Algera and her colleagues have investigated whether and how these new methods find a place in the consultation room.

Supporting women of childbearing age to have a healthy weight could reduce the risk of several pregnancy complications, new research led by the University of Bristol has found. The international collaborative study is published in BMC Medicine.

A new review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) is aimed at helping clinicians diagnose and manage polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), an endocrine disorder that affects about 10% of females.

A new review of available evidence led by researchers at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute suggests that female reproductive characteristics may be overlooked as risk factors that contribute to later metabolic dysfunction.

More than a year after the Supreme Court found there is no fundamental right to get an abortion, 21 states have laws in effect that ban abortion well before fetal viability, generally allowing it only in the first trimester.

Following federal approval for over-the-counter emergency contraception in 2006, emergency departments across the U.S. saw dramatic decreases in related visits and medical charges, a new study suggests.

Opening Up, a zine created by grassroots organization Tight Lipped, advocates for people with chronic vulvovaginal and pelvic pain. The 80-page zine, which was first published in 2020, is filled with art illustrations, Q&A interviews, handwritten letters and poems from people living with conditions including vulvodynia, vestibulodynia (a form of vulvodynia and a general term for pain in the vestib

From 2004 to 2019, there was an increase in isotretinoin use among girls and women of childbearing age in Germany, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in PLOS Medicine.

In the 14 states with abortion bans, there have been nearly 65,000 pregnancies resulting from rape during the time since those bans went into place, a new study estimates.

Middle-aged women who are exposed to toxic metals may have fewer eggs in their ovaries as they approach menopause, according to new research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism titled "Heavy Metals and Trajectories of Anti-Müllerian Hormone During the Menopausal Transition."

A new study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, published in Women's Health Issues, is the first of its kind to assess whether Minnesota's peer breastfeeding support program directly causes increases in breastfeeding and by how much. The peer counseling effort is part of the federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, known as WIC, that primarily s

Researchers have developed a way to use ultrasound to predict whether a pregnant person is at risk of delivering a baby prematurely, which occurs in upward of 10% of pregnancies in the U.S.

A study titled "Sugammadex and urinary retention after hysterectomy: A propensity-matched cohort study," conducted by Mariana L. De Lima Laporta Miranda and colleagues from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, U.S., addresses a common postoperative challenge: postoperative urinary retention (POUR). The findings have been published in Biomolecules and Biomedicine.

A study by CUNY SPH researchers found that those seeking abortion and miscarriage care in New York State during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced considerable delays.

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy seems safe in terms of neurodevelopment through 18 months of age, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Digital health interventions, such as mobile applications, are increasingly being viewed as potential ways to encourage behavior change to improve health outcomes in areas including diet, exercise and sleep. Among women in the pregnancy, pre-pregnancy, or post-pregnancy stages, healthy lifestyles and behaviors are of key importance to the mother and child.

There have been several high-profile cases in the last year of women in the UK being prosecuted for allegedly obtaining abortions illegally. In 2022, there were 29 cases of suspected unlawful abortions that were reported to police—almost a two-fold rise on the number reported four years earlier.

At birth, ovaries in girls can contain about a million tiny structures called primordial follicles, each of which contains an egg cell. As girls grow and experience adulthood, most of these follicles will die while only one follicle will survive each month to ovulate a mature egg. When the loss of primordial follicles is nearly complete, and only hundreds remain, women experience menopause, a time

Researchers assessed the development and implementation of a quality improvement learning collaborative's (QILC) intervention to link high-risk prenatal patients with primary care. The aims of the study were twofold: To identify any quantitative impact of the intervention on postpartum and primary care utilization for high-risk prenatal patients and to explore the Federally Qualified Health Center

Pregnant patients are more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination if they receive other routine vaccines during pregnancy, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Infection.

The most important support person for women to succeed in their ambition to breastfeed is the new mother's partner. The partner also needs to be included through more support from health care professionals.