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Obstetrics & gynecology news
The human body isn't a masterpiece of design. It's a patchwork of evolutionary compromise
The human body is often described as a marvel of "perfect design": elegant, efficient and finely tuned for its purpose. Yet, when we look closer, a rather different picture emerges.
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Baby's body clock begins to synchronize with local time while still in utero, study shows
Humans and most other organisms have internal biological clocks that track the daily cycle of sunrise and sunset. These clocks help time our sleep, metabolism and other essential body functions over the course of a day, creating ...
Apr 10, 2026
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New guidance on adenomyosis, an overlooked uterine condition affecting 1 in 3 women
A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa physician is working to change how a common but often overlooked gynecologic condition is diagnosed and treated. Kimberly Kho, who holds the nation's first professorship in advanced gynecological ...
Apr 10, 2026
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Maternal prepregnancy BMI, birth length linked to offspring atopic dermatitis
Increasing maternal prepregnancy body mass index (ppBMI) and increasing birth length are associated with offspring atopic dermatitis by age 3 years, according to a study published online March 23 in the Journal of Allergy ...
Apr 10, 2026
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Demand surge leads to shortages of Estrogen patches
Growing demand for estrogen patches to relieve menopause symptoms has led to shortages, leaving women searching multiple pharmacies or switching medications.
Apr 10, 2026
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Breastfeeding at least three months tied to lower weight gain decades later
Breastfeeding not only affects your weight while you are breastfeeding—women gain up to 6.5 kilos less on average later in life if they breastfeed for at least three months, according to a new study.
Apr 9, 2026
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CDC: 2024 to 2025 saw decline in number of births, fertility rate in US
The number of births and general fertility rate decreased 1% from 2024 to 2025 in the United States, according to an April Vital Statistics Rapid Release report, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and ...
Apr 9, 2026
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Judge allows abortion pill to continue being mailed for now
U.S. District Judge David Joseph turned down Louisiana officials' request to stop mail order delivery of the drug mifepristone nationwide while the case is still in court.
Apr 9, 2026
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Cell-by-cell analysis offers clues to pregnancy risks
The biological connection between a pregnant woman and her developing baby has been mapped in unprecedented detail by UC San Francisco scientists, revealing new cell types and insights into conditions such as preeclampsia, ...
Apr 8, 2026
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How maternal psychological anxiety could harm a developing fetus
Fetal development is a critical stage with effects that can last throughout life. Yet, identifying the effects of maternal psychological stress on the fetus has been difficult, mainly because stressful events often produce ...
Apr 8, 2026
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Tailored menopause education strengthens clinician confidence and quality of care
As millions of women enter menopause each year, gaps in clinician education continue to limit access to effective care. A new study evaluating a menopause-focused educational program for primary care clinicians has found ...
Apr 8, 2026
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Making the case for over-the-counter abortion pills: Study finds most people can accurately self-screen
Currently, in U.S. states where abortion remains legal, women have to visit specialized clinics to access in-person medication abortion, as drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol are not available over-the-counter (OTC). ...
A big step toward safe, reversible male contraception
Cornell scientists have taken a major step toward developing a safe, reversible, long-acting and 100% effective nonhormonal male contraceptive, considered the holy grail of male contraception. A proof-of-principle study in ...
Apr 7, 2026
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Prenatal smoking linked to emotional and behavioral problems across childhood
Children exposed to maternal smoking before birth are more likely to experience behavioral and mental health challenges, according to a large study published in the journal Development and Psychopathology.
Apr 7, 2026
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US sexual health report card: High pleasure, low testing, stark gender disparities
A new sexual health survey reveals a mix of progress and persistent gaps. Overall, many Americans report positive experiences—interest in having sex, sexual pleasure, and good communication with partners—yet women and gender-diverse ...
Apr 6, 2026
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How one 'forever chemical' can disrupt a baby's facial development
Researchers have long associated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals," with certain severe birth defects, but exactly how these pollutants harm a developing fetus has remained ...
Apr 5, 2026
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Intermittent fasting positively affects female hormones in PCOS, study finds
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects as many as 18% of all childbearing-age women. The condition occurs when a woman's body produces too much of a group of hormones called androgens, chiefly testosterone. Menstrual ...
Apr 4, 2026
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Immune-capable cervix-on-a-chip enables study of sexually transmitted infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) not only impact an individual's health, but also result in multibillion-dollar economic losses worldwide. To study these diseases, a team of researchers has developed the first-of-its-kind, ...
Apr 3, 2026
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Women with diabetes less likely to receive preventive care and some screenings, research indicates
Physicians are less likely to provide preventive care such as conception counseling and some cancer screenings to women with diabetes than they do for women without the disease, a UCLA-led study suggests.
Apr 3, 2026
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A redesigned endoscope offers a new way to look for early signs of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest gynecologic cancer, largely because it is rarely found early. Symptoms are often vague, and existing screening approaches—such as blood tests and transvaginal ultrasound—can miss the disease ...
Apr 2, 2026
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Extreme heat from climate change linked to smaller babies
Exposure to extreme heat conditions is resulting in more babies being born with low birth weight, according to a new study involving Adelaide University researchers. The collaborative study, published in BMC Medicine, used ...
Apr 2, 2026
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Planning a pregnancy? Study suggests antibiotic timing may affect mental well-being
Perinatal depression, which occurs during pregnancy or in the period after childbirth, is one of the most common mental health conditions experienced by women. The condition affects the well-being of the mother during both ...
Apr 1, 2026
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More Americans are traveling farther for maternity care, study finds
Fewer people in the United States can reach hospital-based obstetric care within a reasonable drive than a decade ago, according to a new national study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. The study found that ...
Apr 1, 2026
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Researchers look to bolster technology support for menopause
Women in need of supportive maternal and menstrual health care in patriarchal societies have increasingly found outlets for disclosure in online communities. That support, however, begins to disappear in these restrictive ...
Apr 1, 2026
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Plastic additives tied to millions of preterm births worldwide
Exposure to a chemical commonly used to make plastic more flexible may have contributed to about 1.97 million preterm births in 2018 alone, or more than 8% of the world's total, a new analysis of population surveys shows. ...
Mar 31, 2026
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