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Obstetrics & gynecology news

New stem cell models reveal how earliest human placenta structures take shape

The placenta is essential for a healthy pregnancy, but the earliest steps of its formation have been hidden from scientific view. Now Columbia researchers led by Mijo Simunovic have created lab-grown organoids that reconstruct ...

1 in 3 births are induced. It can be lifesaving, but it's also linked to more complications

Around one in three women in Australia now have their labors induced rather than having them start naturally, or spontaneously.

Q&A: How do infections get past the placenta's defenses?

For nine months, the placenta is the primary support system of the fetus, providing both nourishment and protection. Within hours of birth, it is usually discarded as medical waste. But this organ carries clues to the child's ...

Cervical cancer cases and deaths forecast to rise

Global cervical cancer cases and deaths could rise by 20.2% and 39.3%, respectively, by 2050, according to a modeling study published in Nature Medicine. The findings suggest that the burden of cervical cancer will remain ...

STI screening linked to fewer preterm births

Screening and treating pregnant patients for three common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) twice during pregnancy was associated with a 23% lower risk of preterm birth compared with standard care, according to a randomized ...

A doctor's take on new menopause guidelines

Many women I see in my practice have questions about menopause and hormone therapy. The newest guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) bring some welcome clarity.

Highest endometrial cancer rates found in San Antonio region

An Upper-South region of Texas including San Antonio and Bexar County had the state's highest hysterectomy-corrected incidence of endometrial cancer and the largest increase over time, a study led by scientists at The University ...

Fast-aging placentas may explain preeclampsia risks

Preeclampsia affects up to 8% of pregnancies worldwide and contributes to about 16% of maternal deaths globally, making the condition one of pregnancy's most serious complications. For women diagnosed with preeclampsia, the ...