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Obstetrics & gynaecology news

Obstetrics & gynaecology

Study finds fertility remains high in rural Tanzania despite access to family planning

Fertility rates in much of Sub-Saharan Africa remain high, despite declining child mortality and improved access to contraceptives and female education—factors that generally lead to smaller families and improved economic ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology

HPV vaccine can protect against severe lesions of the vulva and vagina, study finds

Girls who are vaccinated against HPV are not only well protected against cervical cancer; they are also less likely to develop severe precancerous lesions of the vulva and vagina, particularly if they were vaccinated before ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology

FDA adds brain tumor warning to Depo-Provera birth control shot

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new safety warning for Depo-Provera, a widely used birth control shot made by Pfizer, alerting patients to a possible risk for a type of brain tumor called meningioma.

Obstetrics & gynaecology

Breaking the silence on women's pelvic floor disorders

Many women assume pelvic floor health issues are simply their fate—part of having vaginal deliveries, getting older, gaining weight or entering menopause. Perhaps they have watched their mothers and grandmothers live with ...

Medical research

How embryos and the uterus 'talk' during implantation

A new study shows that the embryo and the uterine lining conduct an active "conversation" from the very earliest stages of implantation. They engage in a back and forth of tiny packages called extracellular vesicles and lipid ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology

Why sexual assault care falls short in rural areas

Survivors of sexual assault in rural communities often struggle to access specialized care. New research from The University of Texas at Arlington helps explain why.

Oncology & Cancer

New guideline maps care for pregnant women with blood cancers

A new guideline from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) offers clear, evidence-based direction for treating blood cancers during pregnancy and shows that many patients can safely receive timely cancer care without ...

Health

Sexual minority individuals face higher cesarean risks

Individuals who identify as a sexual minority face higher risks of primary cesarean birth compared with their completely heterosexual peers, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. ...

Health

San Francisco woman gives birth in a Waymo self-driving taxi

Self-driving Waymo taxis have gone viral for negative reasons involving the death of a beloved San Francisco bodega cat and pulling an illegal U-turn in front of police who were unable to issue a ticket to a nonexistent driver.

Obstetrics & gynaecology

£13m NHS bill for 'mismanagement' of menstrual bleeds

A UK study has revealed that acute heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is placing a significant hidden burden on the NHS, with around £13 million spent annually on hospital admissions and post-discharge care.

Cardiology

Uterine fibroids linked to elevated heart disease risk

Long-term heart disease risk in women diagnosed with uterine fibroids was more than 80% higher than in women without fibroids, according to new independent research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Obstetrics & gynaecology

Nitrate in drinking water linked to preterm birth rates

Even low levels of nitrate—a common agricultural runoff and drinking water contaminant—are associated with increased risks of preterm birth and low birthweight babies, according to a study published in PLOS Water by Jason ...

Oncology & Cancer

Researchers capture first signs of ovarian cancer risk

Little is known about what causes ovarian cancer, and there is no way to detect it early yet. About 75% of the time when someone is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it has already progressed to stage 3 or stage 4, which means ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology

Sleep data from wearable device may help predict preterm birth

Preterm birth complications are the primary cause of death among children under age 5, and nearly 75% could be prevented with interventions, according to the World Health Organization. While the causes leading to preterm ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology

Prioritizing prenatal care may decrease low birth weight outcomes

In The Gambia, a small country in West Africa, 1 in 10 newborns have a low birth weight—less than 5.5 pounds—and face daunting challenges. They are more likely to die within a month of birth or in their first year, and ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology

ADHD link to severe premenstrual disorder uncovered in women

A new study from a group of scientists led by Queen Mary University of London, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found that women with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be at higher risk for ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology

Study finds pregnant women who vape face fewer toxins than smokers

Pregnant women are exposed to lower levels of toxic chemicals if they vape during pregnancy compared with if they smoke cigarettes, according to new research led by scientists at City St George's, University of London and ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

What leads some mothers to perinatal depression?

Persistent sadness, fatigue, changes in sleep and appetite, or loss of interest are common symptoms in mothers suffering from perinatal depression. How do these symptoms evolve? A pioneering study followed the paths of mothers ...