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Women's Health
Are menstrual cycles synced with the moon?
In ancient times, women’s menstrual cycles were more closely synchronised with the moon, but scientists say this connection has weakened in the modern era...
Hysterectomy ups stroke risk – meta-analysis of 2m women
The surgical removal of the uterus and both ovaries may come at a serious and overlooked cost to individual health, scientists from China suggest,...
Oral HRT linked to heart disease risk in diabetic women – UK study
New research suggests that while women with type 2 diabetes using HRT skin patches are not at a higher risk for blood clots or...
New link flagged between women who have heart attacks – US study
After a 30-year study, American researchers have suggested that inflammation could be a key factor in explaining why some women experience heart attacks and strokes – despite...
Ovarian cancer blood test may ID disease early – British-US study
Scientists say they have developed a simple blood test to spot ovarian cancer early that could “significantly improve” outcomes for women with the disease,...
Birth control jab linked to higher brain tumour risks – large US analysis
Research carried out by the Cleveland Clinic in the United States found that although rare, there was a higher meningioma risk in women who...
HRT shortage leaves women struggling
A worldwide shortage of hormone replacement therapy medication is affecting women around the globe, leaving them unable to find relief from menopausal symptoms that...
Innovative project sees Groote Schuur interns tackle GBV
Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital has provided 50 medical interns with specialised training on how to sensitively screen for intimate partner violence (IPV) and...
Skin lightener cancer risk flagged in African study
Thousands of women risk developing cancer from skin-lightening products – freely available on the informal market, despite being regulated – according to a study...
Untapped potential of vaginal microbiome – UK review
The microscopic bacteria living in women’s bodies could be a powerful tool for personalised, non-invasive treatment and earlier diagnosis, according to a new review...
World’s ‘oldest baby’ born from embryo frozen in 1994
The world’s “oldest baby” has been born in the United States from an embryo that was frozen in 1994, reports The Guardian.
Thaddeus Daniel Pierce...
Penicillin jab recall jeopardises syphilis gains in the United States
Pfizer has warned of a possible shortage of Bicillin L-A, a long-acting injection of the antibiotic penicillin used for treating syphilis during pregnancy, after...
FDA panel urges removal of warnings on menopause meds
A dozen physicians and researchers participating in a US Food and Drug Administration panel last week pleaded with the agency to “stop harming women”...
FDA panel punts stronger warnings for anti-depressants in pregnancy
Over nearly four decades since Prozac was approved for the treatment of depression, waves of concern about the effects of anti-depressants during pregnancy have...
First trimester UTI meds raises birth defects risks – US cohort study
A recent study suggests the risk of antibiotic use during the first trimester of pregnancy was higher for infants exposed to TMP-SMX versus β-lactam...
Weight gain tied to higher breast cancer risk – French cohort study
Obesity can cause various health issues – like type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of heart disease – and even lead to a...
Contraceptive pills not linked to high liver cancer risk
There was little association, if any, between ever using oral contraceptives and the risk of liver cancer, a large population-based study showed, although risk...
UK first to approve new non-hormonal drug for hot flushes
Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) this week became the first regulator in the world to approve elinzanetant (Lynkuet) for the treatment...
Low screening, weak referrals, drive SA’s high cervical cancer rates
Compared with other countries, South Africa has a much higher global cervical cancer rate – between 22.8 and 27 per 100 000 women, with...
Planned C-sections tied to childhood cancer risk – Swedish cohort study
Researchers from the Swedish Karolinska Institutet have suggested that children born via planned Caesarean section procedures might have a heightened risk of developing certain childhood cancers,...
Gut bacteria tied to fertility issues in women with PCOS – Chinese study
Research by a team of scientists in China has suggested that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have lower levels of a specific gut...
Home hormone-checking saliva test ‘as good as birth control pills’
A new at-home saliva test, which the makers say is as effective as birth control pills at preventing pregnancy – and which tracks a...
Long-term contraceptive pill use tied to tumour risk – French study
Recent research has suggested that the contraceptive pill desogestrel is linked to a small increase in the risk of developing an intracranial meningioma brain...
Trump gambles with women's health research
If the Trump administration’s medical and research purge continues, say concerned experts, the United States could shift towards a time where being a woman...
Gynaecologists should tune into TikTok for patient insight
Online stories can supplement scientific literature and experience, and doctors, particularly in obstetrics and gynaecology, should acknowledge the importance of forums like TikTok and...
Study flags role of dairy in reducing fracture risk in older women
Consuming more dairy in liquid form appears to reduce the risk of osteoporotic and other fractures, while cheese is specifically linked to a reduced...
US doctors report first pregnancy using new AI system
The first pregnancy using an artificial intelligence (AI) procedure has been carried out by doctors at Columbia University Fertility Centre in a couple that...
Older breast cancer patients using oestrogen cream lived longer – US study
American researchers have suggested that oestrogen creams may improve survival rates, despite previous fears they could stimulate cancer cell growth.
This after their recent study...
Common UTI drugs may be tied to cancer, warn experts
A medication commonly used to treat urinary tract infections may be accompanied by a potential cancer risk, suggest experts, who have flagged the active...
Why women are beating men to the finish line
Across a variety of sports, women are not just catching up after generations of exclusion from athletics, they’re setting the pace and proving their...
US cuts affect vital cervical cancer screening, research in SA
More than 1 400 cervical cancer patients in Gauteng will be transferred to already overstretched public hospitals after the abrupt closure of several cervical...
Late first birth and weight increases breast cancer risk – UK study
A British study has suggested a link between weight gain and having children later in life with a heightened risk of breast cancer, finding...
Wits study IDs breast cancer genes in black SA women
Genetic factors contribute to some 30% of breast cancer cases in SA, say leading scientists, necessitating investment in genomic research in African contexts.
Their seminal...
Early periods can be tied to what girls eat – US study
The foods in a child’s lunchbox could influence whether they experience their first menstrual cycle too early, according to recent research, which found that...
UK radiological group calls for male nurses to do mammograms
Male health workers should be allowed to perform breast screening examinations to help relieve staff shortages, says Britain’s Society of Radiographers (SoR), which has...
Study links maternal diabetes to ADHD risk in children
Experts have issued reassurances after a recent study where researchers reviewed data from 56.1m pregnancies to probe possible connections between diabetes and ADHD, autism...
Blood test on the cards to predict postpartum blues – US study
A simple blood test may soon be able to predict postpartum depression before symptoms appear, hinting at a future where treatments could shift from...
UK’s first baby born to woman with transplanted womb
A “miracle” baby girl has become the first child in the UK to be born to a mother using a donated womb – from...
Global experts flag high mortality rates linked to pregnancy
Worldwide, more than a quarter of a million women died during their pregnancy or within six weeks of giving birth in 2023, WHO figures...
Israeli study confirms benefits of breast milk
The debate over whether breast is best has been ongoing for decades, but recent research suggests that longer or exclusive breastfeeding might be linked...