Womb News and Research

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The womb is the small, hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's pelvis. This is the organ in which a baby grows. Also called uterus.

USPSTF urges universal syphilis screening in pregnancy to prevent congenital infections

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reaffirms its recommendation for universal syphilis screening in pregnancy, citing strong evidence for early detection and prevention of congenital syphilis. Despite ongoing disparities and rising rates, early screening and treatment remain essential to improving outcomes for mothers and infants.

18 May 2025

Maternal testosterone levels shape boys' activity and girls' strength by age 7

Boys born to mothers with PCOS or high third-trimester testosterone levels are less physically active at age 7, particularly on weekends. Girls exposed to high prenatal testosterone show reduced muscle strength but not lower activity levels.

10 May 2025

Annual blood test could detect cancer earlier and save lives

A single blood test, designed to pick up chemical signals indicative of the presence of many different types of cancer, could potentially thwart progression to advanced disease while the malignancy is still at an early stage and amenable to treatment in up to half of cases, suggests a modelling study published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

8 May 2025

EULAR updates recommendations for antirheumatic drugs during reproduction and pregnancy

In 2016, EULAR - The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology - published points-to-consider on the use of antirheumatic drugs in reproduction, pregnancy, and lactation.

8 May 2025

Endometriosis raises the risk of premature menopause in women

Women who suffer from endometriosis have an increased risk of premature and early menopause, both naturally and surgically, University of Queensland researchers have found.

30 Apr 2025

UCLA launches trial of wearable ADHD therapy for children exposed to alcohol in the womb

Researchers at UCLA Health are launching the first clinical trial to test whether a wearable device that delivers gentle nerve stimulation during sleep could ease ADHD symptoms in children with prenatal alcohol exposure.

22 Apr 2025

Oklahoma Children's Hospital improves care for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome

In years past, health care providers took a punitive stance toward women giving birth to babies exposed to substances like opioids in the womb.

9 Apr 2025

Twins begin pregnancy smaller than singletons earlier than expected

Twins—smaller at birth, on average, than singletons—start out smaller in pregnancy than was previously known, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

7 Apr 2025

Study shows women can hear better than men

An international team of scientists has found that biological sex is the leading factor explaining differences in hearing sensitivity, with women having significantly more sensitive hearing than men.

From University of Bath 1 Apr 2025

Drinking diet drinks in pregnancy raises overweight risk in children, study finds

Daily consumption of artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) during pregnancy was linked to a modest but consistent increase in overweight risk in offspring from age 7 to 18. Surprisingly, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) were associated with a lower risk, though lifestyle differences may explain this.

25 Mar 2025

GP reveals seven ways to relieve endometriosis symptoms

In the UK, one in 10 women has Endometriosis. With March marking Endometriosis Awareness Month, Dr Bhavini Shah, a GP from LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, reveals ways to relieve endometriosis symptoms.

19 Mar 2025

Maternal high-fat diets linked to liver stress in unborn babies

When mothers eat a diet high in fat and sugars, their unborn babies can develop liver stress that continues into early life.

14 Mar 2025

Feeding strategies in preterm infants do not alter brain growth or cognition

Early nutrition in very preterm infants does not significantly impact brain growth or neurodevelopment when following standardized clinical guidelines, despite initial unadjusted associations.

5 Mar 2025

Oxytocin’s new role in delaying embryo development revealed

Oxytocin, a hormone already known for its role in childbirth, milk release, and mother-infant bonding, may have a newfound purpose in mammalian reproduction.

5 Mar 2025

Breastfeeding for six months may spur beneficial gut bacteria linked to lower childhood blood pressure

Nursing for at least six months may spur beneficial gut bacteria connected to better heart health years later.

4 Mar 2025

Groundbreaking studies reveal how DNA folding guides sperm cell development

Two new landmark studies show how a seeming tangle of DNA is actually organized into a structure that coordinates thousands of genes to form a sperm cell.

3 Mar 2025

New mathematical model assesses drug exposure for breastfed infants

A new mathematical model developed at the University of Waterloo can determine a baby's overall drug exposure when their mother is taking medication.

26 Feb 2025

Gynecological conditions may raise risk of heart disease and stroke

Having one or more common gynecological disorders, such as endometriosis or heavy or irregular periods, may be linked to a heightened risk of heart disease and conditions that affect blood flow to the brain (cerebrovascular disease), finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence published online in the journal Heart.

24 Feb 2025

Babies develop food preferences in the womb, study suggests

Babies show positive responses to the smell of foods they were exposed to in the womb after they are born, according to a new study.

13 Feb 2025

Study explores how nanoplastics could affect child's immune system during pregnancy

Allergies and asthma are widespread diseases that could arise during embryonal development in the womb.

6 Feb 2025