Reproductive Health News and Research

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Study suggests obesity does not affect women’s chances of conception with donor eggs

In women who use donor eggs to become pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF), those who are obese are just as likely to become pregnant as normal weight women, according to a new report.

1 Aug 2013

New book examines links between violence against women and mental health

The book, written and supported by international leaders in mental health and women's issues, provides the first comprehensive overview on this crisis, examining the links between violence against women and mental health and the underlying causes, as well as the implications of these findings for mental health policies and programs.

18 Jul 2013

Texas Senate passes abortion restrictions, opponents vow legal fight

Texas Senate lawmakers have followed their House counterparts in approving a series of abortion restrictions. The move has opponents vowing to take their fight to the courtroom and doctors at abortion clinics are worried the legislation could force them to shut down.

16 Jul 2013

Researchers discover potential markers for severity of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Children who suffer from arthritis could one day receive more targeted treatment thanks to potential markers for the severity of the disorder discovered by researchers at the University of Adelaide and Women's and Children's Hospital.

15 Jul 2013

Obese fathers pass on diseases to kids

If you are obese and hope to be a father, here's another reason to lose weight: your children and grandchildren may inherit your waistline or metabolic disorders. That's because scientists have discovered in mice that obese fathers, even those who did not show any signs of diabetes, passed this negative trait on most frequently to their daughters. Sons don't entirely dodge this genetic bullet either-both sons and daughters of obese fathers have increased risks of developing metabolic diseases, such as diabetes.

12 Jul 2013

Semi-quantitative pregnancy tests: an interview with Dr. Paul Blumenthal, Stanford University School of Medicine

Regular pregnancy tests work a little bit like a simple light switch that you have on your wall. It’s either on or off. When it’s on, that means the test is positive; if it’s off, obviously, it’s negative.

12 Jul 2013

Working shift patterns associated with increased risk of subfertility and menstrual disruption

Shift work, which encourages sleep deprivation and patterns of activity outside the circadian rhythm, has been associated with a greater risk of ill health and loss of well-being in some (but not all) studies.(1) However, little is known about the effects of shift work on reproductive health and fertility.

9 Jul 2013

Risk of implantation failure, lower yield of oocytes linked to higher levels of urinary phthalates

Phthalates are among a group of industrial chemicals shown in some studies to have adverse effects on reproductive health and development, particularly in the male. As such, they have been collectively defined as "endocrine disruptors", and proposed as one of several possible environmental exposures responsible for a decline in fertility.

8 Jul 2013

New WHO guidelines recommend earlier treatment for people living with HIV

New HIV treatment guidelines by WHO recommend offering antiretroviral therapy earlier. Recent evidence indicates that earlier ART will help people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives, and substantially reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.

1 Jul 2013

Supreme Court agrees to hear challenge to Massachusetts abortion law

As lawsuits over early abortion laws spring up across the country, the Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a different kind of abortion challenge - this one involving free speech. The court will consider a case challenging a Massachusetts law that bans demonstrations within 35 feet of entrances and driveways of abortion clinics. The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in January sided with the state in McCullen v. Coakley, ruling that the law strikes the right balance between protecting free speech and patients' rights (Millman, 6/25).

26 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Mich. gov. says Medicaid expansion would save money, lives; CMS on making medical devices affordable

The people of Michigan elected the members of the state Senate to be leaders, not vacationers. Unfortunately, the Senate forgot that Thursday and adjourned for its summer vacation. It left Lansing without voting on a bill that would provide health care coverage to nearly half a million working Michiganders. Ensuring access to affordable, quality health care is one of the most significant challenges facing Michigan. The Healthy Michigan plan developed over the past several months is a plan that addresses many of the state's needs and reflects the state's values (Gov. Rick Snyder, 6/23).

25 Jun 2013

European regulators grant CE Mark approval for single-size SILCS Diaphragm

Soon, women in Europe may be taking a new look at one of the world's oldest forms of contraception. European regulators have granted the single-size SILCS Diaphragm a CE marking, allowing the product to be sold throughout Europe. The launch is also an important step toward expanding nonhormonal contraception options for women worldwide.

21 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Calif., Oregon exchanges curb premiums with limited networks; Why the U.S. pays so much for health care

A closer examination of these health plans (to be offered on the California and Oregon exchanges) reveals a less rosy picture. Although the premiums are lower than some anticipated, this has been achieved by designing the plans around much more limited provider networks and including greater cost-sharing than the typical commercial health-insurance plan. The premiums for the policies that will be offered on the states' exchanges are much higher than analogous plans being sold today (Daniel P. Kessler, 6/3).

5 Jun 2013

Report highlights successes in improving maternal health, reducing child mortality

Rapid expansion of programs to prevent HIV transmission to babies and vaccinate children show how results can be achieved in relatively little time.

1 Jun 2013

In declining to hear Indiana case, Supreme Court supports Medicaid funds for planned parenthood

The high court let stand a lower court ruling rejecting an Indiana law that would have banned Planned Parenthood from receiving any Medicaid funds.

30 May 2013

New approach to increase effectiveness of family planning care

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health was awarded a $15 million five-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to implement a mobile device-based data collection system to monitor progress in family planning access and quality of care in some of the poorest countries in the developing world.

28 May 2013

Information and services about sexuality and sexual health unavailable to many young people

Young people are demanding information and education about their bodies, sex, their sexuality and sexual health, as well as access to services that will support them to stay safe and healthy. Papers published in the latest themed issue of Reproductive Health Matters (RHM) demonstrate that information and services in fact remain unavailable to many young people, and many may grow up without fully understanding things that they are currently experiencing such as menstruation, let alone preparing themselves for future sexual relationships and adulthood.

28 May 2013

Viewpoints: Sen. Alexander sees reflections of Oliver North in Sebelius' quest to raise funds; vaccine scare's legacy

Major news outlets in recent days have reported that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is raising money from the private sector -- including from health care executives -- for use by a private entity that is helping to implement ObamaCare. ... Is Ms. Sebelius raising funds for a private entity and then coordinating with that entity to do something Congress has refused to authorize, or for which it has refused to appropriate funds?

24 May 2013

Research project analyses practice of mediation in two public hospitals in Valencian Community

The research project from the Universitat Jaume I de Castellón (Spain) analyses the practice of mediation in two public hospitals in the Valencian Community through cases that involved a team of mediators over two years.

23 May 2013

Viewpoints: Controversy taints IRS efforts on health law; Another chance to 'gut' the overhaul in the courts; Salt wrongly accused

Even as the politicized tax enforcement scandal expands, the Internal Revenue Service continues to expand its political powers thanks to the Affordable Care Act. A larger government always creates more openings for abuse, as Americans will learn when the IRS starts auditing their health care in addition to their 1040 next year (5/14).

16 May 2013