Contraceptive News and Research

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Obesity linked to bad sexual health: French Study

Now French researchers have found a link between obesity and bad sexual health in their study of 12,364 men and women aged 18 to 69 ranging from normal weight to obese who lived in France in 2006.

17 Jun 2010

New drug application for ulipristal acetate as emergency contraceptive misleading, says Family Research Council

Tomorrow, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold a hearing to consider approval of a new drug application for an abortifacient drug, ulipristal acetate, as an emergency contraceptive, or a new "Plan B."

17 Jun 2010

Washington Post examines trial in Africa of long-acting vaginal ring for HIV prevention

"The first test of a long-acting vaginal ring loaded with an HIV-preventing drug has begun enrolling women in southern Africa," the Washington Post reports. The study, according to the newspaper, marks the 15th trial led by the nonprofit group, International Partnership for Microbicides, which "has helped lead the search for a discreet, woman-controlled means of protection" against the virus.

16 Jun 2010

Bayer sues Teva, Barr in connection with oral contraceptive Gianvi

Today, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Bayer Schering Pharma AG sued Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Barr Pharmaceuticals LLC, and Barr Laboratories, Inc. in the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago) for false advertising and patent infringement in connection with Teva's generic oral contraceptive, Gianvi™. Teva's product is sold as a generic version of Bayer HealthCare's leading oral contraceptive YAZ®.

16 Jun 2010

Agile Therapeutics completes $45 million Series B Preferred Stock financing round

Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a late-stage pharmaceutical company specializing in women's healthcare products, today announced that it completed a $45 million Series B Preferred Stock financing. The financing round was co-led by Investor Growth Capital and Care Capital, with strong participation from ProQuest Investments. Kaiser Permanente Ventures and Novitas Capital also joined the financing round. Investor Growth Capital, Care Capital, and Kaiser Permanente Ventures are new investors to Agile.

14 Jun 2010

FDA clears U.Va.'s SpermCheck Fertility at-home test

Couples will soon have a new tool in diagnosing male infertility - without the expense and inconvenience associated with a trip to a specialist's office.

14 Jun 2010

Increased use of intrauterine devices reduces unwanted pregnancies

A study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, which monitored a group of women for 25 years showed that the combined oral contraceptive pill (the pill) is the most common form of contraceptive among women under 29. At the same time many young women have unwanted pregnancies resulting in repeated abortions. According to the researchers increased use of an intrauterine device at a younger age would reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.

10 Jun 2010

First clinical trial among African women to test vaginal ring that prevents HIV transmission

The nonprofit International Partnership for Microbicides today announced the initiation of the first trial among women in Africa testing a vaginal ring containing an antiretroviral drug that could one day be used to prevent HIV transmission during sex. The clinical trial, known as IPM 015, tests the safety and acceptability of an innovative approach that adapts a successful technology from the reproductive health field to give women around the world a tool to protect themselves from HIV infection.

9 Jun 2010

CMAJ to publish comprehensive new guidelines on immigrant health

CMAJ will publish a ground-breaking series of comprehensive new guidelines on immigrant health (pre-embargo link only) beginning June 7, 2010 . The Canadian Immigrant Health Guidelines, a multi-part series, will assist clinicians, policy makers and immigrants in understanding the diverse needs of immigrants to Canada. Few resources like this exist in the international medical literature.

8 Jun 2010

NCHS report: Declines in teen sex, improvements in contraceptive use remain unchanged

Declines in teen sex and improvements in contraceptive use among sexually experienced teens remained essentially unchanged between 2002 and 2006-08, according to data released today by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. The new report provides national estimates of sexual activity and contraceptive use among teens aged 15-19 and is based on the latest round of the National Survey of Family Growth.

3 Jun 2010

Health law implementation: Insurance, coverage and Medicare payment questions

Kaiser Health News reports that the insurance industry — traditionally a state-regulated industry — is facing new federal scrutiny by four officials in the new Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. "On this year's to-do list: writing rules to define when premium increases are 'unreasonable,' creating new coverage for people who can't get it because of health conditions and making sure insurers comply with consumer protections. The new director of the office is Jay Angoff, a former Missouri insurance commissioner.

2 Jun 2010

Advances in women's health, practice of obstetrics and gynaecology to be discussed at SOGC

The 66th Annual Clinical Meeting of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Leading international and Canadian experts will meet to discuss the latest knowledge and advances in women's health and in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology.

29 May 2010

States act on hospital readmissions, brace for insurance rate hikes and advance health legislation

"[M]ore than 200 area hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, and others met with national experts at the Union League in Center City to learn about strategies to reduce hospital readmissions in the five-county Philadelphia area. One approach is to use nurses to proactively treat the highest-risk patients — older people with multiple chronic illnesses — who cost the most money."

28 May 2010

G8 summit recommendations: Funding and resources for maternal, child health must be increased

Governments and other organizations must intensify efforts to improve the health of women and children, particularly in the developing world where the lion's share of deaths occur, says Dr. Philip Baker, an internationally renowned medical researcher in obstetrics & gynecology. Baker is the lead author on a G8 positioning paper that included consultations with 20 of the world's leading medical experts on women and children's health.

27 May 2010

Mayo Clinic research reveals increase in incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in women

The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in women has risen during the period of 1995 to 2007, according to a newly published study by researchers from the Mayo Clinic. This rise in RA follows a 4-decade period of decline and study authors speculate environmental factors such as cigarette smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and lower dose synthetic estrogens in oral contraceptives may be the source of the increase.

27 May 2010

Global scientific research organizations release recommendations for how G8 should improve maternal, child health

The Royal Society of Canada, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and other scientific research organizations from around the world released a statement on Tuesday with recommendations for G8 countries on how to improve the health of women and children worldwide, the Toronto Star reports.

27 May 2010

Study shows impact of pregnancy on the life of adolescent women

The effective use of contraception once becoming sexually active is the best way to avoid unwanted pregnancy during adolescence. This is just one of the conclusions of a study by the Spanish National Research Council and the Universidad Complutense in Madrid which additionally reveals that using no contraception or using it well after starting sexual relations increases up to six times the risk for teen pregnancy.

26 May 2010

New study indicates pregnancy can double HIV risk in men

Young women of reproductive-age are among those at greatest risk of acquiring HIV, and several studies have suggested that during pregnancy women are even more susceptible to infection.

24 May 2010

Opinions: Family planning; U.S. food aid

In his latest New York Times column, Nicholas Kristof writes about the "unavailability of birth control in many poor countries," noting some experiences from a recent trip to Africa.

24 May 2010

AP examines HIV microbicides, prep research

"Try after try to make vaginal creams that could repel the AIDS virus have failed. Now researchers are testing if a drug used to treat HIV infection finally might give women a tool to prevent it - by infusing the medicine into vaginal gels and contraceptive-style rings," the Associated Press reports in a piece that examines researchers' latest efforts to create effective HIV microbicides, ahead of the biennial International Microbicides Conference next weekend.

19 May 2010

Contraceptive News and Research

Obesity linked to bad sexual health: French Study

New drug application for ulipristal acetate as emergency contraceptive misleading, says Family Research Council

Washington Post examines trial in Africa of long-acting vaginal ring for HIV prevention

Bayer sues Teva, Barr in connection with oral contraceptive Gianvi

Agile Therapeutics completes $45 million Series B Preferred Stock financing round

FDA clears U.Va.'s SpermCheck Fertility at-home test

Increased use of intrauterine devices reduces unwanted pregnancies

First clinical trial among African women to test vaginal ring that prevents HIV transmission

CMAJ to publish comprehensive new guidelines on immigrant health

NCHS report: Declines in teen sex, improvements in contraceptive use remain unchanged

Health law implementation: Insurance, coverage and Medicare payment questions

Advances in women's health, practice of obstetrics and gynaecology to be discussed at SOGC

States act on hospital readmissions, brace for insurance rate hikes and advance health legislation

G8 summit recommendations: Funding and resources for maternal, child health must be increased

Mayo Clinic research reveals increase in incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in women

Global scientific research organizations release recommendations for how G8 should improve maternal, child health

Study shows impact of pregnancy on the life of adolescent women

New study indicates pregnancy can double HIV risk in men

Opinions: Family planning; U.S. food aid

AP examines HIV microbicides, prep research

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