Reproductive Health News and Research

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U.S. releases statement on Global Health Initiative

The U.S. government continues to lay the groundwork for efforts under the U.S. Global Health Initiative (GHI), announcing the first round of "GHI Plus" countries, as well as the program's governance structure. GHI is a six-year, $63 billion initiative to help partner countries improve measurable health outcomes by strengthening health systems and building upon proven results. It places a particular focus on improving the health of women, newborns and children.

19 Jun 2010

Boehringer Ingelheim disappointed with FDA Advisory Committee recommendations on flibanserin NDA for HSDD

The Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee met today to discuss the new drug application (NDA) for flibanserin 100 mg as a treatment for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in pre-menopausal women. The advisory committee was convened by and makes recommendations to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA will consider the committee's advice as part of its final assessment of the NDA.

19 Jun 2010

Equatorial Guinea strengthens health facilities to boost access to reproductive health services

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial, along with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is working to strengthen and equip health facilities throughout the country to boost access to reproductive health services. The rebuilding process includes the construction and renovation of health centers and maternity units as well as proper training for medical students.

19 Jun 2010

New VA surgery rating system affects where vets get care; Abortion changes considered for military

"A new rating system now restricts the types of surgery performed at certain Veterans Affairs facilities in five states," NPR reports. "The new policy will prompt some veterans to travel farther to reach other VA facilities or civilian hospitals for more complex surgeries. The policy comes after investigations found that surgical mistakes had caused nine deaths in the department's Marion, Ill., hospital a few years ago.

18 Jun 2010

HRA Pharma announces FDA Advisory Committee approval for ulipristal acetate as emergency contraceptive

HRA Pharma announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs voted 11 to 0 that the company's application provided sufficient information to conclude that ulipristal acetate is effective and safe for use as an emergency contraceptive.

18 Jun 2010

VOA News examines countdown to 2015 report calling for additional 700,000 midwives to reduce maternal, newborn deaths worldwide

VOA News examines the Countdown to 2015 report, which says that a lack of trained birth attendants is contributing to more than two million stillbirths, maternal and newborn deaths annually (Smith, 6/15).

17 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

Journal explores polemic issues related to cosmetic surgery, body image and sexuality

Elsevier announced today the publication of the May 2010 issue of Reproductive Health Matters, which brings to light polemic issues related to cosmetic surgery, body image and sexuality. The issue explores the lack of proper information about the risks of complications and failure rate of many of these procedures.

14 Jun 2010

Women Deliver conference concludes

The Women Deliver conference concluded on Wednesday, as attendees "celebrated benchmark achievements in reducing maternal and infant mortality and faced stubborn failures at the same time," Womens eNews reports.

11 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

Experts call on international community to commit attention and resources to cervical cancer prevention

Women's health leaders today called on the international community to commit the resources needed to ensure that women and girls worldwide have equal access to cervical cancer prevention technologies. At the WOMEN DELIVER conference, the Declaration for Universal Access to Cervical Cancer Prevention was issued by leading women's health, cancer and business organizations, including PATH, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the International Union Against Cancer.

9 Jun 2010

Hardships in childhood and adolescence influence pregnancy outcome: Study

Childhood hardships may be related to future pregnancy outcomes, in part through their association with smoking during pregnancy and adult socioeconomic position, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

8 Jun 2010

UNFPA, CARE partner to improve health of women and girls

Leaders from UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, and CARE International announced today at the Women Deliver Conference an agreement to enhance collaboration on maternal health programs in more than 25 countries. This unique collaboration will bring together UNFPA's effective work with national governments and CARE's expertise in engaging local communities.

8 Jun 2010

G8 final communique draft shows agreement on maternal, child health initiative, funding amounts not yet set

A final communique draft completed last month for the upcoming G8 summit states that leaders will agree on a maternal health initiative that focuses on improving access to sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, in the developing world, the Globe and Mail reports. The draft leaves "G8 countries free to decide whether their programs on reproductive health will fund abortions" (Clark, 6/4).

8 Jun 2010

Diagnosis of antiovarian autoantibodies in infertile women help in approaches for assisted reproduction

Studies on the ovarian antigens and its corresponding specific antibodies have showed the relationship between the incidences of antiovarian autoantibodies and the clinical mani-festation of ovarian dysfunction and infertility in women.

4 Jun 2010

Seattle's Phoumy Bobby Bounkeau receives 2010 Humanitarian PA of the Year Award from AAPA

Phoumy Bobby Bounkeau, PhD, PA-C, of Seattle, Wash., received the American Academy of Physician Assistants' 2010 Humanitarian PA of the Year Award at the organization's 38th Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Atlanta yesterday. Bounkeau, of Lao and Thai descent, co-founded the CME training project, a program that provides funding for rural Lao health workers to travel from their villages to the large city of Luang Prabang, Laos, to participate in much-needed continuing medical education.

1 Jun 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

A Lancet Infectious Diseases Leading Edge article examines the history of the global efforts to control polio and the challenges associated with targets to globally eradicate the disease. "The eradication of polio seems imminent, but with so few cases, there is a temptation to think an acceptable level of infection has been achieved. Not so.

29 May 2010

With 7.7M child deaths expected this year, study finds global child deaths falling faster than expected

Researchers estimate that 7.7 million children under the age of 5 will die this year, an indication that global child deaths "seem to have fallen faster than officials thought," according to a study, published online Monday in the Lancet, the Associated Press reports (Cheng, 5/23).

25 May 2010

Delegates at the World Health Assembly adopt resolutions on variety of global health issues

The 63rd World Health Assembly, which brought together Health Ministers and senior health officials from the World Health Organization's Member States, concluded business and closed Friday evening.

24 May 2010

U.N. Secretary-General discusses G8, G20 commitments during visit to Ottawa

On Wednesday, ahead of a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed several topics in a "speech warning that leaders of the G8 and G20 countries should not use global economic and financial difficulties as 'an excuse' to neglect previous pledges of billions of dollars for the world's poor - for doubling aid to Africa, food security, malaria and AIDS programs and maternal and child health care," Canwest News Service/Calgary Herald writes (O'Neill, 5/12).

14 May 2010

Reproductive Health News and Research

U.S. releases statement on Global Health Initiative

Boehringer Ingelheim disappointed with FDA Advisory Committee recommendations on flibanserin NDA for HSDD

Equatorial Guinea strengthens health facilities to boost access to reproductive health services

New VA surgery rating system affects where vets get care; Abortion changes considered for military

HRA Pharma announces FDA Advisory Committee approval for ulipristal acetate as emergency contraceptive

VOA News examines countdown to 2015 report calling for additional 700,000 midwives to reduce maternal, newborn deaths worldwide

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

Journal explores polemic issues related to cosmetic surgery, body image and sexuality

Women Deliver conference concludes

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

Experts call on international community to commit attention and resources to cervical cancer prevention

Hardships in childhood and adolescence influence pregnancy outcome: Study

UNFPA, CARE partner to improve health of women and girls

G8 final communique draft shows agreement on maternal, child health initiative, funding amounts not yet set

Diagnosis of antiovarian autoantibodies in infertile women help in approaches for assisted reproduction

Seattle's Phoumy Bobby Bounkeau receives 2010 Humanitarian PA of the Year Award from AAPA

Recent releases in Global Health

With 7.7M child deaths expected this year, study finds global child deaths falling faster than expected

Delegates at the World Health Assembly adopt resolutions on variety of global health issues

U.N. Secretary-General discusses G8, G20 commitments during visit to Ottawa

What to know about prostate cancer eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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