Contraceptive News and Research

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Safe, effective and reversible alternative contraceptives for men

Most men know when their family is complete, and vasectomy remains the most effective and safest form of sterilization. Around 10% of vasectomized men in the U.S desire vasectomy reversal due to the high divorce rate in this country and other life circumstances.

16 Nov 2004

Oral contraception can prevent knee injuries as well as unwanted pregnancies

In 1960 the first oral contraception, Enovid-10, was launched in the US market, known as the “pill”. Women were finally enthused about a form of contraception marketed as “safe and effective” and readily used the pill. Within two years oral contraception was used by over 1.2 million women and the numbers continued to rise.

16 Nov 2004

Novel enzyme in sperm is essential for spontaneous and independent movement

A study led by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found that a novel enzyme in sperm is essential for spontaneous and independent sperm movement as well as male fertility.

16 Nov 2004

Treating period pain with Chinese medicine

It's news that could have women everywhere throwing away their hot water bottles, painkillers and Tim Tams. A University of Western Sydney study is set to discover if ancient Chinese medicine can provide relief from the monthly cramping, back pain and bloating associated with menstruation.

11 Nov 2004

Prolonged breastfeeding helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory disease of the immune system, is between two and four times more likely to strike women than men.

4 Nov 2004

The Royal Society of Medicine Press has published new Primary Care Guidelines for the Management of Females with Epilepsy

These guidelines were produced following a multidisciplinary consensus meeting of epilepsy experts and cover such topics as the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, preconception counselling and the management of epilepsy during and after pregnancy.

3 Nov 2004

Europe has one of the highest incidence rates of ovarian cancer in the world

A new large-scale study of ovarian cancer trends found that while it is declining in most northern European countries, it is increasing in a few southern and eastern European countries.

25 Oct 2004

Possible links between premenstrual syndrome, a woman's Body Mass Index and whether or not she uses hormonal contraceptives

Initial findings show most women recorded some problems in the days leading up to their period, with 21 per cent of the sample studied suffering with two or more symptoms. In addition, the chances of having symptoms are more likely for heavier women with a higher BMI and less likely for women using hormonal contraception such as the Pill or the contraceptive injection.

8 Oct 2004

Sexual encounters among patients in UK psychiatric wards are common

Healthcare providers in psychiatric wards are faced with two conflicting ideas when assessing the incidence of sexual activity.

4 Oct 2004

College students may be ignoring the threat of heart disease

In a groundbreaking study, a former Arizona State University student found college students may be ignoring the threat of heart disease and putting themselves at risk.

4 Oct 2004

Researchers show gossypol – a drug refined from cottonseed oil is a cancer treatment booster

New research has opened up the prospect that gossypol – a drug refined from cottonseed oil and previously tried and abandoned as a male contraceptive – could boost the effectiveness of treatment for prostate tumours and possibly other common cancers as well.

30 Sep 2004

Women aged 16 to 19 are 43% more likely to test positive for Chlamydia than women in their early twenties

Women aged 16 to 19 are 43% more likely to test positive for Chlamydia than women in their early twenties, show data from the first year of the Chlamydia screening programme in England, reported in Sexually Transmitted Infections.

29 Sep 2004

Novel and cost-effective answer to family planning

A color-coded string of beads, called Cycle Beads, are used to help women keep track of the days of their menstrual cycle and see which days they are likely to get pregnant if they had unprotected intercourse.

28 Sep 2004

Botox injections may ease the irritation of tinnitus

A preliminary study indicates that Botox injections may ease the irritation of tinnitus, otherwise know as ringing in the ears, for some patients. Researchers say more study is needed, but initial results are promising.

18 Sep 2004

Sea urchins may provide clues to some baffling human reproductive problems

For many years scientists have believed they understood how closely related species that occupy the same regions of the ocean were kept from interbreeding. It turns out they were only seeing part of the picture.

13 Sep 2004

People should be aware of the risks of herbal remedies interacting with conventional medicines

A high percentage of the population could be endangering their health by taking herbal medicines without checking with a health professional first according to Peter Houghton, Professor in Pharmacognosy, King’s College London.

7 Sep 2004

Increasingly the Internet's potential is being harnessed to transform healthcare delivery at the patient level

To date, the Internet has been used principally as a tool for commerce and as a cost-effective communication medium by the European healthcare industry. Increasingly however, the Internet's potential is being harnessed to transform healthcare delivery at the patient level.

6 Sep 2004

Popular injectable contraceptive increases risk of STD's

The injectable contraceptive depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) appears to increase a woman’s risk of acquiring the sexually transmitted infections chlamydia and gonorrhea by approximately three fold when compared to women not using a hormonal contraceptive

23 Aug 2004

New York Municipalities to include contraceptives in prescription drug coverage

New York State Attorney General recently announced that 17 municipalities in Westchester County have agreed to extend their healthcare coverage to include prescription contraceptives following an investigation by his office.

23 Aug 2004

The world's population in 2050 will be 9.276 billion, currently 6.396 in 2004

The Population Reference Bureau has released the 2004 World Population Data Sheet. The new data is now the most up-to-date world demographic information and makes estimates for all countries and regions of the world. It also highlights key world demographic shifts between now and 2050.

18 Aug 2004