Women's Health News

RSS

Postpartum recovery may influence long-term maternal aging and health

Jesse Poganik, PhD, of the Division of Genetics within the Department of Medicine at Mass General Brigham, is the senior author of a paper published in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, "The Postpartum Recovery Window as a Determinant of Maternal Aging." Stephen Albright, formerly of Mass General Brigham, is the lead author.

23 Oct 2026

Nearly three in four popular comfort foods have something in common, researchers find

A US study examining 300 distinct comfort foods identified chips, ice cream, pizza, chocolate, and cookies as the most frequently nominated choices among adults. Researchers found that nearly three-quarters of the foods met hyperpalatability criteria, while approximately 43% were entirely ultra-processed under a strict classification, with relatively small nutritional differences across demographic groups.

22 Oct 2026

Scientists studied one million immune cells and found clues to future disease risk

Researchers developed a single-cell atlas of one million human neutrophils, identifying distinct immune cell populations and gene-expression patterns across tissues, infections, cancer, and other health conditions. Certain neutrophil signatures were associated with metabolic dysfunction, cancer outcomes, and mortality, while higher routine neutrophil counts, even within the normal range, were linked to an increased risk of chronic disease.

22 Oct 2026

Short gaps between pregnancies may accelerate biological aging in mothers

The study of biological aging, how our cells, tissues, and organs change over time, independent of how many years have passed, is a growing area of research that aims to help scientists understand the root causes of chronic illnesses and find ways to enhance longevity.

22 Oct 2026

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy raises complication risks

A new study of more than one million births led by McMaster University researchers has found that gaining too much weight during pregnancy, regardless of a person's starting weight, is linked to a higher risk of life-threatening maternal complications.

22 Oct 2026

Australian study highlights delayed diagnosis in postpartum psychosis care

Women with postpartum psychosis are making repeated pleas for help before receiving a diagnosis, with the first Australian study of their help-seeking experiences finding many contacted health services an average of seven times before getting the care they needed.

22 Oct 2026

Digital mindfulness program cuts depression relapse risk in mothers by 26%

A free, online program developed by University of Colorado Boulder researchers has been shown to reduce risk of depression relapse by double digits among new moms and moms-to-be with a history of depression.

22 Oct 2026

Prenatal iron deficiency linked to lasting changes in the offspring brain

During the first weeks of pregnancy, developing cells are already laying the foundation for the brain. Iron plays a major role in the organization and shaping of cells during this stage of gestation.

21 Oct 2026

What does emotional intelligence have to do with being happy at work?

A study of 244 Lebanese employees found that higher emotional intelligence was associated with greater job satisfaction, better work–life balance, and stronger work engagement. Statistical analysis identified work–life balance and job satisfaction as pathways linking emotional intelligence to engagement, although the cross-sectional findings cannot establish causation.

21 Oct 2026

Beef can fit into healthy diets, but what about its environmental cost?

A narrative review published in Animal Frontiers highlights beef's contribution to high-quality protein and bioavailable micronutrients, while controlled trials generally found no adverse effects on selected cardiometabolic risk markers, although long-term disease outcomes remain uncertain. The authors argue that sustainable food policies should consider nutritional needs, environmental impacts, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods when evaluating beef's place in healthy diets.

21 Oct 2026

Women provide more lifetime elder care than men, study shows

Women in the United States can expect to provide seven years of care over their lifetimes to aging family members or friends-up from six in 2011, University of Michigan research shows.

21 Oct 2026

Japanese study links postpartum depression to mother-infant bonding difficulties

A Japanese study found that higher postpartum depression scores were associated with greater mother–infant bonding difficulties.

21 Oct 2026

Biological framework tracks postpartum vulvar tissue recovery timelines

A new biological model published in Sexual Medicine Reviews by Oxford University Press addresses why pain with sex after childbirth-reported by 60% of women at three months-persists for some long after hormones return to normal.

21 Oct 2026

Postpartum psychosis symptoms frequently dismissed as standard baby blues

In an interview-based study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing including 15 Australian women diagnosed with postpartum psychosis over the past 10 years, women reported that they made multiple attempts to seek medical help and support, yet they encountered delayed recognition, inadequate assessment and, at times, dismissal or minimization of their concerns.

21 Oct 2026

Supercomputer helps design more reliable AI for breast cancer diagnosis

While AI offers the ability to improve human experts' ability to diagnose and treat diseases like breast cancer, well-publicized errors across the broader AI field are cause for concern.

21 Oct 2026

A nine-year study reveals a pattern linking loneliness to heart risk

The study reveals that patterns of loneliness and social isolation significantly impact heart health, suggesting new avenues for cardiovascular risk assessment.

21 Oct 2026

Oxaloacetate supplement may help reduce chemo brain in breast cancer survivors

A new study led by researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that a nutritional supplement containing oxaloacetate, a molecule naturally found in the body that helps cells produce energy, may help improve cognitive function and reduce the fatigue experienced by some breast cancer survivors following treatment.

21 Oct 2026

Rice, fish and pickles: Is the traditional Japanese diet as healthy as we think?

A systematic review of 37 studies found that greater adherence to predefined Japanese-style dietary patterns was associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, based on pooled evidence from three cohort studies. However, health associations varied according to dietary composition, suggesting that traditional Japanese diet scores alone may not adequately distinguish the potential benefits and risks of different food combinations.

20 Oct 2026

Scientists found a link between Mediterranean diet blood markers and longer survival

Researchers found that a previously validated 67-metabolite blood signature of Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with lower long-term mortality across a Spanish trial population and three US cohorts. Participants with the highest signature scores had a 23% lower relative hazard of death than those with the lowest scores in both populations, although the findings do not establish a causal relationship.

20 Oct 2026

A 20-year study of 90,000 adults suggests the type of fish you eat matters

A Japanese study following 90,944 adults for an average of 20.8 years found that associations between seafood consumption and mortality varied by fish type and sex. Moderate seafood consumption was linked to lower overall mortality among women, while higher intake of omega-3-rich fish in women and unsalted seafood in men was associated with lower cerebrovascular disease mortality.

20 Oct 2026