Research roundup: biodegradable contraceptive to be developed, impact of the microbiome on fertility and more

Femtech World explores the latest research developments in the world of women’s health.

Screening and treating maternal psychological health key to improving cardiovascular health

Integrating routine psychological health screening and treatment during and after pregnancy may reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and improve maternal cardiovascular health, according to a new scientific statement.

The statement highlights the need to support maternal cardiovascular health by including comprehensive screening of psychological health during the perinatal period (pregnancy through one year postpartum). Cardiovascular issues are the number one cause of maternal death.

The statement summarises the evidence associating psychological health concerns and adverse cardiovascular outcomes; highlights effective management strategies and integrated care delivery models; and identifies current challenges and future directions for improving maternal health outcomes.

Young women suffering menopause symptoms in silence

More than half of women ages 30 to 35 are already suffering moderate to severe symptoms associated with menopause, yet most women are waiting decades before seeking treatment, new research from UVA Health and the Flo women’s health app reveals.

The research sheds important light on “perimenopause,” the transition period leading to menopause.

Many women in perimenopause assume they’re too young to be suffering symptoms related to menopause, believing that symptoms won’t appear until they reach their 50s. But this mistaken belief, the researchers say, only causes women to suffer in silence.

The new study analysed symptoms self-reported by more than 4,400 American women ages 30 and older who responded to a survey conducted online and in the Flo app.

Among women 30 to 35, 55.4 per cent reported symptoms that meet the criteria for “moderate” or “severe” on the widely used Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). This number increased to 64.3 per cent among women 36 to 40. Yet most women don’t seek treatment for menopause symptoms until they are 56 or older.

Transforming age-related health conditions with new class of medical foods

Solarea Bio has introduced its consumer health brand, Journa, to improve the ageing experience with natural, clinically validated solutions – including age-related health conditions such as postmenopausal bone loss and chronic autoimmune diseases.

Journa’s proprietary platform, Microscape Technology is an AI-driven product engine that enables faster commercialisation of products in the pipeline.

Expert scientists can quickly isolate microbes naturally found in fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods, sequencing the full genome of each isolate for a comprehensive microbial library. This library includes over 5,000 microbial isolates, more than 16 million genes, and over seven million biosynthetic clusters.

Journa has now enabled early access to its scientifically formulated daily synbiotic medical food, Bondia (SBD111), designed to aid in the dietary management of bone loss associated with osteopenia, menopause, weight, and age.

The product specifically targets bone loss, which disproportionately affects women in cases of osteopenia and osteoporosis.

How the microbiome influences female fertility

A diverse microbiome that may influence fertility and reproductive health. A new review has explored how microbial communities in the female reproductive tract, especially Lactobacillus spp., affect embryo implantation, pregnancy success, and gynaecological diseases.

Researchers found that a Lactobacillus-dominated (LD) uterine environment significantly improves pregnancy outcomes. Similarly, pregnancy success rates were higher in LD environments.

Lactobacilli help by maintaining a low pH in the reproductive tract, preventing harmful bacteria (like E. coli) from taking over. Other microbes, such as Bifidobacterium spp. (acetate producer), Prevotella spp. (acetate producer), Eubacterium spp. (Butyrate producer) and Enterobacter spp. (propionate producer), may play a role, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that regulate immune responses crucial for embryo implantation.

The study highlights that women undergoing IVF who had a non-LD uterine microbiome were far less likely to achieve pregnancy. Additionally, disruptions in microbiota composition have been linked to conditions such as chronic endometritis, endometriosis, and recurrent implantation failure (RIF).

These findings underscore the need for more targeted fertility treatments, including microbiome-based interventions. The researchers suggest that probiotics or personalized treatments to restore a healthy microbiome could improve fertility outcomes, particularly for women struggling with IVF failure.

Biodegradable long-acting contraceptive implant to be developed

Daré Bioscience and Theramex have announced that they have entered into a co-development and licensing agreement for a potential first-in-category biodegradable contraceptive implant called Casea S recently acquired by Theramex.

An ongoing Phase 1 study is funded by a foundation grant, and is being conducted by FHI 360 to investigate pharmacokinetics, removability, safety and tolerability of Casea S.

The biodegradable implant is designed to control release of a well-characterised contraceptive for a set period of time of 18 to 24 months before dissolving. It is designed to provide women with a long-acting, minimally-invasive contraceptive method that will not require surgical removal by a healthcare provider, which would improve convenience and could eliminate one of the barriers to use associated with existing implanted contraceptives.

Women’s telehealth brand, PeachesRx, launches to focus on GLP-1 weight loss treatments

Mangoceuticals, a company focused on developing, marketing, and selling a variety of men’s wellness products via a secure telemedicine platform under the brand MangoRx, has announced the official launch of PeachesRx.

The women’s health and wellness brand will focus on providing cutting-edge, convenient treatments tailored to women’s unique health needs that will be made available via a secure telemedicine platform.

PeachesRx will focus on compounded GLP-1 receptor agonists – a class of medications proven to aid weight loss by regulating appetite and glucose metabolism. By introducing its tailored GLP-1 offerings, PeachesRx aims to meet the unique metabolic needs of women while providing an accessible and affordable telehealth-driven solution.

Heart disease and stroke risk may increase from gynecological conditions

A new study has revealed that having a gynecological disorder may be linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

According to the researchers, women’s risk of ischaemic heart disease was 41 per cent higher if a gynecological condition was present, while cerebrovascular disease risk was 33 per cent higher.

The team say the risk factors may be contributed to from biological pathways such as systemic inflammation and oestrogen production.