Research

A study is examining where delays occur in diagnosing endometriosis  - a condition that can take seven to twelve years to diagnose. Endometriosis affects an estimated 1.5 million women and people in the UK, but there is currently no consistent way of measuring where and why diagnostic delays happen. The research aims to develop the [...]

Climbing during the third trimester was not linked to higher rates of self-reported pregnancy complications in a global study. The findings provide direct evidence on an activity pregnant women have traditionally been advised to avoid because of concerns about falls. Researchers surveyed 692 people about climbing during pregnancy, falls, maternal and baby health outcomes and [...]

Higher coffee consumption has been linked to lower body fat, greater muscle mass and differing sex hormone patterns in men and women in a Finnish study. Researchers found people who drank more coffee had lower levels of total and visceral fat, the fat stored around internal organs, as well as greater skeletal muscle mass. These [...]

Health visitor support may help women who quit smoking during pregnancy remain smoke-free after giving birth, research suggests. The BabyBreathe programme was designed to help women who stopped smoking before or during pregnancy avoid returning to smoking after childbirth. The programme was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and tested by [...]

Women with endometriosis say menstrual leave and flexible working would help most, as research estimates yearly income losses of €1,757 (£1,502). Pain and fatigue were linked to more frequent work absences and reduced job performance. The first large-scale study of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe estimated that women with the condition lose an [...]

Pregnancy complications are linked to greater health-related social needs among Black and Latina women, a study has found. Adverse pregnancy outcomes include pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, low birth weight and preterm birth. These complications are associated with risks of further complications, chronic disease and cardiovascular disease, and disproportionately affect Black and Latina women. [...]

Phthalates found in plastics and personal care products may be linked to higher blood pressure during pregnancy, a study suggests. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, are a leading cause of maternal mortality in the US. Higher blood pressure during pregnancy has also been linked to adverse health outcomes for both mothers and children. [...]

Glaucoma drugs could potentially be repurposed to treat aggressive breast cancer after researchers identified markers linked to response. Scientists found that several cancers, including breast cancer, melanoma and a type of blood cancer, rely on the same molecule to become aggressive and spread. Drugs that block the molecule are already used to treat glaucoma and [...]

Women living in socially vulnerable neighbourhoods had a 20 per cent higher risk of death after an ovarian cancer diagnosis, a study found. Black women also faced a 45 per cent higher risk of death than white women. Researchers said the combination of being Black and living in a highly vulnerable neighbourhood was linked to [...]

Weekly app monitoring can reduce fatigue and improve daily life for women with metastatic breast cancer, according to a study. The approach involves regularly asking patients about their wellbeing through an app and responding quickly when problems are identified. Germany’s Federal Joint Committee, known as the G-BA, has recommended that the treatment model be incorporated [...]