Research

Gum disease may impair female fertility by triggering inflammation that affects the ovaries and egg quality, a study in mice suggests. The findings point to a possible biological link between oral health and unexplained infertility. Researchers said chronic oral inflammation was linked to oxidative damage, disrupted follicle development and reduced live birth rates in mice. [...]

Only one per cent of women can name all five gynaecological cancers, new research suggests, as 21 women in the UK die every day of the diseases. The report also found that 31 per cent of women have put off or avoided seeking medical advice for gynaecological symptoms. It also found that 43 per cent [...]

Women over 40 are seeking raves for mental and physical wellbeing, with a study suggesting the benefits go beyond nightlife. The findings challenge the idea that nightlife and electronic dance music events are mainly for younger people. Published in Psychology of Music, the study focused on the common misconception that nightlife is only for younger [...]

Menstrual fluid collected from tampons could one day provide a simple, non-invasive way to measure a biomarker of nerve damage and potentially track disease activity in neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), new research suggests. Because neurofilament light chain, or NfL, has emerged as a promising biomarker of MS, detecting it in menstrual fluid [...]

A nurse who works with breast cancer patients has spoken of her pride after joining a trial that improved breast cancer surgery after her own diagnosis. Heidi Jones, a 53-year-old staff nurse on the surgical day unit at Basildon Hospital, is a mother of two from Corringham in Essex and works with breast cancer patients [...]

A recent study developed a new "digital companion" to support the prevention and follow-up of maternal cardiovascular risk in women with pregnancy complications. Cardiovascular disease, or CVD, is the leading cause of premature death and illness in women, yet sex-specific causes remain understudied and women are underrepresented in research. Pregnancy complications, including hypertensive disorders of [...]

A major genetics study has found dozens of new signals linked to endometriosis, offering fresh insight into the biology driving the condition. Endometriosis is a systemic disease affecting around 10 per cent of females worldwide. It happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, causing pain, inflammation and fertility problems. [...]

An AI atlas has mapped how reproductive organs age through menopause, with the ovaries, vagina and uterus changing on different timelines. To better understand how this process affects health, researchers at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center developed what they describe as the first large-scale atlas of female reproductive system ageing, using artificial intelligence. The team combined [...]

Early miscarriage care after a first loss could prevent about 10,000 pregnancy losses a year in the UK, according to a new study. The study by Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research and Birmingham women’s hospital involving 406 women found a 4 per cent reduction in the risk of future miscarriage for women on the [...]

Home blood pressure checks after hypertensive pregnancy could cut the risk of heart attack, stroke and potentially early death, research suggests. Women who regularly monitored their blood pressure in the weeks after giving birth, and had doctors tailor their medication if needed, had better functioning arteries nine months later than those who received routine care. [...]