Diagnosis

Eight tech startups have joined an accelerator programme developing tools to tackle women's cardiovascular and brain health conditions. The firms have been selected for the American Heart Association Heart and Brain Health Accelerator, which offers mentoring, funding opportunities and industry connections to healthcare startups. The accelerator is run through a collaboration between American Heart Association [...]

More than 30 MPs have urged the health secretary to act over DES, a pregnancy drug linked to cancer and fertility problems in children exposed in the womb. The letter, coordinated by Bournemouth MP Jessica Toale, calls for a formal apology and improved cancer screening, after an ITV News investigation found DES was still being [...]

Toxic PFAS chemicals have been detected in some reusable menstrual underwear and pads, with one-third of tested items showing signs of intentional use. Researchers analysed 59 products, including 43 pairs of period underwear, eight reusable pads, four menstrual cups, three reusable incontinence underwear and one reusable incontinence pad. PFAS – short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl [...]

Parents who have experienced pregnancy loss are contributing data from apps and fitness trackers to help shape future support and improve maternal care services. The initiative aims to create a new model giving families more control over how personal data — such as entries from wellbeing apps and diaries — is used to support others. [...]

Sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy are linked to higher risks of preterm birth, stillbirth and babies born smaller than expected, a large Australian study has found. Researchers analysed almost 60,000 births in the Northern Territory between 2005 and 2020, identifying strong associations between maternal infections and adverse birth outcomes. Congenital syphilis was found to triple [...]

Escala Medical has secured US$4.5m in Series A funding to expand use of its FDA-cleared device for pelvic organ prolapse, bringing total funding to over US$8m. Proceeds from the funding round will support commercial expansion in the US, market entry in Europe following anticipated CE mark approval in 2026, and rollout in Southeast Asia via [...]

Leading psychiatrists say a US panel promoted false claims about antidepressants in pregnancy, including that they are ineffective and linked to autism or birth defects. The meeting on Monday featured 10 panellists, several of whom rejected the prevailing medical view on the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy. They raised concerns about conditions such as autism, [...]

Women in high-poverty areas saw memory decline of 7 per cent per decade in midlife, with even sharper drops of 10 per cent among Black women. The study tracked 1,391 women in the US for up to 13.5 years and found that exposure to concentrated neighbourhood poverty was associated with sharper decline in episodic memory [...]

Parents in their early 30s report fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than peers without children, but gender and income gaps in mental health still remain. A new study shows that mothers and fathers aged 32 in England reported slightly lower levels of anxiety and depression, and greater life satisfaction, than those without children. However, [...]

UK MPs have proposed regulating digital fertility services after Apricity’s collapse left patients in limbo at a critical point in their IVF treatment. Conservative MP Caroline Dinenage introduced a ten-minute rule bill to extend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s (HFEA) powers to include online providers and wellness clinics offering fertility-related services. The move reflects [...]