News

KOVE Medical has raised €1.7 million to support first-in-human studies of an implantable device designed to reduce preterm birth risk after foetal surgery. The University of Zurich spin-off is developing a device designed to close defects left by surgical instruments following fetoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure performed inside the womb. Fetoscopies can treat [...]

A new UK study aims to improve maternity care for pregnant women living with multiple long-term health conditions. The three-year project, led by the University of Aberdeen and Birmingham City University, brings together experts from academia and the NHS, including King’s College London, the University of Birmingham, Manchester University, Barts Health NHS Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NHS [...]

Metformin was linked to lower odds of preterm birth among pregnant women at high metabolic risk, but did not prevent gestational diabetes overall. The study examined whether metformin, a low-cost prescription oral medicine used to manage blood sugar, could prevent gestational diabetes and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, including early birth. Gestational diabetes, which is characterised [...]

Spain's food safety agency will review menopause guidance after women researchers criticised recommendations based on studies conducted only on men. The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has asked its scientific committee to review its report on diet and healthy habits during the menopause. Published last March, the document uses values from European [...]

Scotland has launched a review of NHS IVF access, including whether treatment should extend to single women and couples with children from previous relationships. The national review will assess how fertility services can better reflect modern family structures while maintaining fair and consistent access across Scotland. It will also examine access to fertility preservation services, [...]

Women’s health medical device company Ark Surgical has secured further institutional backing from JNF and the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) as it accelerates the US commercial expansion of its surgical tissue containment technology. Both organisations have previously backed Ark, making the renewed support a significant vote of confidence in the company’s technology, leadership team and [...]

AI may help detect heart disease in women from routine mammograms, according to research involving almost 30,000 women. Researchers found a machine-learning model could distinguish women with coronary heart disease, high blood pressure or a previous stroke using mammogram images. The findings suggest breast cancer screening could potentially also flag cardiovascular problems without requiring an [...]

Prepared for Femtech World by Dr Emilė Radytė, neuroscientist and co-founder and CEO of Samphire Neuroscience The short answer Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) does not usually result from abnormal hormone levels. Research suggests that the brain can respond differently to expected changes in estrogen, progesterone, and the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone. This helps explain why blood [...]

Thousands of UK women develop undiagnosed PTSD after childbirth each year, with at least 15,000 cases going undetected, researchers say. The true number could be double that or more, according to an evidence review of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can involve symptoms including nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety and persistent negative thoughts. Research estimates suggest [...]

Nearly a third of women aged 21 to 29 have never been screened for cervical cancer, according to research tracking screening trends over 20 years. The proportion of women in their 20s who reported never being screened for cervical cancer has increased over the past two decades. Among women aged 30 to 64, almost 15 [...]