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As women increasingly turn to technology to plug the gender health gap, NHS leaders have highlighted the importance of “keeping pace” with innovation in the femtech sector. Earlier this month, the Women and Equalities Select Committee continued an ongoing inquiry into women’s reproductive health conditions which began under the previous Conservative government. Samantha Niblett, Labour [...]

A gene therapy approach to boosting the placenta is safe in monkeys, according to a new, short-term study, bringing the potential treatment closer to improving birthweights of human babies and sparing them the complications of an early birth and developmental difficulties later in life. In humans, placental insufficiency restricts the growth of developing foetuses and [...]

Replacing meat and dairy products with plant-based foods, both “healthy” and “unhealthy” as defined by the plant-based index, leads to weight loss and a reduction of hot flashes in postmenopausal women, according to new research. The new research is a secondary analysis of data from a Physicians Committee study in which 84 postmenopausal women reporting [...]

Infants whose mothers regularly use language to describe what their child is thinking or feeling, have higher levels of the hormone oxytocin, finds a new study. Oxytocin, a hormone that is involved in a range of psychological processes, plays an important role in social relationships, such as the development of the bond between a parent [...]

Women who suffer severe complications during their first pregnancy or delivery are less inclined to have more babies, a new study reports. Given the recent steady decline in birth rate in Sweden, the researchers propose monitoring in antenatal care to address the problem. Birth rates and fertility have both been in steady decline in Sweden [...]

Expectant mothers who maintain a diet that meets USDA dietary guidelines during pregnancy may be more likely to have infants with healthy birthweights, steadier growth patterns, and potentially a reduced risk of obesity later in childhood, according to a new study. The research, involving more than 2,800 mother-child pairs across eight ECHO Cohort Study Sites, [...]

A new study reveals a troubling rise in severe maternal health issues and birth complications in Illinois from 2016 to 2023, closely linked to increases in chronic health conditions affecting pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, mental health disorders and especially obesity, which saw the largest increase in annual rates. The study highlights [...]

The Femtech World Awards 2025, delivered in partnership with headline sponsor Planned Parenthood, celebrates the brightest lights in women's health innovation. The event celebrates the best examples of leadership, innovation and impact in key areas that affect women's health and wellbeing. The OB/GYN Innovation of the Year award recognises a pioneering advancement that has transformed [...]

Scientists led by researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick have identified a gene variant directly tied to early miscarriages in women. The discovery of the variant is linked to accelerated reproductive ageing, a condition producing high numbers of abnormal eggs that can lead to miscarriages. The findings could alert women to the potential for early infertility [...]

Short-term menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) does not have long-term cognitive effects when given to women in early postmenopause, according to a new study. While MHT can offer relief from the challenging symptoms of menopause, many women and doctors are hesitant to start MHT due to safety concerns. Previous research has linked one form of hormone [...]