News

W Group has opened applications for W Accelerate with Merck KGaA and M Ventures, inviting reproductive and maternal health startups, scaleups and spinouts to pitch for direct access to global pharma partnership and strategic investment. Selected companies will pitch on 5th October, competing for the chance to accelerate their growth through commercial partnerships, investment, or [...]

Smoking and alcohol were linked to breast cancer and irregular heartbeat in women aged 55 and over, a global analysis suggests. Breast cancer and atrial fibrillation or flutter represent a growing global health burden, but the reasons for similar rates in some regions are not well understood. Atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, is an [...]

By Claire Pettengill, science intern and Jade Anstine, clinical AI intern, Ema EQ Every year, Gallup asks Americans which professions they trust most. Every year, nurses win. Not doctors. Not scientists. Nurses. And if you spend any time thinking about why, the answer is not hard to find. Medicine runs on the nurse noticing first. [...]

An AI blood test being trialled by the NHS could spare thousands of women a painful examination for suspected womb cancer. Around 90,000 postmenopausal women in England are referred by their GP each year to be investigated for possible womb cancer because of heavy bleeding. Around 10,000 women a year in England are diagnosed with [...]

A non-hormonal therapy restored vaginal tissue in an animal study, suggesting a possible new treatment for menopause-related GSM. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM, is a chronic condition caused by falling oestrogen levels. It affects the vulva, vagina and urinary tract, causing symptoms including vaginal dryness, painful sex and recurring vaginal or urinary tract infections. [...]

IVF success declines with age even when women use young donor eggs, with a marked fall from around 49, research suggests. The findings challenge the idea that donor eggs can fully “reset” the reproductive clock, although researchers said they should not discourage older couples from trying. Dr Beatrice Crestani, from an assisted reproduction [...]

Two endometriosis tests could cut years from diagnosis after NICE backed their temporary NHS use in England and Wales. EndoSure and Endotest have been recommended in draft guidance, with one able to provide results in 45 minutes. Endometriosis affects around one in 10 women of reproductive age. It occurs when tissue similar to the womb [...]

By Jane Lewis, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and women’s health lead, ABHI For years, the conversation around women's health has rightly focused on recognition. Recognition that women wait longer for diagnosis. Recognition that symptoms are too often dismissed or normalised. Recognition that healthcare systems have historically been designed around male biology, leaving gaps [...]

Women with PMOS should receive annual NHS checks to spot related health risks sooner, according to new draft guidance. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) is a complex condition that can have wide-ranging effects across the body. It affects around one in eight women and was formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome. It was renamed in [...]

By Nolynn Palmer, science and partnership lead, EmaEQ and Heather Ritchie, COO, Embr Labs Summer is reminiscent of many things: the smell of sunscreen, longer evenings, dedicated family time, vacations finally on the calendar, maybe even a wardrobe refresh. There’s a particular kind of joy that settles in this time of year, a collective breath [...]