News

London’s shifting population is holding down breast screening uptake, experts have said, with the capital at 62.8 per cent in 2024, below the NHS’s acceptable 70 per cent threshold. The London Assembly Health Committee recently heard that the capital faces distinct challenges compared with the rest of the country and that these issues must be [...]

A Common Surgery with Outsized Consequences Hysterectomy and myomectomy are among the most frequently performed surgeries worldwide. Minimally invasive and robotic approaches have delivered clear benefits at the point of care, including shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and fewer complications. To remove the uterus or fibroids through small incisions, surgeons use a technique known as [...]

The Covid vaccine is not behind a fall in childbirth, a Swedish study has shown. Rumours on social media have alleged that the jab impairs chances of becoming pregnant. In the later stages of the pandemic, some countries, including Sweden, saw fewer births, raising the question of whether vaccines were responsible. The study [...]

Following a Mediterranean diet is linked to a lower risk of stroke in women, a large cohort study suggests. Women with the highest adherence were 18 per cent less likely to experience any stroke, including a 16 per cent lower risk of ischaemic stroke and a 25 per cent lower risk of haemorrhagic stroke. Ischaemic [...]

Testing period blood for signs of cervical cancer could offer an accurate, convenient screening option for women who avoid clinic appointments, researchers say. The current NHS test involves a nurse or doctor taking cells from the cervix, yet a third of those invited do not attend. A study of the new test, which can be [...]

Rapidly scaling startups often make rushed hiring choices that disadvantage women, a recent study has found. The findings draw on more than 31,000 new ventures founded in Sweden between 2004 and 2018. Researchers at the Stockholm School of Economics report that in male-led startups, scaling reduces the odds of hiring a woman by [...]

Midi Health has closed a US$100m Series D, lifting the menopause care provider to a valuation above US$1bn and achieving unicorn status. The company, originally focused on virtual menopause care, says it will expand to what it calls lifelong care, adding cardiology, obesity management, autoimmune survivorship and longevity services. Joanna Strober is co-founder [...]

Sudden sharp pain under the right rib cage can be alarming and uncomfortable. This area of the body contains several important organs, such as the liver, gallbladder, and parts of the intestines, as well as muscles and the lower ribs themselves. The pain can range from a dull ache to a severe stabbing sensation. Proper [...]

High brain oestrogen may raise women’s PTSD risk if severe stress strikes during high oestrogen phases, causing memory problems and stronger fear responses, new research has revealed. The study found that exposure to several simultaneous stressors can lead to persistent memory problems, difficulty recalling events and stronger reactions to trauma reminders. Tallie Baram [...]

Pregnancy and breastfeeding are linked to stronger cognition in postmenopausal women, a long-term study suggests. Greater cumulative time spent pregnant and time spent breastfeeding correlated with higher overall scores in the study, including verbal and visual memory, in later life. Researchers analysed annual assessments of more than 7,000 women aged about 70 for [...]