News

IVFmicro has raised £3.5m to advance its microfluidic device designed to improve IVF success rates in routine clinic use. The Leeds-based spinout from the University of Leeds, founded in 2024, aims to increase the quality and number of embryos in an IVF cycle. IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, combines eggs and sperm in a lab [...]

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) may not increase breast cancer risk in women with BRCA mutations, new research suggests. Women who inherit harmful mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which help repair DNA, face elevated risks of ovarian and breast cancer. They are often advised to have their ovaries and fallopian tubes surgically removed (bilateral [...]

University of Leeds IVF spinout IVFmicro has raised £3.5m in pre-seed funding. The investment is led by Northern Gritstone, with support from Innovate UK Investor Partnerships Programme, and will be used by IVFmicro for its next verification and validation phase, leading to trials on human embryos in fertility clinics. Helen Picton is scientific director and [...]

By Ruby Raut, founder and CEO, WUKA For years, campaigners, scientists, and brands like ours have been calling attention to a hidden issue: the chemicals, metals, and toxins found in everyday menstrual products. At last, that conversation reached one of the most powerful rooms in the country. In October 2025, the House of Lords hosted [...]

Joy Parenting Club acquires Heba Care, widening its parenting support platform, and will roll out an AI tracker for feeding, sleep and nappies to all Joy users in 30 to 60 days. The tracker is currently in beta testing. Joy combines AI guidance on feeding, sleep, child development and everyday parenting with access to clinically [...]

Routine mammograms could help assess cardiovascular disease risk in women, new research suggests. The study found that both the severity of calcium in breast arteries and how it progressed on mammograms predicted future cardiovascular disease. Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine analysed data from 10,348 women who had repeat mammograms, with an [...]

The NHS is rolling out a new safety signal system across maternity services in England to spot emerging concerns and prevent tragedies. The Maternity Outcomes Signal System (MOSS) rapidly analyses routine ward data to flag issues needing urgent attention. If an unusual pattern is detected, a warning signal is sent to the unit, which must [...]

Femtech app Ovum has agreed a strategic partnership with creative agency AKQA Australia to support growth and boost consumer adoption. The collaboration will see AKQA develop creative concepts across digital, PR and social channels, with a major brand moment planned for International Women’s Day 2026. Founded by Dr Ariella Heffernan-Marks, a former medical doctor turned [...]

Meta has removed or restricted dozens of accounts run by abortion providers, queer groups and reproductive health organisations in recent weeks. Campaigners have called the takedowns one of the biggest waves of censorship on Meta’s platforms in years. The actions began in October and targeted the Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp accounts of more than 50 [...]

Fertility startup Inito has raised US$29m in Series B to scale its at-home diagnostics platform and develop AI-designed antibodies. The funding round was led by Bertelsmann India Investments and Fireside Ventures, bringing Inito’s total funding to around US$45m. The company previously raised US$6m led by Fireside Ventures and US$9m from Y Combinator, former Nurx chief [...]