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By Melissa Wallace, co-founder, Fierce Foundry For decades, women’s health was treated as an afterthought, underfunded, under-researched, and often dismissed as “niche.” Yet the irony is staggering: women make up 51 per cent of the population and drive nearly 80 per cent of consumer purchasing decisions. The gap is rarely about market potential, because we [...]

HIV research has identified a new target for ovarian cancer by selectively blocking a cleft in the retinoblastoma protein that protects tumour-supporting macrophages. The discovery could make ovarian – and potentially other – cancers more responsive to immunotherapies, treatments that use the body’s immune system to fight disease. Scientists at the Wistar Institute found that [...]

Giving postpartum mothers with hepatitis C the opportunity to start antiviral treatment while they are still in the hospital after giving birth, significantly increases their odds of completing the therapy and being cured. The authors of a recent study found that new mothers who saw an infectious disease specialist and received medication for hepatitis C [...]

The financial impact of breast cancer on the UK economy is projected to rise by nearly a third to £4.2bn within 25 years, new analysis warns. The disease is expected to cost between £3.2bn and £3.5bn in 2025, covering NHS diagnosis and treatment as well as lost productivity when patients or carers cannot work. A [...]

Gestational diabetes is tied to cognitive decline in mothers and higher risks of autism and ADHD in children, according to new research. The ongoing systematic review and meta-analysis covered 48 observational studies involving more than 9m pregnancies across 20 countries, with data included up to April 2024. It found clear cognitive impacts for both mothers [...]

Nominations are now open for the third annual Femtech World Awards. The event celebrates the brightest lights in femtech and will recognise some of the best examples of leadership, innovation and impact in key women’s health areas. Last years awards attracted entries from across the UK, Europe and North America, will winners revealed at a [...]

Women who have survived cervical cancer face nearly double the risk of developing anal cancer later in life compared with the general population, new research shows. The study analysed data from more than 85,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer and followed them over two decades to track secondary diagnoses. Researchers at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center [...]

Common fitness trackers may help track pregnancy complications by detecting heart rate changes that mirror hormonal shifts, new research suggests. The study found devices such as Apple Watch, Garmin and Fitbit recorded heart rate patterns that aligned with key pregnancy hormones including oestrogen, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). These hormones play vital roles in [...]

Fourteen NHS trusts will have their maternity services investigated after long-running system failures, the government has confirmed. The investigations form part of a rapid review of England's maternity services announced in June. Health secretary Wes Streeting praised the "extraordinary courage" of bereaved families who raised concerns spanning 15 years. Some families have criticised the process, [...]

Fraiya Ltd has secured £1.75m to test how artificial intelligence could improve fetal ultrasound screening across several NHS sites. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) grant will support a 27-month trial of AI-assisted anomaly detection in pregnancy scans. If successful, the tool could be integrated into NHS services and shape national standards [...]