News

A woman’s blood group may influence her risk of premature birth, according to research examining over 74,000 maternity records. The study found women with blood groups B and O faced higher risk of spontaneous preterm birth, while those with group A had lower risk. Preterm birth means labour starts naturally before 37 weeks of pregnancy. [...]

NHS and private fertility clinics must stop offering unproven add-ons that do not improve chances of conception, new draft guidelines warn. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises against several popular fertility extras, including endometrial scratches – where the womb lining is “scratched” before IVF treatment. These procedures can “give false hope [...]

Most women know what it feels like to walk home alone at night. Maybe you call a friend, or discreetly slide your keys between your fingers, you probably share your location with a loved one just in case. But we also know how it feels to be cat-called while out running, or have inappropriate jokes [...]

Voice changes in menopause are often overlooked, despite affecting women significantly, especially those in jobs where the voice is central to daily work, new research has revealed. A review of existing studies found that vocal changes receive far less attention than symptoms such as hot flushes or brain fog, even though they can have major [...]

Cannabis use may affect women’s fertility by causing defects in egg cells, according to new research in IVF patients. The study examined samples from women undergoing IVF in Canada. Samples that tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive compound in cannabis – showed poorer outcomes. Researchers in Canada and Israel analysed 1,059 [...]

WeightWatchers has launched a new menopause support programme with Grammy and Emmy Award-winning, Oscar-nominated actress and health advocate Queen Latifah as its first spokeswoman. The programme combines medical care, nutrition guidance, fitness support and community access for women from perimenopause through post-menopause. WW International (NASDAQ: WW) developed the plan with physicians, menopause specialists and fitness [...]

Femtech World explores the latest developments in the world of technology and women’s health. 30-minute non-invasive test to revolutionise endometriosis detection A new diagnostic tool for endometriosis will now be available in Canada. EndoDiagnosis will be the sole distributor in Canada for the ENDOSURE Tier 1 diagnostic test for the condition, which cuts down the [...]

A hydrogel applied to vaginal tissue could offer hormone-free relief for menopause symptoms, new research suggests. The treatment may help with vaginal dryness and pain linked to genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). GSM occurs when the vaginal and urinary tissues become thinner and drier after menopause. Dr Marianna Alperin, professor and vice chair [...]

New York attorney general Letitia James will intervene in Texas’s bid to penalise a New York doctor accused of mailing abortion pills across state lines. The Democratic attorney general announced her intervention on Monday, escalating one of the most consequential fights in the US abortion wars since Roe v Wade was overturned three years ago. [...]

A Birmingham simulation lab recreating emergency childbirth in a risk-free environment is changing how maternity staff train, according to the NHS. The unit at Birmingham Women’s Hospital received £1m from fashion entrepreneur George Davies through his charitable trust. Its launch follows nationwide scrutiny of maternity services after the Ockenden Report into Shrewsbury and Telford NHS [...]