News
Trust awarded £250,000 government funding to launch pioneering endometriosis trial

University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) has secured £250k to trial a dye-based technique in endometriosis surgery aimed at reducing pain and surgical complications.
The two-year ICE trial will compare the use of indocyanine green (ICG) dye with standard ureter stenting, aiming to better protect urinary structures during deep endometriosis procedures.
Funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme, the feasibility study will explore whether this method can improve outcomes, reduce complications, and support recovery.
Mr Gourab Misra, consultant gynaecologist at UHNM and chief investigator, said: “Surgery for deep endometriosis is complex and carries a risk of damaging the ureters, the delicate tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder.
“Traditionally, surgeons use stents to identify and protect these structures, but these can cause significant pain, bleeding, and require a second procedure to remove.
“As a group of surgeons, we saw the challenges our patients faced and worked hard to design this proposal.
“Our aim is to minimise complications and improve the patient journey, reducing pain and morbidity associated with these complex procedures.”
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus, often causing chronic pelvic pain and infertility.
In severe cases, surgery may be required, which carries a risk of injuring the ureters—tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Currently, surgeons often use plastic tubes called stents to protect the ureters during surgery.
These are typically left in for two to four weeks but can cause pain, blood in the urine and require removal through an additional procedure.
The new approach uses a small catheter to deliver ICG dye into the ureters, making them visible under a special light during surgery—potentially avoiding the need for stents.
The trial will recruit 70 patients across UHNM and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, with participants randomly assigned to receive either the conventional stent method or the dye-based technique.
It will assess feasibility, including whether patients and surgeons are willing to participate, with the goal of informing a future full-scale trial that could lead to wider adoption across the NHS and internationally.
Professor Justin Clark, consultant gynaecologist leading the study at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Deep endometriosis affects and causes significant pain adversely affecting quality of life.
“Whilst surgery is effective, it is highly complex.
“This trial uses a novel dye called ICG that identifies the ureters, which are pipes that transport urine from the kidney to the bladder.
“We hope that this study will show that using ICG can reduce complications, speed up surgery, and reduce pain following the operation, as well as enhance recovery.”
News
Femtech World Awards 2026: Winners revealed

We are excited to reveal the winners of the third annual Femtech World Awards.
The winners were announced at a virtual event this afternoon attended by shortlisted companies, along with sponsors and judges.
The event welcomed guests from the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
Thank you to all 174 entries, as well as the sponsors for making the event possible.
See you in 2027!
Femtech World Awards 2026 Winners

Winner:
Shortlisted:
IVI RMA x Juno Genetics
Natural Cycles

Winner:
Highly commended:
U-Ploid
Shortlisted:
Hello Inside

Winner:
WISE HF, led by Prof. Mary Ryder
Highly commended:
Cardiac College for Women
Shortlisted:
Hyvelle Ferguson-Davis
CognitiveCare

Winner:
Highly commended:
Youterus
Shortlisted:
ŌURA

Winner:
Shortlisted:
LeanShield by ParrotPal Group
Perigen

Winner:
Shortlisted:
Body Moody
Looop

Winner:
Shortlisted:
Owning Your Menopause
Womeno

Winner:
Shortlisted:
The Blue Box
Celbrea

Winner:
Shortlisted:
HealCycle
Mor

Winner:
Shortlisted:
HRC Fertility
Mira
Motherhood
Expectations about sleep affect postpartum sleep quality, study finds

Pregnant women’s expectations about postpartum sleep may predict sleep quality after birth, outweighing prior sleep and psychiatric history, a study suggests.
The findings suggest attitudes and beliefs about sleep during pregnancy could be a modifiable risk factor for postpartum sleep concerns.
They also indicate that, among women expecting the poorest sleep, higher postpartum anxiety may further worsen sleep quality.
Sammy Dhaliwal, lead author is clinical health psychologist and research fellow in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dhaliwal said: “Most pregnant women in our sample anticipated poor postpartum sleep before it occurred, and it was striking that those expectations predicted worse sleep outcomes even after accounting for factors such as prior sleep disorders, psychiatric history, and number of previous births.
“This suggests that attitudes and beliefs about sleep during pregnancy may represent a modifiable target for early intervention before postpartum sleep problems emerge.”
Sleep disturbance affects an estimated 60 to 80 per cent of postpartum women and is linked to a higher risk of depression and anxiety.
Researchers said it is often regarded as an expected part of life after childbirth rather than a health issue that may be addressed earlier.
The study enrolled 432 pregnant women at about 24 weeks of gestation, meaning around 24 weeks into pregnancy.
Participants completed measures of their expectations about postpartum sleep, current sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and mood using validated depression and anxiety scales.
Assessments were repeated at six, 12 and 24 weeks postpartum.
A subset of 49 women also wore wrist actigraphy devices at six to eight weeks postpartum.
Actigraphy uses a wearable device, similar to a watch, to estimate sleep and wake patterns based on movement.
The results showed that 70 per cent of pregnant women, or 301 of 432 participants, expected poor sleep in the postpartum period.
Researchers found that predicted sleep disruption during pregnancy was a significant predictor of postpartum sleep concerns.
Among first-time pregnant women without prior health concerns, those who expected greater sleep disturbance had significantly more disrupted sleep after birth, measured by both actigraphy and self-report.
Among women who expected the worst sleep quality, higher postpartum anxiety significantly worsened both measured sleep and self-reported sleep, independent of anxiety levels during pregnancy.
Dhaliwal said the findings point to two possible areas for intervention: addressing sleep-related beliefs during pregnancy and treating postpartum anxiety.
Dhaliwal said: “Postpartum sleep disruption is often treated only after problems develop, but our findings suggest there may be an opportunity to intervene earlier during pregnancy.
“Addressing sleep-related beliefs and postpartum anxiety during prenatal and postpartum care may help improve sleep and emotional well-being in new mothers.”
Fertility
Weight loss jab shows early promise in improving PMOS fertility

A weight loss jab may improve fertility outcomes in women with PMOS, early findings from an ongoing clinical trial suggest.
The proof-of-concept analysis found that injectable semaglutide may offer reproductive benefits while also addressing obesity and metabolic dysfunction.
It is the first report to examine how injectable semaglutide may improve reproductive outcomes in women with PMOS while also addressing obesity and metabolic dysfunction.
The work forms part of the ongoing RESTORE clinical trial.
Melanie Cree, professor at CU Anschutz and first author of the report, said: “Women with PMOS frequently face a frustrating choice between treatments that target reproductive symptoms and those that address metabolic health.
“Our early findings suggest injectable semaglutide may have the potential to improve both, offering a more comprehensive approach to care.
“This medication is incredibly promising when someone responds with 10 per cent weight loss.”
The trial is examining whether semaglutide can restore ovulation and improve reproductive health in adolescents and adults with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, known as PMOS.
PMOS, formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, is a hormone and metabolic condition linked to irregular periods, raised testosterone levels, infertility risk, obesity and increased cardiometabolic disease.
Cardiometabolic disease refers to conditions linked to the heart and metabolism, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Existing treatments, including metformin and hormonal contraceptives, often do not fully address reproductive and metabolic complications at the same time.
The analysis focused on participants aged 12 to 35 who lost at least 10 per cent of their body weight during treatment.
Researchers said reproductive improvements appeared earlier than expected, prompting them to report preliminary findings while the wider study continues.
Cree is also a paediatric endocrinologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Endocrinologists are doctors who specialise in hormones and hormone-related conditions.
Cree said: “What makes this work particularly important is that it focuses specifically on women with PMOS receiving injectable semaglutide.
“Although GLP-1 medications have transformed obesity treatment, there remains a significant need for rigorous data examining how these therapies affect fertility and reproductive function in this population.”
The RESTORE study is evaluating semaglutide treatment in girls and women with PMOS and obesity.
Its broader aim is to determine whether weight loss and metabolic improvements can restore ovulation and improve reproductive outcomes.
Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary, a key part of the menstrual cycle and fertility.
The authors said the findings are from an early proof-of-concept analysis and that larger, longer-term studies will be needed to confirm whether the reproductive benefits last.
The findings suggest injectable semaglutide may become a treatment option for women with PMOS seeking improvements in both metabolic and reproductive health, if future studies confirm the results.
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