Plenty of women know that having an IUD inserted in their uterus can be an excruciating experience, but new government guidance issued Thursday may soon make the experience less painful for many. For the first time, updated recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise doctors to counsel women about pain control…  read on >  read on >

In an historic move, the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday banned the use of a pesticide that can harm fetuses. Known as dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal), the weedkiller is used on a variety of crops, including broccoli, onions, kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. However, when a pregnant woman is exposed to the chemical, it…  read on >  read on >

There’s a hint of good news for parents concerned about teen mental health: After 57% of U.S. teen girls surveyed in 2021 said they felt “persistent sadness,” that number declined somewhat by 2023, to 53%, new government data show. In the latest biennial poll of over 20,000 high school students nationwide, called the Youth Risk…  read on >  read on >

Screening for cancer saves lives, but a new report shows it comes with a hefty price tag: The United States spends at least $43 billion annually on tests that check for five major cancers. Published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the new analysis focused on screenings for breast, cervical, colon, lung and prostate cancers.…  read on >  read on >

Women who develop subclinical thyroid issues during pregnancy, meaning symptoms haven’t surfaced, could face real thyroid trouble within five years, a new study finds. Pregnant women who were diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism, pointing to an under-active gland, before 21 weeks of gestation had four times the odds of developing symptomatic hypothyroidism later, a team at…  read on >  read on >

Women who use a breast pump to store milk for their infant tend to breastfeed 21 weeks longer, on average, compared to moms who don’t use the devices, new research finds. Breast pumps have gained wide use among busy new moms: 91% of mothers responding to the Yale University researchers said they’d used one. “This…  read on >  read on >

It’s a question many women may ask themselves during pregnancy: Will an occasional glass of wine harm the baby? While the latest research shows the answer is definitely yes for large quantities of alcohol or binge drinking, the answer is less clear for small amounts, although any alcohol consumption carries some risk, said Vidya Rajagopalan,…  read on >  read on >