Is fresh better than frozen? Yes, when it comes to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a new clinical trial says. Fresh embryo transfer appears to be a better option than using frozen embryos for women struggling to conceive via IVF, researchers reported Jan. 29 in The BMJ. About 32% of women had a live birth following…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2025 — Artificial intelligence (AI) can help doctors detect fetal heart defects, improving newborns’ chances of survival, a new study says. AI-aided analysis of prenatal ultrasounds detected heart defects more quickly and accurately than doctors evaluating the tests on their own, according to findings reported Thursday at a meeting of the Society…  read on >  read on >

Food stamps and food banks can be key to healthy pregnancies. Food assistance programs are effective in helping hungry women avoid pregnancy complications, researchers say in a new study published Jan. 23 in JAMA Network Open. Food insecurity in pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth and newborn admission…  read on >  read on >

When one abortion pill faces lawsuits, another may be waiting in the wings, a new study suggests. The study, published Jan. 23 in the journal NEJM Evidence, has found a potential alternative to the abortion pill mifepristone, offering yet another option at a time when access to reproductive health care faces increasing legal and political…  read on >  read on >

Pregnancy increases the risk of mental illness among women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Pregnant MS patients have a higher risk of mental illness both during gestation and in the first years after they give birth, researchers reported in a new study published Jan. 22 in the journal Neurology. Overall, women with MS have a 26%…  read on >  read on >

Want your kid to do well in school? Get them involved in an organized sport, a new study urges. Boys and girls are both more likely to earn a high school diploma if they take part in team sports like soccer or artistic sports like dance or gymnastics, researchers reported in a study published recently…  read on >  read on >

Women past menopause can protect themselves from future fractures through infrequent, cheap IV infusions of a bone-strengthening drug. Women 50 to 60 who got two IV infusions of zoledronate (Reclast) within five years had a 44% lower risk of spinal fractures, compared to women who received a placebo, according to results published Jan. 15 in…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Brain tissue samples are essential for scientific research, especially when it comes to brain disorders such as autism spectrum disorder. Not surprisingly, samples are hard to get. Despite the great need for brain tissue, donations remain rare and aren’t easily collected.  In an article published in Dec. 2024…  read on >  read on >

Artificial intelligence might be able to more quickly and affordably identify menopausal women who are having problems with memory or cognition. AI effectively identified women with severe subjective cognitive decline (SCD), or self-perceived confusion or memory problems, researchers report in a new study published Jan. 14 in the journal Menopause. Using AI to help menopausal…  read on >  read on >