Many women with epilepsy who are of childbearing age might not realize their anti-seizure drugs can raise the risk of birth defects or dampen the effectiveness of their birth control, a new study warns. Likewise, some birth control methods can cause anti-seizure meds to be less effective, researchers reported Friday in a presentation at the… read on > read on >
Pregnancy can be a trying time for women at best, but new research shows that 1 in every 20 pregnant American women also suffer physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Abuse can take a toll on the mental and physical health of the mom-to-be and her baby, because it’s strongly linked to “delayed prenatal care, depression… read on > read on >
A new AI can help identify women at higher risk for developing breast cancer by tracking changes in breast tissue, a new study shows. The AI compares women’s own mammograms over time, looking for early signs of breast cancer that are tough to see even by a well-trained specialist, researchers said. “Our new method is… read on > read on >
Could a prenatal blood test designed to find abnormalities in a fetus also detect hidden cancer in the mom-to-be? A new study says yes: Scientists report they discovered cancer in nearly half (48%) of expecting mothers with abnormal results on the blood test, known as a prenatal cell-free DNA test. The cancers included colon, breast,… read on > read on >
Hospitals across America are shuttering their obstetric units, and the issue is most acute for women served by rural hospitals, a new study finds. By 2022, a majority (52%) of rural U.S. hospitals no longer had any maternity ward, compared to 36% of urban hospitals, according to a study from the University of Minnesota. Study… read on > read on >
So-called crisis pregnancy centers, often created with an anti-abortion agenda, are providing pregnant women some questionable medical advice alongside potentially helpful services, a new study finds. Nearly a third (30%) of crisis pregnancy centers promote “abortion pill reversal,” researchers reported Dec. 3 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. This is “an unproven and potentially dangerous… read on > read on >
For decades, it’s been known that certain older medications women use to control epilepsy seizures can pose risks to a fetus. However, data now suggests that no such risk exists for newer-generation anti-seizure meds. “We need to balance making sure there is enough medicine on board to protect the mother and her developing fetus… read on > read on >
Premature babies not only face serious and immediate health consequences: New research shows they are also more likely to die early, a risk that persists into their 30s. “Understanding the long-term effects of preterm birth can help us develop preventative strategies and identify interventions to improve the health of individuals who are born preterm,” said… read on > read on >
The rate and number of abortions among U.S. women took a slight dip in 2022 compared to 2021, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In late June of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that since 1973 had legalized abortion… read on > read on >
A gene that causes accelerated reproductive aging is directly tied to the risk of miscarriage in younger women, a new study says. A mutation of the gene KIF18A speeds up the aging process of eggs in younger women, diminishing their fertility, researchers report. “Knowledge of the precise genetic landscape that causes egg abnormalities in women… read on > read on >
