As more Americans pop over-the-counter melatonin to help them sleep, their young children are increasingly showing up in ERs after accidentally ingesting the supplements. A new report of data from 2012 through 2021 finds a 420% rise in such cases during that time, along with a 530% increase in calls to poison control centers from… read on > read on >
Just three weeks after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos should be considered children, lawmakers in that state passed legislation that shields both patients and providers who use in vitro fertilization (IVF) from civil and criminal liability. Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, signed the bill into law shortly after it was passed by… read on > read on >
A vaginal ring that emits the antiviral dapivirine has passed safety trials and could shield vulnerable women against HIV infection during pregnancy, a new trial shows. “We now have data on the ring’s safety during all stages of pregnancy,” said study leader Dr. Felix Mhlanga, a senior lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials… read on > read on >
There’s more evidence bolstering the health effects of both breastfeeding and the COVID booster shot: Vaccinated, breastfeeding moms appear to pass COVID-fighting antibodies to their infants. That’s important, since babies under the age of 6 months aren’t eligible for the COVID vaccine. “We think that breast milk may play an important role in protecting the… read on > read on >
Menopause is thought to trigger mood changes among women, with changes in female hormone levels contributing to anxiety, depression and stress. However, a new study says some women are at more risk than others for menopause-linked mental health issues, and many escape them altogether. There’s no evidence that menopause causes a universal rise in risk… read on > read on >
Certain drugs used to treat multiple sclerosis appear to be safe for babies if taken by breastfeeding moms, a new study finds. Breastfed babies whose moms received monoclonal antibody treatments for MS did not develop any more developmental delays than babies not exposed to the drugs through breast milk. The findings will be presented at… read on > read on >
Using TVs and tablets as “e-babysitters” really cuts down on the time toddlers spend interacting with parents or other caregivers, new research shows. The Australian team of investigators are calling the phenomenon “technoference” — a scenario where “young children’s exposure to screen time is interfering with opportunities to talk and interact in their home environment.”… read on > read on >
The first over-the-counter birth control pill will soon be available in U.S. stores and online, the drug’s maker plans to announce Monday. Sold as Opill, the medication was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last May. Once it is officially for sale, a one-month supply will cost women $19.99, while a three-month… read on > read on >
As new outbreaks of measles — a once nearly eliminated illness in the United States — continue to emerge, experts remind Americans that there’s an easy way to stop infection: Get vaccinated. “Measles spreads so easily that if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person who are not vaccinated or… read on > read on >
Children exposed to anesthesia in the womb when their pregnant mom has surgery are more likely to suffer from behavioral issues later, a new study finds. Exposure to general anesthesia before birth was associated with a 31% increased risk of diagnosis with a behavioral disorder as a child, researchers reported Feb. 29 in the British… read on > read on >
