https://medicalxpress.com/reproductive-health-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Reproductive Health & Relationships Our industrialized, modern lifestyles may be increasing how much estrogen (the female sex hormone) gets recycled in our bodies, according to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. And it appears to be down to the increased abundance and diversity of specific bacteria in our gut. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-modern-lifestyles-affecting-bodies-recycle.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:40:01 EDT news695384340 Just a fraction of prescriptions for the abortion pill mifepristone were filled at brick-and-mortar retail pharmacies after federal drug regulators lifted longstanding dispensing limits, according to a new USC study in JAMA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2023 permanently removed rules requiring patients to obtain mifepristone—the first of two drugs used in medication abortion—in person at a clinic or hospital. That change meant in-store and mail-order pharmacies could provide the drug when it was prescribed by a certified provider, a shift expected to broaden access nationwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-fda-retail-pharmacies-mifepristone.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:00:17 EDT news695042382 The biological connection between a pregnant woman and her developing baby has been mapped in unprecedented detail by UC San Francisco scientists, revealing new cell types and insights into conditions such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and miscarriage. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cell-analysis-clues-pregnancy.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:00:06 EDT news694775462 Cornell scientists have taken a major step toward developing a safe, reversible, long-acting and 100% effective nonhormonal male contraceptive, considered the holy grail of male contraception. A proof-of-principle study in mice, six years in the making, shows how targeting a natural checkpoint in meiosis, the process by which sex cells reproduce, safely stopped sperm production. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-big-safe-reversible-male-contraception.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:20:03 EDT news694791661 Currently, in U.S. states where abortion remains legal, women have to visit specialized clinics to access in-person medication abortion, as drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol are not available over-the-counter (OTC). A recent study makes the argument that these drugs do qualify under the FDA's over-the-counter criteria, which states that people should be able to rely on the product's packaging and its drug facts label to decide for themselves if the medicine is safe and appropriate, without having to consult a doctor first. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-case-counter-abortion-pills-people.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:00:04 EDT news694785463 Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects as many as 18% of all childbearing-age women. The condition occurs when a woman's body produces too much of a group of hormones called androgens, chiefly testosterone. Menstrual irregularity, obesity, and even infertility can result. The first line of treatment is typically hormonal birth control, said UIC professor of nutrition Krista Varady. But there can be negative side effects to mood, libido, and metabolism, plus an increased stroke risk in some people, Varady said. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-intermittent-fasting-positively-affects-female.html Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:00:02 EDT news694094689 Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) not only impact an individual's health, but also result in multibillion-dollar economic losses worldwide. To study these diseases, a team of researchers has developed the first-of-its-kind, immune-capable organ-on-a-chip model that realistically reproduces the human cervical environment, allowing scientists to study how the microbiome, immune system, and STIs interact—something that has not been possible before with oversimplified cell cultures or animal models. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-immune-capable-cervix-chip-enables.html Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:00:03 EDT news694425721 Scientists have used a tiny plastic "obstacle course" to test how much sperm would struggle to navigate during sex in the weightlessness of space. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-lost-space-sperm-struggles-weightless.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 17:00:03 EDT news693753804 A new study from the Kwon Lab at the Ragon Institute, published in Cell Host & Microbe, provides the most detailed picture yet of how a promising bacterial therapy works to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) and why it works better for some women than others. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-reveals-bacterial-therapy-reshapes-vaginal.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:20:04 EDT news693836598 Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and can cause various types of cancer. Prophylactic HPV vaccination is highly effective and has been recommended in Switzerland since 2007 for girls and young women aged 11 to 26—and since 2015 also for boys and young men. Catch-up vaccination is also available for women up to the age of 45. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-hpv-vaccination-uptake-adults-knowledge.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:20:05 EDT news693663121 Maternal deaths rise by around 11% in countries that rely on US aid following a switch from a Democratic to a Republican administration, suggest the findings of a data analysis published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health. This is equivalent to around 45 additional deaths for every 100,000 live births, eroding a fifth of the decline in global maternal deaths that has been achieved since 1985, conclude the researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-foreign-aid-analysis.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:30:03 EDT news693563401 Eating large amounts of ultra-processed food (UPF) is linked not only to reduced fertility in men, but also to slower growth in early embryos, and smaller yolk sacs, which are essential for early embryonic development, according to new research. The authors of the study, which is published in Human Reproduction, say their findings suggest that reducing the consumption of UPFs, especially around the time of conception and pregnancy, is better for both parents and embryos. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-ultra-foods-linked-fertility-embryonic.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 20:00:02 EDT news693488659 Women who consume lower amounts of ultra-processed foods have higher odds of conceiving, according to new research from McMaster University. The link persists even after accounting for age, weight, lifestyle, and other health factors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-ultra-foods-linked-infertility-women.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:40:01 EDT news693150001