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Women's health news

Maternity care improvements linked to fewer stillbirths and newborn deaths in sub-Saharan Africa

A combination of training, quality improvement and leadership support in hospitals across four countries in sub-Saharan Africa is linked to fewer stillbirths and deaths among newborns during the first 24 hours of life, according ...

Ebola is still killing in Central Africa: These groups are working to save lives

Misinformation and distrust are among the challenges facing public health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo as they confront the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record.

New rapid test could transform iron treatment worldwide

Iron deficiency is one of the world's most common nutritional disorders, affecting millions of women and children globally. Yet diagnosing it remains difficult in many low-resource settings, where access to laboratories and ...

Novel stem cell platform improves study of endometriosis

Scientists led by Julie Kim, Ph.D., the Susy Y. Hung Research Professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Division of Reproductive Science in Medicine, have developed a novel stem cell platform that provides a new way to ...

Though preventable, tetanus remains a global health problem

Tetanus is often considered a disease of the past, remembered mainly through childhood vaccinations and warnings about rusty nails. Yet despite being preventable with an effective vaccine, it continues to cause tens of thousands ...

Specialized imaging reveals hormone-driven brain changes

A new study from the University of Delaware shows that fluctuations in estrogen influence the brain, helping reshape connections between neurons. Researchers showed that a specialized imaging technique called magnetic resonance ...

Close digital support helps women with breast cancer

Approximately 68,000 women in Germany are living with breast cancer that has metastasized—meaning that the tumor has spread to other organs. At this stage, the cancer is no longer curable. With the help of modern therapies, ...

Bacterial supplements may boost female fertility

As women get older, their uterine environment changes. This includes a decrease in a beneficial bacterium called Lactobacillus gasseri, which may make conception—whether natural or via in vitro fertilization—difficult. In ...

Why women need to be prioritized in longevity research

Why do women, on average, live longer than men yet often face a greater burden of chronic disease later in life? Why do some of the most fertile animals in nature, including queen bees and naked mole-rat queens, also live ...

Mammography use has dropped among some groups, study finds

Researchers at WashU Medicine have found a significant decline in mammography use among certain groups of women. A recent study, led by Adetunji Toriola, MD, Ph.D., a professor of surgery and a William H. Danforth Washington ...

Worse menopause symptoms may accompany type 2 diabetes

The type and severity of menopause symptoms can differ greatly among women. A number of earlier studies have suggested various reasons for those differences. A new study suggests that type 2 diabetes mellitus can play a role ...

Why a UTI hurts—and why that might be a good thing

Australian researchers have discovered a previously overlooked group of bladder nerves that help detect urinary tract infections (UTIs) and trigger the body's response to clear them, providing a potential new target for future ...

Seeking new solutions for perinatal mental health

Regan Odysseus was scared. She'd tried Prozac before, but the medication made her mental health worse, leaving her unsure whether further treatment would help or hurt. But between her full-time job as an ICU nurse, her full-time ...

Working from home doesn't guarantee breastfeeding success

Working from home is often seen as a good solution for new mothers, but a new Washington State University study reveals that the blurred boundaries between home and work can introduce barriers to sustained breastfeeding.