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Compared with vaginal deliveries, cesarean sections may be associated with an increased risk of endometriosis, according to the findings of a large prospective cohort study conducted in Sweden.

On June 13, the United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that naturally occurring DNA cannot be subject to patent.

Medicare claims data would be transparent to the public via a free, searchable database if a bill introduced June 18 becomes law. The Medicare Data Access for Transparency and Accountability Act (Medicare DATA Act) is a bipartisan effort, led by US Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore).

An international study published in PLOS Medicine shows no benefit in birthweight or infant growth for daily versus twice-weekly prenatal iron supplementation. Conducted by Australian researchers in Viet Nam, the results support intermittent rather than daily iron administration for pregnant populations with low rates of iron deficiency.

Many choose to discontinue antidepressant treatment during attempts to conceive or during pregnancy, in spite of the risks of untreated perinatal depression. Safety profiles of antidepressant use during pregnancy are increasingly being studied, and many women seek alternatives during pregnancy. This article will review several complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments for prenatal unipolar depression: omega-3 fatty acids, folate, St John’s Wort, bright light therapy, massage therapy, and exercise.

New research shows that symptoms exist in even early-stage ovarian cancer, disproving the myth that it's a "silent killer." Barbara Goff, MD, presents the latest in symptom research, tips on what physicians should be looking for, and what's on the horizon for ovarian cancer screening.

Symptoms of overactive bladder were reduced in patients who received percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), according to the results of a 3-year study.

Pregnant women who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for preterm delivery, according to a population-based cohort study of women in Sweden.

Discrimination against pregnant workers appears to be increasingly common, a new report issued by National Women’s Law Center, Washington, DC, reveals. The report indicates that pregnant workers do not garner the same breaks as workers with disabilities or those who were injured on the job.

A large multicenter study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute provides new evidence that four lifestyle changes recommended by the American Heart Association can reduce risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and mortality.

Exposure to pollution in early life may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorders, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.

The increased availability of emergency contraception to women and girls irrespective of age is victory for all of us.

The addition of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) for the diagnosis of recurrent or persistent cervical cancer is not cost-effective, according to the results of a meta-analysis funded by the UK’s Research Health Technology Assessment program.

A noninvasive test that analyzes fetal cell-free (cf) DNA in a pregnant woman’s blood can accurately detect trisomy 21 and other genetic fetal abnormalities in the first trimester, according to the results of a new study.

Prolonging treatment with adjuvant tamoxifen from 5 years to 10 years decreases risk of breast cancer recurrence (15% reduction over 5 years of therapy) as well as mortality (25% reduction at year 10) for women in the initial stages of breast cancer. Richard Gray, MD, MSc, of the University of Oxford, UK, presented this finding from results of the aTTom trial (Adjuvant Tamoxifen: To Offer More?) at the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago in early June.

The Obama administration on Monday abandoned its attempt to restrict access to the emergency contraceptive Plan B One-Step as an over-the-counter (OTC) medication-a decision that’s being celebrated by some groups.

A large-scale observational comparison of 2D vs 3D mammography by researchers at a Texas breast center shows a benefit for 3D technology in cancer detection rates.

A 2-dose quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series in girls may be as immunogenic as a 3-dose series, but there may be a loss of noninferiority to some genotypes after 2 years.

Urodynamic studies prior to surgery in women with well-characterized stress urinary incontinence may be unnecessary, according to the findings of a recent study.

Authors of a new study identified four strategies for cervical cancer screening that maximize benefits while reducing the potential for harm.

A new study in PLOS Medicine suggests that , there may be a link between domestic violence and perinatal mental health disorders. Women who develop mental health issues around birth are more likely to have experienced domestic violence.

A test for cervical cancer that uses ordinary vinegar--and that can be performed by trained laypersons--holds promise for poor countries where cytology-based screening is not easily implemented. This low-cost, innovative solution to a pressing women’s health problem was presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.

FDA advised healthcare professionals not to use magnesium sulfate injection for more than 5-7 days to stop preterm labor in pregnant women, according to a May 30 drug safety communication.

The FDA has changed the Pregnancy Category of magnesium sulfate from ‘A’ to ‘D,’ indicating that there is “positive evidence of human fetal risk” when the drug is used during pregnancy.

Positioning sutures away from an intervertebral disc at the promontory may help reduce the risk of disc-related sequelae after sacrocolpopexy, concluded a review of spinal MRIs of women undergoing surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse.