Tai Chi Health Benefits
Harvard Fitness Health Watch

This gentle form of exercise can prevent or ease many ills of aging and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life.

Tai chi is often described as meditation in motion, but it might well be called medication in motion.

Treating Female Pattern Hair Loss
Harvard Women's Health Watch

About one-third of women experience hair loss (alopecia) at some time in their lives; among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. Hair loss often has a greater impact on women than on men, because it's less socially acceptable for them. Here are some medical treatments that may help.

Recession's Impact on Women's Health
By Deborah Kotz

Sure, we're worried about the economy, but just how much of an impact is it having on women's health? Actually, quite a lot

5 Fertility Tips: How to Make Pregnancy Possible
by Kerry Hannon

Face it, for most 20-somethings, getting pregnant isn't top priority. Not getting pregnant is more like it. But the truth is, it's never too early to protect your fertility for the future. Otherwise, when you are ready to start a family, getting pregnant might not be as easy as you envisioned.

Fertility Medication Does Not Put Baby's Health at Risk
Charles Coddington III, MD - Mayo Clinic Medical Edge

I'm trying to get pregnant and my doctor suggests Clomid (clomiphene). Are fertility drugs harmful (physically or intellectually) to the baby?

Many Factors to Consider Before Removing Ovaries to Reduce Cancer Risk

I have the BRCA1 mutation ("breast cancer gene"), which I know increases my risk of getting breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer. A gynecologist recommends I have my ovaries removed as soon as I'm done having children, but another doctor suggests waiting until I'm closer to 40 (I'm 32).

Alcohol can Increase Risk of Heart Rhythm Problems
Harvard Women's Health Watch

Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm disturbance that occurs when the upper chambers of the heart — the atria — contract abnormally. Symptoms range from a fluttering sensation in the chest to shortness of breath and fainting.

Atrial fibrillation isn't immediately life-threatening, but it increases the likelihood of having a stroke. Age is the main risk factor, but drinking too much can also play a role. But how much alcohol is too much?

High Resting Heart Rate Predicts Heart Risk in Women at Midlife
Harvard Women's Health Watch

Many techniques, including blood tests and risk scoring systems, have been developed to predict a woman's risk of having a heart attack.

Pancreatic Cancer Difficult to Detect Early, Challenging to Treat
Suresh Chari, M.D. - Mayo Clinic Medical Edge

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease that's difficult to detect early and challenging to treat, making it a leading cause of cancer death. Currently, only about three out of 100 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive five years after diagnosis.

JUKARI Fit to Fly Workout
Reebok & Cirque du Soleil Partnership Creates Innovative Gym Workout

In 1989, Reebok revolutionized women's fitness with the creation of Step Reebok.

Today, the company revealed its new launch of an innovative gym workout - JUKARI Fit to Fly.

JUKARI Fit to Fly makes fitness fun again by introducing a new way to move in a gym workout and is accessible to all women, regardless of fitness levels.

Smart Fitness for Grown-Ups: Tips for the Over-40 Exerciser
By Katherine Hobson

Whether you're looking forward to riding your bike across the country after you retire or you haven't put on sneakers since you were 6, there are things you need to know about exercising after the age of 40.

Peanuts: Bar Snack that Protects Your Health

Health: Potassium & Sodium Out of Balance

Seeds of Health: Pomegranates Pack a Hearty Nutritional Punch

Health & Nutrition: Why Choose Natural and Organic Products?

Which Fish is Best for Your Health

Celiac Disease Cases Are on the Rise
Title: Celiac Disease Cases Are on the Rise
Category: Health News
Created: 7/2/2009
Last Editorial Review: 7/2/2009

Baby Born After Ovarian Transplant
Title: Baby Born After Ovarian Transplant
Category: Health News
Created: 7/2/2009
Last Editorial Review: 7/2/2009

Sad Dads May Lead to Crying Infants
Title: Sad Dads May Lead to Crying Infants
Category: Health News
Created: 7/1/2009 7:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/1/2009

Metabolic Syndrome May Make Breast Cancer More Likely
Title: Metabolic Syndrome May Make Breast Cancer More Likely
Category: Health News
Created: 7/1/2009 7:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/1/2009

Hormones May Affect Neurological Disease Risk
Title: Hormones May Affect Neurological Disease Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 7/1/2009 7:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/1/2009

Daily Sex May Help Men's Fertility
Title: Daily Sex May Help Men's Fertility
Category: Health News
Created: 7/1/2009
Last Editorial Review: 7/1/2009

Who Marries and When
Title: Who Marries and When
Category: Health News
Created: 7/1/2009
Last Editorial Review: 7/1/2009

Kidney Stones
Title: Kidney Stones
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 12/31/1997
Last Editorial Review: 6/30/2009

Disease Prevention in Women
Title: Disease Prevention in Women
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 3/22/2001 7:23:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/30/2009

Discovery Points to Regulation of Calcium Metabolism
Title: Discovery Points to Regulation of Calcium Metabolism
Category: Health News
Created: 6/30/2009 7:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/30/2009

Teen Fatalism Linked to Risky Behavior
Title: Teen Fatalism Linked to Risky Behavior
Category: Health News
Created: 6/30/2009
Last Editorial Review: 6/30/2009

HIV Testing Day Set for Saturday in U.S.
Title: HIV Testing Day Set for Saturday in U.S.
Category: Health News
Created: 6/27/2009 7:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/29/2009

Study Identifies How Tamoxifen Stimulates Uterine Cell Growth And Cancer
UCSF researchers have identified a new "feed-forward" pathway linking estrogen receptors in the membrane of the uterus to a process that increases local estrogen levels and promotes cell growth. The research is significant in helping determine why tamoxifen and other synthetic estrogens are linked to increased rates of endometriosis and uterine cancer, and identifies a pathway that could be targeted in drug therapies for those diseases, researchers say.

Eye Disorder Research Benefits From Grant
Researchers at the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth and Exeter have received a grant of £9,600 from the Northcott Devon Medical Foundation to continue its research into the genetic causes of eye movement disorders. Last year, the team - along with colleagues from the Children's Hospital in Boston (USA) and King's College London - identified a gene that, when mutated, causes Duane syndrome.

Sexist Jokes Favor The Mental Mechanisms That Justify Violence Against Women
Sexist jokes (and all the variants of this kind of humour) favour the mental mechanisms which urge to violence and battering against women in individuals with macho attitudes.

New Georgia Law Allows Families To 'Adopt' Embryos
A Georgia law (HB 388) that took effect on Wednesday allows state residents to "adopt" embryos created for fertility treatments, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (Gould Sheinin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/1). According to the

More Women Seek Nonprescription Remedies For Menopause Symptoms
Over-the-counter remedies for menopause symptoms are growing in popularity among some women who fear potential risks from prescription hormone replacement therapy, the New York Times reports.

Work Status Changes More Common Among Women Receiving Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer, Study Says
Women with breast cancer who receive chemotherapy appear more likely than those treated with radiation therapy to experience a major change in work status, according to a study published in the journal Cancer, Reuters reports. For the study,

Mom's Weight During Pregnancy Affects Her Daughter's Risk Of Being Obese
A mother's weight and the amount she gains during pregnancy both impact her daughter's risk of obesity decades later, according to a new study by Alison Stuebe, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. "The findings are especially important because of the growing epidemic of obesity in women," Stuebe says.

During Pregnancy, Women With Endometriosis Need Special Care To Avoid Risk Of Premature Birth
The largest study to date of endometriosis in pregnant women has found that the condition is a major risk factor for premature birth, the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology heard. Dr.

In Postpartum Women, Poor Sleep Is Independently Associated With Depression
A study in the July 1 issue of the journal SLEEP suggests that postpartum depression may aggravate an already impaired sleep quality, as experiencing difficulties with sleep is a symptom of depression.

Rising Lifestyle Illnesses And Potential Swine Flu Catastrophe For Indigenous Populations
The first of two reviews in this week's edition of The Lancet discusses the standards of health and lifestyles of Indigenous people. It is the work of Professor Michael Gracey, of the Unity of First People of Australia, Perth, WA, Australia, and Professor Malcolm King, of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Governor Rell: State Of Connecticut To Receive $3.75 Million Grant To Enhance Heath Care Access For At-Risk Mothers
Governor M. Jodi Rell announced that the State of Connecticut is receiving $3.75 million federal grant to expand access to health care in Hartford for low-income women nearing childbirth to ensure their newborns get a healthy start. "Our children are our most precious resource and the health of a child is intrinsic to the health of the mother," stated Governor Rell.

NARAL Endorses Sen. Gillibrand's 2010 Bid For Full Senate Term
NARAL Pro-Choice America on Monday announced its endorsement of appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in her bid for a full term in 2010, Politico reports. New York Gov. David Paterson (D) in January appointed Gillibrand to fill the Senate seat vacated by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Franken To Be Seated As Minn. Senator, Will Serve On HELP, Judiciary Committees
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously voted to uphold Al Franken's (D) win in the 2008 U.S. Senate election in Minnesota, effectively clearing the way for Franken to become the state's newest senator, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Antiabortion-Rights Groups To Reintroduce Colorado Personhood Initiative
Colorado Right to Life and Personhood USA are proposing a 2010 state ballot initiative with a different version of 2008's defeated "personhood" amendment to the state constitution, the

IOM Panel's Comparative Effectiveness Report Includes Pregnancy Prevention Measures
The U.S. should conduct research to compare the effectiveness of innovative programs aimed at preventing unintended pregnancy, according to a report issued Tuesday by a congressionally convened Institute of Medicine panel, the New York Times reports (Meier, New York Times, 7/1).

Evidence Challenges Effectiveness Of Embryo Screening For Older Women
There is growing evidence that a procedure for identifying chromosomal abnormalities in embryos prior to in vitro fertilization is ineffective at helping older women become pregnant, the Wall Street Journal reports. The procedure -- known as pre-implantation genetic screening, or PGS -- is performed in dozen of U.S.

New York Times Editorial Lauds Appointment Of White House Adviser On Violence Against Women
"Domestic violence is a serious law enforcement and public health problem affecting as many as one in four women in this country," but "Washington has devoted too little attention to reducing domestic violence and sexual assaults generally," a New York Times editorial states.

When Husbands Work In US, Mexican Wives' Mental Health Dives
Selected highlights from a new study on immigration, health and gender roles: Mexican wives who stay home when their husbands immigrate to the United States for work have poorer mental health than a comparison group. Shifting gender roles seem to be equally as stressful as the husbands' absence. "Popular American psychology would suggest that their newfound independence might ease the stress of single-handedly managing the household.

Increasing Age Of Mothers In Spain Leads To Rise In Mortality Rates
A new study examining the evolution of maternal mortality rates in Spain since 1996 shows a 17% increase in deaths. This trend is linked to the widespread increase in maternal age. The highest death rates are among foreign women and those who live in the province of Malaga. Medicine has taken giant strides during the 20th Century. However, European studies show a clear and constant increase in maternal mortality rates over recent years.

Teva Announces Approval And Launch Of Tri-Lo Sprintec Tablets
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market a generic version of Ortho McNeil Janssen's oral contraceptive, Ortho Tri-Cyclen® Lo. Shipment of this product, for which Teva's trade name is Tri-Lo Sprintec, has commenced.

Pregnancy Rates Unaffected By Single Thawed Embryo Transfer After PGD
Transferring just one embryo at a time to a woman's womb after embryos have undergone preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and freezing at the blastocyst stage has become a real option after researchers achieved pregnancy rates that were as good as those for blastocysts that had not had a cell removed for PGD before freezing.

'Impossible' For Pakistan To Achieve Maternal, Infant MDGs, Doctors Say
Doctors at a seminar at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) in Karachi, Pakistan, on Monday said that at the current rate, it will be impossible for Pakistan to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to child mortality and maternal health by 2015, the International News reports.

Shedding New Light On The Causes Of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome And Its Effect On Brothers
Researchers have found evidence that chronic disease in either a mother or father can create unfavourable conditions in the womb that are associated with the development of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in daughters. In another study, researchers found that brothers of women with PCOS and insulin resistance are themselves at greater risk of developing insulin resistance or diabetes, suggesting that factors associated with the condition can be passed down to sons as well as daughters.

Widespead And On The Increase - Vitamin D Deficiency
A new report issued by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and published in the scientific journal Osteoporosis International1, shows that populations across the globe are suffering from the impact of low levels of vitamin D. The problem is widespread and on the increase, with potentially severe repercussions for overall health and fracture rates.

Top Hospitals For Women's Health/Maternity Care Have Lower Mortality/Morbidity: HealthGrades Study
Wide gaps in quality outcomes for women persist, not only when compared to men, but among hospitals and states, according to a new study released by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization. The Sixth Annual HealthGrades Women's Health in American Hospitals study identifies patient outcomes for maternity care and inhospital treatment of 16 procedures/diagnoses concerning women's health.

Mouse Study Shows PET Can Measure Effectiveness Of Novel Breast Cancer Treatment
A new study published in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine shows that positron emission tomography (PET) scans in mice can be used to determine whether a novel type of breast cancer treatment is working as intended. Researchers successfully used PET and a specially-developed radioactive compound to image HER2 - a protein often associated with aggressive breast cancer - in breast cancer cells before and after treatment aimed at decreasing HER2 expression.

Today's Selection Of Opinions And Editorials
The Patients Doctors Don't Know The New York Times All medical students are required to have clinical experiences in pediatrics and obstetrics, even though after they graduate most will never treat a child or deliver a baby.

Work Status Changes More Common Among Women Receiving Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer, Study Says
Women with breast cancer who receive chemotherapy appear more likely than those treated with radiation therapy to experience a major change in work status, according to a study published in the journal Cancer, Reuters reports. For the study,

Risk Of Breast Cancer And A Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism
The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) known as 2q35-rs13387042 is associated with increased risk of estrogen receptor (ER) -positive and -negative breast cancer, according to a study published online July 1 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. This study was undertaken to confirm previous research that identified this SNP as a marker of susceptibility to ER-positive breast cancer. Roger L. Milne, Ph.D.

Important Therapeutic Target For Breast Cancer: Newly Appreciated Membrane Estrogen Receptor
New research at Rhode Island Hospital has uncovered the biological effects of a novel membrane estrogen receptor, a finding that has potential implications for hormonal therapy for breast cancer. The study is published in the July edition of the journal Molecular Endocrinology.

Saint Barnabas Medical Center Is Only Hospital In New Jersey To Offer Clinical Trial For The Treatment Of Recurrent Chest Wall Breast Cancer
Some patients who suffer from recurrent cancer at the chest wall now have another option. The Radiation Oncology Department at Saint Barnabas Medical Center is one of a few hospitals nationwide to participate in a study which combines the use of the heat-sensitive chemotherapeutic agent ThermoDox® with microwave hyperthermia, or heat. Depending on risk factors, a large percentage of women with mastectomies may experience recurrent chest wall (RCW) breast cancer.

ABRAXANE Approved For Advanced Breast Cancer Patient Treatment In Quebec
Abraxis BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABII), an integrated biotechnology company, announced the listing of ABRAXANE® for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) 100 mg in Quebec for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with a recommendation from the Quebec Conseil du Médicament and approval from the Quebec Ministry of Health.

BioSante Pharmaceuticals Comments On Study Showing No Increased Risk Of Breast Cancer In Women Using Testosterone For Low Libido
BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPAX), which is developing a testosterone gel (LibiGel®) to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in women, is pleased to comment on results in a paper published in the July issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine showing testosterone has no effect on the incidence of invasive breast cancer among menopausal women who use testosterone to improve sexual function. The study, led by Susan Davis, M.D.

Metabolic Factors May Play A Role In Risk For Breast Cancer
Physiological changes associated with the metabolic syndrome may play a role in the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, according to study results published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

XCounter Announces Positive Results Following Independent Clinical Evaluation Of XC Mammo -3T Prototype
XCounter AB (publ) (AIM:XCT), a technology leader in the development of tomosynthesis-based 3D medical imaging, announced positive initial results from the first clinical evaluation of its innovative breast screening device XC Mammo - 3T. The device is the world's first dedicated 3D digital mammography system for the detection of breast cancer, the most common form of cancer found in women.

New MRI Technique Could Mean Fewer Breast Biopsies In High-Risk Women
A University of Wisconsin-Madison biomedical engineer and colleagues have developed a method that, applied in MRI scans of the breast, could spare some women with increased breast cancer risk the pain and stress of having to endure a biopsy of a questionable lump or lesion. The universal technology will give radiologists greater confidence in visually classifying a lesion as malignant or benign.

Light Therapy Offers New Hope For Breast Cancer Patients
A groundbreaking non-invasive breast cancer treatment will be unveiled at this year's Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition . Scientists led by world-renowned breast cancer expert, Mr Mo Keshtgar, are the first to use photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat what is now the most common cancer in the UK.

Rate Of Breast Cancer In Italy Significantly Higher Than Previously Reported
A new analysis of the incidence of breast cancer in Italy per 100,000 women between the ages of 0 to 84 from 2000 to 2005 shows a 72 percent spike above official estimates issued by the Ministry of Health, with the sharpest uptick of +28.6 percent found in the youngest group studied (ages 25 to 44).

Varying Reductions In Breast Cancer Suggest Hormone Therapy To Blame
The recent decline in invasive breast cancer in the US was significantly less pronounced in the poor and those who live in rural areas. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Medicine suggest this may be due to varying reductions in the numbers of women taking hormone therapy (HT). Christina Clarke, Ph.D.

Are Antiperspirants Linked To Current Prostate And Breast Cancer Rates?
UroToday.com - Prostate and breast cancer appear to be homologous cancer in males and females respectively. Both cancers share hormone etiologies and are treated with hormonal manipulation. The incidence of these two hormone-dependent cancers has steadily risen throughout the twentieth century.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre Pioneering Work Leads To Patient Trial Of New Generation Cancer Drug
The drug, called olaparib, specifically targets hereditary cancer caused by faulty BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The small scale patient trial has shown remarkable benefit for patients with breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. The trial was carried out by The Institute of Cancer Research with the Royal Marsden Hospital, working with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, with results published in the New England Journal of Medicine on 9 July 2009.

Study Challenges Routine Use Of MRI Scans To Evaluate Breast Cancer
Reviewing the records of 577 breast cancer patients, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers found that women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who receive a breast MRI are more likely to receive a mastectomy after their diagnosis and may face delays in starting treatment. The study demonstrates that, despite the lack of evidence of their benefit, routine use of MRI scans in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer increased significantly between 2004 and 2005, and again in 2006.

Vitamin-A Derivative Provides Clues To Better Breast Cancer Drugs
Retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, could lead researchers to a new set of drug targets for treating breast cancer, researchers from the University of Chicago report in the June 25, 2009, issue of the journal Cell. The most common forms of breast cancer are fueled by the female hormone estrogen. By comparing the effects of estrogen and retinoic acid on the entire genome, the researchers found that they have a "yin-yang" effect.

What Should A Teenage Girl Do If She Finds A Lump In Her Breast?
If a lump is found in the breast of an adolescent girl, she often will undergo an excisional biopsy. However, breast cancer is rare in adolescents, and the vast majority of teenage breast lumps turn out to be benign masses that are related to hormones. A recent Loyola University Health System study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology suggests that a breast ultrasound examination might eliminate the need for biopsy in many cases.

Stromal Marker For Breast Cancer Progression Identified
Dr. Arne Ostman and colleagues at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm have identified a stromal marker for breast cancer progression. They present these findings in the July 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors are involved in multiple stages of cancer cell growth. However, the contribution of PDGFR expression in the stroma, or surrounding supportive tissue, of the tumor remains unclear.

Apthera Receives Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) From FDA For Pivotal Phase III Trial Of NeuVax In Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Apthera, Inc. announced that it reached an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for its planned Phase III clinical trial of the Company's lead drug, NeuVax. The SPA is a written agreement between the trial's sponsor and the FDA regarding the design, endpoints, and planned statistical analysis of the Phase III trial to be used in support of a Biologics License Application (BLA).

New Drug Targeting Cancer Weakness Shows Great Promise
Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and The Royal Marsden Hospital, working with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, have completed a Phase I clinical trial demonstrating the great promise of a completely new type of cancer treatment. The results are announced today in The New England Journal of Medicine.

A New Take On Growth Factor Signaling In Tamoxifen Resistance
Differences in growth factor (GF) signaling may cause the poor prognosis in some breast cancer cases. A new study, published in the open access journal BMC Medical Genomics, suggests that some estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers respond poorly to tamoxifen because of increased GF signaling.

Scientists Discover Protein That Stops Cancer Spread
Scientists in the US have discovered that cancer tumors that don't spread to other parts of the body secrete a protein called prosaposin and that metastatic tumors, which do spread, don't secrete much of it. They suggest this discovery could lead the way to developing new treatments that stop cancers from spreading. The research was the work of a team at Children's Hospital Boston, Massachusetts, led by Dr Randoph S.

South Pole Doctor And Cancer Survivor Who Treated Herself 10 Years Ago Dies
A US doctor who diagnosed and treated herself for breast cancer while stationed in the South Pole during the winter of 1999, was then rescued and survived, has died. Dr Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald, aged 57 and a native of Ohio, died at her home in Southwick, Massachusetts, on Tuesday her husband Thomas FitzGerald told the press. Nielsen's cancer came back in 2005, this time in her brain, said a CBS3 report.

Watson Pharmaceuticals Receives FDA Approval For Generic PLAN B(R)
Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI), a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc., has received approval today from the United States Food and Drug Administration on its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for levonorgestrel tablets, 0.75 mg, for women seventeen years and younger.

Call For Public Debates On Future Uses Of Stem Cells Lead By Bioethicists
More than 40 scientists, bioethicists, lawyers and science journal editors are calling on their colleagues, policy makers and the public to begin developing guidelines for the research and reproductive use of stem cell-derived eggs and sperm, even though such use may be a decade or more away. "Science has always moved faster than social debate or society's ability to grapple with these issues," says Debra Mathews, Ph.D.

New Georgia Law Allows Families To 'Adopt' Embryos
A Georgia law (HB 388) that took effect on Wednesday allows state residents to "adopt" embryos created for fertility treatments, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (Gould Sheinin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/1). According to the

Evidence Challenges Effectiveness Of Embryo Screening For Older Women
There is growing evidence that a procedure for identifying chromosomal abnormalities in embryos prior to in vitro fertilization is ineffective at helping older women become pregnant, the Wall Street Journal reports. The procedure -- known as pre-implantation genetic screening, or PGS -- is performed in dozen of U.S.

Cook Medical Introduces The Guardiaâ„¢ Pro Protective Embryo Transfer Catheter
The Guardia Pro Protective Embryo Transfer Catheteris uniquely engineered to protect and guide embryos through cervical mucus and blood and to eliminate the need for cervical flushing or aspiration prior to transfer. The Guardia Pro's outer sheath protects the embryo through entry and then opens in petals to further advance the inner transfer catheter allowing placement of the embryo in the uterine cavity.

Chromosomal Problems Affect Nearly All Human Embryos; Discovery May Explain Low Fertility Rates In Humans
For the first time, scientists have shown that chromosomal abnormalities are present in more than 90% of IVF embryos, even those produced by young, fertile couples.

Will IVF Work For A Particular Patient? The Answer May Be Found In Her Blood
For the first time, researchers have been able to identify genetic predictors of the potential success or failure of IVF treatment in blood. Dr. Cathy Allen, from the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, told the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Wednesday 1 July) that her research would help understand why IVF works for some patients but not for others.

Availability Of IVF Treatment In UK Still Poor Compared With Rest Of Europe
Commenting on the news announced today by ESHRE's European IVF monitoring consortium on the improvements in the quality, safety and efficacy of ART, Clare Lewis-Jones MBE, Chief Executive of Infertility Network UK said "We are angry that although the UK pioneered infertility treatment, we are still among the lowest providers in Europe of NHS treatment, and these figures show that availability in the UK is less than one third of that in Denmark.

Schering-Plough Announces Phase II And III Data For Corifollitropin Alfa
Schering-Plough Corp., (NYSE: SGP) announced results from the Phase III ENGAGE clinical trial demonstrating that a single injection of corifollitropin alfa, first in the class of sustained follicle stimulants, achieved similar efficacy to recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) given once daily for seven days.

Pregnancy Rates Unaffected By Single Thawed Embryo Transfer After PGD
Transferring just one embryo at a time to a woman's womb after embryos have undergone preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and freezing at the blastocyst stage has become a real option after researchers achieved pregnancy rates that were as good as those for blastocysts that had not had a cell removed for PGD before freezing.

Association Between Reduced Ovarian Reserve And Increased Risk Of Trisomic Pregnancy
Women who have a diminished number of eggs in their ovaries, either because they are older or for some other reason such as ovarian surgery, may be more at risk of a trisomic pregnancy than women with an ovarian reserve within the normal, fertile range. Trisomic pregnancies occur when the embryo has three copies of a chromosome rather than the normal two. The most common trisomy is Down's syndrome or trisomy 21.

Daily Sex Helps To Reduce Sperm DNA Damage And Improve Fertility
Daily sex (or ejaculating daily) for seven days improves men's sperm quality by reducing the amount of DNA damage, according to an Australian study presented to the 25th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam.

Genetic And Chromosomal Abnormalities In Embryos Detected By New Test
One-step screening for both genetic and chromosomal abnormalities has come a stage closer as scientists announced that an embryo test they have been developing has successfully screened cells taken from spare embryos that were known to have cystic fibrosis.

Accelerated Fertility Treatment Leads To Shortened Time To Pregnancy And Cost Savings
A major new trial recently published in the journal Fertility and Sterility shows that for couples beginning infertility treatments, an accelerated path to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) can offer a shorter time to pregnancy, cost savings of nearly $10,000, and a lowered risk of multiple births. For the first time, these results demonstrate that the long held treatment combining fertility injections with insemination (IUI) does not have a place in infertility treatments today.

Safe And Successful Fertility Treatment Possible In Women With Cystic Fibrosis
Women with cystic fibrosis can have fertility treatment to help them have babies without any long-term adverse effects on either themselves or their children, according to new research presented at the 25th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam. Until relatively recently, cystic fibrosis (CF) was a death sentence and most people with the disease died by the time they reached their teenage years.

Cook Medical Introduces The Guardiaâ„¢ Pro Protective Embryo Transfer Catheter
The Guardia Pro Protective Embryo Transfer Catheter is uniquely engineered to protect and guide embryos through cervical mucus and blood and to eliminate the need for cervical flushing or aspiration prior to transfer.

New Ovarian Transplant Technique Could Expand Use Of Procedure To Preserve Fertility
Two recent advancements in ovarian transplant techniques could potentially expand the availability of the procedure for women seeking to avoid fertility problems as they age, researchers reported Monday at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the AP/Yahoo! News reports.

New Data Supports Significant Economic And Clinical Value Of MENOPUR(R) In IVF
New data from an economic analysis presented today at this year's European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) congress showed that, within the parameters of the simulation model used, the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment MENOPUR (highly-purified human menopausal gonatropin or HP-hMG) offered considerable cost-savings over recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH).

Mandated IVF Coverage Would Reduce Likelihood Of High-Order Multiples, Opinion Piece Says
Federally mandated health insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization for women of childbearing age "could lower the extraordinary health care costs associated with the birth of triplets or more" and "even the reproductive odds, giving the middle-class and lower-income Americans access to treatment that is currently reserved for the well-off or the unusually well insured," according to a

First Baby Is Born After A New Technique
A new technique for transplanting the ovaries of women who have lost their fertility as a result of cancer treatment was outlined to the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Dr. Pascal Piver, manager of the IVF Centre at Limoges University Hospital, Limoges, France, described a new, two-step method of ovarian transplant that has produced excellent results in women whose ovaries have been frozen because of cancer treatment.

Female Human Embryos Adjust The Balance Of X Chromosomes Before Implantation
Dutch researchers have found the first evidence that a process of inactivating the X chromosome during embryo development and implantation, which was known to occur in mice but unknown in humans, does, in fact, take place in human female embryos prior to implantation in the womb.

Who Goes Abroad For Fertility Treatment And Why?
A substantial number of European patients travel to other countries for fertility treatment, both because they think that they will receive better quality care abroad and in order to undergo procedures that are banned in their home country says a study of the subject launched at the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Study co-ordinator Dr.

New Ovarian Transplantation Technique Gives Greatly Improved Results In This Delicate Operation
Ultra-fast freezing of ovarian tissue from women who have lost their fertility as a result of cancer treatment can lead to it being used in transplants with the same success rate as fresh tissue, a researcher told the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 29 June. Dr. Sherman Silber, Director of the St. Louis Infertility Centre, St.

Similar Outcomes In Babies Born Following ICSI Or IVF
Analysis of the longest running ICSI programme in the United States has found reassuring evidence that babies born from frozen embryos fertilised via ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) do just as well as those born from frozen embryos fertilised via standard IVF treatment.

Pregnancy Rates In Older Women With Poor Prognosis Greatly Improved By New, Less Invasive Genetic Test
A new test examining chromosomes in human eggs a few hours after fertilisation can identify those that are capable of forming a healthy baby, a researcher told the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Dr.

Mom's Weight During Pregnancy Affects Her Daughter's Risk Of Being Obese
A mother's weight and the amount she gains during pregnancy both impact her daughter's risk of obesity decades later, according to a new study by Alison Stuebe, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. "The findings are especially important because of the growing epidemic of obesity in women," Stuebe says.

During Pregnancy, Women With Endometriosis Need Special Care To Avoid Risk Of Premature Birth
The largest study to date of endometriosis in pregnant women has found that the condition is a major risk factor for premature birth, the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology heard. Dr.

Governor Rell: State Of Connecticut To Receive $3.75 Million Grant To Enhance Heath Care Access For At-Risk Mothers
Governor M. Jodi Rell announced that the State of Connecticut is receiving $3.75 million federal grant to expand access to health care in Hartford for low-income women nearing childbirth to ensure their newborns get a healthy start. "Our children are our most precious resource and the health of a child is intrinsic to the health of the mother," stated Governor Rell.

IPS Examines Obstetric Fistula In Southern Senegal
Inter Press Service News Agency examines the prevalence of obstetric fistula in the southern region of Senegal. According to state reproductive health officials in the town of Kolda, 58 percent of births take place at home without medical assistance.

Michigan Report Shows Decline In Teen Pregnancy, Improvement In Prenatal Care
Michigan from 1992 to 2007 experienced improvements in rates of teenage pregnancies, smoking among pregnant women, and six other indicators of maternal and infant health, though there was an increase in out-of-wedlock births and low-birthweight infants, according to a Michigan League for Human Services report issued Tuesday, the

Prime Minister Pledges Action On Maternal Mortality, UK
Today, the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said he was determined to keep the issue of maternal mortality high on the agenda of the G8 summit in Italy next week. Speaking after meeting with midwives and doctors from the Global Maternal Mortality Campaign, the Prime Minister said: "It's outrageous that one woman dies every minute in childbirth, despite an agreement to tackle this in 2000.

Pregnancy Complications May Increase Autism Risk
Complications during pregnancy may increase the risk of having a child with autism, according to American researchers. The team reviewed 64 studies of prenatal risk factors for autism. It is the first time a meta-analysis of the relationship between pregnancy-related factors and risk of autism has been carried out. The analysis is published in the July issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. Over 50 prenatal factors were examined.

Cancer Survivors At Greater Risk Of Birth Complications; Special Monitoring Needed
Survivors of childhood cancer run particular risks when pregnant and should be closely monitored, the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology heard today (Wednesday 1 July). Dr.

Will IVF Work For A Particular Patient? The Answer May Be Found In Her Blood
For the first time, researchers have been able to identify genetic predictors of the potential success or failure of IVF treatment in blood. Dr. Cathy Allen, from the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, told the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Wednesday 1 July) that her research would help understand why IVF works for some patients but not for others.

Teva Announces Approval And Launch Of Tri-Lo Sprintec Tablets
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval for the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market a generic version of Ortho McNeil Janssen's oral contraceptive, Ortho Tri-Cyclen® Lo. Shipment of this product, for which Teva's trade name is Tri-Lo Sprintec, has commenced.

Pregnancy Rates Unaffected By Single Thawed Embryo Transfer After PGD
Transferring just one embryo at a time to a woman's womb after embryos have undergone preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and freezing at the blastocyst stage has become a real option after researchers achieved pregnancy rates that were as good as those for blastocysts that had not had a cell removed for PGD before freezing.

Shedding New Light On The Causes Of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome And Its Effect On Brothers
Researchers have found evidence that chronic disease in either a mother or father can create unfavourable conditions in the womb that are associated with the development of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in daughters. In another study, researchers found that brothers of women with PCOS and insulin resistance are themselves at greater risk of developing insulin resistance or diabetes, suggesting that factors associated with the condition can be passed down to sons as well as daughters.

Association Between Reduced Ovarian Reserve And Increased Risk Of Trisomic Pregnancy
Women who have a diminished number of eggs in their ovaries, either because they are older or for some other reason such as ovarian surgery, may be more at risk of a trisomic pregnancy than women with an ovarian reserve within the normal, fertile range. Trisomic pregnancies occur when the embryo has three copies of a chromosome rather than the normal two. The most common trisomy is Down's syndrome or trisomy 21.

Accelerated Fertility Treatment Leads To Shortened Time To Pregnancy And Cost Savings
A major new trial recently published in the journal Fertility and Sterility shows that for couples beginning infertility treatments, an accelerated path to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) can offer a shorter time to pregnancy, cost savings of nearly $10,000, and a lowered risk of multiple births. For the first time, these results demonstrate that the long held treatment combining fertility injections with insemination (IUI) does not have a place in infertility treatments today.

Top Hospitals For Women's Health/Maternity Care Have Lower Mortality/Morbidity: HealthGrades Study
Wide gaps in quality outcomes for women persist, not only when compared to men, but among hospitals and states, according to a new study released by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization. The Sixth Annual HealthGrades Women's Health in American Hospitals study identifies patient outcomes for maternity care and inhospital treatment of 16 procedures/diagnoses concerning women's health.

Safe And Successful Fertility Treatment Possible In Women With Cystic Fibrosis
Women with cystic fibrosis can have fertility treatment to help them have babies without any long-term adverse effects on either themselves or their children, according to new research presented at the 25th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam. Until relatively recently, cystic fibrosis (CF) was a death sentence and most people with the disease died by the time they reached their teenage years.

Researchers Say Stress In The Womb Can Last A Lifetime
Visitors can see how their stress levels could affect the heart rate of their unborn baby and find out why pregnant women should reduce their anxiety, at a new exhibit at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, which opens today (30 June 2009). The researchers behind the exhibit, from Imperial College London, hope that it will raise families' awareness of the importance of reducing levels of stress and anxiety in expectant mothers.

Mandated IVF Coverage Would Reduce Likelihood Of High-Order Multiples, Opinion Piece Says
Federally mandated health insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization for women of childbearing age "could lower the extraordinary health care costs associated with the birth of triplets or more" and "even the reproductive odds, giving the middle-class and lower-income Americans access to treatment that is currently reserved for the well-off or the unusually well insured," according to a

Female Human Embryos Adjust The Balance Of X Chromosomes Before Implantation
Dutch researchers have found the first evidence that a process of inactivating the X chromosome during embryo development and implantation, which was known to occur in mice but unknown in humans, does, in fact, take place in human female embryos prior to implantation in the womb.

New Ovarian Transplantation Technique Gives Greatly Improved Results In This Delicate Operation
Ultra-fast freezing of ovarian tissue from women who have lost their fertility as a result of cancer treatment can lead to it being used in transplants with the same success rate as fresh tissue, a researcher told the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 29 June. Dr. Sherman Silber, Director of the St. Louis Infertility Centre, St.

C-Section Births Cause Genetic Changes That May Increase Odds For Developing Diseases In Later Life
Swedish researchers have discovered that babies born by Caesarean section experience changes to the DNA pool in their white blood cells, which could be connected to altered stress levels during this method of delivery, according to the July issue of Acta Paediatrica.

Also In Global Health News: Malawi ARV Program; Health Care In Gaza; Pneumonia Vaccine In Kenya; South African Pregnant Women And HIV; More
Malawian Government Supplies 250,000 HIV-Positive Citizens With Free Antiretrovirals The government of Malawi supplies 250,000 of its HIV positive citizens with antiretrovirals (ARVs) free of charge, Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika said during an AIDS candlelight memorial outside of the capital city, Blantyre, on Sunday, the

Similar Outcomes In Babies Born Following ICSI Or IVF
Analysis of the longest running ICSI programme in the United States has found reassuring evidence that babies born from frozen embryos fertilised via ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) do just as well as those born from frozen embryos fertilised via standard IVF treatment.

Pregnancy Rates In Older Women With Poor Prognosis Greatly Improved By New, Less Invasive Genetic Test
A new test examining chromosomes in human eggs a few hours after fertilisation can identify those that are capable of forming a healthy baby, a researcher told the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Dr.

Complications Early In Pregnancy Or In Previous Pregnancies Adversely Affect Existing Or Subsequent Pregnancies
Complications in early pregnancy or in previous pregnancies can predict the likelihood of further problems in current or subsequent pregnancies, according to research carried out by an international group of experts. Their findings will help clinicians to predict more easily which women might need greater care and supervision during pregnancy, as well as enabling new research to improve clinical management of such high risk patients.

New Tool for Mammography Can Help Detect Breast Cancer More Effectively

The government re-affirmed the importance of early breast cancer detection with its recent update to guidelines recommending that women age 40 and older have mammograms. A new computer-aided tool can make mammograms even better by highlighting potential areas of concern, and ultimately increasing early detection.

Drinking Purple Grape Juice Reduces Breast Cancer Cell Growth in Animal Study

A new study finds that drinking purple grape juice reduces breast cancer cell growth in animal study.

Stress and the Expectant Working Mom

For nearly one million working women who become pregnant each year, juggling stress in the workplace along with stress that comes with being pregnant can be a tall order. First among them is how to work and manage a healthy pregnancy at the same time.