Amniocentesis is the most commonly prescribed invasive test performed during pregnancies in the United States. Most women fear them while doctors recommend them based on guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. These guidelines stem from past research studies and recommendations by the CDC that were based only on maternal age.
The best initial cervical cancer screening tool for younger women is still the traditional Pap smear. However, a large Danish study has found that for older women (age 40 and older), a test for human papillomavirus (HPV) is a much more effective way to screen for potential cancer.
Intrauterine contraception (IUC) is very effective, with a failure rate of less than one percent (similar to that of sterilization), which is one reason why many female ob/gyns choose this method of birth control for themselves. In fact, research shows that female ob/gyns are nine times more likely to choose an IUC for themselves compared with women in general. Misinformation and misperceptions about the IUC may have contributed to its limited use among women in the U.S. to date.
A woman in her 50s gave birth last year to a baby she had carried for her daughter, who is unable to bear children, the head of a maternity clinic in Nagano Prefecture announced Sunday. The revelation could stir further debate about births by surrogate mothers, which are opposed by both the health ministry and the nation’s obstetrician association.
About 1 in 100 babies delivered by caesarean section are injured in the process. The risk of injury is influenced by the reasons for doing the c-section.
Pregnant women who deliver by c-section are more than three times as likely to die than their peers who deliver vaginally, according to a new report. The heightened mortality risk appears to relate to an increased likelihood of blood clots, infection, or complications from anesthesia, the report suggests.
If labor needs to be induced, it should be done in the morning rather than the evening.
A couple’s risk of having a pregnancy end in miscarriage appears to rise along with the father’s age, regardless of how old the mother is, researchers reported Monday.
Botox injections into the prostate eased symptoms and improved quality of life for men with enlarged prostate, according to a new study.
A vaccine that protects against the virus known to cause most cervical cancers was given the blessing of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel Thursday.