Women's Health

Kathleen helps her son Gideon get his glasses on. Part of Gideon's brain was damaged during development, which effects his vision.

For Gideon, Infection With a Common Virus Caused Rare Birth Defects

7:19am March 27, 2017

by Patti Neighmond

Cytomegalovirus is everywhere, and it usually doesn't make people sick. But if a woman gets infected while pregnant, in rare cases it can cause serious problems for the baby.

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A textured breast implant, left, and a smooth breast implant.

Breast Implants Linked To Rare Blood Cancer In Small Proportion Of Women

2:05pm March 22, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

The FDA says breast implants with textured surfaces are linked to at least 203 cancer cases, and that nine women have died. Nearly 300,000 people get breast implants each year in the U.S.

Women worry that bad things will happen if they exercise while pregnant, but doctors say in almost all cases it's not just safe, but can improve health.

Exercising While Pregnant Is Almost Always A Good Idea

1:48pm March 21, 2017

by Katherine Hobson

Women often worry that exercise is dangerous during pregnancy, but the data shows it's almost always good for both mother and the developing fetus. As with so many things, moderation is key.

Leana Wen, Baltimore's health commissioner, says when women skip prenatal care because they can't afford it, their health and their children's health suffers.

I'm Pregnant. What Would Happen If I Couldn't Afford Health Care?

5:00am March 11, 2017

by Leana Wen

Prenatal care costs more than $10,000 on average. Dr. Leana Wen wonders what choices she would make if she didn't have health insurance to cover that, and how those choices would affect her baby.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., explains the Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act during his weekly press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday.

Here's What GOP Bill Would (And Wouldn't) Change For Women's Health Care

4:43pm March 10, 2017

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Obamacare made some huge changes to women's health care. Now Republicans want to repeal the law. Here's which women-specific provisions would (and wouldn't) stick if this bill were passed.

A gestational surrogate is a woman who carries a fetus but is not genetically related to it, in order to help other people become parents.

States Wrestle With Legalizing Payments For Gestational Surrogates

3:24pm March 10, 2017

by Emily Sohn

The Minnesota legislature is considering letting women who act as gestational surrogates get paid for carrying a fetus for other parents. States vary widely in their approach to the practice.

Even if you don't get an annual pelvic exam, every woman age 21 to 65 who has a cervix should get a Pap smear every three to five years, federal health officials advise.

Are Routine Pelvic Exams A Must? Evidence Is Lacking, Task Force Says

4:44pm March 07, 2017

by Patti Neighmond

There's not enough good evidence to make the call as to whether an annual pelvic exam is a good screening tool, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says.

A new study suggests that teen girls experience more bouts of depression than teen boys.

Depression Strikes Today's Teen Girls Especially Hard

9:30am February 13, 2017

by Patti Neighmond

A study tracking depression rates among U.S. teens from 2005 to 2014 finds an increase — especially among girls. A steady diet of harsh judgments from social media may play a role, researchers say.

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Tests for mutations in BRCA genes that increase the risk of ovarian and breast cancer can help guide treatment and prevention.

Women With Breast Cancer Miss Out On Recommended Genetic Testing

12:03pm February 07, 2017

by Jessica Boddy

Most women with breast cancer say they want testing to know if they carry BRCA gene mutations that increase cancer risk, but only around half of women at high risk actually get tested.

Data from four countries suggests a link between starting menstruation by age 11 and earlier menopause.

An Early First Menstrual Period May Lead To Premature Menopause

11:52am January 25, 2017

by Jessica Boddy

Having a first period by age 11 and never having children were both associated with premature menopause, which this study defines as menopause by age 40.