Women's Health
Gene Linked To Alzheimer's Poses A Special Threat To Women
Scientists have figured out one reason women might be more vulnerable to Alzheimer's: A risk gene doubles women's chances of getting the disease but has minimal effect on men.
Go Red For Women
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States.
ACLU Sues, Claiming Catholic Hospitals Put Women At Risk
A woman in Michigan says that a Catholic hospital failed to give her adequate health care when she came to the hospital after her water broke when she was 18 weeks pregnant. That has sparked a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union.
Should Severe Premenstrual Symptoms Be A Mental Disorder?
Earlier this year premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, became a recognized mental disorder. But not everyone is convinced that's a good idea. Some researchers worry that medicalizing this unrelenting form of PMS could be used against women, even though only a small percentage of women meet the criteria.
Money May Be Motivating Doctors To Do More C-Sections
Many obstetricians make more money for C-sections than for vaginal deliveries. In a recent study, these doctors were more likely to perform the costly procedure than doctors paid a flat salary. But when the pregnant women were also physicians, doctors seemed less swayed by financial incentives.
When Treating Abnormal Breast Cells, Sometimes Less Is More
The question of how to treat ductal carcinoma in situ is roiling the medical profession, and making for tough choices for women. The condition may never become invasive cancer. But some women choose to have mastectomies rather than live with uncertainty.
State Laws Limiting Abortion May Face Challenges On 20-Week Limit
States are setting an abortion limit at 20 weeks after fertilization, but that may clash with established standards for calculating the viability of a pregnancy. It could also open the new laws up to constitutional challenges.
WHO Finds Violence Against Women Is 'Shockingly' Common
The first comprehensive global study to be conducted finds that domestic violence kills many women and leaves others with long-standing physical and mental health problems, including sexually transmitted diseases and depression.
Vaccine Against HPV Has Cut Infections In Teenage Girls
A vaccine against a virus that causes cervical cancer has cut infections among teenage girls by over half in the first four years of use, scientists report. Only about one-third of girls in that age group have received the recommended shots.