Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Biocell Center participates in ‘Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’ meeting

Biocell Center announced today its further commitment to working with maternal-fetal-medicine doctors by attending the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting.

9 Feb 2010

FHCO announces first-quarter fiscal 2010 results

The Female Health Company (FHCO), which manufactures and markets the FC2 Female Condom®, today reported its operating results for the first quarter of FY2010.

9 Feb 2010

Women using oestrogen-only HRT at increased risk of asthma after menopause

Oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may increase the risk of developing asthma after the menopause, suggests a large scale study published ahead of print in the journal Thorax.

7 Feb 2010

Cervical length screening may reduce preterm births

Using ultrasound to screen all pregnant women for signs of a shortening cervix improves pregnancy outcomes and is a cost-effective way to reduce preterm birth, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a new study.

6 Feb 2010

Increased risk of intrauterine fetal death in women with fibroids

In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting -, in Chicago, researchers will unveil findings that show that there is an increased risk of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), commonly known as stillbirth, in women who have fibroids.

6 Feb 2010

State policy developments: Iowa seeks to extend birth control coverage; Minn. eyes more health care for poor; Miss. drug settlement

BusinessWeek: "Mississippi will receive $18.5 million from drug maker Eli Lilly and Co. as part of a settlement over claims the company promoted the anti-psychotic Zyprexa for ailments it was not federally approved to treat, Attorney General Jim Hood said Thursday" (Byrd, 2/4).

6 Feb 2010

IntegraMed America reports solid revenue growth for fourth-quarter and full-year 2009

IntegraMed America, Inc., the nation’s leading manager of specialty outpatient healthcare facilities in the emerging, technology-focused medical niches of fertility and vein care, today announced improved results for the fourth quarter and full-year periods ended December 31, 2009.

5 Feb 2010

Research could help in developing protein-based vaccine against maternal malaria

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have become the first in the world to synthesize the entire protein that is responsible for life-threatening malaria in pregnant women and their unborn children.

5 Feb 2010

Plants too can make progesterone

In a finding that overturns conventional wisdom, scientists are reporting the first discovery of the female sex hormone progesterone in a plant. Until now, scientists thought that only animals could make progesterone. A steroid hormone secreted by the ovaries, progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy and maintains pregnancy. A synthetic version, progestin, is used in birth control pills and other medications. The discovery is reported in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Natural Products, a monthly publication.

5 Feb 2010

Exposure to agricultural chemical atrazine linked to birth defect gastroschisis

In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting -, in Chicago, researchers will unveil findings that demonstrate a link between the birth defect gastroschisis and the agricultural chemical atrazine.

5 Feb 2010

Spinal muscular atrophy screening, not cost effective

In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting -, in Chicago, researchers will unveil findings that show that it is not cost effective to screen for spinal muscular atrophy.

5 Feb 2010

Children exposed to acetaminophen prenatally more likely to have asthma symptoms at age five

Children who were exposed to acetaminophen prenatally were more likely to have asthma symptoms at age five in a study of 300 African-American and Dominican Republic children living in New York City.

5 Feb 2010

Sequenom CMM launches SensiGene Fetal RHD Genotyping test for pregnant RhD negative women

Sequenom, Inc. today announced the launch of the SensiGene™ Fetal RHD Genotyping test by Sequenom's CAP accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory, Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine (Sequenom CMM).

5 Feb 2010

FDA approves first laser treatment for stretch marks

Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Lux1540™ Fractional non-ablative laser handpiece has received the first clearance by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of striae (stretch marks) using a fractional laser. This new clearance will allow aesthetic practitioners to treat the millions of women worldwide who have unwanted stretch marks.

4 Feb 2010

Mike Critelli introduces Allviant’s CarePass technology at CHVI event

Dossia Chairman Mike Critelli, a recognized innovator in health benefits and workforce wellness, introduced Allviant Corporation’s CarePass™ technology at the Center for Health Value Innovation (CHVI) event on February 2 in Washington, D.C.

4 Feb 2010

Ohio undertakes statewide initiative to reduce early scheduled births

In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting -, in Chicago, researchers will unveil findings that detail an initiative in the state of Ohio to reduce the number of near-term scheduled births that did not have an appropriate medical reason.

4 Feb 2010

Genes of mother and fetus linked to risk of preterm labor and birth

New evidence that genetics play a significant role in some premature births may help explain why a woman can do everything right and still give birth too soon.

4 Feb 2010

Study finds link between genes that regulate maternal inflammatory response, bacterial vaginosis and preterm delivery

In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting -, in Chicago, researchers will show the use of haplotype tagging (hap-tag) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to study the relationship between genetic predispositions, an environmental factor - bacterial vaginosis, and preterm birth.

4 Feb 2010

Waiting for birth as effective as inducing labor for intrauterine growth restriction

In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting -, in Chicago, researchers will unveil findings that show that waiting for birth is as effective as inducing labor in cases of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

4 Feb 2010

Researchers develop simple urine test to predict and diagnose preeclampsia

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have developed a simple urine test to rapidly predict and diagnose preeclampsia, a common, but serious hypertensive complication of pregnancy.

4 Feb 2010