Medical Research News

If you like keeping abreast of medical research news which pertains to women's health then you should find this page on medical research studies really helpful. There are no opinions, just what the study was about and the findings. It is therefore up to you to do further research. This page is for informational purposes only and does not reflect our opinions.

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Medical Research Information: Categories

Medical Research Studies: Pregnancy

"Skipping meals - or snacks - regularly during pregnancy can induce physiological stress and lead to premature delivery."

Lead study author - Dr. Anna Marie Siega-Riz - says: "Women should be advised to have 3 meals and 2 snacks every day." The study involved more than 2,000 women enrolled in the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition study from August 1995 to December 1998. Women who fell short of the guidelines of 3 meals and 2 snacks had a 30% increase of risk of premature delivery.

American Journal of Public Health ~ April 1, 2001

"One gram of ginger per day significantly reduces the severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy."

The study involved 32 women randomly assigned to a group: one received a placebo, the other ginger. The amount of ginger was given in a capsule which contained 250 mg. It was given "as needed."

After one week, 87.5% of the women receiving ginger reported symptoms improvements compared to 28.6% with the placebo.

Before treatment, 100% of women in the ginger group had vomited at least once.

Adverse effects: 1 case of abdominal discomfort, heartburn and diarrhea...which was minor and did not prevent the woman from continuing the treatment.

Obstetrics and Gynecology ~ April 2001

To learn more about ginger essential oil, click here.

A study on Contemporary Labor Patterns and how that affects your labor.

Medical Research Studies: Childbirth

The rate of cesarean delivery seems to correlate with the rates of epidural analgesia. ~ Journal of Family Practice, March 2001; 50:217-225.

Dr. Michael C. Klein, of the University of British Columbia and the Children's and Women's Health Canter of British Columbia, looked for factors affecting c-section rates in a retrospective study involving 857 low-risk pregnant women who delivered at a teaching hospital or a community hospital.

C-sections rates were 3 times more likely at the teaching hospital. Dr Klein attributed this difference to maternal age, dilation on FIRST examination, and use of epidurals with the latter having the strongest effect.

Walking was used more in the community hospital, epidurals were offered more often at the teaching hospital.

Medical Research Studies: Breastfeeding

"The present results, in the context of results from previous studies, indicate that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer diagnosed under the age of 40, and it may offer some protection for older cases also. Even though breast cancer is relatively rare in young women, it is a serious problem. Preventive measures are lacking both for women with an inherited tendency to develop breast cancer and for other women. Breastfeeding has various beneficial effects in addition to those reported here. "

American Journal of Epidemiology 2001;154:37-42

Medical Research News: Women's Health

"Calcium may be better at treating symptoms of PMS than traditional therapies - including progesterone and vitamin B6."

This study was a double blind study which included 466 women who were randomly assigned to a group receiving a placebo or 1,200 mg of calcium per day - in the form of calcium carbonate - for 3 months.

By the third cycle, there was a 48% decrease in PMS symptoms among the women who took the calcium compared to 30% with the placebo. The calcium seemed to affect all symptoms associated with PMS.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ~ August 1998, 444-52

Consumption of cranberry juice reduces UTI risks.

Drinking 50 ml of cranberry-lingonberry juice concentrate daily reduces recurrences of symptomatic urinary tract infection by about 50%.

BMJ 2001; 322 doi: 10.1136/bmj.322.7302.0/e

Medical Research Articles: Contraception

"The increase risk of stroke with oral contraceptive has been shown since the pill was introduced in the 1960s. What is unclear is if the newer formulations - with less estrogen - are also a risk factor."

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, conducted a meta-analysis of studies from January 1960 through November 1999 to investigate the risks of stroke.

Researchers indicated that - with women who did not have hypertension and did not smoke - the risks of stroke for the low dose estrogen formulations was still almost twice the rate as for non-users. With the higher dose pill, the risk was almost 3 folds!

Journal of the American Medical Association, 284 (2000): 72-78

Use of oral contraceptives may negate the benefit of exercise in building bones.

Young women who exercise and use oral contraceptives may not get the bone building benefits.

This study suggested that women who take birth control pills may be compromising their chances of attaining peak bone density at key sites in their body.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: June 2001 - Volume 33 - Issue 6 - pp 873-880

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