A pregnant woman sitting on the edge of an examination table talking with her female doctor in the doctors office in claymation style
Blood Pressure, High Blood Pressure, Pregnancy, Women's Health

UW researchers develop test to predict preeclampsia

Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have developed an approach that can predict preeclampsia in pregnant women as early as the first trimester by using cell-free DNA in blood samples. Such a screening test could enable earlier interventions and help prevent the severe complications of preeclampsia.

Low poly style illustration of a sad, young mother in a darkened room with an infant child
Contraception, Health News, Health Policy, Newborn and Infant Health, Pregnancy, Women's Health

Maternal death reviews get political as state officials intrude

Every state has a committee of medical and public health experts tasked with investigating deaths that occur during and after pregnancy. But as data paints a clearer picture of the impact that state policies such as abortion bans and Medicaid expansion can have on maternal health, leaders in some states are rushing to limit their review committee’s work — or halt it altogether.

Dall·e 2025 01 02 07.09.43 a serene low poly style illustration of a young pregnant woman standing by a window and gazing out at a rural oregon landscape. the woman is depicted
Pregnancy, Rural Health, Rural Hospitals, Women's Health

For Many Rural Women, Finding Maternity Care Outweighs Concerns About Abortion Access

A study that examined nearly 5,000 acute care hospitals found that by 2022, 52% of rural hospitals lacked obstetrics care after more than a decade of unit closures. The health implications of those closures for young women, the population most likely to need pregnancy care, and their babies can be significant. Research has shown that added distance between a patient and obstetric care increases the likelihood the baby will be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU.

Menstrual cycle diagram.svg
Endocrinology, Menstruation, Mental Health, Women's Health

What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder? And how is it different to PMS?

Periods can feel like an unwanted guest, bringing cramps, mood swings and exhaustion.

But how do you know if what you are experiencing is standard premenstrual syndrome (PMS), or something more severe?

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and the premenstrual exacerbation of an existing mental illness can also occur in the lead up to your period.