Women's Health

The World Health Organization's Regional Office for Africa is highlighting efforts to protect women and girls from sexual abuse and exploitation during the ongoing Ebola outbreak. Health emergencies often heighten risks of exploitation, and the agency is drawing attention to safeguarding measures for those most vulnerable while response teams work to contain the virus.

Health experts say weight loss drugs such as GLP-1 medications could offer benefits beyond slimming, potentially helping treat women's reproductive health issues. The suggestion points to a possible new use for a class of medicines already in high demand, and it is drawing attention to how obesity-related treatments might intersect with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and fertility problems.

New research says menopause is a major health milestone in women's lives, yet medical records systems barely record or track it. The findings highlight a gap in how healthcare systems document midlife women's health, which researchers argue can affect care quality and research into conditions linked to menopause.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Senator Cory Booker and fellow Democrats have reintroduced the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, legislation that would repeal the Helms Amendment. The decades-old measure blocks US foreign aid from funding abortion services overseas. Supporters argue the restriction denies safe care to women in low-income countries, while opponents back the long-standing funding ban.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed nine new bills expanding reproductive and maternal health care in the state. The measures broaden access to reproductive services and strengthen support for pregnant women and new mothers. The move comes as California positions itself as a bulwark for reproductive rights amid restrictive laws in other states, and it is drawing attention from health advocates and political observers nationwide.

A new report from Nautilus explores how the severity and timing of menopause symptoms could serve as early indicators of Alzheimer's disease risk. Researchers are increasingly examining the links between hormonal changes in midlife and long-term brain health, suggesting that women's menopause experiences may offer clinicians valuable clues for earlier detection of dementia.

A new projection puts the increase in women's health spending at $527 billion, according to a report covered by Chief Healthcare Executive. The figure points to significant growth expected in the sector, spanning care, products and services aimed at women. Healthcare industry watchers are citing the number as a signal of where investment and policy attention may be headed.

Health experts in Pakistan say as many as 20 million Pakistani women may be living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition affecting women's fertility and overall health. The estimate highlights the scale of the condition in Pakistan and renewed calls for awareness, early diagnosis and better access to treatment for women's hormonal health.

Public health coverage is drawing together two related topics: the possible mental health effects of GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs, and the role of exercise for women going through menopause. Listeners are weighing reported mood changes linked to GLP-1 medications against growing evidence that physical activity can ease menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep problems and weight gain.

Mothers in Arizona are campaigning to preserve the state's maternal mental health help line, a service that offers support to women experiencing postpartum depression and other perinatal mental health challenges. The push comes amid concerns the hotline could lose funding or be discontinued. Supporters say the line provides vital, sometimes lifesaving assistance to new mothers, and they are urging state lawmakers to protect its future.

The Joy and Justice Tour has concluded in Columbia, South Carolina, with events centred on girls' mental health and period poverty. Organisers highlighted the barriers girls face in accessing menstrual products and mental health support, drawing local attention to issues often left out of mainstream policy debates. Coverage notes the tour used its final stop to call attention to these combined challenges affecting young women.

Xella Health is building what it calls a precision health operating system for women, aiming to integrate diagnostics and data-driven care tailored to female patients. Forbes reported the company's approach, drawing attention to women's health as an underserved area attracting new investment and technology. Details on funding, partners, and product timelines were not provided in the report.

Femtech companies Flora Fertility and Clue have announced a partnership aimed at advancing fertility education and improving access to fertility-related information and services. The collaboration brings together two prominent players in the women's health technology space. Details of specific programmes or initiatives under the partnership were not included in the announcement.

Members of the US House Democratic Women's Caucus are pressing the health secretary over ongoing shortages of estrogen patches, a widely used hormone replacement therapy. The lawmakers are seeking answers on supply disruptions and what the administration is doing to restore availability for patients who rely on the medication.

University of the Pacific's men's and women's basketball teams will wear Dignity Health jersey patches for the 2026-27 season under a new sponsorship deal announced by the athletics department. Jersey patch partnerships have become a growing revenue source for college programs, and the agreement ties the Tigers to a major regional health care provider.

A fitness editor at Women's Health has published a rundown of early Amazon Prime Day discounts she says are genuinely worth adding to a cart, covering fitness gear and related products. The guide is part of the usual wave of early Prime Day coverage, as retailers roll out deals ahead of the official event and shoppers look for expert-filtered recommendations.

National Geographic has published a photo project in which one of its photographers documented how extreme heat affects pregnant women. The work shows the health risks that rising temperatures pose during pregnancy, a topic doctors warn is under-examined as heatwaves grow more frequent. The images highlight the physical strain of heat on expectant mothers and the communities coping with it.

National Geographic has published a photo essay in which one of its photographers documented how extreme heat affects pregnant women, showing the physical toll of rising temperatures on maternal health. The work highlights growing concern among health experts that heat waves pose serious risks during pregnancy, including preterm birth and complications, as climate change makes dangerous heat more frequent worldwide.

A Florida State University researcher is working to raise public awareness that drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. The initiative focuses on closing a knowledge gap, as many women remain unaware of the established link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk, limiting their ability to make informed health decisions.