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Birth Control Device to Be Discontinued
By the end of this year, Essure, a permanent birth control device approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002, will no longer be produced and sold in the United States.

Sale of Contraception Device Restricted
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is restricting the sale and distribution of a permanent, implantable device used to prevent pregnancy.
Zika in the US: What It Means for Babies
Pregnant women in the United States may face a higher risk for Zika virus than previously thought, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Thyroid Screening in Pregnancy May Be Unnecessary
Treating mildly low thyroid function during pregnancy might not be worth the trouble, according to a new study.
The Importance of Folate in Pregnancy
Children of moms who had good folate levels during pregnancy may have a lower risk for childhood obesity, a new study found.
Pregnancy with PCOS: What May Up Your Chances
Dropping some weight may improve chances of pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who are overweight or obese, according to new research.
A Way to Protect Babies from the Flu
For babies younger than 6 months, influenza vaccination has not been proven to be successful. But a new study found a different way to protect babies from the flu.
The Pill: Harmful in Early Pregnancy?
Could taking birth control pills while pregnant harm a developing baby? It's unlikely, new evidence suggests.
Good News for Kids Born by IVF
For couples struggling to conceive, here's some potentially comforting news about the safety of infertility treatments.
New Hope for Fertility After Cancer
Young women with invasive breast cancer are often faced with a difficult choice: whether or not to undergo chemotherapy despite its risk of infertility.
Prolonged IVF May Boost Baby Chances
When it comes to in vitro fertilization (IVF), new evidence suggests more may be better.
Progesterone: No Help for Recurrent Miscarriage
In the search for an effective treatment for recurrent miscarriage, one option appears to have fallen short.
Uterus Transplant Trial to Begin in US
Science has accomplished miraculous feats to help women unable to get pregnant achieve their dreams of motherhood. Now, doctors are hoping to help even those women who lack an essential element of every pregnancy — a uterus.
A Safer In Vitro Method
To realize their dreams of parenthood, many couples turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF). But this procedure is not without its risks.
During Pregnancy, No Amount of Alcohol Is Safe
It's well-known that heavy drinking during pregnancy can be dangerous for babies. But what about occasional drinking?
Fertility Concerns for Breast Cancer Rx
Young breast cancer patients commonly have fertility concerns, and those concerns may affect their decisions about treatment.
Pregnancy and Lupus: A Fairly Safe Combination?
Many women with lupus have been warned about the possible dangers of becoming pregnant and having the condition. But new evidence suggests that these risks might have been overestimated.
What Women Need to Know About Blood Clots
Taking "the pill" has become a routine part of life for many women around the world. But that doesn't mean birth control pills are entirely without risk.
Risks and Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery Before Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but many women have a few anxious moments. Women who have had weight loss surgery may have more anxious moments than others. Some of those moments, however, may not be warranted.
Good News After Cancer Scares for Hopeful Moms-to-Be
Getting abnormal Pap smear results can be scary — a fear that is sometimes compounded by a fear that follow-up procedures may reduce fertility. New evidence suggests, however, that many women who undergo these procedures can expect joyful surprises later in life.