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Reproductive health and birth

Pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes, but they are far from simple. Several parts of the body are involved in reproductive processes, in both men and women Reproductive health includes getting pregnant, avoiding pregnancy, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. It involves sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases, and great changes in life such as puberty and menopause. The organs of reproduction, like the breasts and uterus in women, and the prostate in men, can also be affected by infections and diseases.

Feature: Epidurals

Epidurals are the most popular form of drug pain relief for labour. But what influence do they have on the birth? Do they affect the baby? You can find out the answers to these questions and more here, as well as read a personal story about having an epidural.

Feature: Menopause

The menopause has been in the headlines a lot in the last few years. And for good reason. Researchers found that commonly prescribed hormone therapy did not have the longterm benefits many experts previously thought it had. For women who struggle with severe menopausal symptoms, this disappointing news did not make life any easier. That is why we set out to find what is known for sure about the benefits and harms of hormones and other options.

Research summaries

Labour pain: Does getting a bathtub or jacuzzi help?

Getting into water in labour is really just a matter of preference for a woman. There are not very strong medical reasons either for or against birthing pools during labour. more...

Premenstrual syndrome: Can dietary supplements help relieve the symptoms?

Calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) may be able to relieve mood swings, breast soreness and other symptoms some women regularly experience in the days leading up to their periods. more...

Epidurals in labour: What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Epidurals reduce pain more effectively than other drugs in labour. However births take on average a bit longer and more medical help might be needed for the birth. more...

Epidurals in labour: Will the birth be quicker if the woman is upright?

Women who have epidurals can give birth sitting or propped up. The more upright position might shorten the birth. more...

Epidurals in labour: Is it better to delay pushing?

Waiting longer to start pushing in labour with an epidural could add about one hour of waiting to the length of birth. However, it might not have major advantages or other disadvantages. more...

Epidurals in labour: Does walking around help?

Walking around during the first stage of labour may be an option for many women using an epidural. But it may have very little influence on the labour or the birth. more...

Epidurals in labour: Is the birth shorter if the epidural is stopped late in labour?

Some hospitals recommend stopping epidurals late in labour to try and end the birth with less medical help. However there is no evidence that this brings the hoped-for advantages. more...

Menopause: What are the effects of longterm hormone therapy?

Longterm hormone therapy for healthy women after the menopause causes more health problems than it prevents. This is particularly so for oestrogen combined with a progestogen. This might reduce the risk of bowel cancer and osteoporosis, but it increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer. more...