Free and more accessible contraceptives did not lead to fewer teenage pregnancies Birth control pills have been free for girls in Norway since 2002. But according to a new study, this has not led to fewer abortions among teenage girls.
Navigating menopause in the workplace: "We can't compare the sickness absence rates of men and women" Menopause can significantly affect a woman’s ability to work.
What would happen if the limit for self-determined abortion was extended? Norwegian politicians will soon decide whether the limit for self-determined abortion should be moved from the 12th to the 18th week of pregnancy. Researchers do not believe this will affect abortion numbers.
Gynaecological instruments have not changed much since ancient times Why not? A gynaecologist still has to look inside the vagina, one researcher observes.
Sex after gynaecological cancer: "As soon as he strokes my back and especially my stomach, I go into defensive mode" They have survived, but for women who have had gynaecological cancer, the treatment can linger in the body as a trauma, a new study shows. A Norwegian-developed programme can now enhance women's sexuality.
Why are periods painful? ASK A RESEARCHER: Menstrual pain can range from slight discomfort in the stomach to severe pain in the abdomen, back, and thighs. What is the reason for this?
Free infertility treatment would be good for society says professor There have been enormous advances in assisted reproductive technology. Nevertheless, the number of involuntarily childless individuals has increased. Can free treatment help more people?
Common ovarian disorder: Many women may have been misdiagnosed Many women who have PCOS, a disease of the ovaries, may actually have a completely different disease, which needs completely different treatment. “This is an important step in developing a better understanding of common women's diseases,” a senior physician and researcher says.
Is men’s health being overlooked? Why do men die earlier than women, even though women have more diseases and health problems throughout their lives?
Study: Risk of giving birth to small babies increases when the mother lives farther from green spaces Research shows that a mother's access to green areas — such as a garden, park or footpath — during pregnancy can be linked to a healthy birth weight in children.
Increased incidence of menstrual changes following the Pfizer Covid vaccine among young girls A new study shows that there is an increased incidence of menstrual irregularities following the Pfizer vaccine against Covid-19 in girls aged 12 to 15.
How dangerous is it to give birth? There are big differences between European countries Researchers have compared birth mothers in eight European countries. The risk of dying was lowest in Norway.
It is not dangerous to get pregnant right after a miscarriage Getting pregnant right after a miscarriage does not increase the risk of complications, a new Norwegian study establishes. The WHO should consider changing their recommendations, according to the researchers.
Does a C-section or vaginal delivery affect women's sex lives more? Researchers were pleasantly surprised by how little giving birth vaginally affected women’s sex life. “This study can dispel myths,” sexologist Bente Træen says.
Half of young women struggle with headaches or migraines Half of women between the ages of 16 and 24 say they suffer from headaches or migraines. This is a significant increase from the 30 per cent who answered the same in 2002.
Squirting orgasms give women a sense of both pride and shame A Swedish researcher has spoken to women who squirt. There are those who are ashamed, whilst others are envious of their ability to squirt.
This bleached patch in your underwear is completely normal And it means your vagina is healthy - vaginal discharge keeps infections away.
Vaccine researcher: “Menstrual changes are probably related to the vaccine” The number of women reporting irregularities in their periods as a side effect make it difficult to find any other explanation than the covid vaccine, according to Norwegian researcher Gunnveig Grødeland.
Political pressure has made Norway lag behind on abortion research and foetal medicine, researchers say. "Were not allowed to study early ultrasound because it can detect foetuses with Down’s syndrome", one specialist in foetal medince says.
Menstrual art: Why do people still see red? SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Period blood in art is still often dismissed as a joke or “just activism”. Would that be the case if it wasn’t such a taboo?
Babies conceived with assisted reproduction weigh less when they are born, but they rapidly catch up When 17-year-olds who were conceived with assisted reproduction were screened before military service, they provided information about their height and weight. Researchers have used these data to find out how they have fared over time.
Does lying on your stomach after giving birth help your uterus contract? ASK A RESEARCHER: Does the uterus need help contracting postpartum? Is there any point to speeding this up? And does it really help to lie on your stomach, as some women are advised to do after giving birth? We've asked the experts.
Menstrual capitalism: A lot of people profit from your monthly menstruation SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Menstruation presents an endlessly renewed commercial opportunity for period-product manufacturers, who are finding new ways to infiltrate wider markets in an era when taboos are being chipped away. But issues remain that products can’t solve.
No, a woman’s hymen does not reveal whether she has had sexual intercourse or not “When girls reach puberty, the hymen becomes very elastic and may not tear at all during first sexual intercourse,” says gynaecology researcher.
Women have healthier lifestyles, but are sicker Norwegian women live healthier lives than their male counterparts. Nevertheless, they have more health problems. Why is that?
Far more women can safely take oestrogen supplements Women run higher risks of heart attacks after menopause sets in because their oestrogen levels drop. More could be safely taking hormone supplements but a Norwegian professor asserts that women have been frightened from doing so by the media.
Multiple abortions despite use of contraceptives Many of the women in Norway who have abortions more than once say they conceived even though they used contraceptives. Researchers advice women to switch to securer methods of birth control.
Menopause symptoms six years shorter in Norwegian women African American women report having hot flashes and night sweats for more ten years. Norwegian women suffer from symptoms of menopause for an average of just four years.
Older mums at increased risk of Caesarean births Women in their 40s have three times the risk of having an emergency Caesarean section compared to women in their early 20s, a large Norwegian study shows.
Pregnant and puffing on a smoke Norwegian research shows that one out of four female smokers in Europe continue to smoke cigarettes during their pregnancies. Vivid differences are seen among the European countries in this regard.
Genetic test queues generated by Angelina Jolie Since Angelina Jolie made her double mastectomy public in 2013, Norwegian women have streamed to hospitals to test against hereditary breast cancer.
Older women want their wine You can forget about arsenic and old lace. Menthol drops and butter toffees too. In the near future the favoured transgressions of old ladies will be along the line of merlots and pinot blancs. A new generation of elderly tipplers is slogging its way toward assisted living facilities.
Strong women less prone to get diabetes Women who work out and build muscle regularly are less likely to contract type 2 diabetes.
Key antibiotic green-lighted for pregnant women A study of over 180,000 pregnant Norwegian women showed no increase in birth defects from a common antibiotic used for treating urinary infections.
Pregnant women shouldn’t simply surf for guidance on meds Women round the world seek information about the use of medicines during pregnancy. Many are probably misinformed by advice found on the internet.
Female smokers should consider colon cancer risk Smoking is a recently established risk factor for colon cancer, especially for women − even when they smoke less than half as much as men.
Circumcised women uncritical of the ritual Women who have been subjected to genital cutting are too rarely critical of what they have undergone.
Easier to talk to health workers about cancer than family Some breast cancer patients are more comfortable discussing their situation with health personnel than with family and friends.
Too much openness about breast cancer can be a burden Many breast cancer patients speak openly about their disease and thousands blog about it. But such transparency isn’t positive for everyone.
With kids in the house, mothers are less satisfied A mother’s life satisfaction and relationship satisfaction goes downhill in the first years following pregnancy and birth, according to a new study of more than 67,000 women.