Relationship, sex news

10:30 AM EDT, May 16, 2013

Breakup might be easier with sad music

Just got dumped? Researchers say you are more likely to turn to “I Knew You Were Trouble” than “Call Me Maybe.”

5:39 PM EDT, May 15, 2013

HPV-related throat cancers multiplying

It is well known that HPV (human papillomavirus) can lead to deadly cervical cancer in women, but the virus is causing cancer in men as well. Throat cancers caused by HPV are showing up typically in men with little or no history of smoking, said Dr. Kevin J. Cullen, an oncologist who specializes in treating head and neck cancers. Cullen, the director of the University of Maryland's Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, talks about the growing cases of HPV-related throat cancers.

5:04 PM EDT, May 8, 2013

Could vaginal delivery be safer for preemies?

Very premature babies have fewer breathing problems when they're born through vaginal delivery compared to cesarean section, a new study of more than 20,000 newborns suggests.

4:09 PM EDT, May 9, 2013

HPV-related cancers rose before vaccines hit market

The number of some cancers related to the human papillomavirus (HPV) increased throughout the U.S. before vaccines against the sexually transmitted infection were available, says to a new study.

2:01 PM EDT, May 8, 2013

Dietary supplement contained erectile dysfunction drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the recall of several dietary supplements that contain the undeclared drug tadalafil, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction.

12:49 PM EDT, May 6, 2013

Pfizer to sell Viagra online, take on counterfeit pills

Pfizer Inc. will begin selling its popular erectile dysfunction pill Viagra to patients on its website, in an unusual move to combat counterfeit drugs.

8:32 PM EDT, May 5, 2013

Hoag Hospital to stop performing elective abortions

In a letter to affiliated physicians and staff, Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach has announced that elective abortions will no longer be performed at the hospital.

8:05 AM EDT, May 2, 2013

Lipstick's allure may come with heavy metal price

The quest for lusher, ruby-red lips may be exposing women to dangerous metals, including cadmium, a highly toxic element linked with renal failure, a UC Berkeley study suggests.

11:28 AM EDT, May 2, 2013

Most women back over-the-counter birth control pill

Close to two-thirds of women favor making contraceptive pills available over the counter, according to a new nationally-representative survey.

9:06 AM EDT, May 1, 2013

FDA approves Plan B for girls as young as 15

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday said it would allow the Plan B One-Step contraceptive to be sold without a prescription to girls as young as 15 years of age.

5:00 PM EDT, April 30, 2013

Jury weighs fate of abortion doctor in murder trial

A Philadelphia jury ended its first day of deliberations on Tuesday without reaching verdicts in the murder trial of a doctor accused of killing babies and a patient during late-term abortions at a clinic serving low-income women.

10:44 PM EDT, April 29, 2013

Task force calls for routine HIV testing for all adults

An influential U.S. panel is calling for HIV screening for all Americans aged 15 to 65, regardless of whether they are considered to be at high risk, a change that may help lift some of the stigma associated with HIV testing.

12:09 AM EDT, April 29, 2013

In abortion debate, both sides point to Philadelphia trial

The Philadelphia abortion clinic that prosecutors called a "house of horrors" is now being cited as powerful evidence by both abortion and anti-abortion rights groups.

5:51 PM EDT, April 25, 2013

Sickle cell disease accounts for many priapism cases

Thanks to commercials for erectile dysfunction drugs, men know to seek medical attention for "erections lasting more than four hours," but a new study suggests a blood disorder is the cause of many prolonged erections.

2:11 PM EDT, April 25, 2013

U.S.-backed HIV vaccine fails; study halted

The National Institutes of Health on Thursday halted a study testing an experimental HIV vaccine after an independent review board found the vaccine did not prevent HIV infection and did not reduce the amount of HIV in the blood.

April 24, 2013

Questions remain after judge lifts age limit on Plan B

With a federal judge clearing away age restrictions on purchasing emergency contraception, many Chicago-area health care providers, teens and others are preparing for more accessibility — even if they're not exactly sure how the drug will be made available.

6:25 PM EDT, April 22, 2013

Scientists explore mystery of a psychedelic HIV/AIDS drug

For those taking antiretroviral medications for HIV/AIDS, there is one drug in the mix that can put a particular kick in the cocktail: the drug efavirenz, marketed under the commercial names Sustiva and Stocrin, appears to have an "LSD-like interaction" with the receptors in the brain that govern the activity of serotonin, says a study presented in Boston today.

5:38 PM EDT, April 18, 2013

Oklahoma dental patients diagnosed with hepatitis C, HIV

Dozens of Oklahoma dental patients have been diagnosed with hepatitis C and at least one case of HIV, state health officials said Thursday, four weeks after finding a multitude of health code violations, including rusty tools, at a dental practice in Tulsa.

2:16 AM EDT, April 16, 2013

Circumcision study supports HIV theory

Circumcision is known to reduce a man's risk of HIV infection by at least half, but scientists don't know why. A new study offers support for the theory that removing the foreskin deprives troublesome bacteria of a place to live, leaving the immune system in much better shape to keep the human immunodeficiency virus at bay.

12:14 PM EDT, April 12, 2013

Black women may gain more weight with contraceptives

Black women were the most likely to gain weight while using a long-acting form of contraception, such as a hormone implant or intrauterine device (IUD), in a small new study.

9:54 PM EDT, April 11, 2013

The misunderstood IUD

Most women had inaccurate perceptions about the safety and effectiveness of intrauterine devices (IUDs) in preventing pregnancy, including not knowing that IUDs are more effective contraceptives than birth control pills, researchers said.

4:46 PM EDT, April 9, 2013

IUDs safe, effective for teenagers: study

Intrauterine devices are safe for teenagers, according to a new analysis of more than 90,000 women who used the long-term contraceptives.

1:43 AM EDT, April 10, 2013

Prostitution policy splits NGOs in top court AIDS case

A Supreme Court case that challenges a law requiring anti-prostitution policies for HIV/AIDS programs seeking federal money has generated a split among nonprofit groups that counsel sex workers overseas.

2:07 AM EDT, April 10, 2013

Arkansas Senate aims to cut off state funds to abortion providers

The Republican-led Arkansas Senate, in the latest statehouse swipe at abortion providers around the country, approved a bill on Tuesday that sponsors said was aimed at cutting off the last vestiges of state funding to groups such as Planned Parenthood.

8:00 AM EDT, April 6, 2013

Teen contraception decision: Doctors say science trumps politics

Science trumped politics, but politics may still present problems for teens trying to purchase emergency contraception.

6:22 PM EDT, April 5, 2013

U.S. judge widens 'morning-after' pill access for young girls

A federal judge on Friday ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make "morning-after" emergency contraception pills available without a prescription to all girls of reproductive age and criticized the Obama administration for interfering with the process for political purposes.

9:30 AM EDT, April 4, 2013

More Americans are living together before marriage, study finds

Americans are increasingly saying “I do” to living together before marriage, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, cohabitation is now more common among younger women than living with a spouse or living alone.

7:42 PM EDT, April 3, 2013

Lawyer defends record of Oklahoma dentist in HIV-exposure scare

A lawyer for an Oklahoma oral surgeon accused of using improper sterilization procedures and rusty surgical tools that may have exposed patients to HIV and hepatitis said on Wednesday his client had an impeccable record and provided dedicated care.

10:22 PM EDT, April 2, 2013

Alabama Senate passes bill tightening rules for abortion clinics

The Alabama Senate passed an abortion bill on Tuesday critics say would limit access to the procedure with stricter requirements for clinics that provide it.

The Senate passed the bill on a vote of 22-10, after the House passed a similar bill in February. A committee will reconcile the two bills before the proposed legislation goes to the Alabama Governor, Dr. Robert Bentley, who is expected to sign it into law.

8:20 PM EDT, April 2, 2013

1,200 dental patients in Oklahoma screened for HIV

About 1,200 patients have been screened for exposure to HIV and hepatitis in Oklahoma after authorities found a Tulsa dentist using improper sterilization procedures and rusty surgical tools, a public health official said on Tuesday.

2:19 PM EDT, March 21, 2013

Pediatricians' group: gay marriage fosters child health

The influential American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended legalizing gay marriage on the grounds that it fosters the good health and well-being of children.

2:58 PM EDT, March 20, 2013

Vaginal products popular, some linked to infections

Two thirds of women in a new U.S. study reported regularly using cleansers, lubricants or petroleum jelly intravaginally — and some of the products were linked to a higher chance of common vaginal infections.

7:45 PM EDT, March 15, 2013

North Dakota Senate approves 'heartbeat' abortion ban

The North Dakota Senate approved what would be the most restrictive abortion law in the United States on Friday, a measure banning the procedure in most cases once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, as early as six weeks.

4:42 PM EDT, March 15, 2013

Knot Yet: Getting married later can have economic costs, benefits

Americans are getting married at ever-older ages, and a new report says this trend may be partly responsible for the shrinking of the middle class.

5:42 PM EDT, March 14, 2013

Many poor heterosexuals in U.S. cities at risk for HIV

Roughly 2 percent of 8,500 poor heterosexuals living in U.S. cities with high rates of HIV infection tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS, and nearly half of those who were infected said they had never been tested before the study, health officials said on Thursday.

4:21 PM EDT, March 12, 2013

Breastfeeding may not ward off child obesity

Breastfeeding does not seem to protect babies against becoming overweight or obese kids, a large, new study says.

12:35 PM EDT, March 12, 2013

Omega-3 DHA may prevent earliest preemies

For pregnant women, supplements of an omega-3 fatty acid called Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may help to reduce the likelihood of giving birth very prematurely, according to a new study.

March 13, 2013

Teen dating violence leaves scars, experts say

Sheela Raja remembers treating a victim of teen dating violence who at first felt too ashamed to talk about the experience. Instead, the victim buried the trauma in alcohol until she finally opened up during therapy.

4:10 PM EST, March 8, 2013

Even for sperm, there is a season

Autumn is the time of year most associated with bumper crops of new babies, and that may be because human sperm are generally at their healthiest in winter and early spring, according to a new study from Israel.

7:33 PM EST, March 6, 2013

U.S. doctor's 'gutsy' move led to baby's cure from HIV

The doctor who cured an HIV infected baby for the first time is happier talking to children than to adults and is finding all the attention since the news came out a little overwhelming.

6:49 PM EST, March 6, 2013

Women should be concerned about low libido

Low libido can not only ruin a women's sex life but could also cause her to miss out on some key health benefits. Dr. Valerie Omicioli, a certified menopause practitioner and clinical assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said that low sexual desire is something that women should not ignore.

March 6, 2013

Northwestern study finds new moms at far more risk for OCD

Shortly after Dr. Dana Gossett gave birth to her first daughter 13 years ago, she began agonizing over worst-case scenarios familiar to any new mother.

3:50 PM EST, March 5, 2013

HIV linked to higher chance of heart attack

People with HIV are almost 50 percent more likely to have a heart attack than those who aren't infected with the virus - even after taking into account their other health risks, according to a new study.

7:14 PM EST, March 3, 2013

More iron linked to reduced risk of severe PMS

Women who get a little more than the recommended daily amount of iron in their diets may be less likely to get a more severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), according to a U.S. study.

4:11 PM EST, February 27, 2013

U.S. gay couples report poorer health than straight married counterparts

Gay and lesbian couples living together report poorer health than straight married couples, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday, speculating that legalizing same-sex marriage could reduce the disparities.

4:33 PM EST, February 21, 2013

Most women misunderstand IUD birth control

In a new survey, most women had inaccurate perceptions about the safety and effectiveness of intrauterine devices (IUDs) in preventing pregnancy, say U.S. researchers, who urge doctors to talk more about the benefits of the devices.

3:42 PM EST, February 20, 2013

Stress and anxiety linked to sperm quality

A man's ability to produce sperm may depend on his ability to handle stress, according to a new study from Italy.

7:33 PM EST, February 20, 2013

Prolonged bladder pain?

For 15 years, Lauren Stutman sought relief from her debilitating bladder pain. She saw more than 10 doctors, many of whom would assume she had a urinary tract infection and send her away with Ciproflaxin.

3:52 PM EST, February 15, 2013

Estrogen alternative eases sex pain for older women

A daily dose of ospemifene, an estrogen-like drug, helped lessen pain during intercourse caused by vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women, in a new study.

4:41 PM EST, February 13, 2013

Vitamin D supplement labels may be inaccurate

The amount of vitamin D in some supplements may be either much lower or much higher than what's written on the label, according to a new analysis.

2:21 PM EST, February 14, 2013

Male circumcision tied to less sexual pleasure

Men circumcised either as children or adults report less intense sexual pleasure and orgasm than their uncircumcised counterparts, according to a new study from Belgium.

8:17 PM EST, February 11, 2013

Teen births hit record lows in U.S. in 2011: study

The number of U.S. babies born to teen mothers dropped to record lows in 2011, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

12:13 AM EST, February 4, 2013

Bullying declines for LGB youth over time

It does get better for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth, according to a new study of the name calling, threats and violence faced by teens in England.

February 9, 2013

Heartbreak can take a physical toll

Hope Rising (yes, her real name) says that the day she watched her husband pull out of their driveway for the last time, she collapsed, clutching her stomach in pain.

8:30 AM EST, February 6, 2013

Heavy drinking, 'incompatible' drinking tied to divorce, study says

Here’s something to ponder if and when you and your spouse make your Valentine’s Day toasts this year: when it comes to drinking — as in so many other facets of marriage — compatibility may be key to keeping couples together.

7:37 PM EST, February 6, 2013

Fetal test creates options, uncertainty

When Ramona Burton became pregnant with her second child this year, the 37-year-old knew that her age put her baby at an elevated risk for Down syndrome, even though screening with ultrasound and standard blood tests raised no warning flags.

6:00 PM EST, February 4, 2013

Sperm count low among couch potatoes, study finds

For those men who are looking to boost their sperm count, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have some simple advice: drop the TV remote control and get to the gym.

7:29 PM EST, February 1, 2013

Obama offers compromise on birth control health coverage

The Obama administration sought to settle a dispute with religious leaders over whether employees at faith-affiliated universities and hospitals should have access to health insurance coverage for contraceptives.

9:00 AM EST, January 29, 2013

Straight men more stressed, depressed than gay men, study says

A Canadian study on anxiety and sexual orientation suggests that heterosexual men suffer more depression and higher levels of stress than gay and bisexual men.

5:03 PM EST, January 23, 2013

Ob-gyns sound alarm on 'contraceptive sabotage'

Doctors should ask teen girls and women whether their partners are trying to force them to get pregnant or otherwise "reproductively coercing" them, according to a group of ob-gyns.

3:59 PM EST, January 15, 2013

Caffeine linked to leaky bladder in men

The amount of caffeine that's typically found in two cups of coffee may contribute to a man's incontinence, according to a new study.

5:23 PM EST, January 11, 2013

Supreme Court to review free speech of HIV/AIDS groups

The Supreme Court agreed to consider whether the government can require groups that receive federal funding for overseas HIV/AIDS programs to have explicit policies that oppose prostitution and sex trafficking.

11:09 PM EST, January 10, 2013

Judge won't block New York City circumcision law

A Manhattan federal judge refused to block a New York City regulation requiring people who perform circumcisions and use their mouths to draw away blood from the wound on a baby's penis to first obtain written consent from the parents.

7:42 PM EST, January 9, 2013

Pap smears can detect ovarian and endometrial cancers, Hopkins scientists find

Johns Hopkins scientists have found a way to screen for hard-to-detect endometrial and ovarian cancers in women using a routine Pap smear, a discovery they hope eventually could reduce the number of deaths caused by the deadly malignancies.

10:55 AM EST, January 3, 2013

France may curb use of riskier oral contraceptives

French health regulators are studying limiting the use of contraceptive pills that carry health risks and will stop reimbursing prescription costs of some types from March, after a woman sued drugmaker Bayer over alleged side-effects.

4:56 PM EST, January 3, 2013

Annual Pap tests? For some in U.S., old habits die hard

An increasing number of younger women in the United States are delaying their first Pap test for cervical cancer until after they reach 21, reflecting new U.S. guidelines, health officials said on Thursday.

1:08 PM EST, January 2, 2013

Antidepressants don't raise stillbirth risk: study

Taking common antidepressants during pregnancy doesn't increase a woman's risk of having a stillbirth, according to a new study of over one million Nordic women.

11:49 AM EST, January 2, 2013

Most countries offer the Pill over-the-counter

Unlike women in the U.S., Canada and much of Europe, most women in the world can access the birth control pill without a prescription, according to a new study.

8:49 PM EST, January 2, 2013

Child support claim rankles sperm donor to lesbian couple

A Kansas man who donated sperm to a lesbian couple so they could have a child said on Wednesday he is shocked the state is now trying to make him pay child support.

1:54 PM EST, January 2, 2013

Most Americans believe in love at first sight: poll

Most Americans believe in love at first sight, have never read their partner's email and think good sex is very important to a successful relationship, a poll released on Wednesday showed.

January 2, 2013

The graying of HIV: Hurdles, hope for older adults

Chicago artist Curtis Bewley is the increasingly common face of HIV. At 58, he's lived with the virus for 15 years.

4:13 PM EST, December 31, 2012

Are recession babies prone to be delinquent teens?

A new analysis of data on U.S. teens born during the early 1980s ties slightly higher rates of adolescent smoking, drinking, arrests and thefts to macroeconomic conditions during the first year of life.

January 2, 2013

HIV infection risk especially high for teens

Risky sexual behavior and a lack of testing and education are leaving younger people vulnerable to HIV and AIDS, experts say.

9:48 PM EST, December 29, 2012

Employer wins relief from U.S. contraceptives mandate

A divided federal appeals court has temporarily barred the U.S. government from requiring an Illinois company to obtain insurance coverage for contraceptives, as mandated under the 2010 healthcare overhaul, after the owners objected on religious grounds.

10:36 AM EST, December 27, 2012

Poor reading skills tied to risk of teen pregnancy

Seventh grade girls who have trouble reading are more likely to get pregnant in high school than average or above-average readers, according to a new study from Philadelphia.

8:05 PM EST, December 26, 2012

Justice Sotomayor refuses to block contraceptives mandate

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has refused to block enforcement starting next week of a requirement in President Barack Obama's 2010 healthcare overhaul that some companies provide insurance coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices.

12:08 PM EST, December 21, 2012

Online urologist ratings usually positive: study

Ratings for urologists on doctor review websites were typically positive in a new analysis, but on average each doctor had only two or three patient scores.