Women's Health: Preventive care drops when government cuts close women's health clinics ♦ Menopause diminishes impact of good cholesterol ♦ Should women consume alcohol during pregnancy?

Preventive care drops when government cuts close women's health clinics When women's health clinics close because of government funding cuts aimed at abortion providers, fewer women seek lifesaving preventive care that can identify health threats such as cancer, research shows. The findings also suggest that a clinic's closure affected less-educated women the most.

DNA-based vaccine clears nearly half of precancerous cervical lesions in clinical trial Using a novel synthetic platform for creating vaccines a team of researchers has successfully eradicated precancerous cervical lesions in nearly half of the women who received an investigational vaccine in a clinical trial.

Should women consume alcohol during pregnancy? Experts discuss the evidence and current guidelines on the controversial topic of alcohol consumption during pregnancy

Vaginal microbes influence whether mucus can trap HIV HIV particles are effectively trapped by the cervicovaginal mucus from women who harbor a particular vaginal bacteria species, Lactobacillus crispatus. The findings could lead to new ways to reduce or block vaginal transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Menopause diminishes impact of good cholesterol What has previously been known as good cholesterol -- high density lipoprotein -- has now been shown to be not so good in protecting women against atherosclerosis while they are transitioning through menopause.