Women's Health: Antidepressant drug linked with increased risk of birth defects ♦ Infertility treatments do not contribute to developmental delays in children

Infertility treatments do not appear to contribute to developmental delays in children Children conceived via infertility treatments are no more likely to have a developmental delay than children conceived without such treatments, according to a study. The findings may help to allay longstanding concerns that conception after infertility treatment could affect the embryo at a sensitive stage and result in lifelong disability

What are the risks of giving birth inside, outside a hospital setting? The out-of-hospital birth setting in Oregon was associated with a higher risk of perinatal death, while the in-hospital birth setting was associated with a higher risk for cesarean delivery and other obstetric interventions (e.g., induction or augmentation of labor), according a new American study.

Antidepressant drug linked with increased risk of birth defects when taken in early pregnancy Using paroxetine -- a medication prescribed to treat conditions including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder -- during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase newborn's’ risk of congenital malformations and cardiac malformations. Up to one-fifth of women of childbearing age experience depressive symptoms that often lead to mild to moderate depression, and prescriptions for antidepressants during pregnancy have increased in recent years. The most common drugs for treating depression in pregnant women are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and up until 2005, one drug in that class -- paroxetine -- was considered to be safe for use during pregnancy.

Improving vaginal discomfort after menopause A new phase III trial with positive results is taking intravaginal DHEA a step closer to governmental approval. The formulation could provide women who cannot or do not wish to use intravaginal estrogen with an effective vaginal alternative for easing vaginal symptoms and pain with sex after menopause.