Womans Health:Epidural, spinal anesthesia safe for cesarean deliveries ♦ Updated Pap smear test guidelines lead to decreased STI screening ♦ Alcohol and first sexual experience: Risks for young women

Epidural, spinal anesthesia safe for cesarean deliveries, New research could ease the minds of expectant mothers who may be nervous about epidurals or spinal anesthesia for childbirth. According to ASA practice guidelines, spinal or epidural anesthesia is preferred for most cesarean deliveries. However, general anesthesia may be administered in some cases, such as an emergency cesarean delivery

Women: A longer break from work leads to less interest in a career Family policy influences not only families’ economic behavior, but also sends out clear normative signals on which people base their individual life plans: The longer a mother takes a break from work after the birth of a child, the more she loses interest in her own career.

Updated Pap smear test guidelines lead to decreased STI screening Following the introduction of Cancer Care Ontario's 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines, female patients were 50 per cent less likely to undergo screening for sexually transmitted infections.

Alcohol and first sexual experience: Risks for young women If a young woman's first sexual experience involves alcohol, she is more likely to be at risk for problems such as sexual assault, and this risk may persist in her future.

Women's Health: Maintaining healthy DNA delays menopause ♦ MRI technique could reduce need for breast biopsies ♦ Microchip used to visualize human breast cancer proteins

Maintaining healthy DNA delays menopause An international study of nearly 70,000 women has identified more than 40 regions of the human genome involved in governing at what age a woman goes through menopause. The study found that two-thirds of those regions contain genes that act to keep DNA healthy. It also found the first genetic evidence of a link between the timing of menopause and breast cancer, corroborating previous conclusions from observational evidence.

Scientists use microchip approach to visualize human breast cancer proteins Scientists present a new molecular toolkit to investigate protein assemblies natively formed in the context of human disease. BRCA1 gene regulatory complexes from cancer cells were visualized for the first time.

How more women with earlier Cesarean sections can give birth vaginally next time In many countries, caesarean section is routinely used if the woman previously gave birth by caesarean section. Doctors and midwives in countries with a high rate of vaginal births after caesarean sections have for the first time been asked in a study to give their views on how to increase the percentage of vaginal births.

Biomarkers in maternal blood can identify pregnant women with lupus at low risk for adverse outcomes Pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus, are at higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, placental insufficiency, fetal death, miscarriages, and other complications. A consortium of top researchers reports that monitoring specific angiogenic biomarkers in maternal blood during early pregnancy can successfully predict patients who will likely have normal pregnancies.This will enable physicians to identify, counsel, and manage high risk patients at an early stage of pregnancy.

MRI technique could reduce need for breast biopsies A magnetic resonance breast imaging technique that uses no ionizing radiation or contrast agent could reduce unnecessary biopsies by providing additional information about suspicious findings on X-ray screening mammography