Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that allows a doctor to see inside the body. When the procedure is part of fertility testing, the doctor is evaluating the structures of the reproductive system, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. Laparoscopy can help a doctor diagnose many conditions that affect fertility, such as: endometriosis blocked fallopian…
Do bacteria have an unlimited supply of nutrients in the gut? In the past, scientists tended to believe that the gut is a kind of paradise for these microorganisms; but, as it turns out, that assumption is incorrect — which is good news for us. Do our guts starve bacteria? If so, why and how…
For Dr. Piero Anversa, the fall from scientific grace has been long, and the landing hard. Researchers worldwide once hailed his research as revolutionary, promising the seemingly impossible: a way to grow new heart cells to replace those lost in heart attacks and heart failure, leading killers in the United States. But Harvard Medical School…
Open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act begins Nov. 1. We are interested in what types of plans people are choosing and why.
While doctors do not fully understand what causes rheumatoid arthritis, they do know that having a family history of the disease increases a person’s risk of developing it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which a person’s immune system attacks the fluid-filled linings of their joints. The result is inflammation and swelling that…
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows elsewhere in the body. Pelvic pain is the most common symptom of endometriosis, but some women with the condition may also experience infertility. Research has found that infertility affects around 30–50 percent of people with endometriosis. Endometriosis lesions can cause inflammation in…
Throughout the menstrual cycle, cervical mucus changes. This type of discharge is healthy and a sign of regular ovulation. One method of fertility monitoring uses changes in cervical mucus to predict ovulation. When a person is fertile, the cervical fluid is watery, thin, and slippery, and it may appear similar to an egg white. What…
Hospitals are often thought of as the hubs of our health care system. But hospital closings are rising, particularly in some communities. “Options are dwindling for many rural families, and remote communities are hardest hit,” said Katy Kozhimannil, an associate professor and health researcher at the University of Minnesota. Beyond the potential health consequences for…
As more and more people discuss mental health issues in public forums, it seems to be lifting some of the stigma surrounding the topic. New research reveals that the number of students seeking help for mental health problems has risen considerably between 2009 and 2015. Anxiety, depression, and panic attacks are on the rise among…
Confused about what to eat and drink to protect your health? I’m not surprised. For example, after decades of research-supported dietary advice to reduce saturated fats to minimize the risk of heart disease and stroke, along comes a new observational study of 136,384 people in 21 countries linking consumption of full-fat (read saturated) dairy foods…