Active pregnant women tend to stay healthier

November 17, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who exercise throughout pregnancy tend to stay healthier for decades, research shows.

Calcium/vitamin D pills won't lower blood pressure

November 6, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A daily dietary supplement of calcium plus vitamin D taken for 7 years neither reduces blood pressure nor alters the risk of developing high blood pressure, also called hypertension, in older postmenopausal women, results of a randomized study indicate.

Male hormone patch increases libido in women

November 5, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Postmenopausal women with low sexual desire levels reported improved sexual function after they were treated with a patch in which the male hormone testosterone was applied through the skin, a clinical study has found. However, more studies are needed to confirm the safety of this treatment.

Successive births, HRT hard on the joints

October 31, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Early puberty, giving birth to multiple children, and taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) all increase a woman's risk of needing joint replacement surgery due to arthritis, according to data from a large, study of middle-aged women in the UK.

Hot flushes may predict breast cancer drug success

October 30, 2008 — LONDON (Reuters) - Hot flushes, night sweats or painful joints may be good news for women taking hormone-based drugs for breast cancer -- it may mean their tumours are less likely to return, researchers said on Thursday.