Hear are the trends we spotted this week in women’s health, and as always, scroll for the top clicked stories.

• 🩺 Early prenatal care is slipping. First-trimester visits dropped three points from 2021–2024, possibly because maternity deserts are expanding. Access (not awareness) may be the real crisis.

• 🚨 An autopsy on a 13-week miscarriage in SC. No trauma was found, but officials were trying to DNA-identify the mother. In a post-Dobbs environment, even a natural miscarriage can trigger law enforcement involvement.

• 🚶‍♀️ Bed rest may not prevent preterm birth — and could make it worse. In a small randomized study, women who took fewer than 3,500 steps per day delivered earlier. Another long-standing pregnancy norm facing new scrutiny.

TOP CLICKED STORIES THIS WEEK

Trends in Comparative Growth in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Programs Over the Past 20 Years (2005–2024) // Obstetrics & Gynecology

The Plot Against American Women // Throughline

Activity Restriction in Pregnancy and the Risk of Early Delivery // Obstetrics & Gynecology

Birth Control Is Changing — and So Are Women’s Attitudes Toward It // Vox

Coroner Releases Autopsy Details on Fetus Found at Water Plant // WACH

Menopausal hormone therapy not linked to increased risk of death // British Medical Journal

The case for more personalized breast cancer screening // Washington Post