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FERTILITY
Getting Beyond Just Looking at the “Prettiness” of Embryos
What: A deep dive on the IVF test that could help determine the health of embryos – without invasive or time-consuming tests. We covered the test earlier this month (they are able to look at genetic material from the medium embryos are grown in), but this is a nice explanation of the promise this test could provide.
Why it matters: It’s a big improvement on the current standard: “So, currently, the way that we evaluate embryos is by how pretty they look, or specifically, morphology—their characteristics of how an embryo looks at every stage.”
Source: Scientific American
MENOPAUSE
Delaying Menopause…Forever?
What: Yale School of Medicine explains the work of Dr. Kutluk Oktay, who built a mathematical model to predict how long cryopreservation (aka freezing, to simplify things a lot!) of the ovaries could stave off menopause.
Why it matters: As Dr. Oktay puts it: ““For the first time in medical history, we have the ability to potentially delay or eliminate menopause.”
Source: Yale School of Medicine
ABORTION ACCESS
How Trump Could Ban Abortion in a Second Term
What: Law professor Mary Ziegler details how Trump could institute an effective nationwide abortion ban if he gets a second term: Bar access to abortion medication and supplies via his future Health and Human Services Secretary (who could overrule the FDA) and the Justice Department.
Why it matters: “It is tempting to dismiss the possibility of such a backdoor federal abortion ban as far-fetched. …But Mr. Trump will have different incentives once in office. Pleasing the social conservatives who donate to his political organizations — the sort of people who could be key to securing his post-presidential future — may strike him as more important than pleasing the majority of American voters.”
Source: New York Times
ONCOLOGY
Breast Cancer Rates Increasing in Women Born in Late 70s, Early 80s
What: Medscape’s Dr. Perry Wilson breaks down a study in JAMA Network Open that found breast cancer is rising among young women. Wilson explains that researchers found the increase in breast cancer is “due both to the general increased incidence over time and the unique risk of being born in the late 1970s to early 1980s.”
Why it matters: As Wilson put it: “I look at a lot of graphs in my line of work, and it’s not too often that one actually makes me say ‘What the hell?’ out loud. But this one did. Why are young women all of a sudden more likely to get breast cancer?” The increasing rate also means screening recommendations could change, pushing for women to get mammograms before 40.
Source: JAMA, Washington University School of Medicine
WELLNESS + BEAUTY
The Six Chemicals Banned by California
What: Allure breaks down the chemicals banned from the beauty industry by California – and by virtue of the fact that companies will not want to make products that can’t be sold to millions of Californians – effectively banned for the entire United States.
Why it matters: On the list is formaldehyde, a chemical found in keratin treatments and hair relaxers, and the PFAS “forever chemicals,” which can be found in some long-lasting foundations and mascaras.
Source: Allure
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