Press archive, Media centre - Marie Stopes International

2010

August

July

High MMR rate concerns officials

Health officials in the state of Kanpur in India are concerned with the high level maternal mortality rate (MMR). 30/07/2010

Robinson calls for African unity

Former Irish president Mary Robinson has called for greater healthcare support for pregnant women and mothers in Africa. 30/07/2010

Uganda praised for mutilation ban

A union that promotes unity between African countries has praised Uganda after it banned the act of female genital mutilation. 29/07/2010

Condoms given out at HIV conference

Participants at the International Aids Conference in Austria have taken home around one million condoms, partly thanks to event sponsors Durex. 28/07/2010

Plans to tackle pregnancy deaths

In an attempt to reduce the persistently high number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth the UK Government is to put family at the heart of its approach to women's health in the developing world, the International Development Secretary said. 27/07/2010

Emergency pill sales rise in India

The number of emergency contraceptive pills sold in India last year increased by 250% on 2008, prompting claims they are being misused. 26/07/2010

Men 'can play key childbirth role'

Africa must tackle negative cultures that cast men who support their wives during childbirth as "weaklings", if maternal and child mortality rates are to fall on the continent, it has been claimed. 22/07/2010

Empowering women 'could cut HIV'

Microsoft chairman and philanthropist Bill Gates has said empowering women could more effectively help to cut the number of HIV cases across the world. 21/07/2010

Women need more time between births

A £50 million investment is needed to improve services for women in Pakistan to enable them to increase the amount of time between having babies and improve the nation's high death rate among women in childbirth. 20/07/2010

Vaginal gel 'cuts HIV risk by half'

A new vaginal gel can halve a woman's chances of being infected with HIV from a partner, a study has found. 20/07/2010

Indian government urges vasectomies

More men in India should consider having a vasectomy for birth control because it is more convenient than the female procedure, a government regional official has said. 19/07/2010

UN warns against HIV 'complacency'

Changes in sexual behaviour have resulted in the prevalence of HIV among young people in highly-affected areas falling by up to a quarter, UN figures have shown. 16/07/2010

Report slates Kenyan health service

Inadequate health services and failed government policies in Kenya have left thousands of women suffering from a childbirth injury which causes the leakage of urine and faeces, according to a Human Rights Watch report. 14/07/2010

Population growth 'must be tackled'

Government in Pakistan must tackle the country's rising population growth rate if it hopes to succeed in fighting terrorism or aiding the economy, according to its medical association. 13/07/2010

Kenya polygamy prompts HIV fears

Polygamy remains a popular social practice in Kenya, with experts warning it is pushing up birth rates and could be helping fuel the spread of HIV/Aids. 13/07/2010

Call for family planning investment

More investment is needed in family planning services to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and maternal deaths in Uganda, population experts have said. 12/07/2010

Pakistan maternal deaths 'too high'

More doctors and basic facilities could prevent 80% of maternal deaths in Pakistan, the World Population Foundation (WPF) said. 09/07/2010

Call to tackle needless deaths

More investment needs to be made in the health of women and girls worldwide to prevent needless deaths, according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. 09/07/2010

Pregnancies hamper drug trials

Researchers have expressed concern that participants in an anti-retroviral HIV drug trial are not using contraceptives after a number of participants fell pregnant. 08/07/2010

11.5% HIV prevalence in Mozambique

More than one in 10 people between the ages of 15 and 49 in Mozambique have the HIV virus which causes AIDS, according to the results of a national survey. 08/07/2010

Make contraception free - US groups

Contraception should be provided among the range of free preventive healthcare services to be rolled out in the US, according to women's health groups. 07/07/2010

Abortion law change made in Spain

A new law has come into effect in Spain that allows abortion without restrictions in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. 06/07/2010

HIV scheme 'could help sex workers'

Scientists believe that a behavioural intervention scheme can significantly reduce the rate of of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among female sex workers in the US-Mexico border region. 05/07/2010

Birth surveys aid population study

Population and fertility surveys have revealed the extent of population growth in Myanmar. 05/07/2010

UN body to promote women's equality

A single UN body to be established by the UN General Assembly will have greater powers to fight for equality for women. 02/07/2010

Zimbabwe targets maternal mortality

A programme designed to dramatically reduce Zimbabwe's soaring maternal and child mortality rates has been launched by the country's deputy prime minister. 01/07/2010

June

French top contraceptive pill use

France has topped a league table on use of the contraceptive pill, new research has found. 30/06/2010

Report backs current abortion limit

A UK Government-commissioned report has recommended keeping the abortion limit at 24 weeks after claiming that the human foetus does not feel pain before that age. 25/06/2010

India launches paid pregnancy plan

The Indian Government has launched a scheme offering financial incentives for marriage aimed at tackling the country's soaring population. 24/06/2010

Philippines sex education halted

Government officials in the Philippines are the subject of a class suit filed by an anti-family planning group which aims to stop them from teaching sex education in schools. 23/06/2010

Chinese count 'cost of living'

People in China are putting off having a child until they can afford to provide adequately for it, a study has shown. 18/06/2010

Safe sex message taken to World Cup

Three sexual health workers from Newcastle are using the World Cup as a chance to educate young people in South Africa about the dangers of unprotected sex. 17/06/2010

HIV in South Africa under spotlight

With the world's attention fixed solely on South Africa and the joyous celebrations of the World Cup this month, the stark reality of the country's HIV crisis will also sadly be brought into focus. 16/06/2010

Uganda calls for global FGM ban

Politicians in Uganda have called upon UN member states to support a global ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). 16/06/2010

Church opposes Philippines sex plan

Catholic bishops in the Philippines have called for talks with President-elect Benigno Aquino III over a sex education programme that is to be introduced in the country's schools. 15/06/2010

New vaginal ring 'fights HIV virus'

A groundbreaking device that fights HIV and Aids is being tested in Africa. 14/06/2010

Talking about sex 'could cut STIs'

Talking about sex comfortably can help reduce cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV/Aids, a World Health Organisation (WHO) consultant has told a workshop in the Caribbean. 14/06/2010

Women Deliver conference finishes

A major conference in Washington DC that has been debating ways to cut rates of maternal mortality has come to an end after more than 3,500 women from 146 countries took part. 11/06/2010

101 new HIV cases reported in China

People in China have been urged to follow safe sex guidelines by the government after new health department statistics showed more than 100 people were infected with HIV between January and March. 04/06/2010

Kenya bid to boost maternity safety

More than half of mothers in Kenya have unskilled birth attendants at their delivery and only 10% of those who give birth with the help of a trained health worker go on to have post-natal care, statistics have revealed. 02/06/2010

May

UNICEF pledges Nigeria support

UNICEF has announced its ongoing support to Nigeria to help fight the increasing rate of maternal and child mortality in the country. 26/05/2010

DfID announces £2.95m condom scheme

The UK is to supply Uganda with 45 million urgently needed condoms, it has been announced. 24/05/2010

SMS pregnancy tracker helps nurses

An SMS-based tracking system has been introduced in a district in India to ensure pregnant women get all the check-ups they need during pregnancy. 24/05/2010

Carla Bruni launches HIV campaign

An international campaign asking for the support of the public to stop HIV being passed from mother to child has been launched by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. 21/05/2010

HIV drugs 'not reaching Kenyans'

Despite efforts by the Kenyan government to provide free anti-retroviral treatment (ART) to more than 300,000 HIV suffers in the country, many who would benefit from the drugs cannot afford to travel to clinics to receive them, a report says. 20/05/2010

Irish schools' sex lessons blasted

Education bosses in Ireland have promised to step up pressure on schools to offer a better quality of sex education after a survey revealed three-quarters of teenagers are not taught the information. 19/05/2010

Gay men in Asia 'at risk of HIV'

Gay and bisexual men in Asia are at an increasing risk of contracting HIV, because many countries have anti-gay laws, making it harder for individuals to protect themselves. 18/05/2010

'Pupils need better sex education'

Pupils at secondary schools in Ireland should be getting a better education in sex and relationships, the country's school leaders have said. 17/05/2010

Abortion site 'not linked' to US

Administrators of a Kenyan website responsible for subjecting pro-choice activists to intimidation tactics have rejected claims of links to a notorious American pro-life group. 14/05/2010

Caesarean births warning in Iran

The number of caesarean births, which can result in deaths among women in labour, are rising in Iran, medical chiefs have said. 14/05/2010

Philippines due HIV epidemic: study

An HIV epidemic may be unleashed in the Philippines because of the low rate of condom use, the sharing of needles and a rise in casual sex, researchers in Australia have said. 13/05/2010

Condom use increases in Zimbabwe

A leading AIDS organisation has revealed a 125% increase in the use of male and female condoms in Zimbabwe compared to last year. 13/05/2010

Campaign aims to cut HIV in Sweden

Health authorities in Sweden have launched a campaign to promote the use of condoms, in attempt to cut the spread of HIV infection. 12/05/2010

Male contraceptive trials to begin

A gel developed by researchers in America could soon pave the way for a revolution in male birth control methods. 12/05/2010

Study suggests HIV link with HPV

A study of Kenyan men has suggested that those who carry the virus that causes genital warts may be at a greater risk of HIV infection. 11/05/2010

Eleven mothers 'dying each day'

Mozambique's Ministry of Health (MISAU) has published a study revealing that at least 11 of the country's women die each day from complications linked to childbirth and pregnancy. 10/05/2010

India's birth rate 'not for law'

India's growing population, projected to be 1.19 billion by 2011, will not be controlled by law, the country's government has said. 07/05/2010

Chinese syphilis epidemic continues

A baby is born with syphilis every hour in China, as newly rich men in the nation's booming economy fuel the world's fastest-growing epidemic of the disease, according to research. 06/05/2010

Vitamin pills 'did not save lives'

The lives of pregnant women or their babies were not saved by giving them vitamin A capsules, a study from Ghana has found. 05/05/2010

Anti-sterilisation petition signed

Community and social groups in the southern African state of Namibia have petitioned their government to stop sterilising HIV-positive women without first obtaining their permission. 04/05/2010

April

Most Filipinos 'want birth control'

Almost seven out of 10 Filipinos would elect an openly pro-birth control president, a national poll has found. 30/04/2010

Contraception prioritised in India

Family welfare programmes being set up in an Indian state will focus on contraceptive services. 29/04/2010

Sierra Leone launches free care

Sierra Leone has launched a programme of free healthcare for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. 29/04/2010

Uganda midwife shortage revealed

A shortage of about 2,000 midwifes in Uganda is to blame for the country's high mortality rate, a press conference in Kampala has been told. 28/04/2010

Ontario premier's U-turn criticised

Plans to introduce sex education classes for six-year-old children in Ontario, Canada, should be implemented immediately, a public health official has claimed. 27/04/2010

Kenyan plan to cut maternal deaths

Kenyan men will be encouraged to attend anti- and post-natal classes with their spouses in a bid to cut the country's maternal death rate and number of child deaths. 27/04/2010

Zuma draws line under HIV policies

The South African government has marked the launch of the world's largest HIV testing campaign by drawing a clear distinction between itself and the policies pursued in the past. 26/04/2010

Zuma reveals HIV status as negative

South Africa's president has revealed the results of his most recent HIV test in an effort to encourage others to get tested and use contraception to slow the spread of an Aids epidemic in the country. 26/04/2010

Malaysian sex education planned

Comprehensive sex education may be introduced in Malaysian schools in a bid to tackle a rise in unwanted pregnancies and abandoned babies. 23/04/2010

Somaliland children in AIDS scheme

About 800 primary and junior high school students in northwestern Somalia's self-declared republic of Somaliland are set to be targeted with HIV/AIDS advice for the first time. 22/04/2010

Ghana fights stigma of HIV pandemic

HIV and Aids sufferers in Ghana are being urged to seek treatment after research found stigmatisation of the disease was deterring people from seeking help. 21/04/2010

Pakistan sets 12,000 midwife target

The National Maternal Newborn and Child Health Programme will see 12,000 community midwives inducted across Pakistan by 2012, the country's Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced. 20/04/2010

STI rates soar in Zimbabwe capital

A near-threefold increase of sexually transmitted infections among young people in Zimbabwe's capital has alarmed health workers, with some fearing recent successes in the fight against HIV could be undone. 19/04/2010

Study links HIV with maternal death

A new report has linked the fall in the number of women dying during childbirth in Kenya to the decline in Aids-related deaths across the country. 16/04/2010

Maternal mortality falls worldwide

The worldwide maternal mortality rate has dropped significantly over the last 28 years, researchers have claimed. 15/04/2010

Seminar tackles maternal mortality

A women's health seminar in Pakistan has raised concerns about the lack of awareness surrounding the problem of maternal and infant mortality. 14/04/2010

Uganda gets family planning scheme

Couples in Uganda are set to benefit from a £7.8 million project which aims to improve access to family planning services. 14/04/2010

Infant and childbirth deaths down

The number of children dying before they reach the age of one and the number of women dying during childbirth are both falling in India. 13/04/2010

Abundance of HIV knowledge "a myth"

A survey carried out across Mozambique has put paid to the "myth" that people are informed about HIV and Aids, the country's health minister has said. 13/04/2010

HRT linked to reduced cancer risk

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could help cut the risk of colon cancer in women, new research has suggested. 12/04/2010

New HIV infection path discovered

Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how HIV infects women. 12/04/2010

Survival drive to cut birth deaths

A five-year campaign in Uganda aims to cut mother and child death rates. 09/04/2010

Minister supports Malik wedding

Pakistan's population minister has offered her support to the controversial marriage of former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis player Sania Mirza. 09/04/2010

Bangladesh population action urged

Bangladesh's once successful family planning programme has been crippled by staff shortages and indifferent governments, experts have claimed. 07/04/2010

Abortion doc killer gets 50 years

A man who murdered one of America's only late-term abortion providers has been sentenced to life in prison with no hope of parole for 50 years. 07/04/2010

Backpackers face sexual health risk

Young backpackers have been found to have higher morbidity to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and indulge in more risky sexual behaviour compared to other people in the age group, research from Australia has found. 06/04/2010

More Pakistani mothers immunised

The Pakistani government is stepping up the immunisation of mothers and children against fatal diseases. 06/04/2010

Ghana urged to act on contraception

The Ghanaian government has come under pressure to include family planning services in its National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). 01/04/2010

Archbishop softens condom stance

The Archbishop of Westminster has described arguments in favour of condom provision to developing countries as "attractive", a significant softening of the Catholic Church in England's previous hard line on contraception. 01/04/2010

March

SA students have 'low HIV rate'

A survey of students at South African universities has shown the number of cases of HIV is much lower than the national average. 31/03/2010

Warning over gonorrhoea "superbug"

A drug-resistant form of gonorrhoea could become a "superbug" if new treatments are not found in the near future, a leading expert has warned. 30/03/2010

Sex education reforms 'a must'

A health expert in the Ukraine has called for an overhaul of the country's sex education system in an effort to drive down the number of under-age pregnancies. 26/03/2010

Maltese STI rate 'on the rise'

Pressure is growing on the Maltese government to publish its much-delayed strategy on sexual health, after figures revealed an increase in the number of people seeking treatment for sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). 25/03/2010

Liberal defeat in birth control row

The Canadian government has defeated opposition moves to include family planning measures in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's G8 maternal and child health initiative. 25/03/2010

Webcams used to reduce STI rates

A study in Australia is examining the use of webcams to help cut the proliferation of sexually transmitted infections in young people. 23/03/2010

Pharmacies 'handier' for Pill jab

Many women may prefer to go to pharmacies for contraceptive injections than family planing clinics, a study suggests. 23/03/2010

STI taboo threatens health - doctor

Taboo is preventing young people in the Republic of Ireland from discussing sexually transmitted diseases and putting theirs and other people's health at risk, according to a survey carried out for a drugs corporation. 22/03/2010

About-face for Canadian government

The Canadian premier has publicly rebuked his foreign minister for suggesting that birth control programmes would not form part of the country's international aid scheme. 22/03/2010

'Inefficient' healthcare criticised

The Pakistani government must take urgent action to control population growth and increase health spending, a panel of experts has warned. 22/03/2010

Concern over contraception stance

The Canadian government has justified its decision not to include contraception in a programme to improve the health of mothers in poor countries, by saying that birth control does not save lives. 18/03/2010

Concern over 335% gonorrhoea surge

Australian health bosses have urged people to have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) check after statistics revealed a 335% annual increase in gonorrhoea in the east of the country. 17/03/2010

HIV infection rate 'on the rise'

The rate of HIV infection among homosexuals, drug users and prostitutes is on the rise, a United Nations report has claimed. 16/03/2010

Concern over HIV pregnancy rate

HIV-positive women being treated with anti-retroviral drugs in Kenya are twice as likely to become pregnant compared to those not on medication, a study published in the Journal of Medicine has found. 16/03/2010

Catholics clash over condom machine

Catholics in Italy have rounded on a Rome high school after education bosses decided to install a condom vending machine in the institution. 15/03/2010

Free treatment for Vietnamese women

A new health campaign has been launched in the provinces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to provide deprived women with free gynaecological check-ups and cancer treatment. 12/03/2010

Premarital programme 'must change'

The Malaysian government should ensure women are aware they have the right either to have a baby or not when they get married, according to a women's group. 12/03/2010

Poll highlights menopause symptoms

Two US-based women's health initiatives are to conduct a survey among older females to better understand their sexual health problems. 11/03/2010

Vietnam targets HCM sexual health

Vietnamese women have been offered free sexual health care in six suburban districts of the capital city. 11/03/2010

STD infection level 'unacceptable'

Half of the 19 million people infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States each year are young people, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed. 11/03/2010

Condom use debated in Philippines

The issue of condom use has been raised in the Philippines after a workers group attempted to get Catholic bishops in the country to recognise the product's importance in protecting women's health. 10/03/2010

South Africa buys a billion condoms

Money has been given to South Africa to buy one billion condoms, in a country where more people die of HIV and Aids-related sickness than anywhere else in the world. 09/03/2010

City women to get free condoms

Half a million female condoms are to be distributed in Washington DC in an attempt to reduce the number of people being infected with HIV and Aids. 09/03/2010

Church attacks mayor over abortion

Mexico's City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has angered the country's Roman Catholic Church after approving legalised abortion and same-sex marriages. 08/03/2010

Group reveals £66m Nigeria funding

International organisation, the Population Council, will invest $75 million ( £66 million) in an attempt to reduce the high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, it has been revealed. 05/03/2010

Afghans 'using birth control more'

The use of contraception is on the increase in Afghanistan, according to health experts. 04/03/2010

Maternal death numbers "can be cut"

The huge number of women who die during childbirth in Bolivia can be slashed by 80% within five years if a mother-child subsidy programme is allowed to continue, former health minister Ramiro Tapia has claimed. 03/03/2010

Action needed to stop Aids in Haiti

Urgent action needs to be taken in Haiti in order to stop the spread of the Aids virus, according to a UN agency study. 03/03/2010

Row over Philippines' free condoms

The Department of Health for the Republic of the Philippines is standing by its decision to distribute free condoms to fight HIV/AIDS despite fierce criticism from the country's Catholic bishops. 02/03/2010

Birth rate drop for South Korea

A newly published report has revealed that women in South Korea are having fewer children, with the birth rate in 2009 declining for the second straight year. 01/03/2010

February

Talks to outlaw genital mutilation

A conference has been held to discuss how to abolish female genital mutilation (FGM). 26/02/2010

Pakistan birth rate 'should be 2%'

Pakistan's rising birth rate has threatened the country's food supplies, economy and other resources, according to a government minister. 25/02/2010

HIV drug pair 'risky for heart'

A combination of two HIV drugs increases potential health risks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned. 25/02/2010

Filipino bishops in condom row

Roman Catholic bishops have called for the removal of a senior minister after the Filipino government gave out free condoms on Valentine's Day. 24/02/2010

Women 'waiting until 30s for kids'

A survey has shown that most women in Ireland are waiting until they hit their 30s to become mothers. 23/02/2010

Many girls in Egypt 'circumcised'

A study has shown that the majority of girls in Egypt are circumcised. 23/02/2010

Population plans 'need cooperation'

Provincial and federal governments in Pakistan need to work together for the successful implementation of population programmes, according to a senior minister. 22/02/2010

Indonesia faces population problem

Indonesia has set up 23,500 family planning clinics in a bid to slow its rapidly-increasing population over the coming four years. 22/02/2010

Teen pregnancy shows 'affect women'

Television dramas have more impact on young women's attitude to contraception than news programmes, a study has suggested. 19/02/2010

Indonesia 'faces population boom'

Indonesian officials have warned the country's population control programme is unlikely to have made much headway in the past 10 years. 19/02/2010

Bid for older women to get vaccine

A cervical cancer vaccine could soon be offering protection to women in their 40s, it has emerged. 18/02/2010

Polygamy bill welcomed in Indonesia

The Indonesian government's plan for a bill banning unofficial marriage and regulating polygamy, both practices allowed under Islam, has been hailed by the Indonesian National Family Planning Board chairman. 18/02/2010

East Timor adopts 'spacing' policy

Women in East Timor have been urged to wait at least three years between having children in efforts to control the Asian country's rapid population growth. 18/02/2010

Kenyan girls get free sanitary pads

Girls in Kenya have been given washable sanitary pads, underwear and soap to enable them to continue at school while on their period, a charity has announced. 17/02/2010

More Rwandans using contraception

More married women in Rwanda are now using contraception, according to new figures. 16/02/2010

Anti-herpes drug combats AIDS virus

An anti-herpes drug has been found to slow progression of the AIDS virus, doctors have reported. 15/02/2010

Valentine's Day boosts condom sales

Sales of condoms and contraceptive pills have shot up in India as Valentines plan safe sex with their would-be paramours, according to reports. 12/02/2010

Jamaica considers 'HIV sanctions'

Sexual predators in Jamaica who knowingly spread HIV or AIDS infections could be given criminal sanctions if the country's educational approach does not work, a minister has said. 11/02/2010

Sexual health lessons for teenagers

Teenagers are to learn about sex and reproduction at schools in Malaysia. 10/02/2010

Row over US conception teaching

A US college lecturer has been accused of teaching his Christain views on life and conception to students during health classes. 09/02/2010

TV dramas 'encourage birth control'

TV dramas may be a good way of encouraging young women to use birth control, it has been revealed. 09/02/2010

Female genital mutilation condemned

Two world organisations have criticised the "medicalisation" of female genital mutilation. 08/02/2010

Pentagon offers morning-after pill

Military bases across the world are to stock the morning-after pill, the US Department of Defence has announced. 05/02/2010

Sudan lacks national HIV statistics

HIV programmes are making little headway in southern Sudan due to the country's lack of health workers and facilities, mostly illiterate population and bad infrastructure, an expert has said. 05/02/2010

Kenya defines life in abortion row

Kenya's new draft constitution has defined 'life' as beginning at conception, which seems to have lifted the threat by influential Christian leaders to mobilise a vote against it. 04/02/2010

Iowa ponders free family planning

Plans to provide free family planning services to low-income women aged 45 to 54 in the US state of Iowa have been met with mixed reviews from local health officials. 04/02/2010

Obama makes global health promise

US President Barack Obama has set out a number of goals after pledging to increase funding for global health needs. 03/02/2010

State passes safe-sex teaching bill

Sex education classes in the US state of Wisconsin will have to include the use of contraception as well as abstinence when the 2010 academic year begins, according to reports. 03/02/2010

Global sex education trends exposed

New research has painted a mixed picture of the sex education practices of developed countries across the world, sparking a fresh debate about who should shoulder the responsibility of teaching children the facts of life. 02/02/2010

Zuma's '20th child' sparks AIDS row

South African president Jacob Zuma has been accused of undermining his own government's message on HIV/AIDS following claims he fathered a child out of wedlock last year. 01/02/2010

January

Condoms 'affect women's reputation'

Research has shown that the way in which a woman suggests using a condom could determine whether a couplke has unprotected sex or not. 29/01/2010

Study: Men 'sabotage' birth control

Teenage girls and young women have been forced into becoming pregnant by abusive male partners who damage condoms or stop them taking birth control, according to research. 29/01/2010

US state's new HIV cases rise 13%

New HIV infections soared by 13% in the US state of Minnesota last year, leading to speculation that young people are "not taking the disease seriously". 27/01/2010

Teenagers shun contraceptive pill

A sexual health clinic in the US has revealed that more teenagers and young adults are choosing long-term alternatives to the Pill such as injections and implants. 26/01/2010

Bishops urge anti-abortion voters

Filipino bishops have published a guide to the Church's doctrines that calls for Catholics to vote against political candidates who support abortion rights in the country's upcoming elections. 25/01/2010

Harsh law link to maternal deaths

More than half the women who die during childbirth in Africa do so because of a lack of access to contraception and restrictive family planning laws, an expert has said. 22/01/2010

Circumcision 'reduces HIV risk'

Health officials in Rwanda have said that circumcising newborn boys is the most cost-effective way of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country. 20/01/2010

Utah bill 'promotes contraception'

Utah lawmakers will debate whether to allow teachers to discuss the pros and cons of contraceptives with students when a proposed bill reaches the State Legislature. 19/01/2010

Egypt population plan 'essential'

Fresh calls for a population control plan in Egypt have been made by a government body which warned that overpopulation could undermine the country's social and economic development. 18/01/2010

Conference to discuss sexual health

A conference to discuss development targets on HIV/Aids and family planning is to be held in Ethiopia in February. 15/01/2010

Focus stays on abortion legislation

Two anti-abortion lawmakers in the US will be among those closely watching final negotiations over President Barack Obama's controversial healthcare bill this week. 15/01/2010

Campaign to increase use of condoms

A campaign in Rwanda aiming to significantly increase the use of condoms by both sexes has been launched. 15/01/2010

High HPV numbers 'not unexpected'

A sexual health study in Canada has found that more than half of young heterosexual adults who have begun a new sexual relationship in the past six months have been infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV). 14/01/2010

Family planners target tax Bill

Politicians in the Philippines have threatened to veto the passage of tax measures after the House leadership failed to prioritise a Bill designed to curb the country's burgeoning population. 14/01/2010

Trial ended after HIV infection

A clinical trial testing if a gel would prevent HIV infection has failed, leaving at least 46 Zambian women infected with the virus. 13/01/2010

Singapore's STI rate jumps 10.6%

Singapore has seen a 10.6% rise in sexually transmitted infections other than HIV over the past three years, with about 62% of infections affecting Singapore citizens, according to government figures. 13/01/2010

Australia chlamydia rates 'triple'

Chlamydia infection rates have more than tripled in the past 10 years in Australia, prompting experts to demand a national sexual health campaign similar to one being rolled out in the UK. 12/01/2010

Chlamydia rate stable despite tests

Chlamydia remains prevalent amongst teenage girls in urban areas in the US even though frequent tests and treatments for the sexually transmitted infection (STI) are performed, a long-term study has shown. 12/01/2010

Aid workers help mutilation victims

Health workers at refugee camps in Chad are keeping a close eye on pregnant women who may face potential complications in child birth due to mutilated genitalia. 11/01/2010

US supports global sexual health

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has renewed the country's support of women's rights to access reproductive healthcare around the world, in a speech commemorating the 15th anniversary of 1994's International Conference on Population and Development. 11/01/2010

Indian women using emergency pill

A swift upsurge in emergency contraception use in India has led doctors to believe women may be using it instead of regular contraception - leaving them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infection, according to a US newspaper. 08/01/2010

75,000 circumcised in Kenyan drive

A voluntary male circumcision drive in Kenya has seen more than 75,000 men circumcised since its launch in November 2008. 07/01/2010

Cuba reports population growth

Cuba witnessed a 3,000-person population rise last year - its first growth since 2006, according to official figures. 07/01/2010

Funding hope for abstinence groups

Supporters of abstinence-only programs in American schools are "optimistic" that federal funding will be restored to their projects under the Senate's health reform bill, after missing out on money for in the fiscal year 2010 budget, according to reports. 06/01/2010

Older doctors 'misinform' patients

Older healthcare providers could be misinforming patients about contraception methods, according to a new study. 05/01/2010

Ghana calls for condom promotion

A Ghanaian health official has said improved education and access to contraception methods, such as condoms, is the key to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country. 05/01/2010

US HIV entry ban removal welcomed

The US government's decision to lift the ban on HIV positive foreign nationals from entering the country has been welcomed by campaigners. 04/01/2010

2009

December

UN revamps family planning campaign

Family planning is to be used as a tool to drive down the number of African women who die during childbirth, an international expert has said. 30/12/2009

Vietnam plans healthcare reforms

A new healthcare plan that will overhaul the old system is being constructed in Vietnam, amid concerns that the country's ailing ageing population is becoming a serious concern. 30/12/2009

Asian health service 'inaccessible'

Women in Asia face more difficulty obtaining sexual health services and governments need to take political action to improve their accessibility by 2015, a non-governmental organisation has said. 29/12/2009

Contraceptives help fight cancer

Hormonal contraceptives can be used to treat menstrual pain and help fight against cancer, as well as preventing pregnancy, according to experts. 23/12/2009

India falls behind fertility target

Newly released figures have shown that vasectomy accounted for just 4% of sterilisation operations across India between 2005 and 2008. 22/12/2009

Bid to aid Cambodian mothers-to-be

A new bid to drive down Cambodia's high maternal mortality rate by constructing new maternal health centres around the provinces has been launched by the Kingdom's health minister Mam Bun Heng. 21/12/2009

Call to publicise circumcision law

Health workers in Uganda have urged government officials to make people in the north east of the country more aware of a recent Bill which outlaws female genital mutilation (FGM). 18/12/2009

Huge HIV increase among Malay women

Health experts have revealed that 30% of new cases of HIV in Malaysia are among women. 17/12/2009

US study reveals safe-sex division

A study in the US has revealed that abstinence-only sex education methods taught in some high schools may be responsible for a gulf in young adults' attitudes towards pregnancy and contraception. 16/12/2009

Nigerian women affected by HIV/AIDS

Women make up around 60% of the total amount of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, according to the chairman of a health agency. 15/12/2009

Uganda bans female circumcision

A law banning the practice of female genital mutilation has reportedly been passed in Uganda, where more than 3,000 girls are traditionally subjected to the routine each December. 14/12/2009

Vandals blow up condom machines

Condom dispensers in Mumbai are being targeted by vandals who blow them up with firecrackers and then sell the exploded machine parts piece by piece on the open market. 11/12/2009

Call to enforce child marriage laws

West African governments have been urged by a children's organisation to maintain laws preventing child marriage. 09/12/2009

Ghana polygamy blamed for HIV cases

The high rate of HIV/Aids cases in Ghana may be the result of polygamous marriages, according to Nana Oye Lithur, chief executive officer of the Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC). 08/12/2009

Beckham visits mothers' HIV clinic

David Beckham has visited a clinic in South Africa that is working to reduce the transmission of HIV from mothers to babies. 07/12/2009

Contraception fights global warming

Curbing population growth in poorer countries by providing free contraception is the best way to reduce the likelihood of global warming, according to veteran broadcaster and wildlife expert Sir David Attenborough. 04/12/2009

Education key to population control

The United Nations population chief has said the global population growth can be slowed down simply by allowing women in developing countries access to family planning. 04/12/2009

HIV diagnosis rate doubles - study

A Europe-wide health study has found that the rate at which people are diagnosed with HIV more than doubled between 2000 and 2008. 03/12/2009

HIV cases increase among gay men

New figures show that the number of gay men contracting HIV has doubled in two years, prompting calls for renewed focus on testing and prevention measures. 02/12/2009

HIV drugs 'should be given earlier'

Guidelines have been issued suggesting that anti-retroviral drugs (ARV) should be given to HIV patients worldwide at an earlier stage. 01/12/2009

November

Commonwealth free health care plan

Universal health care for a third of the world's population - including free care for women and children - is expected to be agreed upon at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. 30/11/2009

Women 'more vulnerable to HIV'

Recent clinical research has shown that women are at greater risk of contracting HIV infection than their male partners due to the "receptive sex role" they play. 27/11/2009

Abortion pill safety investigation

Safety fears have caused an Italian senate committee to prevent the RU-486 abortion pill from being available until its safety has been evaluated. 27/11/2009

Chinese HIV infection rates soar

Heterosexual sex is now the number one cause of HIV infection in China, accounting for 40% of all new cases, a UN report says. 26/11/2009

HIV cases drop 17% in eight years

New cases of HIV infections have dropped 17% worldwide since the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS was signed in 2001, figures have shown. 25/11/2009

Inequality 'fuelling HIV infection'

Social and economic inequality is fuelling an HIV pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). 24/11/2009

More Aids deaths in South Africa

More deaths from HIV/Aids have accompanied a fall in the birth rate in South Africa, according to a Pretoria News report that cites the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR). 23/11/2009

Birth control 'can lower emissions'

Fertility rates must be reduced in order to slow the increase of the global population, which is on course to reach 10.5 billion by 2050, according to a United Nations (UN) report. 20/11/2009

'Few affected' by US abortion laws

Abortion restrictions imposed by the US House of Representatives may only mean a small number of women cannot easily afford the procedure, it has been reported. 19/11/2009

Family planning calculator launched

Family planning and reproductive health workers have been given a new tool to measure their programmes' effectiveness by Marie Stopes International (MSI). 17/11/2009

US sex education 'fails to cut STIs'

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise in the US, a situation not helped by the lack of comprehensive sex education, statistics have shown. 16/11/2009

Masturbation advice issued in Spain

A Spanish region is running a campaign to educate children on the benefits of masturbation, alongside advice about contraception and self-respect, it has emerged. 13/11/2009

Common chemical linked to impotence

Chinese workers exposed to large doses of a substance used to make plastic bottles have high rates of sexual problems, research suggests. 12/11/2009

US study backs more sex education

Comprehensive sex education combined with abstinence-only programmes is the best way to tackle unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to a US study. 11/11/2009

Erectile dysfunction implant tested

Patients who develop erectile dysfunction after surgery for prostate cancer have been offered new hope by the development of "implants" that recreate the "stiffening" elements of the penis from donor cells. 10/11/2009

Study shows lubricant improves sex

Using lubricant during sexual activity leads to a more pleasurable and satisfying experience, according to a study by Indiana University. 09/11/2009

African abortion laws review urged

A review of abortion laws among members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is being urged after an assembly of regional health ministers. 04/11/2009

Israelis teach sex health in Africa

Four experts from Israel have received funding to train young people in Sierra Leone about sexual health and AIDS prevention. 03/11/2009

Scientists to map chlamydia genome

Researchers are set to conduct molecular genomic analysis of the bacteria that causes chlamydia and how it interacts within the human body, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said. 02/11/2009

October

Uganda facing contraception crisis

A Ugandan health official has warned that 41% of women are unable to access contraception despite needing it. 30/10/2009

Aids 'out of control in Russia'

The Aids epidemic in Russia is spiralling out of control because of misguided actions by health officials, according to experts. 29/10/2009

Sperm 'could also transmit HIV'

Researchers from Argentina have suggested that sperm, and not only semen, can transmit HIV. 28/10/2009

First sex 'early in Singapore'

Teenagers in Singapore are getting sexually active at younger ages and the number of youngsters diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is on the rise, raising concerns for both parents and teachers. 27/10/2009

Electric shocks boost AIDS vaccine

Experimental DNA-based AIDS vaccines may be more effective if delivered using short pulses of electricity, according to researchers. 26/10/2009

Backpackers 'spreading STIs' abroad

A study has shown British backpackers touring Australia are helping to spread sexually transmitted diseases across the country as they continue to have unprotected sex with a multitude of partners. 22/10/2009

Drug trend 'risks sexual health'

Campaigns to encourage the use of condoms in Kenya may be failing as teenagers turn to sex-enhancing drugs to impress their friends, according to the head of Kenya's sexual disease monitoring scheme. 21/10/2009

Zambia AIDS programme 'in danger'

HIV and AIDS programmes in Zambia rely too heavily on funding from corporate and charitable donors and are in danger of being decimated if the money is withdrawn, the National AIDS Council (NAC) says. 19/10/2009

Inuit campaign for sexual health

A campaign has been launched to promote sexual health among the Inuit people, who live in the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland and Alaska. 16/10/2009

Disposable trocars effective: study

New research has found that a disposable device for inserting contraceptive implants reduces the need for instrument sterilisation, compared to the traditional reusable kind. 15/10/2009

Global abortion decrease 'uneven'

The increasing use of contraception globally has meant that the number of abortions and unwanted pregnancies worldwide fell by nearly four million in eight years, according to a report. 14/10/2009

'Lab-on-a-chip' cancer breakthrough

A breast cancer detection and therapy breakthrough has been announced by Belgium-based nanotechnology research company IMEC. 12/10/2009

African maternal health unimproved

The health of mothers in Africa during pregnancy and labour is not improving, according to leading gynaecologists and obstetricians. 08/10/2009

Leaders slammed over women's rights

The South African government has come under fire after it allegedly failed to promote full equality for women during a UN debate. 07/10/2009

Education 'cuts pregnancy rate'

The number of unwanted pregnancies falls when teenagers are given health education and contraception information, a review has found. 07/10/2009

Calls for fake hymen ban in Egypt

A Chinese company which make kits to help woman convince their husbands they are virgins has been criticised by Egyptian politicians. 06/10/2009

Heavy bleeding treatment approved

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding. 05/10/2009

AIDS treatment sees global increase

Four million Aids sufferers worldwide are now receiving treatment - a 10-fold increase in five years - according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and the UN Aids program. 01/10/2009

September

FDA questions oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptives Yasmin and Yaz have been the subject of health warnings by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a the New York Times. 30/09/2009

Spanish morning after pill rules relaxed

The "morning after" contraceptive pill is available without prescription in Spain for the first time, the health ministry has said. 29/09/2009

Most fail to use contraception for first-time sex

The results of a new survey have found that 55% of Irish people do not use contraception when having sex for the first time. 28/09/2009

"No need" for smears in 50 years

Smear tests could become unnecessary if European governments take decisive action to vaccinate all women against cervical cancer, according to an expert. 25/09/2009

Tests provide hope of AIDS vaccine

Tests into an experimental AIDS vaccine have shown it can prevent the risk of becoming infected by up to 31%, according to researchers in Bangkok. 24/09/2009

Women's sexual desire multi-faceted

The motivation behind a woman's desire to have sex is not necessarily just to do with romantic emotions or an urge to reproduce, according to a study. 23/09/2009

One third neglect contraception use

Nearly one in three women at risk for an unintended pregnancy do not use contraception, a new study has revealed. 22/09/2009

AIDS vaccine to commence testing

Clinical trials of the first AIDS vaccines to be created by a developing country are to begin later this month. 21/09/2009

Condoms could reduce climate change

Developing countries need better access to contraception to help contain the impact of climate change, research led by Maire Stopes International's Leo Bryant and published in The Lancet has said. 18/09/2009

Drug boost for oral HIV/AIDS infection

The yeast mouth infection thrush can be effectively treated in HIV/AIDS patients with a single tablet rather than the traditional regime of five pills a day, according to research. 16/09/2009

Genetics clue to early sexual activity

Genetics may explain why children who live in homes without fathers have sex at a younger age than others, according to a new report. 15/09/2009

Seizure drug helps menopausal sleep

Menopausal women who have trouble sleeping due to hot flushes could be treated with a seizure drug to help them sleep through the night, researchers have suggested. 15/09/2009

Texas girls denied contraceptives

It is harder for young girls to get confidential access to contraceptives in Texas than any other US state, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News. 14/09/2009

Circumcision 'prevents HIV/Aids'

The spread of heterosexual HIV/Aids in Africa could be tackled cheaply and effectively by male circumcision, according to a UN study published in the open access journal PLoS Medicine. 14/09/2009

Cervical cancer jab nears approval

A long-delayed vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline successfully blocks the leading virus that causes cervical cancer in women, federal health officials have announced. 10/09/2009

Free HIV/Aids tests in Ethiopia

Free HIV/Aids tests are being offered in Ethiopia in a mobile-phone text-messaging campaign timed to coincide with the country's New Year celebrations. 09/09/2009

Gardasil 'safe for use in boys'

A US medical reviewer has said that Merck's Gardasil vaccine could be safe and effective in preventing genital warts caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) among young men and boys. 07/09/2009

HPV vaccine may prevent breast cancer

Some forms of breast cancer could be prevented by vaccinating women against the human papillomavirus (HPV), saving tens of thousands of lives every year, according to a study. 04/09/2009

Plea for more contraception funding

It would cost just 10 days worth of global military spending to ensure that women are not condemned to die in childbirth, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 03/09/2009

UN appeals for maternal health help

With a woman dying every minute due to complications in childbirth or pregnancy, the UN has appealed for more to be done to improve women's health and access to contraception. 03/09/2009

Positive contraceptive test results

A very low dose of ethinyl estradiol (EE) combined with chlormadinone acetate is an effective oral contraceptive, according to research by Jurgen Spona and colleagues at Vienna-based Vitalogic. 02/09/2009

Cherie Blair defends contraception

The wife of a former prime minister has criticised the Catholic Church's position on birth control, saying that not using contraception could prevent women from having a successful career. 02/09/2009

Utah discusses two-tier sex ed plan

A controversial law dictating how children in Utah are taught sexual education is under consideration following a Planned Parenthood Action Council meeting between lawmakers and local residents. 01/09/2009

August

Work 'affects teen sexual health'

A study has claimed that allowing teenagers to work long hours in the wrong environment can be dangerous for their sexual health. 28/08/2009

Warning over fatal HIV drug effects

A pharmaceutical company has sent out warnings about the potentially lethal side effects of HIV drug Intelence. 27/08/2009

US students gets access to One-Step

College students in the Chicago returning after the summer break can now access the emergency contraceptive, Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) at local pharmacies. 26/08/2009

HPV virus linked to penile cancers

Sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) could be responsible for nearly half of all penile cancers, according to a new study. 25/08/2009

US considering universal circumcision

US health officials are considering whether to promote routine circumcision for all baby boys born in the country as a way to reduce the spread of HIV. 24/08/2009

Nurses 'can treat HIV in Africa'

Researchers believe nurses and clinical officers can determine when a person should receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV/AIDS. 21/08/2009

Director lays out plans for NIH

The director of US research centre the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has said his religious beliefs will not influence the decisions he makes on medical science and research. 20/08/2009

Simple test to detect endometriosis

Experts are calling for the introduction of a new simple test that can detect endometriosis with almost 100% accuracy. 19/08/2009

Asian women at high risk of HIV

A report claims around 50 million women in Asia are at risk of contracting HIV from their husbands or long-term partners. 18/08/2009

Genital cutting a risk in pregnancy

Women face an increased risk of needing an emergency Cesarean section or suffering serious tears during childbirth if they underwent female genital cutting as children, according to a study. 17/08/2009

US churches push early marriage

A number of evangelical Christian groups in the US are promoting marriage at a younger age to bridge the gap between abstinence teachings and a trend toward later marriage. 14/08/2009

Recession hits U.S birth rate

A 2% slump in American birth rate - the first fall since 2000 - has been blamed on the financial downturn, the New York Times has revealed. 13/08/2009

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