Vitamin D could be more important to fetal development than previously thought
A recent study has implicated Vitamin D deficiency in mental and motor skill impairment in infants. Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy has previously also been linked to language impairment at later ages. The amount of vitamin D currently recommended during pregnancy varies from 600 to 2000 units per day.
A new vaginal ring being tested for use in HIV prevention
Animal testing showed promising results for a new vaginal ring, similar in form to the NuvaRing, that releases medication designed to prevent HIV infection. The ring could stay in place for months, as opposed to a gel or pill that must be used daily. If shown to work in human studies, this could allow women more control over their sexual health, especially those in situations where they may not have the power to request a condom.
In light of anti-biotic resistance, the CDC changes mind about gonorrhea treatment
The two current drug options for treating gonorrhea are cefixime and ceftriaxone. The CDC has found that cefixime has proven less effective than it used to be, due to growing antibacterial resistance of the gonorrhea organism. Gonorrhea has grown fully resistant to other classes of drugs in the past, causing worry among CDC researchers that it may become resistant to ceftriaxone as well, leaving it untreatable. Gonorrhea is preventable by using condoms.