Hormones

Taking frequently prescribed contraceptive hormones for a year or more has been linked to a heightened risk of developing a serious brain tumor. One of those hormones, medroxyprogesterone acetate, is currently taken by some 74 million women worldwide.

A new study led by researchers in Germany has for the first time compared the chemical composition of body odor between teenagers and infants, homing in on the exact compounds that make babies smell like flowers and teens smell like sweaty goats.

Almost 25 years since scientists first identified a difference in anesthetic sensitivity in males and females, a new study reveals how sex hormones make men more responsive to going and staying under. Yet dosage is still decided on by a patient's size.

Researchers have identified the neurons responsible for controlling how growth hormone affects anxiety and the creation of fear memories, a hallmark of post-traumatic stress disorder. The discovery could lead to a new class of anti-anxiety drugs.

A new study has linked preconception exposure to phthalates to reduced odds of getting pregnant, adding to a growing body of evidence about the negative effects of these chemicals, commonly found in personal care products like soap and shampoo.

If you overindulge in sugary treats, the good news is that your sweet tooth will be silenced. The bad news, though, is that this triggers a hormonal call out for fatty foods. And even worse news, too much fat will then switch sugar cravings back on.

A new study has revealed that the body’s hormone stress response is why some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder following trauma exposure, and others don’t. The finding could lead to more targeted treatments for the condition.

For the first time, scientists have identified a biochemical mechanism linking attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder with common but problematic compound Bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach into food and drink from packaging.

A large new Danish study has suggested there may be a link between women’s use of hormone replacement therapy used to treat the symptoms of menopause and the risk of developing dementia.

The days of urinating on a stick, and then sharing those sticks online, might be numbered, with the world’s first saliva pregnancy test hitting the market. The SaliStick can be taken anytime, anywhere, and in trials it has proven to be 95% accurate.

Scientists have discovered a gene variant that causes a common type of high blood pressure – and found a cure. A simple surgical procedure saw patients with previously severe hypertension needing no drugs or further treatment for years afterwards.

Even though some conditions cause people to lose their appetite, those folks have to keep eating in order to recover. A new "electroceutical" ingestible capsule could help, by making them feel hungry … and it was inspired by a lizard's skin.