Routine hepatitis B screening for pregnant women is among the new recommendations HHS has proposed for the CDC. Sixteen initiatives are under consideration, and details are scheduled to be finalized by January. A review published in Obstetrics & Gynecology recommended measles vaccination be offered to nonimmune reproductive-age women before pregnancy.

The World Health Organization has reported sharp increases in drug-resistant gonorrhea. Resistance to the two primary antibiotics, ceftriaxone rose from 0.8% to 5% and cefixime from 1.7% to 11% between 2022 and 2024. The antibiotics are the last recommended treatments for gonorrhea, but two new antibiotics have shown promise for treating the sexually transmitted infection.

A study in JAMA Oncology found a correlation between the use of hormonal contraceptives and a slight increase in breast cancer risk, but experts say the overall risk is low, and the findings were nuanced. The study, which tracked 2 million females for more than a decade, has been misrepresented on social media, potentially causing fear and anxiety that are not based on science. "I get really angry at this because it's designed to scare people like me away from birth control, which has made my life so much better in so many ways," said Rachel Fey, interim co-CEO of Power to Decide, which provides information about sexual health and contraceptive methods.

Public health experts express concern over the CDC's new messaging linking vaccines and autism, fearing it could lead to lower vaccination rates and a resurgence of preventable diseases. Critics argue that the CDC's decision undermines scientific integrity and public trust, potentially causing harm to community health.

Dr. Barbara Levy of Visana Health discusses women's care disparities in a conversation with former US Senate majority leader Dr. Bill Frist. Gender gaps in research and equitable, whole-person care for women are among the topics examined.

Whooping cough cases are surging nationwide, particularly in California, Florida, Oregon and Texas, driven by declining vaccination rates, waning immunity and improved testing, according to health officials. Infants are at the greatest risk, and the CDC urges pregnant women to get the Tdap vaccine to protect them. Health experts say increased vaccination and awareness are needed to combat the outbreaks.

Racial disparities in cesarean birth rates have persisted despite a general decline from 2012 to 2021, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. Non-Hispanic Black women face the highest risk, with a cesarean rate of 30.9%, significantly higher than other racial groups. The disparity has widened over time, prompting calls for targeted strategies to address the inequities.

A study from the Netherlands found that SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth and low Apgar scores in newborns. The study, which analyzed data from more than 322,000 pregnant women, also highlights disparities in COVID-19 testing among ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

The Department of Education has removed nursing from the list of professional degree programs under a new law, a step that will limit the amount of federal student loans available to graduate students in nursing programs. "At a time when health care in our country faces a historic nurse shortage and rising demands, limiting nurses' access to funding for graduate education threatens the very foundation of patient care," American Nurses Association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy says of the change.

Conflict is inevitable in daily life and the workplace, but it can be beneficial if managed effectively, writes Lisa Kohn of Chatsworth Consulting Group. Kohn offers five strategies for handling conflict: remembering the core objective, pausing before reacting, staying engaged without withdrawing, understanding the other person's perspective and collaborating to solve the problem. "Conflict is unavoidable and usually unenjoyable, but it can be handled well and it can yield great results," Kohn writes.