A new study sheds new light on the relationship between race, body weight and sexual behavior among adolescent girls. The results suggest that a girl's ethnicity and her actual weight or perception of her weight may play a role in her participation in risky sexual behaviors.

Human embryonic stem cells derived from excess IVF embryos may help scientists unlock the mysteries of infertility for other couples struggling to conceive, according to new research. Researchers at the school have devised a way to efficiently coax the cells to become human germ cells -- the precursors of egg and sperm cells -- in the laboratory.

A European study has defined the profile for the usage of long-acting contraceptive methods. The work shows, amongst other things, that 10 percent of women use these methods, the majority over 30 years old.

Few internists who care for cancer survivors address issues of sexual dysfunction with their patients, according to a new study. More than half the internists responding to a survey indicated they rarely or never discussed sexual problems with their patients who had survived cancer.

Birth control pills nearly double the risk of stroke, according to a new review article. For women who take the Pill and also smoke, have high blood pressure or have a history of migraine headaches, the stroke risk is even higher.

The proportion of in vitro fertilization multiple births was lower in the eight states that provide insurance coverage for couples seeking IVF treatment, primarily due to fewer embryos transferred per cycle, researchers report.

Exposure to a combination of excess stress hormones and chemicals while in the womb could affect a man's fertility in later life, a study suggests. Researchers looked at the effect of stress hormones -- glucocorticoids -- combined with a common chemical used in glues, paints and plastics. They found that the combination strikingly increased the likelihood of reproductive birth defects.

Embryos that are most likely to result in a pregnancy are crucial to the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) but are difficult to identify. Researchers are now developing a fast, noninvasive test to help assess embryo viability for IVF.

Researchers, using an extremely sensitive tool based on nanotechnology, have detected previously undetectable levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy. With technology 300 times more sensitive than commercially available PSA tests, the researchers found measureable PSA levels in each post-operative patient in its study. After the removal of the prostate gland, patients typically have PSA levels that are undetectable when measured using conventional diagnostic tools.

The American College of Physicians has issued recommendations for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). ACP strongly recommends that physicians initiate therapy with an oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor in men who seek treatment for ED unless they have a contraindication to PDE-5 inhibitors, such as nitrate therapy. As for which PDE-5 inhibitor to use, ACP recommends that physicians base the choice on the individual preferences of patients including ease of use, cost of medication, and adverse effects profile.