The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health

Data suggest that 42-65% of women use paracetamol (also known as tylenol  and acetaminophen) during pregnancy; however, concerns linking the common pain killer to childhood development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disability were reported. Asma Khalil joins the podcast to discuss a recent systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on the highest quality trials that showed no link between use of paracetamol during pregnancy and development of ASD, ADHD, or intellectual disability. 
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanogw/article/PIIS3050-5038(25)00211-0/fulltext

Pascale Allotey (WHO) and Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent (International Confederation of Midwives) join Sonia, Sarah, and Ben in this special bonus episode dedicated to International Women's Day. In two in-depth interviews, Pascale and Jacqueline discuss their academic and clinical journeys, spotlight key advances in women's health from AI to HPV among many others, and highlight key works that their organisations are undertaking, including ChatHRP (https://chathrp.org/) and the One Million More Midwives initiative (https://millionmore.org/).
Read our March Editorial at https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanogw/article/PIIS3050-5038(26)00055-5/fulltext
Download our International Women's Day infographic at https://www.thelancet.com/infographics-do/IWD2026

From its origins in fertility medicine and wellness, the field of FemTech is rapidly evolving, with new innovations having the potential to drastically improve the health of women and girls in low-income and middle-income countries. However, barriers exist preventing the true potential of FemTech interventions to be realised. Alex Ridout (King's College London, London, UK) joins Ben to discuss the potential FemTech offers and the hurdles preventing its role out.   
Click here to read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanogw/article/PIIS3050-5038(25)00125-6/fulltext

Happy New Year! Sonia and Ben are in the studio to discuss the first issue of 2026, which includes and editorial on new WHO guidelines for the management of diabetes during pregnancy; insights on the sexual and reproductive health rights, original research on liver stiffness, and a viewpoint on the ever growing role of FemTech and the potential solutions it offers.

In this episodes extended interview, Bassel Wattar joins Ben to discuss the BROWNIE study which looked to assess the number of women admitted to hospital for acute heavy menstrual bleeding and sought to understand the cost implications of the emergency management interventions. With more than 50 000 women in England and Wales seeking specialist treatment at secondary gynaecology services in the NHS for heavy menstrual bleeding. The BROWNIE study could offer some crucial insights into a growing silent crisis.
Click here to read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanogw/article/PIIS3050-5038(25)00093-7/fulltext

It is our last episode of 2025! Sarah and Ben discuss the December issue which covers a plethora of topics including COP30 and the links between the climate emergency and women's health, the use of paracetamol in pregnancy, the care of pregnant and breastfeeding women in contact with the criminal legal system, and original research on ovarian and cervical cancer, the CRADLE-5 study, and an extended interview about the prevention of preterm birth

WHO reported that an estimated 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020, with preterm birth one of the leading causes of newborn death and disability, but how can the rate of preterm birth be reduced? Ben sits down with John Newnham (University of Western Australia), to discuss the roll out and findings of Australia's national preterm birth prevention programme and consider how the seven intervention strategies can be applied to other high. middle, and low income settings.
Click here to read the full article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanogw/article/PIIS3050-5038(25)00042-1/abstract