Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Drinking In Moderation Doesn't Affect Women's Ability To Conceive, Study Finds
The New York Times: Moderate Drinking Does Not Affect Fertility
A new study has found that moderate alcohol consumption does not affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant, although higher amounts might. Danish researchers studied 6,120 women trying to conceive in stable relationships with male partners. The women reported their drinking habits in questionnaires. By the end of the study, 4,210 of the women had gotten pregnant. Women who drank the alcoholic equivalent of one to 13 four-ounce glasses of wine a week were no less likely to conceive than those who abstained completely. (Bakalar, 8/31)
KQED: ‘Electronic Tattoos’ Could Monitor Pregnant Moms At Home
The “electronic tattoo” may sound like an attempt by Silicon Valley to encroach on one of the last few activities still requiring an actual human being. But what the term actually refers to is a sensor that adheres like a Band-Aid to parts of your body in order to monitor vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Another term for the devices– equally evocative–is “smart skin.” Researchers around the country are designing electronic tattoos, which look a bit like a child’s sticker but come outfitted with wireless antennae. (McClurg, 8/31)
