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EVERYTHING
Kennedy’s Childhood Health Report Filled with Contradictions
What: HHS Sec. Kennedy's new MAHA report has arrived, and the New York Times says it lays out strategies against childhood chronic disease but gives little detail on execution. It echoes his usual claims about kids being harmed by screens, chemicals, and medications, yet avoids big policy fights and at times contradicts the administration’s own actions, like cutting food benefits while calling for more healthy food access. Critics say the result looks ambitious on paper but vague, inconsistent, and politically watered down.
Key Line: "Though the report pushes for new research initiatives and public awareness campaigns, it does not include many specific policies. It says the government will commission a slew of new studies to better understand microplastics, air quality, the cumulative toll of chemicals and even electromagnetic radiation."
Source: New York Times
Rescripted Launches First AI Model Fully Focused on Women’s Health
What: Women's health tech platform Rescripted rolled out a free AI/LLM model built on "science-backed women’s health content." Their aim is to give people clear, safe answers on issues like fertility, pregnancy, and menopause.
Key Line: "Unlike general-purpose AI, Clara is trained on Rescripted’s science-backed editorial library and rigorous medical review process, drawing from thousands of trusted multimedia pieces and
contributions from carefully vetted brand partners. Clara is designed to speak in the same warm,
authentic, and real tone that has made Rescripted a trusted destination for women’s health."
Source: Rescripted
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
CT Scans Before Pregnancy Linked to More Miscarriages
What: A large population-based cohort study in Canada examined over 5 million pregnancies and found that women who had CT scans in the four weeks before conception faced higher rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, and congenital anomalies in their children. The risks rose with the number of scans. Rates were slightly higher when the abdomen, pelvis, or lower spine were scanned, though head CTs also showed some association. The study suggests doctors should consider alternatives to CT scans when possible for people of reproductive age.
Key Line: "Exposure to preconception CT imaging may be associated with higher risks for spontaneous pregnancy loss and congenital anomalies, but causal mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Alternative imaging methods should be considered when appropriate."
Source: American College of Physicians
Cannabis Use Linked to Lower Embryo Development and Chromosome Health
What: Researchers found that cannabis (THC) in the fluid surrounding eggs was linked to lower rates of healthy embryos during IVF. In lab experiments, THC exposure also disrupted egg cells’ ability to divide chromosomes correctly and altered gene activity tied to cell structure and inflammation.
Key Line: "Finally, these findings underscore the need for increased awareness and caution among people with ovaries, particularly those undergoing fertility treatments. Our study highlights the importance of informing patients about the potential risks associated with cannabis consumption and provides a basis for regulatory bodies, medical professional societies, and public health organizations to establish recommendations and guidelines regarding cannabis consumption during fertility treatment.”
Source: Nature
ABORTION ACCESS
Washington to Destroy 30,000 Expiring Abortion Pills
What: Washington state is planning to incinerate 30,000 doses of the abortion pill, mifepristone, that they bought in 2023 for $1.3 million...because they are expiring at the end of January. The state still has another 17,600 doses expiring in 2028–2029 that can be swapped out by the supplier at no cost, and a stockpile of misoprostol expiring in 2026.
Key Line: "The state can only provide mifepristone to qualified clinics and prescribers, and has to sell it for at least the price for which it was purchased, said Brionna Aho, spokesperson for Gov. Bob Ferguson. But providers can still get pills for less from wholesalers. 'We continue to be open to options to utilize the stockpile before it expires, but at this point, there is not a demand for it,' Aho said."
Source: Washington State Standard
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