The way menstruation is experienced depends not only on physical symptoms, but also on the social context in which it occurs. A study conducted in Spain with more than 4,000 participants analyses how menstrual stigma influences daily life, social participation and well-being.

This study, led by the INGENIO Institute, a joint centre of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has been published in the journal BMC Women's Health. It is the fourth publication of a research project that provides one of the first insights into menstrual health in Spain — after addressing menstrual education, stigma and access to healthcare — and now focuses on the social impact of menstruation on everyday life.

The results show that menstruation continues to influence everyday activities. Only 15.4% of participants say they maintain their routine without change on those days, while many adapt their behaviour to avoid potential discomfort or exposure. Among the most common strategies are avoiding certain types of clothing (36%), avoiding white garments (48%), reducing sports activities (21%) or limiting activities such as swimming or going to the beach (22%).

People who use drugs with anticholinergic effects, including certain antidepressants, drugs for urinary incontinence and common antihistamines, are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in BMC Medicine.

Researchers at King’s College London have discovered that an immune protein best known for protecting the body against infection also plays an important role in maintaining healthy bones.

Bournemouth University surveyed nearly 31,000 adults in 35 countries about their use of AI large language models such as ChatGPT. The results found:

41% of people in the UK and 60% globally would be happy to using AI for counselling services

One quarter of UK adults, and 50% glabally, would be happy to delegate the role of teaching their children to AI. 

Globally, 45% of people would trust AI models to take on the role of their doctor. 

Three quarters of people surveyed said they would use an AI chat tool as a companion and a friend. 

People with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder die on average ten to 20 years earlier than the general population. The main causes of this are cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, which are triggered or exacerbated by a lack of exercise. Now, an international team of scientists led by MedUni Vienna is calling for physical activity to be recognised as an integral part of psychiatric treatment and is also describing specific steps for successfully integrating it into practice. The review has been published in the renowned journal JAMA Psychiatry.