Yellow Dog Productions / Getty Images
+Breast Cancer | April 4, 2012

Ultrasounds and MRIs Detect More Breast Cancer, Study Says

By Alexandra Sifferlin

The breast cancer screening debate continues. A new study finds that adding ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) tests to annual mammogram screenings can increase cancer detection in women with higher-than-average risk of the disease.

Family Matters
+Parenting | March 23, 2012

Requiring Ultrasounds Before Abortion: One Mother’s Personal Tragedy

By Bonnie Rochman
Jed Obray Photography / Flickr / Getty Images

Carolyn Jones made the wrenching decision to end her pregnancy after learning that her unborn son had severe disabilities. Before she could get an abortion, the law required her to view her baby on ultrasound and hear detailed descriptions of his anatomy, an experience she calls “barbaric.”

+Fertility | January 31, 2012

‘Sonicated’ Sperm: Could Ultrasound Be the Next Male Contraceptive?

By Alice Park
Doug Struthers / Getty Images

Condoms and vasectomies are so yesterday. Researchers are working on a way to zap sperm to control male fertility.

Family Matters
+Pregnancy | January 19, 2012

Boy or Girl? Why Dads Want Sons, but Moms Want Daughters

By Bonnie Rochman
Riyoco Hanasawa / Imagezoo / Getty Images

Women strongly prefer daughters while men wants sons, a study finds. Could this lead to sex selection?

Family Matters
+Marriage | October 14, 2011

Ultrasound Guidelines May Wrongly Diagnose Miscarriage

By Bonnie Rochman
82568555.resize

As if the worry over potential miscarriage weren’t stressful enough for newly pregnant women, research released Friday shows that current guidelines for using ultrasound to determine that a pregnancy has ended may not always be accurate.

Family Matters
+Pregnancy | August 10, 2011

A Blood Test Determines a Baby’s Sex Earlier than Ever. But at What Cost?

By Bonnie Rochman
78269196.resize

Boy or girl? New research finds that a simple blood test can answer that question for expectant parents at just seven weeks, significantly earlier than results from procedures like ultrasound and with less risk than invasive tests like amniocentesis, which can trigger miscarriage.

+Numbers | February 17, 2011

20%

Percentage of imaging tests ordered by orthopedic surgeons out of fear of being sued, rather than out of necessity. Defensive imaging accounted for 11% of X-rays, 38% of MRIs, 33% of CT scans, 57% of bone scans and 53% of ultrasounds. Defensive medicine also accounted for 35% of costs, nearly all of it from MRIs. [...]

+Regulation | February 10, 2011

FDA Approves a Smartphone-Based Ultrasound System

By Samantha Rollins
Getty Images

This week, Washington-based health startup Mobisante announced FDA approval of its smartphone-based MobiUS portable medical ultrasound unit. The company called it a “world’s first,” according to Fast Company.

+Sexuality | May 14, 2010

Male birth control: stopping sperm with ultrasound?

By Tiffany O'Callaghan

Among the 78 research projects to receive $100,000 grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation earlier this week as part of the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative, is an effort by researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, to develop a non-invasive, reversible form of birth control for men — using [...]