Media Coverage

Is it possible to get pregnant using a kit you picked up at your local drugstore? A home kit designed to help people conceive has been given Class II clearance by the Food and Drug Administration. The Mosie Baby Kit is now the only FDA-cleared over-the-counter kit for intravaginal insemination (IVI). The Mosie Baby Kit, which costs $129, includes two collection cups for semen, two “insemination syringes” and “supportive instructions” for use. The company advertises its syringe design on its website, noting that it has a rounded nub “that ensures maximum release and minimizes waste.” “You hear people talk about getting pregnant with a turkey baster, but that’s enormous and sperm would get lost,” Lauren Streicher, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life. “These kits involve a little plastic syringe and semen is injected into the vagina.” Experts are mixed on how necessary these kits are. “Some of these kits are very expensive,” Streicher points out. “All you need is a clean receptacle for sperm and a plastic syringe. You can get a 20-cent syringe from your local drugstore and Amazon.”

It’s one thing for emergency responders to know how to use Narcan, or the generic nalaxone, but now, we all have access to it. So, who knows how to use it? Not always many people. After all, if you don’t use drugs or know anyone who does, maybe you think, “I don’t need to know.” But the harsh reality is overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. and the fourth-leading cause of death overall in the country. If you get on public transportation, walk through a store or go to a concert venue, there’s a chance you might witness someone going through an overdose. You might be the person who saves a life and gives someone a second chance, but only if you know how to use the drug that can reverse the overdose, shares Sterling Elliott, PharmD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. For those who might be afraid of doing something wrong in an emergency, Narcan can’t hurt someone if they’re not overdosing. The FDA cited this as a strong reason for OTC approval. Not to mention, many states have good Samaritan laws that shield nobly intentioned citizens from liability when they try to help save a life. Don’t be afraid. This is the ultimate team effort.

Libido, or sex drive, may seem like something people are just born with — either you have a high sex drive, or you don’t. Yet many things can have an impact on one’s libido, from physical issues to mental health. Here’s a guide to the terms you need to know. Not everyone feels spontaneous desire, however. While some people may assume that a lack of spontaneous desire means they have a low sex drive, it’s possible they may simply need to take a different route to feeling ready for sex. Medical intervention can sometimes help women who are concerned about their lower libido. Flibanserin, the brand name for which is Addyi, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration only for premenopausal women. Clinical studies show that after eight to 12 weeks it does boost the desire to have sex, according to Lauren Streicher, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. The medication must be taken daily and works by addressing the neurotransmitters that play a role in sexual desire; it’s not an instant fix.

Federal changes regarding how to pay for screenings meant at-home blood tests were no longer available to many. Medical experts and patient advocates explained the Medicare change has a chilling effect across the health care industry causing people with private insurance to also lose out on the simple blood tests. Those limits, they say, put transplant patients at immediate risk, particularly low-income people and people of color who face existing barriers to access to care. In the long run, they fear lack of adequate testing will lead to more failed organs. The point of the tests is to provide more comfortable, less invasive monitoring for better long-term health, said John Friedewald, MD, a professor of medicine and surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Limiting access leads to shorter survival of the transplanted organ and, ultimately, the person, he said. “We want to make sure that everyone has equal access to these important tests to maintain the health of their transplant and themselves,” he said.

The holiday season is upon us, and with it, a flurry of activities and obligations. Amid the hustle, a new study finds the added pressures of inflation, tight finances and world affairs have many Americans feeling even more strained and overwhelmed than usual this holiday season. More than half of people surveyed also remain concerned about the rise in COVID-19 and flu cases, both of which can be unwelcome guests at social gatherings. One example of a stress trigger would be having too little down time. A hectic life can affect your family’s stress. Studies show that long-lasting stress can cause the body to make too much cortisol, a hormone that can ramp up appetite and lead to overeating. “Step back and ask what you want for yourself for the holiday season,” she said. “Do I want ease? Do I want comfort? Do I want support? All of these can erase the self-limiting beliefs we carry about ourselves. The key is to have clarity ahead of time before we’re in the fire so we have a better chance of making those bumps feel minor versus massive derailments.” This practice of setting expectations (or setting intentions) is one of the most important strategies that Inger Burnett-Zeigler PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and associate clinical professor at Northwestern University in Chicago, recommends – not only for the holidays, but for daily living.

Depending on where you live, you may be experiencing some of the coldest days of the season. But why is it that we seem to feel colder as we grow older? Kevin Most, DO, health system clinician of family and community medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and CMO of Northwestern Medicine’s Central DuPage Hospital said there are a few reasons. When we’re younger, we have more muscle mass and body fat, which keeps us warmer. We also have better circulation than when we are older. It’s like having insulation in your home. “As we age, our skin is a lot thinner, so it loses heat a lot easier,” Most explained, adding that we also have less fat and muscle mass the older we get. “So that senior who’s wearing the sweater, there’s reasons for it,” he continued. “As you age, know that [feeling colder is] a normal part of aging.” There are some things you can do to counteract this unfortunate side effect of aging, including staying active. “As much as you can, try to keep your muscle mass up, because we know that as we use muscles, that generates heat, and again, it’ll keep us warm,” Most said. He recommends light weightlifting and walking and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.

In an ongoing clinical trial, researchers are testing if just one dose of a new gene therapy that might effectively cure human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections is safe in humans. The therapy, named EBT-101, involves using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to treat HIV. This potential treatment strategy has been studied in animal models since the development of CRISPR-Cas9 in 2012. However, this is the first time such a gene-editing treatment for HIV has been tried in humans. The latest data from the trial suggest that EBT-101 is safe at the doses tested, but we don’t yet know if it cures HIV. According to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), approximately 39 million people globally were living with HIV in 2022, and there were about 630,000 AIDS-related deaths that year, making HIV a continued public health burden. There is no vaccine or easily accessible cure for HIV, although a handful of people have been effectively cured through intensive stem-cell transplants. CRISPR works by targeting and cleaving specific sequences of DNA from the genome; a “guide” leads CRISPR’s famous “molecular scissors” to the targeted gene. This either deactivates the gene or allows it to be removed and swapped for different DNA. Research groups believe this strategy could be effective in removing latent HIV infections, because it can target the viral DNA embedded in the genome, rather than only stopping replication. The EBT-101 trial “is an important step forward in the development of this technology to treat human disease and infection, including HIV,” Thomas Hope, PhD, a professor of cell and developmental biology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine who was not involved in the work, shared.

Your body’s cells need oxygen to live. That’s why it’s critical to take care of your lungs, which help transport oxygen. As you age, changes to your bones, muscles and lung tissue can compromise the organ, causing shortness of breath and increasing your risk of infection. Exposure to air pollutants also can compromise your lungs, as can heart failure, which can lead to fluid buildup. Some decline in lung function is expected as you age, but exercise and other steps can help you breathe easier. Heart and lung health go hand in hand, says G.R. Scott Budinger, MD, chief of pulmonary and critical care at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Some evidence suggests that the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet can help promote lung function in people with lung disease. A nutritious diet can also help support your immune system so your body can fend off respiratory infections better. Prioritize antioxidant-rich foods (primarily fruits and vegetables) as well to stave off inflammation in the lungs and throughout the body.

A new version of the diabetes drug Mounjaro – which people have been seeking out as a weight loss drug all year – is now officially approved by the FDA to help patients do just that. The drug, made by Eli Lilly, is marketed as Zepbound. Also known as tirzepatide, it has helped dieters lose as much as 40 to 60 pounds in testing. Veronica Johnson, MD, an obesity medicine specialist at the Northwestern Medicine Center for Lifestyle Medicine and assistant professor of medicine (general internal medicine) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said the drug was just about as effective as metabolic and bariatric surgery. It gives patients an alternative to going under the knife to treat obesity, and all the medical conditions that come with excess weight. Dr. Johnson encouraged people to think of Zepbound as a potential solution to the complex condition of obesity. “Obesity is far more complicated than just eat less, move more,” she said. “We have clear hormones in our body and other determinants and contributors that make it harder for us to manage our weight with just lifestyle modifications.”

A mainstay on the dinner table at this time of year, turkey, contains tryptophan, which is widely believed to be responsible for the uncontrollable yawns and sudden snoozes common after huge family feasts. However, it is not the only thing to blame for sleepiness after Thanksgiving dinner. “Turkey doesn’t really make us sleepy,” Kristen Knutson, associate professor of neurology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. said. “If we feel sleepy after a big meal, it is likely due to not getting enough sleep in the days leading up to the big event and finally being able to relax after the dinner is over,” said Knutson.