United States: Clinical trials show that gepotidacin remains both safe and effective in treating gonorrhea because GSK developed it as an oral antibiotic under the brand name Blujepa. The research published in The Lancet demonstrates potential to transform the approach toward antibiotic resistance within sexually transmitted infections, as reported by The Hills.

FDA Approval for UTIs Opened the Door 

The FDA approved gepotidacin for treating uncomplicated urinary tract infections among females aged 12 and older during March 2023. Gepotidacin limits bacterial reproduction as an active mechanism inside human bodies. Research has shown that gepotidacin holds promising potential to become the first new antibiotic against STIs after the 1990s.

Gonorrhea Cases Continue to Climb 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded the lowest ever reported gonorrhea cases in 2009 before cases began to rise again until they reached 601,319 in 2023. The United States reports gonorrhea cases as the second most frequently diagnosed STI in the country. 

BREAKING: A newly approved antibiotic to treat urinary tract infections may also help fight drug-resistant #gonorrhea, a new study shows. #news #health #uti https://t.co/4slGXh7EYi

— HealthDay News (@HealthDayTweets) April 15, 2025

The rising resistance of other STIs along with gonorrhea necessitates swift development of new therapeutic methods. The CDC administers 500 mg ceftriaxone intravenously as gonorrhea treatment however they made recent changes to their approach because of growing antibiotic resistance. 

Experts Call for Innovation as Resistance Grows 

Healthcare professionals, including Justin Gill, a nurse practitioner and president of the Washington State Nurses Association, have already encountered resistant gonorrhea strains. “There are only a handful of antibiotics that are available as backup options,” he warned. “The development of new antibiotics has been slow, but federal investment is crucial.” 

Untreated gonorrhea can result in infertility in both men and women and heightens the risk of HIV transmission. 

Clinical Trials Show Strong Effectiveness 

Gepotidacin cured gonorrhea in 92% of 620 trial participants after taking it orally twice per day according to test results. Research showed the standard ceftriaxone and azithromycin treatment achieved a 91% success rate but gepotidacin outperformed this with a success rate of 92%, as reported by The Hills. 

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine physician Dr. Stuart Ray considered these findings exciting because the treatment method involved simple pill consumption. Dr. Ray pointed out that the trial group included less than 10% women because the results might not extend to female gonorrhea patients. 

United States: Medical science has discovered the main cause of painful crises which affect sickle cell disease patients during menstruation. Doctors discovered that raised inflammation during the first half period may be sparking the painful events popularly known as vaso-occlusive events (VOEs). 

Dr. Jessica Wu who is an OB-GYN resident at the University of Pennsylvania explained that menstrual cycle inflammation rises during the first part of its duration precisely when sickle cell disease patients experience their most severe pain events, as reported by HealthDay. 

Hormonal Changes Behind the Pain 

The analysis of blood samples taken from 31 patients (18 men and 13 women) determined their levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). During the follicular phase women exhibited significantly elevated Complete-Regulation Protein (CRP) levels which might contribute to escalated sickle cell disease symptom severity. 

These findings also help explain why previous research has observed more frequent pain episodes in women during menstruation. 

Could Hormonal Contraceptives Help? 

The research team concludes that hormonal contraceptives present an encouraging remedy for the condition. Hormonal medications provide ways to stop menstruation or manage hormonal waves because they might decrease inflammatory processes and thereby reduce the risk of painful crisis events. 

“This gives us a potential strategy to help women manage their pain more effectively,” Dr. Wu said. 

Sickle Cell Disease: A Painful Genetic Condition 

Sickle cell disease exists as the principal hereditary blood disorder across the United States as it influences red blood cell operation. A person with sickled cells experiences blockage in their blood vessels because of their abnormally sticky cell structure which ultimately leads to pain as well as infections and tissue damage. Hospital admission becomes necessary for these blockages that result in VOEs. 

A First-of-Its-Kind Study 

The research published here represents the initial investigation of menstrual cycle effects on inflammation levels in sickle cell disease patients. Research findings stress that menstrual health deserves attention as healthcare professionals provide therapy to female patients. 

Dr. Andrea Roe from Penn describes how the menstrual cycle remains unacknowledged within clinical healthcare while proving essential for chronic disease management in sickle cell disease patients. 

Looking Ahead: A Call for Continued Research 

Dr. Wu and her team stress that further studies are essential. Tracking inflammation across larger and more diverse populations of women could lead to better counseling, treatment options, and preventive care, as reported by HealthDay. 

“The more we understand how sickle cell affects women specifically, the better we can support them,” Wu concluded. 

United States: The common belief about menopause as a one-time event during fifty years of age exists despite the actual process being intricate. 

The pre-menopause phase, called Perimenopause, commences anytime between the ages of 30 to 40. The symptom cluster of perimenopause contains factors that people may mistake for normal fluctuations. 

More about the news 

Such menopause symptoms include hot flashes and mood swings, together with unexpected anger and disrupted sleep patterns. The other perimenopause indications remain hidden, DailyMail reported. 

Dr. Natalia Llarena provided insights to DailyMail.com about perimenopause manifestations since she is board-certified as an OBGYN specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. 

Menopause will eventually put an end to female reproductive years, while perimenopause occurs one to three years prior to that specific point. 

Perimenopause occurs within a different timeframe among people and can extend from months to multiple years. 

What does the expert explain? 

Dr. Llarena explained that menopause flooding is a symptom that frequently affects women during their perimenopause period. 

“Menopause flooding occurs because, at extremes of reproductive age, ovulation may not occur regularly. A lack of ovulation can cause irregular, heavy bleeding,” as the expert explained. 

“Unpredictable bleeding can occur both in the years immediately following the first period and in the years approaching menopause,” she added. 

Through a TikTok video series, the Vag Doc doctor disclosed additional unknown symptoms that can occur during perimenopause. 

Additionally, of irregular bleeding, Dr. Llarena listed other “uncomfortable symptoms” women may experience, DailyMail reported. 

“Bleeding that is heavier or lighter than during a typical period, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, and mood changes, including depression,’ as per her. 

“After a person goes through menopause, they are at increased risk for heart disease, osteoporosis and bone fractures, and vaginal dryness/recurrent urinary tract infections,” she added.