The chances of survival for very premature babies has dramatically increased over the past 30 years, but preterm births are still hard to prevent. Women’s health expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says nearly 1 in 10 babies in the U.S. will be born prematurely, and premature babies can also mean expensive medical costs. Learn what health conditions or interventions — such as in vitro fertilization — can lead to preterm births and how the risks of prematurity can be treated.

Anxiety is potentially the most common mental health concern in the U.S. and it’s on the rise. Forty million Americans have been diagnosed with anxiety disorders, and women are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder than men. Women’s expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones explores several explanations of why this is.

Parents sometimes worry their young daughters may be starting their periods or developing breasts too early. Women’s health expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones reminds us what puberty is and when it normally occurs for young girls. She also talks about when parents should consult a pediatrician if they're concerned, what conditions or activities are commonly associated with early puberty, and what parents can do for their daughters to make sure they stay healthy during puberty.

On this episode of Seven Questions for a Specialist, The Scope speaks with Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones, OB-GYN at University of Utah Health Care, about what you can expect with your pregnancy. How much weight will you gain? Can you paint your nails while pregnant? Dr. Jones answers these question and more.

Most Americans think talking to people close to them about the end of life is important. Yet, few of us actually do it. Women’s health expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says women often are the ones expected to begin "The Conversation" with their loved ones. The holidays are an opportunity to have important discussions about end-of-life care. Dr. Jones recommends several organizations with resources to help you begin talking about this important issue with family or close friends.

Treatment approaches for menopause have evolved over the decades. So what are the new guidelines for hormonal therapy now? Women’s health expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says current care involves longer and regular conversations about the risks and benefits of certain hormone treatments and optional approaches to therapy. Dr. Jones takes us through a few questions that many women commonly have for their doctors about treating the main symptoms of menopause, plus some online resources.

According to some studies, almost half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned – with most of those occurring at either the “wrong time” or being “unwanted.” But what if all women had the information and access, at no cost, to plan their pregnancy? University of Utah Health Care is working to lower the amount of unplanned pregnancies in Utah with the HER Salt Lake Initiative. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones sits down with Dr. David Turok, a family planning specialist, to discuss this groundbreaking program. More information can be found at hersaltlake.org.

Many women take a more holistic approach to their health, including aspects of emotional and social wellness into account. But is your doctor taking into account the whole picture of your health? Dr. Kathleen Digre and Dr. Caren Frost join Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones to discuss strategies for talking with your doctor about your overall health, as well as a simple online tool you can use for a quick holistic checkup at 7domainsofhealth.org.

A woman’s holistic sense of health is more than just her cholesterol levels or blood pressure. It’s an interconnected web of factors from the physical and emotional to the social and spiritual. These seven domains of health are explored in a new book edited by Dr. Kathleen Digre and Dr. Caren Frost. Women’s health expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones speaks with Digre and Frost about the seven domains and why it is so important for doctors and patients to understand how they work.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly cancers in women. It has no early detection test and the early warning signs are easy to miss. So what steps can you take to help decrease your risk of developing ovarian cancer? According to Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones, cancer is caused by three things: Genes, lifestyle and bad luck. While you can’t change your genes or luck, Dr. Jones explores what steps you can take to lower and better understand your risk of developing ovarian cancer.