MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Intrauterine devices implanted in the uterus as a birth control method may have an added effect of protecting women against pregnancy, researchers said.

Women who used IUDs had half the risk of developing cervical cancer as those who never used them, according to an analysis of 26 studies including 20,000 women from 14 countries.

"The hypothesis is that an IUD, because it’s a foreign body, creates an inflammatory response that gets rid of the HPV, which reduces the risk of cervical cancer," Dr. Howard Jones, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told ABC News.

Other studies have also linked IUDs to a decreased risk of endometrial cancer.

One person dies from diabetes every seven minutes

The global diabetes epidemic reaches new heights with estimates that the number of affected patients worldwide is around $347 million, with one person dying from diabetes every seven minutes and the cost of care coming in at $465 billion each year, according to the Associated Press.

Hospitals prepare to fight for funding

A hospital trade lobby prepared to fight back against cuts to programs deemed vital to the industry, including graduate medical education, Medicaid and Medicare as Congress begins to examine proposals to cut about $1.5 trillion in funding, Healthwatch reported.

Pharma reveals payments to doctors

Eight drug companies revealed $220 million paid to doctors acting as promotional speakers for their drugs in 2010, according to ProPublica.

Funding treatment for pediatric obesity early saves money down the road

Treating pediatric obesity at a young age would help cut some of the $3 billion spent annually treating conditions that develop as a result, according to researchers at the University of California.