placebo

kate fasse in front of an illustration of floating pills and medicines

Warning: this video may cause side effects

10 Mar 2022

Is it possible that up to half the side effects reported in medical trials are all in people's heads? Is someone's expectation of a negative side effect strong enough to make it actually happen? And if so, how do medical researchers break this dangerous cycle?

Older women with doctor in a gynaecology appointment

This laser is supposed to rejuvenate vaginal tissue. But scientists say it's no better than a placebo

13 Oct 2021

Vaginal laser therapy treatments claim to reduce negative vaginal symptoms of menopause – experienced by about half of all women – by up to 100 per cent. A new trial shows they might not work at all.