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Adult male rats were treated with 1% and 5% Panax Ginseng in their diet for 60 days. Control rats were used. There was an increase in daily food consumption without an increase in body weight of treated animals. Rats that received 5% ginseng experienced a significant increase in blood testosterone level (p < 0.001). Prostate weight in the treated animals was significantly reduced as compared to the control animals.

Promoting choice is central to current NHS policy. In seeking to better understand the choices women make, this study aimed to identify if women would choose to give birth in a stand-alone birth centre, and the factors influencing this choice. A survey approach was adopted, and 121 responses were obtained (a response rate of 53%). The majority (n = 76, 62.8%) of responders would choose to have their baby in a stand-alone birth centre. The provision of a homely environment, opportunities for a natural birth, use of water in labour and accessibility were the main reasons given for choosing to give birth at a specific stand-alone birth centre. Compared to second or subsequent births, women expecting their first baby were six times more likely to give ‘can use water in labour and birth’ as a reason and this was significant (P = 0.001). Among women who would not choose to deliver in a stand-alone birth centre, the main reasons were preference to give birth in a co-located unit and concerns over safety. There was no significant difference about concerns for transfer between primagravid women and multigravid women. Nevertheless, in contrast to previous studies, 87% of women perceived that birth in a stand-alone birth centre provided a safe alternative to a hospital birth or home birth. Women also stated that they would access a stand-alone birth centre for pregnancy testing, antenatal education and antenatal and postnatal care.