Health — Fertility — April 12th, 2024

First national study of Dobbs ruling's effect on permanent contraception among young adults
The first study to evaluate the effect of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling on permanent contraception procedures among young adults nationwide was published in a JAMA Health Forum research letter.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Midwives can play a role in supporting pregnant women to reduce drug use
Midwives are in a prime position to help support pregnant women to stop or cut down on alcohol and other drug use and to improve outcomes for the women and their children.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Study improves understanding of effects of household air pollution during pregnancy
In a new study, researchers from Oxford's Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health have found that pregnant mothers' exposure to air pollution from indoor stoves did not affect the development of their babies in any statistically significant way, challenging conventional wisdom regarding the impact of household air pollution on fetal growth.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Study of data from thousands of women suggests ovarian cycle is regulated by circadian rhythm
A team of reproductive researchers affiliated with several institutions in France and the U.S. has found that the timing of monthly ovarian cycles in women is mostly likely attributable to the circadian rhythm. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their study of thousands of ovarian cycles as reported by thousands of women in Europe and the U.S. and what they found.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Tylenol During Pregnancy Not Linked to Higher Risk of ADHD, Autism
Scientists and researchers have long raised concerns about the potential increased risks of autism and ADHD from taking acetaminophen during pregnancy, even though the FDA and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have said it's safe to use when you're carrying a child.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Understanding the mechanisms behind embryonic diapause in hungry mouse mums
It's challenging to sustain a pregnancy when food is short, or conditions are otherwise tough. That's why many mammalian embryos can postpone their growth to get through periods of environmental stress and then re-enter development when conditions improve. This stalling of development is known as embryonic diapause, and understanding the mechanisms behind it might help improve infertility treatments, such as embryo freezing.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — April 11th, 2024

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy increase risk of cardiovascular death after giving birth, study finds
Rutgers Health researchers have found that hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are strongly associated with fatal cardiovascular disease for up to a year after birth.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Study finds embryos in hungry mouse moms postpone development
It's challenging to sustain a pregnancy when food is short, or conditions are otherwise tough. That's why many mammalian embryos can postpone their growth to get through periods of environmental stress and then re-enter development when conditions improve. This stalling of development is known as embryonic diapause, and understanding the mechanisms behind it might help improve infertility treatments, such as embryo freezing.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — April 10th, 2024

Lies about birth control are propagating on social media—here are the facts
Social media is full of bad advice when it comes to your health. With so much of this content created by influencers who don't actually have medical qualifications, it's no wonder that misinformation about health spreads so easily online.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Systematic reviews find inadequate evidence on the use of puberty blockers and hormones for gender distress
The evidence on the use of puberty blockers and hormones for children and young people experiencing gender related distress is wholly inadequate, making it impossible to gauge their effectiveness or their impact on mental and physical health, find two systematic reviews of the available research, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — April 6th, 2024

Birth rate in United States remained unchanged from 2021 to 2022, report shows
The birth rate in the United States was essentially unchanged from 2021 to 2022, according to the April 4 National Vital Statistics Reports (PDF).
April 6th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — April 5th, 2024

First atlas of the human ovary with cell-level resolution is a step toward artificial ovary
A new "atlas" of the human ovary provides insights that could lead to treatments restoring ovarian hormone production and the ability to have biologically related children, according to University of Michigan engineers.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Protein intake during pregnancy affects offspring's facial features
The protein content of the diet during pregnancy can affect the face of the offspring. This is shown in animal studies, and the underlying mechanism was also found in human genetic studies. The research is described in a study led by the University of Gothenburg.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — April 4th, 2024

Feds Join Ranks of Employers with Generous Fertility Benefits
Companies have increasingly offered generous fertility benefits to attract and keep top-notch workers. Now, the federal government is getting in on the act. Starting this year, federal employees can choose plans that cover several fertility services, including up to $25,000 annually for in vitro fertilization procedures and up to three artificial insemination cycles each year.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Perinatal women of Mexican descent propose solutions to pandemic-related stressors affecting Latinos
Public policies blocked many families of Mexican descent living in the U.S. from accessing vital services such as food and mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though these communities experienced some of the highest infection and mortality rates.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Sex education is under threat in the UK. What's going on?
It's been 20 years since LGBTQ+ sex ed was made legal and now it's at threat once again.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — April 2nd, 2024

Abortion rights amendment can be on the ballot: Florida Supreme Court
Florida's Supreme Court on Monday paved the way for a ban on abortion after just six weeks of pregnancy, even as it allowed an abortion rights amendment to be on the ballot in November.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Abortions are legal in much of Africa. But few women may be aware, and providers don't advertise it
When Efua, a 25-year-old fashion designer and single mother in Ghana, became pregnant last year, she sought an abortion at a health clinic but worried the procedure might be illegal. Health workers assured her abortions were lawful under certain conditions in the West African country, but Efua said she was still nervous.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

California universities are required to offer abortion pills. Many just don't mention it
When Deanna Gomez found out she was pregnant in September 2023, she felt the timing couldn't have been worse.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Women's health researchers explore pregnancy and postpartum muscle strength
A decade-long partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) has yielded significant advancements in global research and scholarship, particularly in women's health.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 28th, 2024

Few states cover fertility treatment for same-sex couples, but that could be changing
Elizabeth Bauer was working out at the gym one morning last August when she got a phone call from her fertility nurse. It was a call that Bauer and her wife, Rebecca, had long been waiting for.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Positive associations found between premenstrual disorders and perinatal depression
Women affected by premenstrual disorders have a higher risk of perinatal depression compared with those who do not, according to research published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine. The relationship works both ways: those with perinatal depression are also more likely to develop premenstrual disorders after pregnancy and childbirth.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Research finds no evidence probiotics offer benefit during pregnancy
A systematic review of the use of probiotics during pregnancy on pregnancy-related conditions found no evidence that probiotics had any effect on the conditions.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Self-compassion could help endometriosis sufferers
New research shows endometriosis sufferers in New Zealand are likely to show some improvement in quality of life if they practice self-compassion.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

TikTok health hacks promising to change the taste and smell of female genitals are more sour than sweet
Wake up. Brush teeth. Exfoliate. Drink a glass of pineapple "coochie juice?"
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 27th, 2024

Exploring the link between prenatal nutrition and congenital craniofacial malformations NewsGuard 100/100 Score
A recent study published in Nature Communications conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis, using CAGE-sequencing on the facial mesenchyme of human embryos and comparing the results with genes linked to facial appearance by GWAS, to understand the complex development of craniofacial skeletal structures and improve treatments for congenital craniofacial malformations.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Meta and Google fuel abortion misinformation across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, report finds
While also reportedly restricting vital information from abortion providers and reproductive rights groups.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Mouse study shows exercise during pregnancy improves heart health of future generations
Exercising during pregnancy doesn't just benefit moms—it may also give their babies a head start on their heart health after birth, according to a study by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Patients interested in learning about preeclampsia risk, shows study
The majority of childbearing-age people would value predictive testing for preeclampsia and report they would act on this information, according to a study published online March 13 in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Water breaking: Understand this sign of labor
Water breaking worries? Prepare yourself for childbirth by getting the facts about this important sign of labor.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 25th, 2024

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA's authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law NewsGuard 100/100 Score
Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit of an urgent priority: shutting down access to abortion pills for women across the country.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Pre-pregnancy risk factors are common among women of reproductive age
Researchers want to improve the recording of pregnancy risk factors in GP medical records for their women patients after a Monash University-led audit found a concerning number were at risk.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 22nd, 2024

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue's CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech
For Endometriosis Awareness Month, NewsMedical interviewed Audrey Tsang, CEO of Clue, a world-leading menstrual tracking app hosting over 10 million users from more than 190 countries.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Researchers uncover protein interactions controlling fertility in female mice
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shed light on the proteins controlling the development of ovaries in mice before and after birth. This could lead to a better understanding of how female infertility develops.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Researchers unlock secrets of birth defect origins, offering early detection and prevention strategies
A new study led by the University of California, Irvine, has revealed a potential shift in our basic knowledge of the origins of birth defects, which affect about 3% of babies born in the United States each year. The findings offer new avenues of exploration for early detection and prevention strategies.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Risk of adverse pre-eclampsia outcomes accurately identified through new AI model
A potentially lifesaving model for identifying maternal risk in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia has been developed by researchers.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 20th, 2024

After abortion ban, US state sees substandard pregnancy care
Louisiana's strict abortion ban is having spillover effects across women's health care in the US state, leading doctors to turn away patients for routine prenatal visits and perform unnecessary Cesarean sections, according to a report released Tuesday.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Losing sleep in extreme heat waves hurts pregnant people, newborns
People need plenty of sleep during pregnancy, but in India and other areas hit by extreme heat and heavy flooding, they're getting less. That's taking a toll on their health.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

More hysterectomies can be averted with earlier uterine artery embolization for postpartum hemorrhages, finds research
Early intervention with a minimally invasive treatment called uterine artery embolization (UAE) can help women avoid hysterectomy due to severe bleeding after childbirth, according to a new study being presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting held March 23--28 in Salt Lake City.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Objective risk information motivates preeclampsia prevention among pregnant patients
A new study in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth finds that objective information about risk of preeclampsia could be key to driving patient behavior change and creates motivation among pregnant patients to follow provider recommendations on prevention, even among those who are medication-hesitant.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Prenatal exposure to antiseizure medication topiramate may not increase children's risk of autism spectrum disorder
Topiramate—an antiseizure medication prescribed to treat epilepsy as well as migraines and bipolar disorder—does not appear to increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children exposed to it prenatally, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Research illuminates a social media trap for new moms
Being a new mom is not glamorous or effortless—no matter what some social media influencers suggest—and the uptick of idealized portrayals online has been shown to have deleterious effects on moms.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Study calls for putting menstrual health front and center in routine pediatric care
The onset of menstruation is an impactful milestone as a marker of the start of reproductive potential and as a social cue for transitioning further into adolescence. Although the first period is often confusing, can trigger embarrassment, and is frequently laden with stigma, timely guidance can empower patients to advocate for their health throughout life, according to a paper at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Study reports alarming increase in U.S. maternal mortality rates NewsGuard 100/100 Score
The U.S. maternal mortality rate is accelerating at an alarming rate, reports a new study from Northwestern Medicine. But it's not due to the widely believed hypothesis that maternal mortality in the U.S. has increased largely because people are getting pregnant at older ages.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Study shows association between sedentary leisure time and men's risk of erectile dysfunction
Previous research has identified genetic variants linked to sedentary leisure behavior, which includes activities such as watching television, using a computer, and operating a vehicle.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 18th, 2024

Montana, an island of abortion access, prepares for consequential elections and court decisions
A years-long battle over abortion access in a sprawling and sparsely populated region of the U.S. may come to a head this year in the courts and at the ballot box.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Mouse models shed light on the effects of metformin use during pregnancy on offspring
With the rise in gestational diabetes and metabolic disorders during pregnancy, metformin is also being prescribed more frequently. Although it is known that the oral antidiabetic agent can cross the placental barrier, the impacts on the brain development of the child are largely unknown. An interdisciplinary research team from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE) have now been able to demonstrate in a mouse model that although metformin has positive effects in pregnant animals, it does not in the offspring. The results were published in the specialist journal Molecular Metabolism.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Repurposed drug shows promise against endometriosis-related pain in animal model
NIH-funded study suggests fenoprofen as a potential therapeutic for disease that affects 1 in 10 U.S. women.
March 18th, 2024 — Source or Source

Health — Fertility — March 15th, 2024

Teen pregnancy may be associated with risk of premature mortality in early adulthood
In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers examined the risk of early death beyond 12 years of age related to teenage pregnancies and gestational age.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 14th, 2024

Researchers find lack of personalized maternity care is causing more unassisted 'freebirths'
The number of women having unassisted births, or 'freebirths' across the UK is believed to be rising, as more expectant mothers are unable to access high-quality individualized maternity care.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Researchers one step closer to preventing preeclampsia
Researchers have identified several differences in DNA methylation in people who experienced preeclampsia during pregnancy, according to a new study from Oregon Health & Science University. The study also revealed these differences appear to occur in connection to genes relevant to the disease. The study is published in Physiological Genomics.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Study explores homeless women's experiences of 'period poverty'
Research from the University of Southampton has identified common issues women face when experiencing periods while homeless.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

What are the most common symptoms of menopause? And which can hormone therapy treat?
Despite decades of research, navigating menopause seems to have become harder—with conflicting information on the internet, in the media, and from health care providers and researchers.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 11th, 2024

A New $16,000 Postpartum Depression Drug Is Here. How Will Insurers Handle It?
A much-awaited treatment for postpartum depression, zuranolone, hit the market in December, promising an accessible and fast-acting medication for a debilitating illness. But most private health insurers have yet to publish criteria for when they will cover it, according to a new analysis of insurance policies.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Can Nanoparticles Be Made Safe for Pregnancy Treatments?
Clinical trials in pregnant women are uncommon, and as a result, any available medications these individuals could tke are prescribed off-label for them or not at all. To address this, researchers have developed a proof of concept for the key characteristics required to generate pregnancy-safe gene treatments.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

California pushes to expand the universe of abortion care providers
California's efforts to expand access to abortion care are enabling more types of medical practitioners to perform certain abortion procedures potentially a boon for patients in rural areas especially, but a source of concern for doctors' groups that have long fought efforts to expand the role of non-physicians.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 8th, 2024

Comparing pregnancy rates in patients undergoing two types of dialysis
Among patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on home dialysis, pregnancy rates are higher with home hemodialysis than peritoneal dialysis, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Designing nanoparticles for pregnancy-safe treatments
Too often, the lack of clinical trials means that pregnant women suffer because available medications are prescribed off-label for them or not at all. A new study offers proof of concept for the important parameters to develop pregnancy-safe gene therapies.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

New guidelines for early menopause diagnosis and management
University of Queensland research has led to the development of a practical framework to help medical professionals around the world diagnose and manage early menopause.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Pregnant women with autoimmune conditions at a greater risk of developing adverse pregnancy outcomes, study suggests
In a recent review published in BMC Medicine, researchers analyzed systematic reviews conducted on the association between autoimmune diseases and pregnancy outcomes.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Research sheds light on new strategy to treat infertility
New research from Oregon Health & Science University describes the science behind a promising technique to treat infertility by turning a skin cell into an egg that is capable of producing viable embryos.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

The effects of high maternal folate intake on the health outcomes of offspring
In a recent review article published in Nutrients, researchers summarized what is known about the effects of excessive folic acid (FA) supplementation for mothers on children.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 6th, 2024

Everything you need to know about the new over-the-counter birth control pill coming to retailers
After approval from the Food and Drug Administration last summer, Opill, a daily oral contraceptive, is now coming to retailers, making it the first birth control pill available without a prescription.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Improving women's fertility choices: Avoiding environmental catastrophe caused by population growth
Declining fertility rates and aging populations in Western nations have recently set off alarm bells, but continued global population growth will actually raise the pressure billions more people place on a destroyed environment, according to new research.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

New approach needed to better prepare and support women during menopause transition, experts say
A new approach to menopause that better prepares and supports women during midlife is needed -- going beyond medical treatments, to empower women using high-quality information on symptoms and treatments, empathic clinical care and workplace adjustments as required, says a new four paper Series published in The Lancet.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Perspectives of youth, parents and teachers on menstruation, endometriosis and menstrual health education
Western Sydney University has released an insightful new report into young people's experiences, knowledge, and preferences regarding menstruation and menstrual health education, finding 78% of students surveyed through the research reported that their periods stopped them from participating in activities.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Poverty shown to reduce women's ovarian reserves
Earlier menopause onset is associated with a variety of health consequences, including osteoporosis, neurologic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Evidence suggests that the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool leads to menopause. A new study proposes that neighborhood disadvantage may affect the ovarian reserve and the timing of menopause. Results of the survey are published in Menopause.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Psychosocial stressors linked to higher inflammation in Black pregnant women
Distinctive stressors frequently experienced by Black individuals, such as neighborhood composition and racial discrimination, might influence preterm birth risk
March 6th, 2024 — Source or Source

Why is there a shortage of estrogen patches in Australia again?
Since 2020 or so, there have been recurring national shortages of estrogen transdermal patches in Australia.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 4th, 2024

California Pushes to Expand the Universe of Abortion Care Providers
California's efforts to expand access to abortion care are enabling more types of medical practitioners to perform certain abortion procedures — potentially a boon for patients in rural areas especially, but a source of concern for doctors' groups that have long fought efforts to expand the role of non-physicians.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Texas IVF patients scramble in wake of Alabama decision
Heather Burzlaff has four embryos in a freezer in Dallas and she doesn't know what to do with them. After seven years of medications, egg retrievals and waiting, the embryos are all the 38-year-old Flower Mound resident has left from the grueling in-vitro fertilization process, which resulted in no children.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — March 1st, 2024

Alabama IVF ruling will have national implications, health experts argue
Two health experts from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy are available to discuss what the Alabama Supreme Court's landmark ruling on frozen embryos could mean for the rest of the country and for the science of human embryo research.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

America's biggest pharmacy chains announce abortion pill rollout
America's two biggest pharmacy chains said Friday they will begin dispensing prescription abortion pills in a limited number of states where it's legal.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Meta is killing the Facebook News tab in the US and Australia
It follows the tab's deprecation in the UK, France and Germany.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Public health researcher discusses new push for abortion study retractions
A University of Maryland public health researcher joined scholars from institutions worldwide to call for the retraction of four studies purporting to show damaging psychological effects of abortion, including one submitted as evidence in a decision overturning Roe v. Wade and now involved in a current Supreme Court case over availability of the abortion drug mifepristone.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Reasons found for reduced supply of breast milk
A new international study led by La Trobe University researchers, and published in PLOS One, has revealed the reasons why some new mothers produce less breast milk than others.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Study results show 25% of pregnant people are not getting enough omega-3 fatty acids
Results from a new nationwide cohort study show that, despite strong recommendations in favor of consuming omega-3 fatty acids for optimal pregnancy outcomes and offspring health, 25% of participants reported rarely or never eating fish during pregnancy, with fewer taking omega-3 supplements.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Study reveals low omega-3 intake among pregnant women despite health benefits
Results from a new nationwide cohort study show that, despite strong recommendations in favor of consuming omega-3 fatty acids for optimal pregnancy outcomes and offspring health, 25% of participants reported rarely, or never eating fish during pregnancy, with fewer taking omega-3 supplements.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 28th, 2024

Do high-stress jobs put pregnancy at risk?
Raw tuna. Copious caffeine. Cigarettes. Unpasteurized brie. Alcohol. Most women know to avoid these potentially harmful substances while pregnant, plus certain risky activities such as rock climbing, ice skating, and skiing. But what if your job could negatively impact your pregnancy?
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Fetal growth restriction found to harm the heart and lungs via the brainstem
Babies affected by fetal growth restriction (FGR) have poor cardiorespiratory control; now Hudson Institute researchers have become the first to show persistent injury in the brainstem of growth-restricted fetuses as the likely cause.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

If you're poor, fertility treatment can be out of reach
Mary Delgado's first pregnancy went according to plan, but when she tried to get pregnant again seven years later, nothing happened. After 10 months, Delgado, now 34, and her partner, Joaquin Rodriguez, went to see an OB-GYN. Tests showed she had endometriosis, which was interfering with conception. Delgado's only option, the doctor said, was in vitro fertilization.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Improving a non-invasive way to monitor contractions during labor
Uterine contractions are a key part of childbirth, but they can temporarily reduce oxygen supply to the fetus. During high-risk childbirth, monitoring of contractions is crucial to ensure the safety of the mother and unborn child. However, traditional monitoring techniques can be affected by maternal movements, or they are quite invasive.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Decline in condom use indicates need for further education, awareness
New research from the University of Washington shows that condom use has been trending downward among younger gay and bisexual men over the last decade, even when they aren't taking pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 27th, 2024

1st trimester pregnancy: What to expect
The first trimester of pregnancy can be overwhelming. Understand the changes you might experience and how to take care of yourself during this exciting time.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Alabama ruling frozen embryos are equivalent to living children has worrying implications for IVF
In December 2020 in Alabama (PDF), a hospital patient gained unauthorized access to an adjoining IVF storage facility, which was not adequately secured. The patient is said to have removed several frozen embryos, which they then dropped on the floor, owing to a freeze-burn to their hand. The embryos were destroyed.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Pregnancy care was always lacking in jails: It could get worse
It was about midnight in June 2022 when police officers showed up at Angela Collier's door and told her that someone anonymously requested a welfare check because they thought she might have had a miscarriage.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

The consequences of prenatal exposure to drugs, a growing crisis in rural America
Nearly 1 in 12 newborns in the United States in 2020—or about 300,000 infants (PDF)—were exposed to alcohol, opioids, marijuana or cocaine before they were born. Exposure to these substances puts these newborns at a higher risk for premature birth, low birth weight and a variety of physical and mental disabilities.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 26th, 2024

Driver's license laws for undocumented immigrants linked to improved birth outcomes
In 2023, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Minnesota joined a growing list of states that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses if an applicant can provide certain documentation, such as a foreign birth certificate or passport and evidence of current residency in the state. Altogether, 19 states and the District of Columbia have similar legislation in place.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

If You're Poor, Fertility Treatment Can Be Out of Reach
Mary Delgado's first pregnancy went according to plan, but when she tried to get pregnant again seven years later, nothing happened. After 10 months, Delgado, now 34, and her partner, Joaquin Rodriguez, went to see an OB-GYN. Tests showed she had endometriosis, which was interfering with conception. Delgado's only option, the doctor said, was in vitro fertilization.
February 26th, 2024 — Source or Source

What is Ryeqo, the recently approved medicine for endometriosis?
For women diagnosed with endometriosis it is often a long sentence of chronic pain and cramping that impacts their daily life. It is a condition that is both difficult to diagnose and treat, with many women needing either surgery or regular medication.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 23rd, 2024

Pregnancy care was always lacking in jails. It could get worse.
It was about midnight in June 2022 when police officers showed up at Angela Collier's door and told her that someone anonymously requested a welfare check because they thought she might have had a miscarriage.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source or Source

Statement on safety and efficacy of polygenic risk score assessment for embryo selection: Points to consider
Should we be using polygenic risk score assessment for embryo selection? Providing in-depth analysis, the Social, Ethical and Legal Issues Committee of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) has released a new Points to Consider statement to assist health care professionals and patients in understanding the safety and utility of preimplantation genetic testing for polygenic disorders (PGT-P) as a clinical service.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 19th, 2024

Exposure to the sun's UV radiation may have a positive effect on fertility in women aged 30--40
A research team from Tel Aviv University and the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer conducted an investigation of seasonal fluctuations in AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) levels. Their pioneering study revealed that during the summer, women of late reproductive age—between the ages of 30 and 40—experience increased secretion of the hormone from their ovaries.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Study provides evidence that antidepressant use in pregnancy affects child's brain development
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is an important brain region with respect to behavioral regulation. Aberrations in serotonin (5-HT) during early development have been reported to be associated with behavioral dysregulations over the long term, but how this works is still unclear.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 12th, 2024

Ask the Pediatrician: How to keep the fun in sports to keep kids active
Does your child dream of becoming the next Olympic star or pro athlete? While you might share those goals, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages all parents and families to take a commonsense approach when it comes to sports training.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Associations between ultra-processed food consumption and phthalate exposures in pregnant women
In a recent study published in Environment International, researchers explored the relationship between consuming ultra-processed foods and urinary phthalate concentrations during pregnancy. They also investigated whether the ultra-processed category of food items mediates socioeconomic discrepancies in exposure to phthalate compounds.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

New study finds roughly 1 in 10 pregnant people will develop long COVID
While there is a growing body of research about the long-term effects of COVID in the general adult population, little research has been done on the long-term impacts on those who get COVID while pregnant.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Post-Roe v. Wade, more patients rely on early prenatal testing as states toughen abortion laws
In Utah, more of Dr. Cara Heuser's maternal-fetal medicine patients are requesting early ultrasounds, hoping to detect serious problems in time to choose whether to continue the pregnancy or have an abortion.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Vasectomies still rare but on the rise in France: Study
Fifteen times more French men are choosing sterilization to avoid getting their partner pregnant than a decade ago, a study said Monday, even if those undergoing the operation are still a tiny minority.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 9th, 2024

Breastfeeding benefits mothers as much as babies, but public health messaging often only tells half of the story
Four babies are born every second in the world, and there are only two options for their first food at birth: human milk or formula.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Erections: What researchers learned from mice could help with sexual health in humans
Have you ever wondered how penile erection works but never dared to ask? Well, imagine a dry sponge in a condom. Now pour water on the sponge (that's the blood flowing in). There you have it.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 7th, 2024

Gut microbiome changes during pregnancy may influence immune system response
During pregnancy, a woman's immune system changes dramatically but researchers don't yet understand all the underlying mechanisms. A new study shows how the gut microbiota may play a role.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

More 'navigators' are helping women travel to have abortions
Chloe Bell is a case manager at the National Abortion Federation. She spends her days helping people cover the cost of an abortion and, increasingly, the interstate travel many of them need to get the procedure.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

New review: 1.6% of women and girls have debilitating Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Researchers led by Dr Thomas Reilly at the University of Oxford looked at studies from across the world to work out how many women and girls met the strict diagnostic criteria for the condition. The data suggested around 1.6% did - equivalent to around 31 million women and girls globally.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Study: Pregnant women should avoid ultraprocessed, fast foods
If you're pregnant, you may want to think twice before making a hamburger run or reaching for a prepackaged pastry, according to research published last month in the journal Environmental International.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 5th, 2024

Simulations crack code of human egg fertilization
Who hasn't seen it before: the view through the microscope in which a sperm penetrates an egg cell and fertilizes it. This fundamental step in procreation happens dynamically and seemingly without problems. However, if you zoom in on the processes that take place during fertilization at a molecular level, it becomes highly complex and it is thus not surprising that 15 percent of couples worldwide struggle to conceive.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — February 2nd, 2024

Let's Face It: Shopping While Pregnant Can Be Scary
How to navigate making the best purchases with the least stress in those nine important months
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Teen pregnancy, sexual health care use lower than expected during pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, population-level rates of adolescent pregnancy and sexual health-related care utilization were lower than expected, according to a study published online Feb. 2 in Pediatrics.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 31st, 2024

Autoimmune disease and pregnancy: Study challenges prevailing wisdom and unveils nuances
For many aspiring mothers with autoimmune disease, pregnancy can be daunting and full of unknowns. In some cases, those suffering from specific autoimmune conditions have chosen to forego pregnancy altogether due to concerns about their disease treatments and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Endometriosis takes almost a decade to be diagnosed in the UK. Research reveals some of the reasons why
Around 1 in 10 women and people with uteruses in the UK have endometriosis. This disease causes tissue similar to the womb's lining to grow in other places—such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This can cause chronic pain, difficulty getting pregnant, organ damage and fatigue.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Placenta cells may lower blood pressure
Scientists from La Trobe University and the Hudson Institute have demonstrated that cells from placentas could have therapeutic benefits for patients suffering from high blood pressure.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Polycystic ovary syndrome tied to memory, thinking problems
People with polycystic ovary syndrome may be more likely to have memory and thinking problems in middle age, according to new research published in the January 31, 2024, online issue of Neurology. The study does not prove that polycystic ovary syndrome causes cognitive decline. It only shows an association.
January 31, 2024 — Source

New research on health care burdens in the post--Roe v. Wade US
New research co-authored by Lori Brown, a distinguished professor of architecture at Syracuse University, was just published by the Journal of Women, Politics and Policy.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Study explores barriers to contraceptive use in females with kidney disease
The percentage of females with kidney disease who use contraception is much lower than the rate of contraceptive use by females in the general population, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Cincinnati.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Telehealth makes timely abortions possible for many, research shows
Access to telehealth abortion care can determine whether a person can obtain an abortion in the United States. For young people and those living on low incomes, telehealth makes a critical difference in getting timely abortion care.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Trial shows promise in addressing unnecessary cesarean sections
Cesarean sections now account for more than 1 in 5 childbirths globally, with the numbers set to rise in the coming decade to one-third of all births, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
January 31, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 29th, 2024

Guideline renewal and more openness needed toward new digital contraceptive methods
New digital contraceptive methods, such as apps or wearables to determine fertile days, are gaining in popularity. University of Amsterdam medical anthropologist Ellen Algera and her colleagues investigated whether and how these new methods find a place in the consultation room.
January 29, 2024 — Source

New review aims to help clinicians diagnose and manage polycystic ovarian syndrome
This disorder affects females of reproductive age and is associated with infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy complications. Its long-term health consequences include hypertension, cancer risks, and metabolic and psychological impacts. Patients usually present to health care between ages 18 and 39 years complaining of menstrual cycle irregularities, acne and excessive hair growth, but diagnosis and treatment are often delayed.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Pickle, anyone? Three possible reasons women get cravings during pregnancy
From pickles and french fries to oranges and ice cream, women and other people who are pregnant report craving a range of foods while they're expecting.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Scientists find variant in the synaptonemal complex protein SYCE2 increases risk of pregnancy loss
While it is well established that chromosomal abnormalities are a major cause of miscarriages the biology behind pregnancy losses with or without chromosomal errors is not well understood. Over 114 thousand women from Iceland, Denmark, UK, U.S. and Finland who have experienced pregnancy loss participated in a genome-wide association study, testing 50 million sequence variants. A low frequency missense variant in the SYCE2 gene was found to increase the risk of pregnancy loss by 22%.
January 29, 2024 — Source

The contraceptive pill also affects the brain and the regulation of emotions, say researchers
Oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills, are used by more than 150 million women worldwide. Approximately one-third of teenagers in North America and Europe use them, making them the most prescribed drug for teenagers.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 26th, 2024

2004 to 2019 saw increase in isotretinoin use in girls, women
From 2004 to 2019, there was an increase in isotretinoin use among girls and women of childbearing age in Germany, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in PLOS Medicine.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Dexmedetomidine cuts incidence of postpartum depression after C-section
For women with prenatal depression undergoing cesarean delivery, dexmedetomidine reduces the incidence of positive postpartum depression (PPD) screening, according to a study published online Jan. 25 in JAMA Network Open.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Maternal autistic traits linked to risk for adverse birth outcomes
A higher level of maternal autistic traits is associated with an increased risk for adverse birth outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in JAMA Network Open.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Most state abortion bans have limited exceptions, but it's hard to understand what they mean
More than a year after the Supreme Court found there is no fundamental right to get an abortion, 21 states have laws in effect that ban abortion well before fetal viability, generally allowing it only in the first trimester.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Study finds ER visits related to emergency contraception dropped significantly over 14-year period
Following federal approval for over-the-counter emergency contraception in 2006, emergency departments across the U.S. saw dramatic decreases in related visits and medical charges, a new study suggests.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Too many athletes develop reproductive problems, says researcher
Many athletes compete at the peril of their reproductive health. "This applies to both men and women. Competitive training can affect sex hormones and the ability to have children," says Professor Anthony Hackney.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Underground zine normalizes the taboo of vulvodynia
Opening Up, a zine created by grassroots organization Tight Lipped, advocates for people with chronic vulvovaginal and pelvic pain. The 80-page zine, which was first published in 2020, is filled with art illustrations, Q&A interviews, handwritten letters and poems from people living with conditions including vulvodynia, vestibulodynia (a form of vulvodynia and a general term for pain in the vestibule), pelvic-floor dysfunction (when the pelvic floor muscles function abnormally) and vulvar lichen sclerosus (a skin condition that primarily affects the genital skin).
January 26, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 24th, 2024

Abortion and miscarriage care in New York State significantly delayed during COVID-19 pandemic: Study
A study by CUNY SPH researchers found that those seeking abortion and miscarriage care in New York State during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced considerable delays.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Do different plant-based diets affect pregnancy and birth outcomes?
Women who follow vegan diets during pregnancy may face higher risks of developing preeclampsia and of giving birth to newborns with lower birth weight, suggests a recent study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Pregnant women exposed to common flame retardants may face preterm birth risk
In the largest study of its kind, researchers at UC Davis Health found that exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants during pregnancy was associated with preterm birth, especially among females. The chemicals were also linked to higher birth weight, a concern for increased obesity risk.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Scientists identify potential new method for diagnosing male infertility
Researchers have discovered a new phenomenon where sperm from mice can induce non-reproductive cells from hamsters to fuse and form a syncytia—a cell with multiple nuclei.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Ultrasound can help predict the risk of preterm births, research shows
Researchers have developed a way to use ultrasound to predict whether a pregnant person is at risk of delivering a baby prematurely, which occurs in upward of 10% of pregnancies in the U.S.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Ultrasound method helps identify pregnant women at risk for preterm birth
Researchers have developed a way to use ultrasound to predict whether a pregnant person is at risk of delivering a baby prematurely, which occurs in upward of 10% of pregnancies in the U.S.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Vegan diet during pregnancy linked to higher preeclampsia and lower birth weight risks
For the study, 65,872 women identified themselves as omnivorous, 666 as fish/poultry vegetarians, 183 as lacto/ovo vegetarians, and 18 as vegans. Based on a questionnaire completed mid-pregnancy, investigators found that protein intake was lower among lacto/ovo vegetarians (13.3%) and vegans (10.4%) compared with omnivorous participants (15.4%). Micronutrient intake was also much lower among vegans, but when dietary supplements were considered, no major differences were observed.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 22nd, 2024

Biden administration takes new steps to ensure access to abortion
On what would have been the 51st anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, the Biden Administration has announced new measures it will take to further protect a woman's access to abortion.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Does space travel impact the human reproductive system?
Recently, scientists have reviewed the existing literature to understand how space travel, space radiation, and microgravity affect human reproductive functions. This review was published in Npj Microgravity.
January 22, 2024 — Source

High blood pressure during pregnancy is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes
In a recent cohort study published in the journal Hypertension Research, researchers from Japan investigated the link between blood pressure (BP) control and potential adverse outcomes in the perinatal period.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Mechanism linking anxiety to testosterone discovered by scientists
A study has unveiled a significant link between anxiety disorders and a brain receptor known as TACR3, as well as testosterone.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 16th, 2024

Study finds low-dose calcium as effective as the WHO's recommended high-dose in preventing preeclampsia and preterm births
In a recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, a group of researchers assessed the noninferiority of a 500-mg daily dose of calcium supplementation compared to a 1500-mg dose in preventing preeclampsia and preterm birth in pregnant women in India and Tanzania.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Undocumented pregnant women are more often severely ill when seeking help at the ED
A new UiO study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care shows that pregnant, undocumented women are more often severely ill and must be admitted to the hospital, when they seek help at the emergency room in Oslo.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 15th, 2024

New research finds semen microbiome's impact on male fertility
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers analyzed the relationship between semen microbiota and changes in semen parameters.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Survey finds link between drug/cannabis use during pregnancy and certain childhood cancers
While the risks of drug use, smoking and drinking during pregnancy are widely accepted, a new survey of parents has identified clear associations between certain types of childhood cancers and gestational substance use, notably cannabis.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 12th, 2024

Infertility tied to poorer cardiovascular health in women
A history of female infertility may serve as a marker for cardiovascular health (CVH) later in life, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Mouse study finds aging sperm affects microRNA, increasing the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders
A recent study has reported that changes in mice sperm microRNAs brought about by aging may affect the growth and development of offspring. The finding adds to the growing literature on the effects of paternal aging on offspring.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Prenatal Supplement Labels Not Always Accurate: U.S. Report
The labels on prenatal supplements, commonly taken by people during pregnancy to promote maternal and fetal health, often misstate the amount of nutrients the product contains, according to a government report released Thursday.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 11th, 2024

Early study shows health benefits of creative arts therapies and nutrition education for postmenopausal women
Transition to the menopausal stage of women's lives can be a negative experience for women, with changes in emotional well-being and cardiovascular health that impact their quality of life. A recent study from Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions explored a new way to ease the transition with an art therapy intervention to address the health needs of overweight, postmenopausal women.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Four ways men and women can improve their health before trying to conceive
It's well-known how important it is to look after your health during and after pregnancy. But it can also be just as important for both men and women to focus on their health even before they begin trying for a baby.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Fracture risk up with prediabetes before menopause transition
For women in midlife, prediabetes before the menopause transition (MT) is associated with increased risk of incident fracture during and after the transition, according to a study published online May 23 in JAMA Network Open.
January 11, 2024 — Source

New model creates an understanding of birth control pills regarding risk, resilience to depression
While birth control hormones given to mice result in lower stress levels, the mice showed normal corticosterone responses to stress when given newer formulations of the pill, according to a new University of Michigan study.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Study provides clinician guidance on follow-up for ovarian cysts
About 15 to 20% of women will develop an ovarian cyst during their lifetime. The fluid-filled or solid sacs in the ovaries are usually non-cancerous and go away independently—studies show that about 85% resolve within five years.
January 11, 2024 — Source

UK maternal deaths reaches highest level in 20 years: study
The number of women in Britain dying during pregnancy or soon afterwards has reached its highest level in almost two decades, a new study reported Thursday.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 10th, 2024

California offers a lifeline for medical residents who can't find abortion training
Bria Peacock chose a career in medicine because the Black Georgia native saw the dire health needs in her community — including access to abortion care.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Cesarean deliveries surge in Puerto Rico, reaching a record rate in the US territory, report says
Cesareans are surging in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which has one of the world's highest rates with more than 50% of babies now delivered via surgery compared with only 32% on the U.S. mainland, according to a federal report released Wednesday.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Countries and companies need to address declining global fertility rates, doctors say
The global fertility rate is declining and most governments are failing to recognize and address the impact on economies and societies, say a group of physicians invited by the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) in a new paper and campaign launched today.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Exposure to high humidity and temperature in pregnancy could influence blood pressure changes in childhood
Outdoor humidity and temperature levels during pregnancy could affect the future blood pressure of the unborn child, according to new research by the University of Bristol, published in JACC: Advances.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Study suggests racial disparities persist in general anesthesia rates for C-section
Caroline Leigh Thomas, M.D., from the University of Chicago Medical Center, and colleagues examined the differences in general anesthesia use for cesarean delivery in a retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study using electronic medical records for 35,117 patients who underwent cesarean delivery from Jan. 1, 2007, to March 2, 2018.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Mothers diagnosed with perinatal depression found to have three times higher risk of suicidal behavior
Maternal suicide is an alarming public health issue and the second most common cause of death during the postnatal period. New research from the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) published in JAMA Network Open shows that mothers with clinically diagnosed perinatal depression had a three times higher risk of suicidal behavior compared to mothers without perinatal depression.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Noninvasive test for embryo quality could streamline fertility treatment
In-vitro-fertilization (IVF), a fertility treatment that involves fertilizing eggs in the laboratory and later implanting them in the uterus, has been a source of hope for many people struggling to conceive. However, the multi-step process is complex, and the overall live birth rate after IVF treatment is only 20--40% in females younger than 40 in the United States.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Preeclampsia and preterm birth risk may be reduced by calcium dose lower than current WHO standard
To help prevent preeclampsia and preterm birth—common complications in pregnancy that can be fatal to women and newborns—low-dose calcium supplementation (equivalent to one 500-milligram pill per day) may be as effective as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended high-dose calcium supplementation (equivalent to three 500-milligram pills taken throughout each day), according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and collaborators in India and Tanzania.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Study: High-school students with neurodevelopmental disorders experience worse premenstrual syndrome symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a relatively common condition that affects most women who menstruate, at some point in their lives. Typically, PMS can cause a variety of symptoms, including mood swings, irritability, bloating, and fatigue.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 9th, 2024

Is maternal stress associated with blood glucose levels during pregnancy among women attending a fertility center?
Blood sugar levels are known to be a risk factor for conception and successful pregnancy. For women struggling with conception, stress levels are high, but these are linked to poor outcomes.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Largest genetic study of gestational diabetes discovers nine novel genetic regions linked to severe and common pregnancy complication
In a recent study published in Nature Genetics, a group of researchers investigated the genetic underpinnings of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and its relationship with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) through a genome-wide association study ((GWAS), identifying distinct and shared genetic factors.
January 9, 2024 — Source

OB-GYN answers questions about advanced maternal age, fertility and pregnancy
The average maternal age in Canada increased over the last few decades, according to data from Statistics Canada. In 2021, 25% of all mothers at childbirth were 35 years of age and older, an increase from 16% in 2001.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Stem cell ovarian transplant induces changes in plasma proteome of women with impaired ovarian reserves, finds study
A new research paper titled "Systemic changes induced by autologous stem cell ovarian transplant in plasma proteome of women with impaired ovarian reserves" has been published in Aging.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — January 8th, 2024

Applying global lessons to protect abortion access in the United States
In the nearly two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the introduction of state laws and policies further restricting access to abortion care has made the legal and health care landscape even more challenging.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Intravaginal sponge can make treatment of candidiasis more comfortable and effective
A biodegradable sponge made of chitosan, a biopolymer derived from the shells of crustaceans, releases medication slowly into the organism and makes treatment of candidiasis more comfortable and effective, judging from the results of tests performed by researchers at the University of Porto in Portugal and the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in Brazil. An article describing them is published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Less than half of pregnant women get the flu shot: New data from UPMC Children's might change that
John Williams knows the risks associated with riding motorcycles, but they don't deter him. Neither do warnings from physician friends, who hope their chiding might prevent him from becoming a statistic.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Male pregnancy and weird courtship wiggles: How NZ's wide-bodied pipefish confounds expectations
If you've ever watched a natural history program on TV, you've probably seen animals performing a wide variety of behaviors to get the attention of the opposite sex.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 28th, 2023

New research provides fresh insights into egg usage, donation and disposal after egg freezing
New research from Monash University and Monash IVF has reported for the first time on outcomes following egg freezing in Australia, including patient return rates and the fate of unused eggs.
December 28, 2023 — Source

Pregnancy, flu and importance of vaccination
A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that when mothers receive the flu vaccine, their babies experience fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits for the flu, particularly if the baby is under three months old or born to a mother who received the vaccine in the third trimester.
December 28, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 27th, 2023

Postpartum care: What to expect after a vaginal birth
When caring for a newborn, you might forget to care for yourself. But that's important too. Learn what's involved as you recover from giving birth.
December 27, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 23rd, 2023

US woman with rare double uterus gives birth to twin girls
A 32-year-old woman from Alabama who was born with two uteruses and became pregnant in both gave birth to twin girls on different days, she announced on Friday.
December 23, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 22nd, 2023

Boosting egg production in fruit flies through gut bugs
For many of us, when we think of microbiomes, our first thoughts are probably about the beneficial microorganisms that live in our guts. But now, researchers from Japan and US have discovered how the microbes living in fruit flies can enhance their reproduction.
December 22, 2023 — Source

Sales of emergency contraception estimated to rise after the New Year holiday
Sales of emergency contraception are estimated to rise by around 10% in the US in the week after the New Year holiday, suggesting that this period is associated with increased risks of unprotected sex compared with other holidays, finds a study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.
December 22, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 21st, 2023

How do painful fibroids grow?
Insights into how uterine tumors grow could give hope to millions of women who deal with painful fibroids. Nearly 8 in 10 women develop fibroids, noncancerous tumors that develop in the uterus during child-bearing years. They can be extremely painful, cause extensive bleeding and lead to infertility.
December 21, 2023 — Source

Study associates higher acetaminophen use during pregnancy with language delays in early childhood
Is acetaminophen safe to use during pregnancy? The debate rages.
December 21, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 19th, 2023

Predicting prenatal care to improve pregnancy outcomes
Socioeconomic factors, like education and location, can affect access to life-saving prenatal care services. Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital are taking steps towards implementing strategies that improve access to prenatal care: estimating how many pregnant people attend the recommended number of visits and identifying pregnant people who are at high risk of failing to attend. This could help policymakers allocate resources to populations not getting enough prenatal care and could, in turn, improve health outcomes for mothers and babies.
December 19, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 15th, 2023

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in menstrual products including tampons, pads, and liners
The average menstruator will use over 11,000 tampons or sanitary pads in their lifetime. Vaginal and vulvar tissue that touch pads and tampons is highly permeable. Through this permeable tissue, chemicals are absorbed without being metabolized, which makes endocrine-disrupting chemicals potentially dangerous when found in menstrual products.
December 15, 2023 — Source

Exposure to chemicals found in many household products can lower odds of getting pregnant
Exposure to phthalates, a group of plasticizing and solvent chemicals found in many household products, was linked to a lower probability of getting pregnant, but not to pregnancy loss, according to research by a University of Massachusetts Amherst environmental and reproductive epidemiologist.
December 15, 2023 — Source

Postpartum depression pill now available to women, drug maker says
The first postpartum depression pill approved for use in the United States is now available to women who need it, the drug's makers announced Thursday.
December 15, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 14th, 2023

CDC presents estimates of sexual activity, contraceptive use for teens
In 2015 to 2019, 40.5 and 38.7 percent of never-married female and male teenagers had ever had vaginal intercourse with an opposite-sex partner, according to a study published online Dec. 14 in the National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Menstrual cycles affect day-to-day suicide risk, researchers find
Female patients with a history of suicidality experience an increased risk of suicidal ideation or suicidal planning in the days surrounding menstruation, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago.
December 14, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 11th, 2023

How much does a shrunken blastocyst adversely affect implantation and pregnancy?
Obstetricians and gynecologists at Toho University, Japan examined 1,331 cases of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles and found that blastocysts showing shrinkage at the time of transfer had a low success rate in terms of assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes, demonstrating the adverse effect of shrinkage.
December 11, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 6th, 2023

Abortion opponents push state lawmakers to promote unproven 'abortion reversal'
Anti-abortion organizations are pushing state lawmakers to promote a controversial and unproven "abortion reversal" treatment—flouting the objections of medical professionals who point out it is not supported by science.
December 6, 2023 — Source

Case study finds calcium channel blockers effective for pregnant patient with vasospastic angina
A woman with hopes to conceive was diagnosed with severe vasospastic angina (VSA); however, she was able to carry a healthy baby to full term without angina attacks after starting treatment of a calcium channel blocker, according to a case published in a special cardio-obstetrics issue of JACC: Case Reports.
December 6, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 5th, 2023

Albuminuria reduction accounts for much of finerenone effect on CKD
For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes, early albuminuria reduction accounts for a large proportion of the treatment effect of finerenone against CKD progression, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Antidepressants: Safe during pregnancy?
Taking medicines during pregnancy has risks and benefits. Get the facts about antidepressant use during pregnancy.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Buggy app for insulin-delivery device puts diabetes patients at risk of hypoglycemia
No fix available yet for over 100,000 Omnipod 5 customers
December 5, 2023 — Source

Clinical trial finds common diabetes medication could help with treatment-resistant hypertension
A common diabetes medication may help some patients with treatment-resistant hypertension slightly lower their high blood pressure and lessen their risk of heart failure events such as stroke, according to an analysis of a clinical trial published in Circulation.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Innovative modeling framework to reconstruct data on fertility and education
IIASA researchers have introduced an innovative methodology for reconstructing data on fertility and education, particularly in developing countries with inconsistent or unreliable data sets.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Microparticles from the placenta may offer major clues on the in utero development of neurobehavioral disorders
For 30 years, Cheryl Rosenfeld has studied how biological information gets transferred from mothers to babies during pregnancy. The research is personal for Rosenfeld, whose niece, Sara, was exposed to sedative drugs in utero. Although the little girl was born healthy, she started developing respiratory, neurological, and other health issues in her teenage years.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Pregnant women are missing vital nutrients, a situation that could worsen with plant-based foods
Pregnant women are not getting the essential nutrients they and their babies need from modern diets say scientists, who have warned that the situation will likely worsen as more people turn to plant-based foods.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Type 1 diabetes: B cell-derived natural antibodies suppress autoimmune pathogenesis
Researchers have discovered the novel mechanism that underlies a previously reported observation that infection by group A Streptococcus bacteria reduces the risk of later developing type 1 diabetes.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Under-the-skin implant could treat type I diabetes
A collaboration between researchers from Cornell and University of Alberta, Edmonton, has created a new technique to treat type 1 diabetes: implanting a device inside a pocket under the skin that can secrete insulin while avoiding the immunosuppression that typically stymies management of the disease.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat substance and alcohol use disorders is promising, but premature, say researchers
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) originally formulated to treat diabetes, has gained traction as the latest and greatest weight loss drug. Among the hype, anecdotal observations from patients and providers alike have suggested the drug may also play a role in treating alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders.
December 5, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 4th, 2023

Filling data gaps to assess the role of education in fertility decline
Researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) have introduced an innovative methodology for reconstructing data on fertility and education, particularly in developing countries with inconsistent or unreliable data sets.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Findings highlight importance of early monitoring and management of hypertension during and after pregnancy
Hispanic/Latina women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP)—conditions marked by high blood pressure during pregnancy—are more likely to have abnormalities in their heart structure and function decades later when compared with women without a history of HDP, according to a National Institutes of Health-supported study.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Maternal depressive symptoms linked to slower fetal growth
Maternal depressive symptoms are associated with slower fetal growth rate in the critical rapid growth stage (CRGS) before delivery, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Network Open.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Ovary-sparing hysterectomy may not offer protection against metabolic syndrome
Having a hysterectomy, even if the ovaries are spared, may place women at greater risk for a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors known as metabolic syndrome, new research shows.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Researchers evaluate performance of a large language model in phenotyping postpartum hemorrhage patients
In a recent study published in npj Digital MedicineSource, researchers evaluated the performance of a large language model (LLM) in phenotyping postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) patients using discharge notes.
December 4, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — December 1st, 2023

New research suggests cellular stress in the placenta may be possible cause of preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a mysterious condition that occurs in about one of 10 pregnancies without any early warning signs. After 20 weeks or more of normal blood pressure during the pregnancy, patients with preeclampsia will begin to experience elevated blood pressure and may also have increased levels of protein in their urine due to hypertension reducing the filtering power of the kidneys.
December 1, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 30th, 2023

Moderate regular exercise found to alleviate some symptoms of postpartum depression
Via meta-analysis of prior studies, a small team of physical education researchers at China University of Geosciences has found that engaging in moderate, regular exercise can alleviate symptoms of postpartum depression in some women. In their study, reported in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, the group analyzed 26 prior studies to learn more about the impact of exercise on women experiencing post-partum depression.
November 30, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 29th, 2023

Age at menopause could determine risk for decline in muscle mass and strength
A shorter reproductive life span, which is determined by a woman's age at menarche and menopause, has been associated with a number of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular disease and mortality. A new study suggests that it can also lead to a decline in muscle mass and strength as defined by handgrip strength. Results of the study are published online today in Menopause.
November 29, 2023 — Source

COVID-19 in pregnancy tied to higher preterm birth risk; early vaccine adoption shows protective effect
A study published in PNAS describes the impact of maternal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on infant health and the importance of vaccination in mitigating negative health outcomes in infants.
November 29, 2023 — Source

New survey illustrates scale of maternal health crisis in Georgia
One in 10 Georgians know of someone who has died during pregnancy, at delivery, or soon after giving birth.
November 29, 2023 — Source

Pregnancy nutrition: Foods to avoid during pregnancy
More foods can affect your health or your baby's health than you might realize. Learn what not to eat when you're pregnant
November 29, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 28th, 2023

Almost two-thirds of residents in US family medicine programs are training in states that have abortion restrictions
Researchers performed an analysis to assess the proportion of accredited U.S. family medicine residency programs and trainees in states with abortion restrictions. Of 693 accredited family medicine residency programs in the U.S., 201 programs (29%) were in states where abortion was banned or heavily restricted as of August 2, 2023. Fourteen of the 17 states in this category had complete abortion bans.
November 28, 2023 — Source

Gaps in postpartum care may leave many women at risk for cardiovascular disease
Many women with diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy did not receive appropriate postpartum care to reduce their future risk of cardiovascular disease, a study at one health system has found.
November 28, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 27th, 2023

Building a global, multi-disciplinary platform to promote women's health
What do retinal scans and eating meals rich in greens, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, and a moderate amount of fish, have to do with health of women and children?
November 27, 2023 — Source

Cannabis use in pregnancy may raise infant health risks
A large study of more than 360,000 mothers and infants found increased risk of low birth weight and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for babies whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy.
November 27, 2023 — Source

Discrimination during pregnancy can affect infant's brain circuitry
Experiences of discrimination and acculturation are known to have a detrimental effect on a person's health. For pregnant women, these painful experiences can also affect the brain circuitry of their children, a new study from Yale and Columbia University finds. These effects, the researchers say, are separate from those caused by general stress and depression.
November 27, 2023 — Source

Pregnancy remodels the brain: Stem cells shape the sense of smell in mothers, finds study
Pregnancy and motherhood lead to brain remodeling. A research team at the University of Basel has now discovered through experiments with mice that distinct pools of stem cells in the adult brain are turned on during pregnancy. They give rise to specific types of olfactory bulb neurons, the team reports in Science.
November 27, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 24th, 2023

Language heard while still in the womb found to impact brain development
A team of neuroscientists at the University of Padua, in Italy, working with a colleague from CNRS and Universite Paris Cite, has found evidence suggesting that neural development of babies still in the womb is impacted by the language they hear spoken by their mothers as they carry them.
November 24, 2023 — Source

Multiple endometriosis symptoms can appear a decade before diagnosis, finds study
Australian women with endometriosis can experience symptoms including severe period pain, depression and back pain for around a decade before being diagnosed, a University of Queensland study has revealed.
November 24, 2023 — Source

New research shows hard-hitting campaigns can help prevent drinking during pregnanc
New research published Nov. 21 is putting alcohol use during pregnancy in the spotlight, prompting calls from public health experts for ongoing investment in hard-hitting campaigns to support alcohol-free pregnancies.
November 24, 2023 — Source

Reactivating silenced fetal hemoglobin genes could counter sickle cell--related diseases
Researchers from multiple institutions in China have found a way to use gene editing to reactivate dormant fetal oxygen-transporting proteins in adult blood cells to potentially reverse a wide range of blood disorders.
November 24, 2023 — Source

Report: 2020 to 2021 saw rise in total number, rate, ratio of abortions
From 2020 to 2021, there were increases in the total number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions, according to research published in the Nov. 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
November 24, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 22nd, 2023

Birth rates have risen in states with abortion bans
States with bans had an average 2.3% rise in the fertility rate compared to states where abortion remained legal, according to an analysis (PDF) of preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
November 22, 2023 — Source

Depression, anxiety, and stress frequently co-occur in Black pregnant individuals: Study
Black pregnant individuals frequently experience more than one mental health concern, according to findings published by Susan Gennaro, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Professor in the William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College, and colleagues in The Nurse Practitioner. They say prenatal screening and treatment for stress is warranted in addition to care for depression and anxiety.
November 22, 2023 — Source

Here's what happens to your penis as you age
Changes to how your penis looks or works can be signs of underlying health issues and can affect your quality of life. So, understanding which changes are normal and when to seek help is important.
November 22, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 20th, 2023

C-sections in Mexico increase with obesity level and health care specialization: Study
Cesarean section (C-section) procedures have increased dramatically around the world in the recent decades. Overweight and obesity rates, common risk factors for pregnancy outcomes and for C-sections, are also on the rise--creating a major health issue in low- and middle-income countries. Published in The World Bank Economic Review, new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign investigates how high obesity levels lead to hospital specializations that affect the frequency of C-sections in Mexico
November 20, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 17th, 2023

3 Inexpensive Peloton Accessories Every User Should Have (According To User Reviews)
Peloton's internet-connected at-home fitness equipment is a big purchase, but you'll find the experience can get much better with some added accessories. Considering a Peloton's cost, it's important to find some accessories that won't break the bank. Luckily, there are plenty to choose from out there. While all you need is the bike, rower, or treadmill, there are many ways to enhance the experience.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Benefits of adolescent fitness to future cardiovascular health possibly overestimated
There is a well-known relationship between good physical fitness at a young age and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. However, when researchers adjusted for familial factors by means of sibling analysis, they found a weaker association, although the link between high body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular disease remained strong.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Most states ban shackling pregnant women in custody, yet many report being restrained
Ashley Denney was about seven months pregnant in 2022 when police handcuffed her during an arrest in Carroll County, Georgia. Officers shackled her even though the state bans the use of restraints on pregnant women in custody beginning at the second trimester.
November 17, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 16th, 2023

All You Need to Know about Femtech
Female technology is a market destined to expand dramatically. Find out what femtech means in this concise summary.
November 16, 2023 — Source

Prenatal cannabis exposure increases risk of adverse birth outcomes, study finds
Infants prenatally exposed to cannabis are more likely to be born preterm, have a low birth weight, and require neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care than infants without prenatal cannabis exposure, according to a study published today in the scientific journal Addiction.
November 16, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 15th, 2023

New evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to address peripartum depression
Pregnancy and the first year postpartum — referred to as the peripartum period — are a period of tremendous physiological, psychological, and social changes in a woman's life. An estimated 1 in 5 women develop mental health problems during the peripartum period, with depression and anxiety being the most prevalent mental health problems. Only half of these women will ever receive a diagnosis and even less will be fortunate to receive treatment.
November 15, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 14th, 2023

Antidepressants taken during pregnancy may affect children's digestive health
A new study finds that a commonly prescribed class of antidepressant drugs taken during pregnancy may affect digestive health in offspring later in life.
November 14, 2023 — Source

Emergency care adapted for pregnant women shows promise
Increased vigilance for high blood pressure and diffuse stomach pain. These are some of the characteristics of emergency care adapted for pregnant women and new mothers. The model, which could become clinical routine throughout Sweden, is described in a thesis at the University of Gothenburg.
November 14, 2023 — Source

Novel mechanism of maternal-fetal communication discovered
A research group from the University of Oulu, Finland, has shown that nanoparticles originating from maternal gut bacteria are present in amniotic fluid. This is a previously unknown mechanism of communication between the maternal gut microbiome and the fetus.
November 14, 2023 — Source

Researchers identify molecules associated with low breast milk volume
The volume of breast milk produced may be determined by genetics, according to biomedical and nutritional sciences Professor Shannon Kelleher of the UMass Lowell Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences.
November 14, 2023 — Source

US woman with rare double uterus expecting babies in both
It's double trouble, with a unique twist: A 32-year-old woman from Alabama who was born with two uteruses is now pregnant in both.
November 14, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 13th, 2023

Hormonal contraceptives taken by adolescents may affect risk assessment behavior
Hormonal contraceptives taken by adolescents may influence development of the brain in a way that alters the recognition of risks, a new study in rats suggests.
November 13, 2023 — Source

Immigrants living in US have fewer preterm births; US-born Black pregnant people have highest preterm birth rate
Preterm birth rates are an important marker in assessing a country's overall health, and the United States isn't faring very well.
November 13, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 9th, 2023

A Very Good Night for Abortion Rights Backers
Supporters of abortion rights again scored big at the polls in several states' off-year elections Nov. 7, including in some Republican-dominated states like Ohio and Kentucky. The biggest prize came in Ohio, where voters approved a ballot measure writing the right to an abortion into the state constitution, despite strong opposition from the governor and other top elected state officials.
November 9, 2023 — Source

How do sex hormones and birth control affect brain fear circuits?
A new report published in Frontiers of Endocrinology explores how oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use interacts with the current hormonal status to affect the fear circuit structure within the brain.
November 9, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 7th, 2023

Deciphering reproductive aging in women using a NOD/SCID mouse model
Female fertility is negatively correlated with age, with noticeable declines in oocyte quantity and quality until menopause. To understand this physiological process and evaluate human approaches for treating age-related infertility, preclinical studies in appropriate animal models are needed.
November 7, 2023 — Source

Study finds low anti-Ro titers are not associated with fetal heart block
New research from an ongoing study that will be presented at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, shows that pregnant women with very low titers of anti-Ro antibodies are at minimal to no risk of fetal atrioventricular (AV) block, a serious disorder affecting the heart's electrical system.
November 7, 2023 — Source

Study finds TNF blockers are not associated with poor pregnancy outcomes
According to new research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, continuing tumor necrosis factor inhibitors during pregnancy is not associated with worse fetal or obstetric outcomes and may reduce the risk of severe maternal infections during pregnancy.
November 7, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 6th, 2023

Predicting postpartum hospitalizations among high-risk populations
Racial inequities in maternal morbidity and mortality persist into the postpartum period, leading to a higher rate of postpartum hospital use among Black and Hispanic people but until now little was understood how to best identify people at high risk.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Study shines light on the health of pregnant people in the year after birth
Maternal mortality in the U.S. is on the rise and more than half of maternal deaths occur in the postpartum year.
November 6, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 3rd, 2023

Pregnancy and COVID-19: What are the risks?
If you are pregnant, you were pregnant in the last 42 days (recently pregnant) or you are breastfeeding, you may be concerned about the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on you and your baby. You might also have questions about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.
November 3, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — November 2nd, 2023

Endometriosis afflicts millions of women, but few people feel comfortable talking about it
Endometriosis causes physical, sexual and emotional pain. About 190 million people around the globe have endometriosis, including one in 10 American women, but there has historically been a deafening silence about the disease and the pervasive impact it can have on a person's life.
November 2, 2023 — Source

Higher cell phone use linked with lower sperm count, research suggests
Other sperm measures weren't impacted, however.
November 2, 2023 — Source

Large-scale study finds increased risk of stillbirth following infection with COVID-19
A large-scale Nordic study reveals that women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy had increased risk of stillbirth. The risk was highest among women infected with the delta variant.
November 2, 2023 — Source

What is No Nut November? Why abstaining from masturbation isn't healthy.
The No Nut Subreddit reveals disturbing posts of misogyny and intense public group shaming towards those who share their "failures".
November 2, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 31st, 2023

No More Hot Flashes? AI Device Could Stop Menopause Symptom
Vasomotor symptoms, the sudden rises in body temperature that affect about 75% of menopausal women, have drawn interest after the approval of a new oral drug and research linking hot flashes to Alzheimer's, heart disease, and stroke.
October 31, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 30th, 2023

Researchers Grow Mouse Embryos In Space But What Does That Mean For Humans?
Japanese researchers have successfully grown mouse embryos in space for the first time. While doing such a thing may sound pointless on the surface, it is vital to research if humans ever propagate during future space travel as we look to set foot on distant planets.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Updated toolkit to guide global menopause care
Care for women with menopausal health issues should improve globally following the release of an updated Monash University-led toolkit that guides health professionals around the world in assessing and treating them.
October 30, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 27th, 2023

Researchers find success in integrating lawyers into care teams to support pregnant and postpartum patients
The article offers insights and expert advice from Georgetown University Health Justice Alliance's Perinatal Legal Assistance and Well-being (LAW) Project at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, one of the first medical-legal partnerships in the country to focus specifically on the perinatal period and a key component of the D.C. Safe Babies Safe Moms (SBSM) initiative that aims to improve maternal and infant health in the nation's capital.
October 27, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 26th, 2023

Labor and delivery
Everyone's labor and delivery are unique. Still, knowing what's typical can help you know what to expect as your due date nears.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Prenatal exposure to lead linked to lower birth weights, earlier births in gold mining communities
A new study on the impacts of prenatal exposure to toxic metals linked to artisanal gold mining and other sources in Madre de Dios, Peru, finds that mercury--the metal most commonly linked to adverse health impacts in the region's general population--has no direct effect on a newborn's birth weight or gestational age.
October 26, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 24th, 2023

New technology 'game changing' for pregnant women with diabetes
New research shows that automated insulin delivery technology could be a game changer for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. The technology — known as 'hybrid closed-loop technology' — gives insulin doses as informed by a smartphone algorithm. The new study shows that it could help pregnant women better manager their blood sugars compared to traditional insulin pumps or multiple daily injections.
October 24, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 23rd, 2023

High blood pressure isn't only a risk during pregnancy
After enduring a difficult pregnancy marred with severe bouts of nausea and vomiting, Christina Roberto recalls the overwhelming sense of relief she felt two years ago when she finally brought her newborn daughter, Charlotte, safely home from the hospital.
October 23, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 20th, 2023

Use of high-frequency electrical stimulation device after C-section associated with reduced opioid use
Jennifer L. Grasch, M.D., from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, and colleagues conducted a randomized clinical trial from April 18, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2023, in the labor and delivery unit at a single tertiary academic medical center. Individuals with a singleton or twin delivery who underwent cesarean delivery were eligible for the study; 134 were included.
October 20, 2023 — Source

Vaginal bleeding after sex
Vaginal bleeding after sex can have various causes.
October 20, 2023 — Source

Why do some men not produce sperm? Scientists uncover one underlying reason for male infertility
Now, new research from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, in collaboration with the Wellcome Center for Cell Biology at the University of Edinburgh, is shedding light on what may be going wrong in the process of sperm formation, leading to potential theories on possible treatments.
October 20, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 19th, 2023

Researchers confirm postpartum depression heritability, home in on treatment mechanism
Postpartum depression (PPD), a common subtype of major depressive disorder, is more heritable than other psychiatric conditions, yet the genetics of PPD are understudied compared to these other psychiatric conditions., such as anxiety and bipolar disorder.
October 19, 2023 — Source

Study finds strong link between genetic predisposition for blood clots and contraceptive pill use
Women with a high genetic predisposition for blood clots are six times more likely to develop a blood clot during the first two years of using contraceptive pills according to a new study from Uppsala University.
October 19, 2023 — Source or Source

Health — Fertility — October 18th, 2023

Abortion coverage is limited or unavailable at a quarter of large employers, KFF survey finds
About a quarter of large U.S. employers heavily restrict coverage of legal abortions or don't cover them at all under health plans for their workers, according to the latest employer health benefits survey by KFF.
October 18, 2023 — Source

Pregnant and addicted: Homeless women see hope in street medicine
Five days after giving birth, Melissa Crespo was already back on the streets, recovering in a damp, litter-strewn water tunnel, when she got the call from the hospital.
October 18, 2023 — Source

Researchers uncover mechanism that links NAD+ to fertility problems
A woman's fertility normally decreases by her late 30s with reproductive function eventually ceasing at menopause. It is known that a small molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays a critical role in this decline, and Buck scientists have revealed how this happens and have identified potential new approaches to enhance reproductive longevity.
October 18, 2023 — Source

Study finds men's antidepressant use doesn't negatively impact IVF success
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a time-intensive and often stress-inducing fertility procedure. Yet how does that stress impact its success? Investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham health care system, assessed the effects of anxiety and depression in men on fertility and IVF outcomes.
October 18, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 17th, 2023

Michigan Voters Backed Abortion Rights. Now Democrats Want to Go Further.
Nearly every day, Halley Crissman and her physician colleagues in Michigan must tell patients seeking abortions they're very sorry that they can't proceed with their scheduled appointments.
October 17, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 16th, 2023

Information about abortion care largely omitted or buried on 80% of health systems' patient-facing websites
A study of health systems' websites has found that despite being a routine procedure at many hospitals, abortion is not mentioned by almost 80% of health system websites.
October 16, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 13th, 2023

Brain regions important for memory, perception are remodeled during the menstrual cycle, study finds
Central learning and memory hubs change in response to sex hormones. A new study in Nature Mental Health by Rachel Zsido and Julia Sacher of the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences and the University Clinic in Leipzig, Germany, links rhythmic oscillations in ovarian hormone levels in women during the menstrual cycle to changes in brain structure.
October 13, 2023 — Source

Studies offer strategies to end mistreatment and offer respectful maternal and newborn care
A growing body of evidence shows that the mistreatment of women in maternal health care is a reality worldwide. For several years, the World Health Organization (WHO) and HRP (the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction) have been documenting this human rights violation, and its impact on health and well-being.
October 13, 2023 — Source

Traffic air pollution linked to serious neonatal complications
Exposure to traffic-related air pollution during pregnancy is associated with serious neonatal complications, according to a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers that matched records from more than 60,000 births with air-monitoring data.
October 13, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 10th, 2023

California governor rejects bill to provide free condoms to high schoolers
A California bill would have made free condoms available for high schoolers, but it was vetoed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom because of cost.
October 10, 2023 — Source

Maternal obesity predicts heart disease risk better than pregnancy complications, finds study
Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes have recently been associated with a higher risk of developing heart disease later in life. But a new Northwestern Medicine study has found obesity before or during pregnancy is the actual root cause of future cardiovascular disease.
October 10, 2023 — Source or Source

Protein key to placental heath could be target for reproductive conditions
Immune cells play a key role during pregnancy, adjusting immune system response in a way that enables the fetus to develop while also protecting the parent and fetus from outside assaults like viruses. In a new study, Yale researchers have found that a particular protein found throughout the body plays a major role in this important immune system modulation, affecting placental health early in pregnancy.
October 10, 2023 — Source

Women with a disability are more likely to experience child marriage than women without a disability
In 2015, the United Nations created the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve by 2030. With only seven years to go, the world is not on track to meet the goal of eliminating child marriage and other forms of violence against women and girls. Child marriage has been linked with negative reproductive and mental health outcomes.
October 10, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 9th, 2023

Researchers call for scrutiny of employment leave for early pregnancy endings
Parents facing an early end to pregnancies can be entitled to differing degrees of paid leave depending on where they live, recently published research has shown.
October 9, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 6th, 2023

Offspring of teen, young adult women with cancer history more likely to have birth defects
The offspring of adolescent and young adult women with a history of cancer face a higher risk of birth defects, according to new research from UTHealth Houston.
October 6, 2023 — Source

What Families Should Know About the New OTC Birth Control Pill
The first over-the-counter birth control pill will hit U.S. stores early next year, which gives parents, teens, and their doctors time to decide how it will or could affect their lives.
October 6, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 5th, 2023

Study in mice shows brain is 'rewired' during pregnancy to prepare for motherhood
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shown that pregnancy hormones "rewire" the brain to prepare mice for motherhood.
October 5, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 3rd, 2023

Genetic testing of one thousand embryos provides insights into human development and IVF
By genetically testing nearly one thousand embryos, scientists have provided the most detailed analysis of embryo fate following human in vitro fertilization.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Following one death, FDA warns hospitals about giving probiotics to preemies
An infant given probiotics at an undisclosed hospital has died, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials said in a recent warning letter.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Obstetrician-gynecologist advocates for reproductive justice for all
Last year, an 18-month bipartisan Senate investigation concluded that migrant women held at a privately-run Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Georgia were subjected to unnecessary and unwanted gynecological procedures. The 108-page report was prompted by a 2020 whistleblower complaint alleging a years-long pattern of "aggressive and unethical" treatment of women.
October 3, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — October 2nd, 2023

Preterm birth risk highlighted in Stanford-led study on sleep and activity during pregnancy
Technically, series2signal applied time-series classification and regression to each minibatch compatible with any time-series data. It used an extensive posthoc artificial intelligence (AI)-based deep learning (DL) and inferential analysis pipeline that automated downstream tasks to build on this model's hidden representations and associate model output (a robust signal of maternal PA levels and sleep behaviors) with maternal and neonatal health outcomes and clinical parameters.
October 2, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 29th, 2023

A decades-long drop in teen births is slowing, and advocates worry a reversal is coming
Cicely Wilson's work doesn't end when she leaves her day job as a lactation consultant, doula and child care expert.
September 29, 2023 — Source

Research shows PFAS exposure may delay girls' puberty
Research from the University of Cincinnati shows that exposure to PFAS may delay the onset of puberty in girls. The research was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
September 29, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 27th, 2023

Is a longer reproductive lifespan good for your brain?
Cerebral small vessel disease, a form of cerebrovascular disease, results from damage to small blood vessels in the brain. It raises the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
September 27, 2023 — Source

Study identifies foods to help pregnant people optimize intake of key nutrients
Most pregnant people in the U.S. are at risk of not getting enough of six nutrients important to a healthy pregnancy--vitamin A, vitamin D, folate, calcium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids--from foods alone. Yet finding a combination of foods and supplements that delivers the right amounts of these nutrients without exceeding calorie recommendations or safety limits can be challenging.
September 27, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 26th, 2023

A decades-long drop in teen births is slowing, and advocates worry a reversal is coming
Cicely Wilson's work doesn't end when she leaves her day job as a lactation consultant, doula, and child care expert.
September 26, 2023 — Source

New abortion law drives out NC's scarce supply of OB-GYNs, primary care doctors
Dr. Nicole Teal was working a night shift in September 2022, when a patient came into UNC Medical Center's labor and delivery unit with a particularly dangerous set of symptoms.
September 26, 2023 — Source

Study finds link to unclean cooking fuels and developmental delays in children
Rapid and effective bleeding control can be achieved using a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared intrauterine vacuum-induced hemorrhage control device for both vaginal and cesarean births, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
September 26, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 25th, 2023

Nine women share what it's like to have a miscarriage
Miscarriage is a common woman's health experience, but one that affects people differently. Ten years of studying miscarriage has taught me that no two women will have the same experience, and that the same woman is likely to experience separate miscarriages very differently.
September 25, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 22nd, 2023

AIHW report provides the most recent prevalence estimates on endometriosis
Around 14% of women aged 44--49 are estimated to have endometriosis, the latest release from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has revealed.
September 22, 2023 — Source

One in three women have a baby in their first IVF cycle: Report
The annual IVF report from UNSW reveals the latest numbers and trends in assisted reproductive technology.
September 22, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 21st, 2023

Premenstrual disorders tied to earlier natural menopause
Yihui Yang, from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and colleagues examined whether women with PMDs have increased risks for early menopause and menopause-related vasomotor symptoms (VMS). The analysis included 3,635 participants in the Nurses' Health Study II (June 1991 to June 2017).
September 21, 2023 — Source

Wearable optical device shows promise for detecting postpartum hemorrhage
Researchers have developed a wearable optical device for early detection of hemorrhage during labor or after childbirth. This serious heavy bleeding can be hard to detect before it becomes an emergency and accounts for almost 30% of maternal deaths globally and just over 10% of maternal deaths in the United States.
September 21, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 20th, 2023

Exposure to plasticizers in pregnancy associated with smaller volumetric measures in the brain and lower IQ in children
Children whose mothers had a higher exposure to certain phthalates during pregnancy tend to show smaller total gray matter in their brains at age 10. This is one of the main conclusions of a study led by the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), and published in Molecular Psychiatry.
September 20, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 19th, 2023

Natural Cycles is coming to Apple Watch. So is it safe to use as a contraceptive?
The app may have hailed a new generation of digital contraception, but not without controversy.
September 19, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 18th, 2023

Endometriosis: Diagnosing the debilitating condition
In remarks this month to members of Congress and their staffs, Dr. Wendaline VanBuren, a Mayo Clinic radiologist who specializes in gynecologic imaging, discussed the importance of research in improving early detection and diagnoses of endometriosis, including through medical imaging.
September 18, 2023 — Source

Researchers identify a rare cause of male infertility and discover a potential cure
Their multidisciplinary examinations were able to identify adenylate kinase 9 (AK9), an enzyme involved in sperm energy metabolism and cellular nucleotide homeostasis, as essential to fertilization by enabling sperm to swim toward the ovum even in sugar-free media.
September 18, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 14th, 2023

Abortion Bans Fuel a Rise in High-Risk Patients Heading to Illinois Hospitals
When she was around 22 weeks pregnant, the patient found out that the son she was carrying didn't have kidneys and his lungs wouldn't develop. If he survived the birth, he would struggle to breathe and die within hours.
September 14, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 8th, 2023

NSAID use linked to higher risk of blood clots in women of reproductive age, association stronger in women on high-risk hormonal contraception
Both NSAIDs and HC use are independent risk factors for VTE, but there is a lack of clarity on the risk when both are used together. HC boosts the odds of VTE involving the deep veins of the lower limb and the lung as the primary and secondary sites, respectively. Estrogen upregulates the coagulation factor genes.
September 8, 2023 — Source

Polycystic ovarian syndrome: Losing weight can help but many sufferers are vulnerable to bad advice on social media
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition which affects how the ovaries work, is thought to affect 20% of women worldwide. Yet despite how common the condition is, and the serious effect it has on women's health, researchers still aren't completely sure what causes PCOS--let alone how best to manage and treat the condition.
September 8, 2023 — Source

Researchers close in on preeclampsia cure
The pregnancy complication affects up to eight percent of pregnancies globally and is the leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality due to premature delivery, complications with the placenta and lack of oxygen.
September 8, 2023 — Source

When IVF fails it can be devastating--so why do clinics offer so little in the way of support?
Four in every 10 people who start IVF treatment in the UK end it without having their child, according to data from the UK fertility regulator, the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority.
September 8, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 7th, 2023

Moms exposed to air pollution give birth to smaller babies, but living in a greener area may mitigate the risks
Women exposed to air pollution give birth to smaller babies, according to research that will be presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy. The research also shows that women living in greener areas give birth to bigger babies and this may help counteract the effects of pollution.
September 7, 2023 — Source

Women with PCOS on keto diet may see improvements in fertility
The ketogenic (keto) diet may lower testosterone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a paper, titled "Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Reproductive Hormones in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome," published online in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
September 7, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 6th, 2023

Review of over 70 years of menopause science highlights research gaps and calls for individualized treatment
Although about half of people go through menopause, less than 15% of them receive effective treatment for their symptoms. Treatment options for people experiencing irritating or severe menopause symptoms are often under researched, and some have questionable efficacy, or cause harmful side effects.
September 6, 2023 — Source

Study finds increase in travelers to Massachusetts seeking abortion care post-Dobbs
A rigorous analysis by researchers confirms a rise in out-of-state travelers coming to Massachusetts to seek abortion care. In a new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham health care system, researchers report an estimated increase of 37% in the number of out-of-state residents seeking abortion care in Massachusetts, as well as an increase in non-profit funding covering costs for out-of-state residents. Results are published in JAMA Network Open.
September 6, 2023 — Source

World-renowned menopause experts summarize the state of menopause knowledge and advocate for further research
In a recent review published in Cell, a group of authors delved into the complexities of menopause, assessed its global impacts on health, and evaluated the effectiveness and safety of current treatments, emphasizing the importance of further research.
September 6, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 5th, 2023

More than 6,000 women told researchers what they wanted for their next pregnancy and birth. Here's what they said
Many women want a different kind of pregnancy and birth the next time around. Many want to see the same one or two midwives throughout, and want to choose where they give birth. And when the time comes, they want a vaginal birth, with less intervention.
September 5, 2023 — Source

Racial and socioeconomic differences still determine survival rates of premature babies in the US, study finds
The U.S. continues to face stark inequalities in preterm birth and mortality rates between mothers of differing socioeconomic status and race, finds a new report led by UCL researchers.
September 5, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 4th, 2023

Dangers and deaths around Black pregnancies seen as a 'completely preventable' health crisis
Tonjanic Hill was overjoyed in 2017 when she learned she was 14 weeks pregnant. Despite a history of uterine fibroids, she never lost faith that she would someday have a child.
September 4, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — September 1st, 2023

Fewer Australians are cycling--here's how to reverse the decline
Rates of cycling are falling in Australia, a national report released today shows. More people started riding bikes early in the pandemic, but that hasn't lasted. The percentages of people who cycle are lower now than in 2011.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Di-isononyl phthalate disrupts pregnancy in mice, study finds
We are constantly exposed to phthalates in our environment through plastic products such as storage containers, medical devices, packages, fabrics, and toys. Specifically, di-isononyl phthalate is inevitably becoming a part of our lives. Unfortunately, the impact of DiNP on the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy is largely unknown. In a new study, researchers used mice to understand how DiNP affects pregnancy.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Medicines360's long and winding, $82 million road to create and distribute $50 birth control
Drugs and medical devices rarely come from the nonprofit world. There are more than 2,600 for-profit pharmaceutical companies in the United States, but only three nonprofits have products on the American market.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Mice study helps understand how DiNP affects pregnancy
We are constantly exposed to phthalates in our environment through plastic products such as storage containers, medical devices, packages, fabrics, and toys. Specifically, di-isononyl phthalate is inevitably becoming a part of our lives. Unfortunately, the impact of DiNP on the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy is largely unknown.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Under-prescribed Menopause Relief: Women Suffer Needlessly
An alarming gap bedevils menopause care in the United States — thanks to enduring myths about hormone replacement therapy and flaws in how new doctors are trained. The result: Countless women grapple with the physical and emotional toll of this life transition.
September 1, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 31st, 2023

Peer-delivered psychotherapy effective for postpartum depression
An innovative model of care that offers new mothers psychotherapy delivered by other mothers who have also experienced post-partum depression (PPD) should be implemented in clinical practice, according to researchers at McMaster University.
August 31, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 29th, 2023

California is a reproductive rights haven. So why are women being forced into surgeries?
Kaitlyn Weiss felt a searing pain on the surgical table, surrounded by strangers. She was in labor and she did not want to be in that icy operating room, so close to the scalpel meant to cut her open.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Is alcohol exposure before and during pregnancy associated with reduced longitudinal fetal growth?
Despite widespread efforts worldwide to spread awareness about the dangers of prenatal alcohol exposure, the prevalence of alcohol consumption among pregnant individuals across the globe is 10%.
August 29, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 25th, 2023

Autoimmune, reproductive problems in women with multiple partner births may be caused by cells from previous pregnancies
New research by academics from Royal Holloway and The University of Western Ontario suggests that fetal cells in pregnant mothers, left from previous pregnancies with more than one partner, could raise the risk of health complications such as pre-eclampsia, during pregnancy and autoimmune diseases after pregnancy.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Poor in vivo validation may cause inaccurate infertility diagnoses
Infertility can have genetic causes, but pinpointing the culprit mutations is difficult because fertility and reproduction are controlled by many genes. These genes also carry many harmless but suspicious mutations in different people, making it hard to spot the truly damaging ones.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Prenatal lifestyle interventions found to improve child neurodevelopmental outcomes
Maternal structured lifestyle interventions during pregnancy based on a Mediterranean diet or mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) improve child neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2 years, according to a study published online on Aug. 22 in JAMA Network Open.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Understanding the surge in cannabis use among pregnant and postpartum women in the US
Pregnant and recently postpartum women who suffer with mental health disorders may be vulnerable to using cannabis to self-medicate, according to a Rutgers-led study.
August 25, 2023 — Source

Women with undiagnosed endometriosis found to visit the doctor more frequently
Endometriosis is a chronic--often painful--illness that only affects women. New research shows potential for shortening the path to diagnosis and treatment. In the years prior to being diagnosed with endometriosis, women with the chronic illness have more contact than average with their GP, private gynecologist and the hospital service.
August 25, 2023 — Source or Source

Health — Fertility — August 24th, 2023

Eating emulsifiers during pregnancy and lactation linked to health risks in mouse offspring
A new study in mice shows that consuming emulsifiers--a common ingredient in ultra-processed human foods--during pregnancy or breast-feeding is associated with mild health risks for offspring. Maria Milà-Guasch of the Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) in Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues present these findings August 24 in the open access journal PLOS Biology.
August 24, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 15th, 2023

Five old contraception methods that show why the pill was a medical breakthrough
If you have access to it, it's easy to take today's contraception for granted. But key discoveries over the last century or so changed the lives of women.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Hypertension in pregnancy poses measurable risks for babies, study finds
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs in more than 7% of pregnancies. A recent Mayo Clinic population-based study found that babies from pregnancies complicated by hypertension were more than two times as likely to develop chronic hypertension as adults.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Researchers find risk of premature birth 50% higher in mothers with poor mental health
New work led by researchers at the University of Exeter, King's College London, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Liverpool has found that women who had at least one contact with mental health services in the seven years prior to their pregnancy were at increased risk of preterm birth.
August 15, 2023 — Source

The orgasm gap and why women climax less than men
Imagine a steamy sex scene involving a woman and a man from your favorite television show or movie. It's likely that both parties orgasm. But this doesn't reflect reality.
August 15, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 14th, 2023

Advanced maternal age increases the risk of maternal mortality in Japan
In recent years, there has been an increase in older women who are pregnant. However, this global prevalence of advanced maternal age (AMA) has elevated maternal complications, such as an increase need for cesarean sections.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Don't use certain tests for pregnancy, ovulation, UTIs, FDA warns
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that consumers should not use certain pregnancy, ovulation, urine, UTI and breast milk test kits over concerns that the tests may not be safe and effective.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Weaker transcription factors are better when they work together
Bioengineers can tailor the genomes of cells to create "cellular therapies" that fight disease, but they have found it difficult to design specialized activating proteins called transcription factors that can throw the switch on bioengineered genes without occasionally turning on some of the cell's naturally occurring genes.
August 14, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 11th, 2023

Publication of ARRIVE trial linked to increase in 39-week induction
Rachel Wood, M.D., from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues examined whether publication of the ARRIVE trial in August 2018, which revealed that low-risk nulliparous patients who were induced at 39 weeks of gestation had a reduced risk for CD, was associated with observable obstetric practice changes in the United States.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Health — General Information — August 11th, 2023

Co-occurrence of psoriasis and rheumatic diseases common
Mimi Chung, from the University of California in San Francisco, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional cohort study using the U.S.-based racially and ethnically diverse All of Us national database to examine the association between psoriasis and rheumatic diseases.
August 11, 2023 — Source

CRISPR/sgRNA-SAM therapy: a potential breakthrough for Parkinson's disease?
The incidence of PD increases with age and is the second most common neurological disease. PD is caused by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which produces DA to regulate motor control.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Diarrhea
Everyone occasionally has diarrhea — loose, watery and more-frequent bowel movements. You might also have abdominal cramps and produce a greater volume of stool. The duration of diarrhea symptoms can provide a clue to the underlying cause.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Is science getting closer to the brain center for male libido?
A single hardwired brain circuit might be responsible for male sexual drive, a new mouse study reports.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Indiana mom dies of 'water toxicity.' Here's what you should know about drinking water too fast
The death of Indiana woman Ashley Summers over the July 4th weekend has sparked discussion about the dangers of water toxicity.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Lab-grown 'ghost hearts' combine a cleaned-out pig heart with a patient's own stem cells
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 17.9 million people lose their lives to it each year, accounting for 32% of global deaths.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Playing football may increase the risk for Parkinson's disease
Identification of risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD) is essential for early diagnosis. Dating back to the 1920s, Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism--an umbrella term that refers to motor symptoms found in Parkinson's disease and also other conditions--have long been described in boxers.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Problematic social media use linked to depression symptoms
Receiving therapy for problematic social media use can be effective in improving the mental wellbeing of people with depression, finds a new study by UCL researchers.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Research illustrates the role of Gasdermin D protein in immunity tolerance to food
A research team led by Prof. ZHU Shu from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) illustrated the role of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) protein in immunity tolerance to food in the small intestine.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Social media use interventions alleviate symptoms of depression
Receiving therapy for problematic social media use can be effective in improving the mental well-being of people with depression, finds a new study by University College London researchers.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears requires immediate diagnosis and treatment
If you woke up one morning and found you couldn't see out of one eye, odds are you'd call the eye doctor immediately--or even go to the emergency room. But we don't tend to treat sudden hearing loss in one or both ears with the same sense of urgency, and that's unfortunate, says Elias Michaelides, MD, an ear, nose and throat specialist at RUSH.
August 11, 2023 — Source

US suicides hit an all-time high last year
About 49,500 people took their own lives last year in the U.S., the highest number ever, according to new government data posted Thursday.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Why do I fall asleep on the sofa but am wide awake when I get to bed?
After a long day, you flop onto the sofa and find yourself dozing off while watching TV. The room is nice and warm, the sofa is comfortable, and the background noise of the TV lulls you to sleep.
August 11, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 9th, 2023

High-intensity interval training safe for pregnant women and their babies, study suggests
High-intensity interval training during pregnancy appears to be well tolerated by expecting mothers and their babies, according to recent research out of the University of Alberta that runs counter to traditional exercise recommendations for pregnant women.
August 9, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 7th, 2023

How the Texas Trial Changed the Story of Abortion Rights in America
During the five decades that followed Roe v. Wade, lawsuit after lawsuit in states across the country chipped away at abortion rights. And again and again, the people who went to court to defend those rights were physicians who often spoke in clinical and abstract terms.
August 7, 2023 — Source

Managing inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy
IBD patients, especially those with active disease, are at an increased risk of loss of pregnancy, preterm delivery, and emergent cesarean (C-section) deliveries. However, those with a quiescent one are likely to have fewer complications.
August 7, 2023 — Source

Q&A: Postpartum depression drug heralds new hope for moms, says physician
The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday its approval of the new drug zuranolone for postpartum depression. The once-daily pill, meant for short-term use, may help those who struggle with the serious, sometimes life-threatening condition.
August 7, 2023 — Source or SourceStudy finds higher rate of pre-term births among Blacks than non-Hispanic white individuals
Non-Hispanic Black individuals have a significantly higher rate of pre-term births than non-Hispanic white individuals, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.
August 7, 2023 — Source or Source

Study shows endometriosis is linked to higher risk of depression, anxiety, eating disorders
Endometriosis is not just a condition that affects the pelvis, but a systemic disease that involves the entire body. Now, the largest epidemiological study to date on the psychiatric factors that can accompany endometriosis has demonstrated that depression, anxiety, and eating disorders are not only a result of the chronic pain endometriosis generates, but also have their own underlying genetic mechanisms.
August 7, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 3rd, 2023

A mother's diet can protect her grandchildren's brains, genetic model study shows
Mothers who eat apples and herbs in early pregnancy could be protecting the brain health of their children and grandchildren, a Monash University study using genetic models has found.
August 3, 2023 — Source

New research shows potential to reduce pain in women suffering from endometriosis
Pelvic pain in women with endometriosis is attributed to neuroinflammation. Researchers have investigated biochemical mediators of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain to provide a foundation to identify new drugs to improve symptoms and quality of life.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Sexual minority birthing people highly engage in obstetric care
Leiszle Lapping-Carr, Ph.D., from Northwestern University in Chicago, and colleagues examined the prevalence of female-identified sexual minority people giving birth in an academic medical center during 2019 and compared perinatal depression screening rates and scores among sexual minority women and heterosexual cisgender women. The analysis included 18,243 birthing people.
August 3, 2023 — Source

US preterm birth and maternal mortality rates are alarmingly high, outpacing those in all other high-income countries
Every two minutes, in about the time it takes to read a page of your favorite book or brew a cup of coffee, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to a February 2023 report from the World Health Organization. The report reflects a shameful reality in which maternal deaths have either increased or plateaued worldwide between 2016 and 2020.
August 3, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — August 1st, 2023

Q&A: Everything you ever wanted to know about menopause and perimenopause
It's inevitable. About half of the world's population awaits an unavoidable biological fate: menopause. As those of us who will experience the transition (including me) near our 50th birthday, our ovaries will essentially say "we're done."
August 1, 2023 — Source

Survey shows gaps in knowledge about maternal health
Most people know it isn't safe to smoke or drink alcohol while pregnant, and most know that how well a pregnant person takes care of their health affects the health of their baby. But do they know what vaccines are recommended for pregnant people by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?
August 1, 2023 — Source

The effects of oxidative stress on women's fertility
Millions of women throughout the world struggle with infertility. Oxidative stress (OS) plays a vital role in the pathophysiology of female infertility.
August 1, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — July 28th, 2023

Mitochondrial changes linked to high blood pressure in pregnancy
High blood pressure (hypertension) that occurs during pregnancy is associated with dangerous health outcomes for both the pregnant person and fetus. New research on changes in mitochondrial gene expression sheds light on possible contributing factors to these disorders.
July 28, 2023 — Source

Study of cadmium in pregnant women yields crucial insights into fetal development
As with many toxins, exposure to the toxic metal cadmium during pregnancy can adversely impact fetal development. Now, researchers at the Rutgers School of Public Health think they're beginning to understand how the metal inflicts its damage: by disrupting placental hormones that regulate pregnancy physiology.
July 28, 2023 — Source

Uncovering how the Golgi apparatus impacts early postnatal neuron development
Neurons are the cells that constitute neural circuits and use chemicals and electricity to receive and send messages that allow the body to do everything, including thinking, sensing, moving, and more. Neurons have a long fiber called an axon that sends information to the subsequent neurons.
July 28, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — July 25th, 2023

New nanoparticle drug delivery system shows promise in treatment of ectopic pregnancy
Researchers in the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy have developed a drug delivery system that shows promise for greatly enhancing the efficacy of the medicine given to women with the life-threatening condition of ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the lining of the uterus.
July 25, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — July 21st, 2023

Researchers reverse chemotherapy-related fertility loss using cell-based therapy
A new study in a preclinical model, by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, demonstrates the potential for restoring fertility when the ovaries have stopped working. The researchers found that adult stem cells could restore healthy hormone levels after chemotherapy and lead to natural conception resulting in the birth of live mice.
July 21, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — July 20th, 2023

Hitting reset to start a new embryo
New work by scientists in the U.S. and China shows how a fertilized egg cell, or zygote, hits "reset" so that the newly formed embryo can develop according to its own genetic program.
July 20, 2023 — Source

How does the new OTC birth control pill, Opill, work to prevent pregnancy? 5 questions answered
The Food and Drug Administration's July 13, 2023, approval of the first over-the-counter birth control pill, called Opill, broadens the options for people seeking to prevent pregnancy. When Opill becomes available, presumably in the first quarter of 2024, it will be sold in grocery and convenience stores, in pharmacies and through online retailers.
July 20, 2023 — Source

How cell-free RNA could revolutionize preeclampsia diagnosis
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy disorder, marked by high blood pressure and the presence of proteins in urine, affecting between 2% and 4% of pregnant women worldwide, leading to about 46,000 maternal deaths and about 500,000 fetal and newborn deaths each year.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Parents' psychiatric diagnoses are associated with risk of preterm birth, study finds
Fathers' as well as mothers' psychiatric history is associated with preterm birth, according to a study published July 20th in the open access journal PLOS Medicine. The research shows for the first time that the risk of preterm birth is higher in infants whose fathers or mothers have psychiatric diagnoses, compared with those who do not, and where both parents have diagnoses, the risk is increased again.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Study suggests early induction of labor could reduce inequities in pregnancy outcomes
Inducing labor at 39 weeks of pregnancy has the greatest benefit in risk reduction for women from more socioeconomically deprived areas, according to a new study published in the open access journal PLOS Medicine by Ipek Gurol-Urganci of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, U.K., and colleagues.
July 20, 2023 — Source

Health — Fertility — July 19th, 2023

Once the New Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Is Available, What About Cost and Coverage?
Last week, the FDA approved Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive that will be available for sale over the counter in stores as well as online. Reproductive health advocates hailed the groundbreaking approval as a step that can help millions of people avoid pregnancy, which is unintended nearly half the time in the United States.
July 19, 2023 — Source

Researchers map morphing placenta
Early in pregnancy, something strange happens in the uterus: Cells from the fetal side of the developing placenta invade the uterine endometrium and work with the mother's immune system to remodel the arteries.
July 19, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — Numbers

1 in 8 men under 35 have brought condoms to a funeral
Just in case.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — A

A leading cause of maternal mortality is something few moms worry about
Experts want greater awareness about this highly treatable condition.
May 2, 2023 — Source

A New Law Is Supposed to Protect Pregnant Workers — But What If We Don't Know How?
Vanessa Langness had always been a bit worried about the chemicals she worked with as a biomedical researcher, but when she got pregnant in October, her concerns grew. The 34-year-old based in Santa Maria, California, suspected the ethidium bromide she was using in the lab for molecular cloning could put her and her baby at risk.
June 30, 2023 — Source or Source

A novel hydrogel may be a beacon of hope for infertility and fertility challenges
The Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service revealed that over the last year, more than 370,000 Koreans sought medical help for infertility or difficulties in conceiving. This represents a 4.7% increase in infertility-related treatments and a 16% rise in subfertility-related treatments compared to the 2018 data.
July 3, 2023 — Source

After Idaho's Strict Abortion Ban, OB-GYNs Stage a Quick Exodus
At a brewery in this northern Idaho city, hundreds of people recently held a wake of sorts to mourn the closure of Sandpoint's only labor and delivery ward, collateral damage from the state's Republican-led effort to criminalize nearly all abortions.
May 2, 2023 — Source

After Tragedy of Stillbirth, She Set Out to Help Others
Elizabeth O'Donnell found out she was pregnant in June 2020. It was a surprise, but she was very happy. She was never sick and says she was the healthiest she had ever been.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Algorithm finds sperm in infertile men faster and more accurately than doctors
A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool can identify sperm in severely infertile men in seconds compared to the hours it takes scientists, according to results presented at the 39th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).
June 27, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — C

Culturally-consistent midwifery care can optimize the mental health of pregnant Indigenous persons
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Indigenous individuals during pregnancy and the postpartum (perinatal) period. Despite this, less than 1% of studies examining perinatal mental health during the pandemic included Indigenous persons.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — D

Deep learning model may predict preterm births as early as 31 weeks
Preterm birth, which occurs when a baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation, affects nearly 10% of pregnancies worldwide, and rates are on the rise. Researchers in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis are developing better ways to predict preterm birth by analyzing electrical activity during pregnancy.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — E

Eating for two? Leave weight advice to the experts during pregnancy
Pregnant women may be better supported by trained dietitians to control weight gain during pregnancy, according to a new analysis of almost 100 studies.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Evaluating the effects of dietary trends on reproductive outcomes
and Infertility refers to conceiving inability after a year of regular and unprotected sex. The increase in ART usage, including intracytoplasmic sperm injections (ICSI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), has improved the rates of live births in developed countries; however, ART accessibility may not be equitable in developing nations.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Examining the benefits of creatine for mothers and babies
The benefits of creatine are well known for helping with muscle performance, and now attention has turned to whether it can help mothers and babies have a safer birth.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — F

FDA experts to consider first over-the-counter birth control pill
As a U.S. Food Drug Administration advisory panel prepares to weigh whether to recommend that a birth control pill be sold over the counter in this country, a coalition of advocates on Monday called attention to the safety and effectiveness of the medication.
May 09, 2023 — Source

Federal rules don't require period product ingredients on packaging labels, so states are stepping in
Tens of millions of Americans use menstrual products, and while manufacturers contend they are safe, most disclose little about the chemicals they contain. Now, amid calls for more disclosure and research into the health effects of these products, some states require more transparency.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Fertility in England and Wales at lowest recorded level for women in all education groups
Fertility in England and Wales fell to its lowest recorded level between 2010-20--for women across all educational groups--according to a new study today in Population Studies, from John Ermisch Emeritus Professor from Oxford's Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Fetal alcohol syndrome: Facial modeling study explores technology to aid diagnosis
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a lifelong condition caused by exposing an unborn baby to alcohol. It's a pattern of mental, physical and behavioral symptoms seen in some people whose mothers consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Not all prenatal alcohol exposure results in the syndrome; it is the most severe form of a range of effects called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
June 8, 2023 — Source

For postpartum moms, playing team sports can boost well-being and help manage unrealistic expectations of motherhood
There are success stories of mothers being physically active after childbirth--particularly in individual activities such as yoga, running, walking and other exercise. But what can be done to help postpartum moms participate in team sport?
May 12, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — G

Groups Sue to Overturn Idaho 'Abortion Trafficking' Law Targeting Teens
Advocates who counsel and aid Idaho teenagers seeking abortion care filed suit Tuesday against Republican Attorney General Raúl Labrador in a bid to overturn the state's abortion travel ban.
July 11, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — H

Health advice for women at each stage of motherhood
Everyone knows that on Mother's Day, Mom's needs come first. But the rest of the year, mothers often put their health care on hold to focus on others.
May 12, 2023 — Source

High blood pressure, pregnancy complications may greatly raise moms' future heart risks
Women who have high blood pressure before they become pregnant may be twice as likely as those who don't to develop cardiovascular disease within a decade of giving birth, new research finds.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Hispanic women still at higher risk for births with neural tube defects after voluntary folic acid fortification
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated folic acid fortification of all enriched cereal grains in 1996, and this regulation resulted in a reduction of neural tube defect (NTD)--affected pregnancies for the population in the United States. While this mandatory food fortification strategy is an example of a public health success,
June 2, 2023 — Source

How do I insert a tampon?
If you've just decided to start using tampons and you're finding it tricky, you're not alone! Lots of young teens and first-time tampon users have told me they experience "tampon trauma"--meaning it hurts, won't go in or gets stuck coming out. But with a little bit of practice, it's super easy.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Hysterectomy: What it is, side effects and recovery
Hysterectomy is the second most common surgery for women in their reproductive years, right after cesarean section.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — I

Idaho drops panel investigating pregnancy-related deaths as US maternal mortality surges
On July 1, Idaho became the only state without a legal requirement or specialized committee to review maternal deaths related to pregnancy.
July 7, 2023 — Source or Source or Source

Is having a new child associated with increased antidepressant treatment in men?
Studies have shown that nearly one in 10 men experience depression immediately after childbirth, likely due to changes in their emotional state and social and relationship roles.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Is It Morally Responsible for Al Pacino and Robert de Niro To Have Babies at Their Age?
Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are two of Hollywood's most iconic duos. They have been in the movie industry for decades and have achieved numerous accomplishments over the years. However, Pacino and De Niro's acting careers aren't the only thing that makes them similar.
June 6, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — K

Kansas faces OB-GYN shortage. Providers warn new laws could further strain maternity care
Jessica Babler, a nursing student at Research College of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri, is tired of being vilified for wanting to provide abortions, which she views as health care, to her patients.
May 23, 2023 — Source

Know your blood pressure numbers and what they mean
You could have high blood pressure and not realize it. The only way to know for sure is to have your blood pressure tested.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Korean researchers develop hydrogel that could revolutionize treatment for female infertility
The Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service revealed that over the last year, more than 370,000 Koreans sought medical help for infertility or difficulties in conceiving.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — L

Lifesaving solution dramatically reduces severe bleeding after childbirth
A new solution, known as E-MOTIVE, could provide a major breakthrough in reducing deaths from childbirth-related bleeding, according to a landmark study published today (May 9) in the New England Journal of Medicine by researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Birmingham.
May 09, 2023 — Source

Link found between contraception-related depression, postpartum depression
Søren Vinther Larsen, M.D., from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues examined the link between prior depression associated with HC initiation or not associated with HC initiation and risk for PPD in a cohort study involving women living in Denmark with their first delivery between Jan. 1, 1996, and June 30, 2017.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — M

Martin Lewis warns over 'first' deepfake video scam ad circulating on Facebook
For a glimpse of the AI-generated misery fast accelerating onto our screens thanks to developments in synthetic media that are powering ever more sophisticated forms of deception, check out this clip of U.K. consumer finance champion Martin Lewis apparently shilling an investment opportunity backed by Elon Musk.
July 7, 2023 — Source

Maternal mortality in the US more than doubled between 1999 and 2019, study finds
A new study by investigators from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington and Mass General Brigham found that maternal mortality rates have worsened from 1999 to 2019, hitting some racial and ethnic groups and states harder than others.
July 3, 2023 — Source

Menopause and the heart connection
Women experience menopause at different ages--and different ways--which can, among other things, affect their heart health.
May 19, 2023 — Source

Mississippi community workers battle maternal mortality crisis
When Lauren Jones was pregnant with her first child, doctors overlooked a leak in her amniotic sac because her description of the symptoms didn't strike them as cause for alarm.
June 20, 2023 — Source

More women opting for single embryo transfer during fertility treatment
Preliminary data from the ESHRE European IVF-monitoring Consortium (EIM) [2] shows that nearly three in five (57.6%) out of all in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures in 2020 in Europe involved the transfer of a single embryo. This compares with a figure of just over half (55.4%) for the previous analysis in 2019.
June 27, 2023 — Source

Multi-omic signals associated with maternal epidemiological factors contributing to preterm birth
In low- and middle-income countries, and in general, the prospect of preterm birth is the leading cause of mortality in children under the age of five, although comprehensive studies are hindered to the phenomenon due to its complex etiology. Researchers have previously characterized the epidemiological associations between preterm birth and maternal characteristics.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — N

New approaches to treat the consequences of birth asphyxia
Brain damage caused by oxygen deficiency at birth is one of the main causes of death in newborns worldwide. Using a small animal model, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and DZNE tested treatment with 25 different active agents. Seven substances proved to be more effective than the standard therapy of artificial cooling, and caffeine performed best.
July 3, 2023 — Source

New lipid 'signature' could help identify women at risk of preeclampsia
University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have discovered a way to identify pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia, a serious disorder characterized by high blood pressure and kidney dysfunction which can result in premature delivery, seizures and even death. Complications from the condition are the second-leading cause of maternal death around the world.
July 14, 2023 — Source or Source

New solution could provide a major breakthrough in reducing deaths from postpartum bleeding
A new solution, known as E-MOTIVE, could provide a major breakthrough in reducing deaths from childbirth-related bleeding, according to a landmark study published today by researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Birmingham.
May 9, 2023 — Source

New study finds gaps in maternal immunization data sets
Health Senior Lecturer Dr. Matt Hobbs is also co-director of the GeoHealth Laboratory in the University of Canterbury (UC) Geospatial Research Institute. He collaborated with researchers in the fields of pharmacy, midwifery, public health systems and Māori health to study the accuracy of data relating to maternal immunizations for influenza and whopping cough between 2013--2021.
July 7, 2023 — Source

New survey examines status of abortion laws in Texas, California, Arizona
In the year since the Supreme Court of the United States handed down its landmark Dobbs decision, the U.S. stepped away from a clearly defined national abortion policy for a mix of laws based on the discretion of each state. How has that been working out?
June 23, 2023 — Source

New technique enables in-vivo analysis of protein complexes
As the executor of life activities, proteins exert their specific biological functions through interactions such as forming protein complexes. The localization effects, crowding effects, and organelle microenvironments within cells are crucial for maintaining the structure and function of protein complexes.
May 5, 2023 — Source

No measurable progress made in the last decade to reduce premature births, UN report reveals
No measurable progress has been made in any region of the world in the last decade to reduce the number of babies born prematurely and thus vulnerable to loss of life, a major UN report reveals.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — O

Obesity and diabetes in pregnancy: Consequences in offspring
Research involving pediatricians from the Hospital General de Valencia has shown that the children of women who were obese or had diabetes during pregnancy developed certain epigenetic alterations that predisposed them to suffer from diseases such as diabetes, obesity and the cardiovascular problems that result from them.
May 12, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — P

Patients found to favor telehealth for medication abortion consults
Patients seeking medication abortion care through telehealth services are just as satisfied, if not more so, with the service they received as patients who visited a clinical facility to receive care, according to a study published this month in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
May 09, 2023 — Source

Prednisone does not improve in vitro fertilization outcomes
Among patients with recurrent implantation failure during in vitro fertilization, treatment with prednisone does not improve the live birth rate versus placebo, according to a study published in the May 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
May 5, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — Q

Q&Amp;A: The pill will soon be available over the counter--the impacts could be sweeping
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, opening the door for millions of people who previously struggled to access contraception to be able to get it without a prescription.
July 14, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — R

Report identifies those likely to receive meds for opioid use disorder in pregnancy
Persons receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in pregnancy are more likely to be older and White and to have public insurance, according to research published in the May 5 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MMWR. Surveillance Summaries.
May 5, 2023 — Source

Research shows that fetal surveillance from 39 weeks' gestation reduces stillbirth in women of South Asian origin
Translating analysis into action with immediate impact, Dr. Miranda Davies-Tuck turned her study of perinatal mortality into new clinical practices that dramatically reduce rates of stillbirth.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Researchers show how the placenta protects fetus in the womb against viral infections
Give credit to your dad's gene for keeping you safe during those long months in your mother's womb.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Researchers use an unprecedented stem cell zoo to study developmental time
In humans, pregnancy lasts around nine months. In mice, only 20 days, and in rhinoceroses, as long as 17 months. Although many mammalian species go through the same stages during embryo development, the speed of development differs substantially across animals.
June 20, 2023 — Source

Researchers Use PS5 Controller To Inject Sperm In Human Egg
A team of engineers from Spain have created a sperm-injecting robot that may be the first ever to fertilize a human egg.
May 2, 2023 — Source

Review calls for more positive health messaging around fertility
The language used to communicate fertility awareness should be more empathetic and target both men and women, finds a new study involving UCL researchers.
May 5, 2023 — Source

Roundup: Monash IVF begins digital transformation and more briefs
Also, MedSync launches a new video sharing feature.
May 26, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — S

Study finds link between the migrant experience and birth outcomes in Australia
A study led by The University of Western Australia has found migrant women who have spent a longer and more culturally immersive time in Australia are likely to experience some better birth outcomes than newer arrivals.
May 11, 2023 — Source

Study finds sex education tool improves reproductive health knowledge among adolescent girls
A Marshall University study found that a virtual sex education tool improved reproductive health knowledge scores and measures of self-efficacy among adolescent girls.
May 30, 2023 — Source

Study: Birth-control pills affect the body's ability to regulate stress
Women have used birth-control pills since the 1960s, but researchers still do not know everything about the body's complex reaction to the small, hormone-laden pill.
July 7, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — T

To what extent does prenatal folate status modify associations between early pregnancy perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure and birth outcomes?
PFAS exposure in early pregnancy could lead to poor birth outcomes, such as lower birth weight, shorter gestational age, and preterm birth. Preterm birth is defined as birth in less than 259 days with a weight of less than 2,500 grams.
June 2, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — U

Uncovering the link between attending prenatal checkups and low birth weight in Japan
Attending prenatal checkups can help reduce the risk of low weight at birth, find Tokyo Tech and Toyama University scientists in a recent study. Through statistical analyses of a large Japanese cohort, they pinpointed the main factors associated with mothers' attendance at prenatal checkups.
June 8, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — V

Vaginal suppository containing Lactobacilli can prevent recurrent cystitis in women
Recurrent cystitis (RC) is a frequent infection of the urinary tract and bladder, which is highly prevalent among postmenopausal women. Under healthy circumstances, the human vagina is home to a host of beneficial intestinal bacteria, such as Lactobacilli. However, in the case of urinary tract infections (UTIs), there is a decrease in the abundance of Lactobacilli and an increase in pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli).
July 3, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources — W

When menopause comes early: Symptoms & treatment
While women generally understand that at a certain age they will go through "the change," officially known as menopause, some women find themselves dealing with it much earlier than expected.
June 23, 2023 — Source

Fertility — Resources

About vasectomy reversal, infertility, IVF, ICSI
Vasectomy reversal, infertility, IVF, male infertility and in vitro fertilization.
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Endometriosis.org
is the global platform for the latest news on endometriosis.
Provides Information — Source

Pregnancy Week by Week
Pregnancy week by week presents you brief information on physiological changes in your body during the nine months of pregnancy, types of clinical examinations modes of assessments of fetal wellbeing, safe motherhood and diagnosis of pregnancy etc.
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