Smoking by mothers during the period immediately before and after conception is linked to a delay in embryonic development, smaller foetuses at the time of the 20-week ultrasound scan, and lower birth weight. The study, which is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, followed 689 women with singleton […]
Category: Fertility
Most mothers born with heart defects can become pregnant and give birth safely
Expert medical care and counselling are essential Most women who are born with heart defects can safely become pregnant and give birth to healthy babies with few or minor problems if they are supported by expert medical care and counselling, according to research published in the European Heart Journal. [1] In the last few decades, […]
Researchers develop all-in-one test for the avoidance of de novo genetic disease in embryos
De novo variants (DNVs), genetic mutations that were not previously identifiable in the family history of one of two prospective parents, may cause disease in any children they have. Where a disease-causing DNV is present in one parent, the risk of passing it to a child can be as high as 50% and being able […]
Drinking alcohol is linked to reduced chances of pregnancy
Study suggests women should avoid alcohol in second half of menstrual cycle A study of the associations between drinking alcohol and the chances of becoming pregnant suggests that women who want to conceive should avoid heavy drinking. In the second half of menstrual cycle even moderate drinking is linked to reduced chances of pregnancy. The […]
Ozone in air pollution is linked to fibroid development in Black women
Higher levels of ozone from air pollution are linked to an increased risk of developing fibroids among Black American women according to a large study published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in and around the womb. They are diagnosed in 25-30% of […]
Could environmental pollution from industry contribute to cryptorchidism increase?
‘Landmark study’ suggests research should focus more on exposure to major industrial pollutants rather than low-level exposure to chemicals in food, says expert commentator Environmental pollution from industries such as coal mining and metal works may play a role in the increasing numbers of boys born with undescended testicles, according to a study published in […]
Twin Peaks: more twinning in humans than ever before
More human twins are being born than ever before, according to the first comprehensive, global overview published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. Since the 1980s the twinning rate has increased by a third from 9 to 12 per 1000 deliveries, meaning that about 1.6 million twins are born […]
Twin Peaks: more twinning in humans than ever before
More human twins are being born than ever before, according to the first comprehensive, global overview published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. Since the 1980s the twinning rate has increased by a third from 9 to 12 per 1000 deliveries, meaning that about 1.6 million twins are born […]
Fertility treatment affects children’s growth patterns but not for long
Children born as a result of fertility treatment have different growth patterns to naturally-conceived children but, by the time they reach the age of 17, they are of similar height, weight and body mass index (BMI), according to research published in Human Reproduction [1]. The study of 81,461 children from the Norwegian Mother, Father and […]
Health of fathers-to-be is linked to risk of pregnancy loss
More than a quarter of pregnancies might be ectopic or end in miscarriage or stillbirth if the father-to-be is unhealthy and has three or more medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. In a retrospective study of nearly a million pregnancies between 2009 and 2016 in the US, published […]