Copenhagen, Denmark: More than three months after suffering from mild COVID infection, men have lower sperm concentrations and fewer sperm that are able to swim, according to new findings presented at the 39th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) [1]. Professor Rocio Núñez-Calonge, scientific advisor at UR International Group […]
Category: Fertility
Are more babies born if embryos are cultured for three or five days in the lab?
Largest randomised clinical trial to date suggests that age matters Copenhagen, Denmark: Women are just as likely to give birth to live babies after fertility treatment if embryos are transferred to their wombs three days after fertilisation in the laboratory rather than five. However, the women’s age can affect the outcomes, according to new research […]
Cheap and safe hormone treatment shows promise for couples with unexplained infertility
Copenhagen, Denmark: A small study with couples experiencing unexplained infertility suggests that a hormone treatment could increase the chances of having a baby. The trial, presented at the 39th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) [1], compared couples trying to conceive naturally with couples where the woman used a […]
Embryos’ development is delayed in pregnancies that end in miscarriage
Embryos in pregnancies that end in miscarriage take longer to develop in the womb than those in pregnancies that result in live births, according to new research published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. For the first time, researchers in The Netherlands have been able to look at the […]
Mothers’ alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy is linked to changes in children’s face shapes
Researchers have used artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning technology to find a link between alterations in the shape of children’s faces and the amount of alcohol their mothers drank, both before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy. The study, which is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, is […]
Fourteen per cent decrease in live births in Europe nine months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdowns
Europe saw a 14% decrease in live births in January 2021, just nine to ten months after the first peak of the COVID-19 epidemic and the first lockdowns, compared to the average numbers of live births in January 2018 and 2019. The researchers of the study, which is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of […]
PCOS in mothers is linked to increased risk of health problems in their children
Children born to mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk of developing infections, allergies and other childhood illnesses by the age of 13, according to the largest study to investigate this. The study, which is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, looked at 1,038,375 children […]
Smoking before and after conception is linked to delayed embryonic development
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 […]
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 […]