Gothenburg, Sweden: Infertility – the failure to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse – affects one in every six couples worldwide, and the man is implicated in about half of these cases. Despite the known importance of genetic factors in the event of the man producing no sperm, only about 25% of these cases […]
Category: Fertility
Stress during early pregnancy is linked to reduced reproductive function in male offspring
Men whose mothers were exposed to stressful life events while they were in the first 18 weeks of pregnancy may have reduced sperm counts when they become adults, according to a study published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. Research has shown that the first few months of pregnancy […]
Infertility is linked to small increased risk of cancer
A study of over 64,000 women of childbearing age in the USA has found that infertility is associated with a higher risk of developing cancer compared to a group of over three million women without fertility problems, although the absolute risk is very low at just 2%. As cancer is unusual in pre-menopausal women, the […]
Sperm quality unaffected by one course of chemotherapy for early testicular cancer
Men with early stage testicular cancer can safely receive one course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery without it having a long-term effect on their sperm count, according to a study published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. Although it is known already that several rounds of chemotherapy or high doses of […]
Unexpected results suggest a few joints may not harm men’s sperm. Researchers urge caution and call for more research on effects of cannabis on reproductive health
Researchers investigating the effect of cannabis smoking on men’s testicular function have made the unexpected discovery that it is linked to higher sperm counts and higher testosterone levels among moderate users compared to men who never smoked it. The study is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. Previous […]
No overall increased risk of cancer in children born after fertility treatment
Children born after assisted reproductive technology (ART) do not appear to be at greater risk of developing cancer than other children, according to the first study to look at the long-term cancer risk in ART children compared to those in the general population or who were naturally conceived by subfertile women. The study of 47,690 […]
Chemicals in personal care and household products linked to earlier puberty in girls
Chemicals that are widely used in personal care and household products are linked to girls entering puberty at earlier ages, according to findings from a long-running study of mothers and children. The study in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, found that chemicals such as phthalates, parabens and phenols were […]
Soy-based formula milk is linked to increased risk of menstrual pain in young women
If women were fed soy-based formula milk when they were babies, they are at increased risk of suffering from severe pain during their menstrual bleeds, according to the latest study to investigate the link. In a study published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, researchers looked at data from […]
The age at which women experience their first period is linked to their sons’ age at puberty
The age at which young women experience their first menstrual bleeding is linked to the age at which their sons start puberty, according to the largest study to investigate this association in both sons and daughters. The research, which is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, looked at […]
Why single embryo transfer during IVF sometimes results in twins or triplets: world’s largest study investigates prevalence and causes
It has been known for some time that it is better to transfer a single embryo to a woman’s womb during assisted reproduction treatment (ART) rather than several embryos in order to avoid a multiple pregnancy and the risks associated with it such as foetal deaths, miscarriage, premature delivery and low birthweight. However, even when […]