Fertility drugs do not increase breast cancer risk
Drugs routinely used during fertility treatments to release eggs do not increase the risk of developing breast cancer, new research has shown. Researchers from King’s College London, in partnership with King’s Fertility, analysed studies involving 1.8 million women undergoing fertility treatments. These women were followed up in studies for an average period of 27 years […]
Healthy diet before during pregnancy linked to lower complications
A healthy diet around the time of conception through the second trimester may reduce the risk of several common pregnancy complications, suggests a new study. Expectant women in the study who scored high on any of three measures of healthy eating had lower risks for gestational diabetes, pregnancy-related blood pressure disorders and preterm birth. […]
Sperm help ‘persuade’ the female to accept pregnancy
Sperm are generally viewed as having just one action in reproduction — to fertilise the female’s egg — but studies at the University of Adelaide are overturning that view. Published in Nature Research journal Communications Biology, new research shows that sperm also deliver signals directly to the female reproductive tissues to increase the chances of […]
Risk of developmental difficulties remains high among children born early
Children born preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) remain at high risk of developmental difficulties that can affect their behaviour and ability to learn, finds a study published by The BMJ today. These difficulties were found not only in children born extremely preterm (22-26 weeks) but also in those born very and moderately preterm (between […]
Underweight and overweight women at higher risk of recurrent miscarriages
A new study has shown that underweight and overweight women are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing recurrent miscarriages compared to those of average weight. A research team led by the University of Southampton assessed the link between women’s lifestyle and risk of recurrent pregnancy loss, defined as women having two or more consecutive […]
New insight into formation of the human embryo
Pioneering research led by experts from the University of Exeter’s Living Systems Institute has provided new insight into formation of the human embryo. The team of researchers discovered an unique regenerative property of cells in the early human embryo. The first tissue to form in the embryo of mammals is the trophectoderm, which goes on […]
Maternal caffeine consumption and birth size
A study has found that caffeine consumption during pregnancy, even in amounts less than the recommended 200 mg per day, is linked to smaller neonatal anthropometric measurements. The longitudinal cohort study in JAMA Network Open concluded that compared to women who drank no, or very little caffeine, women who drank the most caffeine (a plasma […]
Experimental treatment offers hope of fertility for early menopausal women
A novel approach of administering platelet-rich plasma and gonadotropins near the ovarian follicles is showing promise in restoring ovarian function in women with early menopause. As more women look to build their careers before pursuing motherhood, the average age of conceiving a child continues to be pushed back. For some of these women, however, their […]
Multiple Sclerosis does not raise the risk of pregnancy complications
In a finding that should reassure women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who want to have a baby, new research suggests the disease doesn’t raise the risk of pregnancy complications. “While previous research has shown there is no higher risk of birth defects for babies born to women with MS, there are still a lot of […]
Preconception cannabis use linked to reduced chances of pregnancy
Women who use cannabis — marijuana or hashish — could have a more difficult time conceiving a child than women who do not use cannabis, suggests a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cannabis use among the women’s partners was not studied. The researchers were led by Sunni L. Mumford, Ph.D., […]