Birth Defects News and Research

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What pregnancy reveals about a woman’s future heart health

Pregnancy acts as a natural cardiovascular stress test, revealing hidden heart disease and identifying women at higher long-term risk after complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth. The review highlights major evidence gaps in cardio-obstetric care and calls for stronger postpartum screening, dedicated women’s health clinics, and better inclusion of reproductive-age women in research.

3 Jun 2026

Survey reveals critical knowledge gaps in maternal health recommendations

Most Americans know that how well a mother takes care of herself before and during pregnancy affects the health of a baby, but many people remain unclear about some specific maternal health recommendations, including when to start avoiding alcohol, according to a new nationally representative survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania.

29 May 2026

Brain cell division errors may drive cancer and developmental disorders

University of Virginia School of Medicine scientists have revealed how mistakes in the final step of cell division can have dire consequences for developing brain cells.

20 May 2026

New research reassures mothers on NSAID safety during the first trimester

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, taken during the first trimester of pregnancy are not associated with an increased risk of major birth defects, according to a new study published May 14th in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Sharon Daniel of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Clalit Health Services, Beer-Sheva, Israel, and colleagues.

15 May 2026

Endometriosis increases risk of some birth defects in infants

Research indicates women with endometriosis may face a higher risk of congenital anomalies in infants, emphasizing the need for further investigation.

13 May 2026

Endometriosis linked to slightly higher birth defect risk in infants

For babies born to people with endometriosis, there is a small but significant increased risk of congenital anomalies, often called birth defects, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.250439.

11 May 2026

Early chemical exposure linked to sperm abnormalities in men

An estimated 7% of all men are affected by infertility. Multiple animal studies indicated that exposure to persistent environmental chemicals in early life can negatively impact male reproductive health, and now a human study suggests the same.

4 May 2026

Study reveals the physics behind neural tube closure in embryos

In about one out of every 1,000 pregnancies, the neural tube, a key nervous system structure, fails to close properly.

21 Apr 2026

Loneliness is linked to higher risk of degenerative heart valve disease

Adults who reported feeling lonely had a higher risk of developing degenerative heart valve disease, even after accounting for traditional heart disease risk factors and genetics, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

15 Apr 2026

Global indicators identified to monitor health before pregnancy worldwide

The key health and social indicators needed for a new global system to monitor people's health before pregnancy have been identified for the first time by researchers at University College London and the University of Southampton.

16 Mar 2026

Birth control skepticism, teen fertility education center stage at Trump’s women’s health summit

Surrounded by hot pink lights and cherry blossom pink drapes on a ballroom stage, family doctor Marguerite Duane offered a seemingly simple solution to infertility: Doctors should have conversations with young girls about whether they want to have children one day.

16 Mar 2026

Mandated cCMV screening improves early identification of infant hearing loss

A new retrospective cohort study examining the impact of Minnesota's first-in-the-nation mandated universal newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) shows that universal screening significantly decreased the age at first audiology visit and increased identification of mild hearing loss in infants.

2 Mar 2026

Combining stem cell therapy with fetal surgery shows promise for treating myelomeningocele

A phase 1 clinical trial published in The Lancet has shown that combining stem cell therapy with standard fetal surgery before birth is a safe and promising approach to treat myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida.

26 Feb 2026

Pigs and grizzly bears may reveal secrets of youthful skin

The secret to youthful appearance and repairing scars may lie in a microscopic skin structure humans share with pigs and grizzly bears - but, surprisingly, not monkeys.

4 Feb 2026

Scientists discover spindle's self-repair mechanism for accurate cell division

Every second, millions of cells in your body divide in two. In the space of an hour, they duplicate their DNA and grow a web of protein fibers around it called a spindle.

27 Jan 2026

New $8.5 million renewal grant fuels research on children's heart health

The National Institutes of Health has awarded the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai an $8.5 million renewal grant to continue groundbreaking work aimed at understanding and improving long-term outcomes for children with congenital heart disease-the most common type of birth defect in the United States.

7 Jan 2026

Researchers develop antibody to combat HCMV, a common, overlooked virus

Researchers at Texas Biologics have made an important discovery that could improve treatment of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a common but overlooked virus that poses serious risks to vulnerable populations, including people with compromised immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus is the most infectious cause of birth defects in the United States.

18 Dec 2025

FDA panelists questioned antidepressants in pregnancy. But doctors call them a lifeline.

If you are pregnant or a new mother who is struggling with depression or anxiety, you can call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, 24/7: 833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262). Postpartum Support International can help connect you with a local mental health provider at 800-944-4773 or psidirectory.com.

15 Dec 2025

Human heart organoids enable new therapies for atrial fibrillation

Though an estimated 60 million people around the world have atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, a type of irregular and often fast heartbeat, it's been at least 30 years since any new treatments have been developed.

12 Dec 2025

New analysis shows one in two people in the U.S. live with neurological conditions

One in two people in the United States, just over half of the population, is affected by a neurological disease or disorder, according to a new systematic analysis by the American Academy of Neurology and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation published on November 24, 2025, in the journal JAMA Neurology.

24 Nov 2025