Womb News and Research

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The womb is the small, hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's pelvis. This is the organ in which a baby grows. Also called uterus.

Breast-feeding may aid development of white matter structures in the brains of premature babies

To the growing list of reasons why mothers should consider breast-feeding infants, add another: Critical white matter structures in the brains of babies who are born so prematurely that they weigh less than 1,500 grams develop more robustly when their mothers breast-feed them, compared with preemie peers who are fed formula.

4 May 2017

Specific genetic changes in the placenta of women may serve as biomarker to predict newborn health

UCLA scientists have discovered specific genetic changes in the placentas of women who gave birth to growth-restricted infants. These changes appear to sabotage the ability of the placenta to grow blood vessels and adequately nourish the fetus, interfering with the infant's growth in the womb.

3 May 2017

Prenatal cocaine exposure linked to increased risk of drug use among teens

While the crack cocaine epidemic peaked in the late 1980's, its effects are still causing harm to an estimated 3 million teenagers and young adults exposed to the stimulant in the womb.

3 May 2017

Maternal grandmother’s smoking in pregnancy increases risk of ASD in grandchildren

Scientists from the University of Bristol have looked at all 14,500 participants in Children of the 90s and found that if a girl's maternal grandmother smoked during pregnancy, the girl is 67% more likely to display certain traits linked to autism, such as poor social communication skills and repetitive behaviors.

27 Apr 2017

Artificial womb could improve survival among premature babies

Researchers have designed a womb-like device that could allow premature babies to develop their lungs and organs in the critical few weeks that remain before they face the outside world.

26 Apr 2017

Epigenetic changes detectable at birth linked to risk of obesity

These changes, known as epigenetic modifications, control the activity of our genes without changing the actual DNA sequence. One of the main epigenetic modifications is DNA methylation, which plays a key role in embryonic development and the formation of different cell types, regulating when and where genes are switched on.

26 Apr 2017

KU Leuven researchers grow three-dimensional cultures of the uterus' inner lining in a dish

Scientists at KU Leuven, Belgium, have succeeded in growing three-dimensional cultures of the endometrium, the uterus' inner lining, in a dish.

25 Apr 2017

Scientists grow womb lining models that could shed light on early pregnancy events

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have grown miniature functional models of the womb lining in culture, representing a major step forwards in the study of early-stage pregnancy and conditions such as endometriosis.

11 Apr 2017

Miniature models of ‘womb lining’ could provide insights into early pregnancy and menstrual cycle

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have succeeded in growing miniature functional models of the lining of the womb (uterus) in culture.

10 Apr 2017

Greater body surface area linked to increased risk of atrial fibrillation in women

Big women have a nearly threefold greater risk of atrial fibrillation than small women, according to research presented today at EuroPrevent 2017. The study included 1.5 million women who were followed-up for more than 30 years.

7 Apr 2017

Pet exposure may lower risks of allergy and obesity in children

If you need a reason to become a dog lover, how about their ability to help protect kids from allergies and obesity? A new University of Alberta study showed that babies from families with pets--70 per cent of which were dogs--showed higher levels of two types of microbes associated with lower risks of allergic disease and obesity.

6 Apr 2017

Pioneering IVF technique offers hope to families with inheritable mitochondrial disorders

Details of a pioneering IVF technique using mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) have been revealed, giving hope to those families with inheritable mitochondrial disorders that they may be able to have healthy children in the future.

3 Apr 2017

Prenatal ultrasound exposure can weaken thigh bones, animal study shows

Young rabbits exposed to ultrasound during fetal development had weaker thighbones than unexposed rabbits, according to a study published in the Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology.

29 Mar 2017

Researchers identify new gene mutation that leads to infertility in women

It has been estimated that more than 80 million people in the world have an unfulfilled desire to have children. But for every 10th couple, the reasons therefor remain unclear.

28 Mar 2017

Maternal infections during pregnancy may alter genes key to prenatal brain development

If a mother picks up an infection during pregnancy, her immune system will kick into action to clear the infection - but this self-defence mechanism may also have a small influence how her child's brain develops in the womb, in ways that are similar to how the brain develops in autism spectrum disorders.

21 Mar 2017

Exposure to EDCs alters thyroid hormone signalling, early brain development in frog embryos

Findings published today provide evidence that exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) causes changes in thyroid hormone signalling, which disturbs brain development.

13 Mar 2017

WHO report: 1.7 million children die every year due to unhealthy environments

More than 1 in 4 deaths of children under 5 years are attributable to unhealthy environments. Every year, environmental risks – such as indoor and outdoor air pollution, second-hand smoke, unsafe water, lack of sanitation and inadequate hygiene – take the lives of 1.7 million children under 5 years, say two new World Health Organization reports.

9 Mar 2017