Embryo News and Research

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Can cannabis use disrupt women’s fertility? New study finds strong evidence

Researchers found that THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, alters oocyte gene expression, spindle formation, and chromosome segregation, lowering embryo euploidy rates in IVF. This provides direct human evidence linking cannabis exposure to impaired female fertility outcomes.

10 Sep 2025

Cornell researchers develop device to simplify fertility treatment

In the quest to address infertility, Cornell University researchers have developed a groundbreaking device that could simplify and automate oocyte cumulus removal, a critical step in assisted reproductive technologies.

5 Sep 2025

New technique succeeds in studying embryo implantation outside the body

The use of assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization is becoming more common worldwide. However, while these technologies successfully create viable embryos, a little over half of all embryos are lost because they fail to implant into the uterus.

2 Sep 2025

Transcription factors SP5 and SP8 regulate primary cilia formation in embryos

Some might say it looks like a finger. Others might see a worm. Scientists in the field often liken it to an antenna.

29 Aug 2025

Genetic testing of IVF-created embryos could help more women over 35 have a baby sooner

Genetic testing of IVF-created embryos could help more women over 35 have a baby in less time, a clinical trial by researchers from King's College London, King's College Hospital, and King's Fertility has found.

25 Aug 2025

Using light to control tissue folding in developing embryos

The complex 3D shapes of brains, lungs, eyes, hands, and other vital bodily structures emerge from the way in which flat 2D sheets of cells fold during embryonic development.

21 Aug 2025

Researchers capture first 3D real-time images of human embryo implantation

Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in collaboration with the Dexeus University Hospital have captured unparalleled images of a human embryo implanting.

18 Aug 2025

ISSCR updates guidelines to address advances in stem cell-based embryo models

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) released an update of its 2021 Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation today.

13 Aug 2025

Heart cells adapt and stretch to shape a healthy beating heart

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered that the heart's own contractions trigger biological signals that guide the formation of a functional beating heart.

6 Aug 2025

A brain-dead pregnant woman was kept alive in Georgia. It’s unclear if state law required it.

A Georgia woman declared brain-dead and kept on life support for more than three months because she was pregnant was removed from a ventilator in June and died, days after doctors delivered her 1-pound, 13-ounce baby by emergency cesarean section.

29 Jul 2025

Sperm RNA profiles could identify the best embryos for IVF

Findings on sperm RNA suggest new biomarkers for IVF success, potentially improving embryo selection and reducing cycles needed for desired fertility outcomes.

21 Jul 2025

New data confirms efficacy of mitochondrial donation in preventing disease

The UK's pioneering licensed IVF technique to reduce the risk of mitochondrial diseases carried out in Newcastle has seen eight babies born, published research shows.

17 Jul 2025

OCT imaging sheds light on embryo transport mechanism in the oviduct

In a new mouse study, researchers have used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to uncover new insights into how the fallopian tube transports preimplantation embryos toward the uterus for pregnancy.

15 Jul 2025

FEMI helps predict IVF outcomes with greater accuracy

FEMI, an AI model for IVF, uses 18 million images to improve embryo assessment, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective solution for better success rates.

15 Jul 2025

Researchers create over 400 types of nerve cells from stem cells

Nerve cells are not just nerve cells. Depending on how finely we distinguish, there are several hundred to several thousand different types of nerve cell in the human brain according to the latest calculations.

11 Jul 2025

Vaping versus smoking’s impact on male fertility

A new study found that male E-cigarette users undergoing IVF had higher sperm motility and lower miscarriage rates compared to conventional smokers. However, E-cigarettes were not shown to be safe and further research is needed before recommending them for fertility.

6 Jul 2025

Embryos from women with PCOS carry distinctive epigenetic memory

Novel research presented today at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) has found that embryos from women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) carry a distinctive 'epigenetic memory' that could explain why the condition often runs in families.

1 Jul 2025

Gut microbiota and metabolic changes linked to pregnancy risks in women with PCOS

A new study presented today at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) reveals that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have distinct gut microbiota and metabolic signatures linked to premature endometrial aging and a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

30 Jun 2025

Male age over 45 linked to higher miscarriage risk in IVF with donor eggs

A new international study presented today at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) reveals that IVF cycles involving male partners over the age of 45 carry significantly increased miscarriage risks and lower live birth rates – even when young donor eggs are used.

30 Jun 2025

Discovery of a genetic dimmer switch controlling embryonic development

A team of scientists at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) has uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that controls how genes are switched ‘on’ and ‘off’ during embryonic development.

27 Jun 2025