Conception News and Research

RSS

Study sheds new light on the role of somatic mutations in temporal lobe epilepsy

Epilepsy affects approximately 1-in-26 people and the most common form, known as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), often cannot be adequately treated with anti-seizure medications.

2 May 2023

Clinical review finds adverse effects of perinatal cannabis use on pregnancy and breastfeeding

Study reviews the available literature on perinatal cannabis use and its effects on pregnancy and breastfeeding. It also discusses the need for further research and guidelines for clinicians when discussing cannabis use with pregnant patients.

30 Apr 2023

Bourn Hall offers ‘at-home’ semen analysis service to reduce male embarrassment

Male embarrassment over the thought of giving a semen sample at a clinic can delay couples getting the fertility support they need. To overcome this issue, fertility clinic Bourn Hall is offering a service where a sample produced at home is collected for rapid analysis, and the results explained one-to-one by a specialist fertility consultant.

29 Apr 2023

Tracking SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant XBB1.16

The World Health Organization recently named the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant XBB1.16 a variant of interest to encourage tracking of this genetic variant of the pandemic coronavirus.

28 Apr 2023

Pain, hope, and science collide as athletes turn to magic mushrooms

The boxer felt broken. Every day, he was waking up in pain. Some days, it was debilitating headaches. Other times, it was his back. Or his fists. His ribs. His nose. On top of that, he had mood swings. Depression. Anxiety.

24 Apr 2023

Diet rich in fruit, vegetables may be associated with lower risk of miscarriage

A preconception and early-pregnancy diet that contains lots of fruit, vegetables, seafood, dairy, eggs and grain may be associated with reducing the risk of miscarriage, a new review of research suggests.

19 Apr 2023

First-ever largest atlas of post-zygotic genome mutations in healthy human tissue created

Researchers have created the largest atlas of post-zygotic genome mutations in healthy human tissue ever assembled -; a scientific advancement that could unlock new avenues for diagnosing and treating genetic disease.

13 Apr 2023

Male alcohol consumption before conception causes facial growth defects in offspring

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects in their unborn child.

12 Apr 2023

Prenatal and early childhood nutritional exposures: a review of the developmental contributions to obesity

Researchers reviewed the latest studies on nutritional exposures during prenatal and early childhood stages.

11 Apr 2023

Study finds higher BMI and smoking increased time to conception

Researchers evaluate the effect of lifestyle behaviors on various fertility and reproductive outcomes.

10 Apr 2023

Researchers develop a method for making “mini-heart” using pluripotent stem cells

A team at the Technical University of Munich has induced stem cells to emulate the development of the human heart.

5 Apr 2023

Dietary interventions show mixed results in treating perinatal depression and anxiety

Depression and anxiety are frequently treated with diet changes among women during pregnancy or postpartum. Not much is known, however, about the effectiveness of such interventions. A new research paper reports the findings of a systematic review aimed at identifying the benefits of such dietary modifications in these situations.

4 Apr 2023

VTC professor awarded NIH grant to study a potential therapy for DiGeorge syndrome

The human brain begins to assemble itself shortly after conception as a growing number of brain cells connect to create circuits across the brain.

3 Apr 2023

People conceived by IVF are not at increased risk of obstetric or perinatal complications, study finds

There's little evidence to suggest that children conceived as a result of fertility treatment are at any greater risk of pregnancy complications or worse birth outcomes than their naturally conceived peers, finds a long-term study, published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.

21 Mar 2023

Study of vascular function in men eating high-fat and low-fat ground beef

In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, researchers in the United States evaluated the impact of high- (HFB) or low-fat ground beef (LFB) on vascular function.

20 Mar 2023

Reversing infertility in sterile mice by reducing high-circulating cholesterol with a bacterial protein

Houston Methodist scientists reversed infertility in sterile mice by reducing high-circulating cholesterol with a bacterial protein, showing further evidence that links high cholesterol to female infertility.

15 Mar 2023

Use of dapivirine vaginal ring during third trimester of pregnancy poses no safety concerns

A vaginal ring containing the antiretroviral drug dapivirine posed no safety concerns when used in the third trimester of pregnancy, according to results to date from the first study of the dapivirine ring during pregnancy and one of only a few studies of an HIV prevention product in pregnant cisgender women.

20 Feb 2023

Can COVID-19 vaccinations cause miscarriage in pregnant women?

Scientists have recently reviewed existing literature to evaluate the rates of miscarriage and live birth among COVID-19-vaccinated pregnant women.

19 Feb 2023

Prenatal alcohol exposure associated with the facial shape of children

Researchers have used artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning technology to find a link between alterations in the shape of children's faces and the amount of alcohol their mothers drank, both before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy.

16 Feb 2023

Exposure to wildfire smoke associated with spontaneous preterm birth

The detrimental effects of poor air quality on a person's health are well documented. In pregnant people, research has shown that poor air quality, such as smog, can lead to a number of adverse outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), one of the leading causes of infant mortality in the United States as well as globally. PTB is defined as delivery before the 37th week of pregnancy.

13 Feb 2023