Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Dmrta2 gene mutation can lead to abnormal brain development in unborn babies

Researchers from Cardiff University and Université Libre de Bruxelles have identified how the function of a key gene significantly impacts nerve stem cell growth, and how it can lead to abnormal brain development in unborn babies if the system goes awry.

6 Jul 2017

Study reveals higher number of eggs as determinants of IVF success

A higher number of eggs retrieved in an IVF treatment cycle is independently associated with more chromosomally normal embryos available for transfer, according to a new Australian study.

4 Jul 2017

Study finds high levels of serotonin in blood of SIDS infants

Blood samples from infants who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) had high levels of serotonin, a chemical that carries signals along and between nerves, according to a study funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.

4 Jul 2017

High fat diet during pregnancy increases breast cancer susceptibility in female progeny, mice study finds

Feeding pregnant female mice a diet high in fat derived from common corn oil resulted in genetic changes that substantially increased breast cancer susceptibility in three generations of female offspring, reports a team of researchers led by scientists at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

3 Jul 2017

Increase in male partner’s age associated with decline in cumulative live birth rate, study finds

A new study of IVF couples, conducted in the USA, finds the effects of the age of male partners in cumulative live birth outcomes. The results clearly state that there can be a significant reduction in the chances of live births owing to the increased age of the male partner, also seen with certain younger female age groups whose age has less potency on the effects.

3 Jul 2017

Research identifies main factors that influence low birth weight in Nepal

According to research, 27% of all children born in Nepal have low birth weight and over three-quarters of the new born deaths in Nepal occur in these low birth weight babies.

3 Jul 2017

Finnish mothers carry rare gene variants that protect them from pre-eclampsia, study finds

Researchers at the University of Helsinki, in cooperation with two research groups in the United States, have discovered that some Finnish mothers carry rare gene variants that protect them from pre-eclampsia, also known as toxaemia of pregnancy.

3 Jul 2017

Live birth outcome affected by age of male partner, study shows

Men, unlike women, do not have a menopause or a predictable and detectable decline in their fertility. Female age is thus the dominant factor in predicting (or explaining) a couple's chance of conception, whether natural or assisted.

3 Jul 2017

U.S. teen birth rates show heartening declines

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics has released data for births in 2016 and has come up with some heartening trends. Teenage girls giving birth for example has dropped by 67% in 1997. The reports show that birth rates among teenagers between 15 and 19 years have declined by 51% since 2007. The data comes from analysis of majority (99.96%) of births as of February 16, 2017. The report published last Friday shows that since the year before teenage girls giving birth has dropped by 9%.

2 Jul 2017

Analysis looks at use of multiple substances in reproductive-age women who use opioids

The majority of reproductive-age and pregnant women who use opioids for non-medical purposes also use at least one other substance, ranging from nicotine or alcohol to cocaine, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health analysis.

30 Jun 2017

Preserved placenta is associated with risk of infection

A recent case study published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted that capsules of dehydrated placenta prepared for human consumption can be a source of infectious agents.

30 Jun 2017

Benefits of full breastfeeding in newborns could last through to early adulthood, research shows

Babies who are fed only breast milk for the first three months of life appear to be much more likely to maintain a healthy weight trajectory, with the benefits possibly lasting through to early adulthood, new research shows.

30 Jun 2017

First UK guideline provides recommendations to manage adults with Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome

The first UK guideline on the care of adults with Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome has been published today by the British Society of Rheumatology.

30 Jun 2017

New lab-on-a chip predicts preterm birth risk

Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Among the many underlying causes of pregnancy-associated complications, it is known that infection and inflammation are highly significant risk factors.

29 Jun 2017

Wise Guys program targets young men to curb teenage pregnancy

In 2015, there were nearly 10,000 teenage pregnancies in North Carolina. "Teen parents are less likely to finish high school, less likely to be well employed, and less likely to be in committed and stable relationships," said Rick Brown, Youth Education Program Director at Children's Home Society of North Carolina.

28 Jun 2017

Noisy environment at night linked to infertility in men

Long-term exposure to a noisy environment, particularly at night, is linked to infertility in men, according to a study in Environmental Pollution.

28 Jun 2017

Multiparity improves outcomes after stroke in female mice

Stroke is an age-related disease that disproportionately affects women. Although experimental studies have identified several hormonal and genetic factors underlying these differences, little is known about how pregnancy influences risk as this has not been previously studied in the laboratory setting.

28 Jun 2017

Acupuncture may not be effective treatment for infertility in women with PCOS

Acupuncture, alone or with the medication clomiphene, does not appear to be effective in treating infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a new international study including Penn State College of Medicine.

27 Jun 2017

Researchers identify new therapy target for gonorrhea

Researchers have identified a possible new treatment for gonorrhea, using a peptide that thwarts the infection-causing bacterium by interfering with an enzyme the microbe needs to respirate.

27 Jun 2017

CDC Report shows improved usage of contraception and birth control for American teens

According to a new report (PDF) from the National Survey of Family Growth, part of the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) National Center for Health Statistics, American teenagers are still having as much sex as before. Heartening is the trend of improved usage of contraception or birth control says the report.

22 Jun 2017