Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

European survey reveals strong public support for fertility treatment

A new Europe-wide survey launched during the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) suggests broad public support for fertility treatment and several areas of reproductive research, while highlighting key areas where public understanding and opinion continue to develop.

5 Jul 2026

Racial disparities in hypertension onset among women

The study highlights that Black women develop hypertension almost a decade earlier than White women, calling for targeted interventions to reduce disparities.

3 Jul 2026

Prenatal high fructose exposure impairs brain development and memory

Nutritional imbalance during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on the health status and disease susceptibility of the offspring.

2 Jul 2026

Mexico's infant mortality remains stubborn despite healthcare access gains

Over the decade from 2014 to 2023, Mexico's infant death rate barely budged, suggesting the country hit a wall in saving babies' lives-even as official paperwork claimed that almost all babies had a medical professional present when they died.

2 Jul 2026

Study reveals double burden of malnutrition among low-income urban children in India

Children growing up in a low-income urban community in Vellore are now facing two seemingly opposite forms of malnutrition simultaneously: persistent thinness and rising obesity by the time they reach primary school age.

2 Jul 2026

Paracetamol during pregnancy does not raise autism or ADHD risk

A sibling-matched study finds no link between prenatal paracetamol use and autism or ADHD, reassuring its safety when clinically indicated during pregnancy.

2 Jul 2026

Biological heart valves support safer pregnancies despite reoperation risks

In severe disease of the aortic valve, choosing a new heart valve is especially difficult for young women who want to become pregnant.

1 Jul 2026

Prenatal paracetamol use does not increase child neurodevelopmental risks

Researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), along with Aston Pharmacy School's Professor Ian Chi-Kei Wong, have shown that using paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy does not increase a child's risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention‑deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

1 Jul 2026

Genetics play a bigger role than pregnancy in childhood obesity risk

Genetic factors primarily explain the link between parental and childhood BMI, with maternal obesity impacting birth weight more than later childhood obesity.

1 Jul 2026

Monoclonal antibody shows promise for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome

Doctors have few options for patients who develop a life-threatening lung condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS.

30 Jun 2026

Cryo-EM microscopy uncovers structure of bacteria behind gum disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, caused by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). In Japan alone, approximately 80% of adults over 30 years old are affected or considered at risk.

30 Jun 2026

Researchers identify key predictors for mother-infant bonding difficulties

Mother-to-infant bonding difficulties (MIBD) are commonly associated with postnatal depression. MIBD has been linked to developmental delays and child abuse.

30 Jun 2026

Digital rewards program targets smoking cessation during pregnancy

A new award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse will advance a smartphone-based treatment aimed at helping pregnant individuals quit smoking.

29 Jun 2026

Under-twos should avoid screen time to protect future health

Using screens during the first 1001 days of life can lead to developmental concerns for the next generation, researchers warn.

29 Jun 2026

One in three adults in England now lives with obesity

Obesity trends show significant disparities among demographics, stressing the importance of targeted prevention to address widening health inequalities.

29 Jun 2026

Melatonin dampens fetal membrane inflammation linked to preterm birth

Melatonin reduced infection-related inflammation in human fetal membranes in an ex vivo model. The study suggests that this effect works partly through melatonin receptors and by suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

28 Jun 2026

Could your birth characteristics influence colorectal cancer risk?

A California study links birth and parental factors to early-onset colorectal cancer risk, highlighting male sex and Hispanic ethnicity as key contributors.

26 Jun 2026

Neuroticism and adversity dominate depression and anxiety risk in UK Biobank study

In a UK Biobank study of 87,648 adults followed for 13.7 years, psychosocial factors accounted for the largest estimated population burden of depression and anxiety in both women and men. Neuroticism symptoms, childhood and adult adversity, obesity, chronic inflammation, and some reproductive factors in women were linked to incident mental health outcomes, although the PAF estimates remain theoretical and not proof of causality.

25 Jun 2026

Gut microbes emerge as potential players in estrogen-driven cancers

A new review maps how the endocrine-microbiome axis expands the estrobolome concept, showing that gut microbes may alter estrogen recycling, produce hormone-like metabolites, and shape inflammation and tissue environments in hormone-driven cancers. Human evidence remains mostly associative, so the authors call for causal models, longitudinal multi-omics, multi-kingdom profiling, and sex-stratified studies before microbiome-guided cancer strategies enter routine care.

25 Jun 2026

Experts urge neglected tropical disease status for ocular toxoplasmosis

One third of the world's population is infected with the Toxoplasma parasite, which can cause ocular toxoplasmosis, an eye infection that can damage the retina and result in permanent vision loss.

25 Jun 2026