Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Study links epigenetic mechanism to placental blood vessel development

If the development of blood vessels in the placenta is impaired, fetal growth retardation may result. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University discovered that the correct development of functioning blood vessels in the mouse placenta is controlled epigenetically: One of the enzymes that modify gene activity using methyl groups is responsible.

15 Jan 2025

Semaglutide improves glycemic control with automated insulin delivery

Semaglutide combined with automated insulin delivery enhances glucose control in type 1 diabetes, lowering insulin requirements and aiding weight management.

15 Jan 2025

IVF and ICSI pregnancies show higher exposure to teratogenic medicines

A new Australian study has revealed a potential reason why some pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive technology (ART) may result in birth defects in comparison to naturally conceived pregnancies.

15 Jan 2025

Midwives blame California rules for hampering birth centers amid maternity care crisis

Jessie Mazar squeezed the grab handle in her husband's pickup and groaned as contractions struck her during the 90-minute drive from her home in rural northeastern California to the closest hospital with a maternity unit.

15 Jan 2025

Exploring the link between physical strength and sexual behavior in humans

While many studies have looked at possible evolutionary links between men's strength and sexual behavior, a Washington State University study included data on women with a surprising result. Women, as well as men, who had greater upper body strength tended to have more lifetime sexual partners compared to their peers.

15 Jan 2025

Unveiling the hidden benefit of bariatric surgery

Welcoming a newborn is something many couples dream of doing, but it can get complicated when conceiving becomes a roadblock. Infertility affects one in six people, but obesity can also be a problem. When diet and exercise aren't enough to lose weight, bariatric surgery can become an option. Yet a new national survey by Orlando Health finds that 56% of Americans do not know that bariatric surgery is an effective way to improve fertility.

14 Jan 2025

New push for stricter chemical laws to shield kids from harmful exposure

Research highlights the rising impact of synthetic chemicals on children's health, linking them to noncommunicable diseases and advocating for stringent global regulations.

13 Jan 2025

Study reveals decline in hormonal contraceptive use and increase in fertility awareness methods

There has been a shift away from the use of more reliable hormonal methods of contraception to less reliable fertility awareness methods among women requesting abortion in England and Wales over the past 5 years, reveals research published online in the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health.

13 Jan 2025

Enhanced biosensing technology detects molecules at lower concentrations

An unplugged electric instrument may function, but it sounds much better when it is connected to an amplifier.

13 Jan 2025

Study reveals how Zika virus hijacks host protein for reproduction

The mosquito-borne Zika virus is known for causing microcephaly, a birth defect in which abnormal brain development results in a smaller-than-expected head.

13 Jan 2025

Financial incentives prove successful in supporting pregnant smokers to quit

Rewards and financial incentives are successful methods to help people quit smoking, according to a new Cochrane review co-led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst public health and health policy researcher.

13 Jan 2025

Elderberry juice shows promise in boosting gut health and combating obesity

Elderberry juice rich in anthocyanins boosts glucose regulation and fat metabolism, with significant effects on gut microbiota in overweight adults.

10 Jan 2025

Hormonal changes after menopause impact multiple sclerosis severity

A new study by UC San Francisco has found that menopause revs up the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).

10 Jan 2025

Long distances to abortion facilities drive telehealth medication use

The distance between a patient's home and an abortion-services facility where they would seek care significantly influences how they receive birth-control medications, according to a study published Jan. 8 in the American Journal of Public Health.

9 Jan 2025

Gendered racial microaggressions found to raise blood pressure after childbirth

Gender-based racism through microaggressions may be linked to higher blood pressure postpartum and beyond, according to new research published today in Hypertension, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

9 Jan 2025

Oral medications less effective than insulin for preventing large babies in gestational diabetes study

A study comparing oral glucose-lowering agents to insulin for gestational diabetes found no non-inferiority in preventing large-for-gestational-age infants.

9 Jan 2025

Collaborative effort targets better nutrition for pregnant women and children

Poor nutrition during pregnancy can have serious consequences for both maternal and child health.

8 Jan 2025

AI analysis reveals optimal follicle sizes for IVF success

During IVF treatment, doctors use ultrasound scans to monitor the size of follicles - small sacs in the ovaries containing eggs - to decide when to give a hormone injection known as the 'trigger' to prepare the eggs for collection and ensure that they are ready to be fertilised with sperm to create embryos.

8 Jan 2025

Single-dose malaria vaccine offers unprecedented 90% protection

Results from the malaria vaccine trial indicate that GA2 immunization provides significant protection, paving the way for more effective vaccination strategies.

8 Jan 2025

U.S. wastewater treatment fails to address rising organofluorine contamination

Municipal wastewater treatment plants remove less than 25% of extractable organofluorine, with fluorinated pharmaceuticals dominating contaminants and posing significant risks to U.S. drinking water quality.

7 Jan 2025