IVF Treatment in the U.S. May Be at Risk, Scientists Warn
An Alabama court ruling that human embryos outside the uterus should be regarded as children has raised concerns among doctors and scientists about the future of the fertility treatment in vitro fertilization
Pregnancy Increases Biological Age, but Giving Birth Changes it Back
Carrying a baby creates some of the same epigenetic patterns on DNA seen in older people
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How the Supreme Court’s Mifepristone Ruling Could Affect Abortion Access and Future Drug Approvals
The Supreme Court’s mifepristone decision could make abortions harder to access and challenge the FDA’s authority to regulate all drugs and devices
How Pregnancy Changes the Brain
A study of more than 100 new parents showed that pregnancy and birth cause changes in brain circuits that may be involved in empathy and bonding with the child
Who Gets an Abortion in the U.S.? Perceptions Don’t Match Reality
People’s perceptions about who gets an abortion and why rely on stereotypes and misconceptions—with potential policy implications
Flimsy Antiabortion Studies Cited in Case to Ban Mifepristone Are Retracted
Outside experts found that two studies cited in a federal case on medication abortion had serious design problems and that their authors had undisclosed conflicts of interest
Semen Has Its Own Microbiome—And It Might Influence Fertility
Recent research found a species of bacteria living in semen that’s associated with infertility and has links to the vaginal microbiome
New IVF Test Could Increase Chances of Pregnancy Success
A noninvasive test for genetic material could predict embryo quality in IVF.
64,000 Pregnancies Caused by Rape Have Occurred in States with a Total Abortion Ban, New Study Estimates
Researchers calculated the number of pregnancies resulting from rape in states where abortion was banned throughout pregnancy after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision
Babies Exposed to COVID in the Womb Are More Likely to Suffer Breathing Problems
Infants born to people who had COVID while pregnant are at a higher risk of respiratory distress, but vaccination greatly lowers the risk
COVID Caused a Baby Bump when Experts Expected a Drop. Here’s Why
During the COVID pandemic, the U.S. initially saw a drop in births followed by a bump
Fathers’ Drinking May Affect Fertility and Fetal Brain Development
Historically, only women’s drinking was considered a risk during pregnancy, but new research points to the role of fathers’ habits as well