Fertility & Pregnancy News

Brazil doles out 'morning after' pills Reported November 20, 2007 São Paulo, Brazil - As part of a new fight against Brazil's sky-high number of unwanted pregnancies and illegal abortions, the country's most populous state is offering "morning after" contraceptive pills at metro stops and 90 percent off contraceptive pills at pharmacies. And … [Read more...]

Breast not Best for AsthmaReported September 14, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There may be lots of good reasons to breastfeed your baby, but protecting him from asthma apparently isn't one of them. A large study conducted by European investigators reveals breastfeeding has no effect on the development of asthma and allergies in the children at the age of six and a half. The … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding has health benefit for moms: StudyReported July 21, 2009 Breast isn't just best for baby: mothers who don't breastfeed their babies may increase their risk of heart attacks and strokes decades later, new research suggests. The evidence comes from the massive Women's Health Initiative trial and involved nearly 140,000 women. Researchers found that women who … [Read more...]

Contraceptives Safe, But Questions RemainReported January 26, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Oral contraceptives are used by 80 percent of women at some point in their lives. The pills are generally safe, but experts warn some risks and benefits have yet to be examined. A recent journal article by experts at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute provides insight into hormonal … [Read more...]

A technique to detect genetic disorders in embryos before they're implanted seems to be relatively harmless for babies once they're born. The research was presented at the European Human Genetics Conference in Nice, France. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a new technique that allows specialists to detect whether or not an embryo contains a gene that will lead … [Read more...]

Double Breakthrough may Combat MalariaReported December 09, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The discovery of new protein biomarkers in the blood may help doctors detect two dangerous forms of malaria earlier. Scientists recently found women with placental malaria -- a form of the disease that develops in the placenta of a pregnant woman and affects her unborn child -- carry a … [Read more...]

Affects of Nicotine and Drugs Start in the Womb Reported June 13, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A child who’s been exposed to drugs in the womb is starting off with two strikes when it comes to a lifetime of healthy sleep. According to a new study, children exposed to cocaine, nicotine, marijuana, alcohol, opiates or some combination of those are more likely to have sleep … [Read more...]

Attacking Autism: Earlier DiagnosisReported February 03, 2009 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Autism is a developmental disorder that impacts a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. A new case is diagnosed every 20 minutes in the United States, but getting to a diagnosis can be a frustrating battle. New breakthroughs may be the key to early … [Read more...]

IVF Use Rises in Australia as Older Women Seek Fertility Help Reported September 17, 2008 Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Fertility treatments rose 4.6 percent in Australia in 2006, spurred by women in their late 30s and 40s seeking help falling pregnant, a new report shows. Australian fertility clinics performed 48,706 treatment cycles in 2006, … [Read more...]

Birth Size Linked to Breast Cancer Risk Reported October 03, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Birth size -- particularly length -- may help predict a baby's risk of developing breast cancer when he or she reaches adulthood. The birth size and breast cancer association had been previously made, but researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine set out to … [Read more...]

Canada's fertility rate at 10-year high: StatsCan Reported September 26, 2008 Canada's fertility rate reached a 10-year high in 2006, when women aged 30 to 34 had more babies than women aged 25 to 29 for the first time, Statistics Canada said Friday. The total fertility rate — the average number of children per women — rose to 1.59 in 2006, up from 1.54 in 2005, the … [Read more...]

Cell Phone DangersReported March 12, 2009 CLEVELAND (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More than 3 billion people have them worldwide. More than 90 percent of the Western world uses them. Americans average about 13 hours a month talking on them. However, there are some downsides to using that device we just can't seem to get enough of. Men: beware! A new study shows cell phone usage … [Read more...]

Predicting Premature Birth July 16, 2007 Science Daily — With pre-term births a major international health problem, scientists are reporting an advance toward developing a much-needed, noninvasive test for predicting when pregnant women are about to deliver early. Oregon Health Science University’s Srinivasa R. Nagalla and colleagues there and at the … [Read more...]

Controversial Chemical Fine for Pregnant WomenReported October 08, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Small amounts of ingested perchlorate -- a chemical widely found in foods and drinking water -- has no effect on the thyroid function of women in early pregnancy, including those with a low-iodine diet. These findings are contrary to those reported last year by the Centers for … [Read more...]

Diabetes Before Pregnancy Doubles in Women, Teens Reported April 28, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More women and teens are developing diabetes before they become pregnant. A new study from Kaiser Permanente looked at 175,249 teenagers and adults who gave birth in Southern California between 1999 and 2005. It finds twice as many cases of pre-pregnancy diabetes during the six … [Read more...]

Mobile Phone Use While Pregnant Causes Neurological Problems in Babies Reported October 08, 2008 (NaturalNews) The first large-scale study to look at the connection between mobile phone use in pregnancy and later behavioral problems in children has overwhelmingly come back with a finding that such phone use places undeveloped babies at risk. … [Read more...]

Screening for Down's Syndrome Reported November 10, 2005  (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study takes a closer looks at screening methods used to identify Down's Syndrome in a developing fetus. Researchers explain first trimester screening for Down's Syndrome using ultrasonography has been widespread since its introduction in the 1990s. However, second trimester screening … [Read more...]

1 in 4 pregnant women smoke Reported November 11, 2007 ONE in four pregnant women in Tasmania are risking their unborn babies' health by smoking. Startling 2005 figures released by Tasmania's Health and Human Services Minister Lara Giddings has triggered a warning for mothers who are endangering their unborn babies' health. The statistics show that … [Read more...]

Long-term implant 'could cut unwanted pregnancy' Reported February 07, 2008 SEXUAL health experts say Australia should follow Britain's lead by urging young women to opt for the contraceptive implant instead of the oral pill, in a bid to reduce unplanned pregnancies. The radical $22 million plan being adopted by the British Government … [Read more...]

Birth Weight Determines Birthmark Risk Reported October 21, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study reveals low birth weight as the most significant factor for the development of common birthmarks called hemangiomas. “We believe the results of this study provide an explanation for this emerging pediatric health issue,” Beth Drolet, M.D., professor of dermatology and … [Read more...]

Brazil Health Conference Rejects Abortion in Suggestions for Government Reported November 21, 2007 Brasilia, Brazil (LifeNews.com) -- Delegates to a national health conference in Brazil have rejected including abortion in a list of health care policy recommendations for the nation's government. Abortion advocates have been working overtime there … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding Babies Good for their HeartsReported November 07, 2007 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Breastfeeding your babies can protect their hearts as they get older. A new report from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center finds breastfed babies are less likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) when they’re adults compared to babies that are bottle-fed. … [Read more...]

UNICEF: Extreme Risks for Pregnant Women and Newborn Babies in Developing Countries Reported January 15, 2009 TORONTO, ONTARIO - Women in the world's least developed countries are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than women in developed countries, according to UNICEF's latest The State of the World's Children report, … [Read more...]

Certain Fruit Juices Shown to Have Strong Antioxidant QualitiesMarch 19, 2007 The benefits of specific types of fruit juice to fight against disease have been documented in a number of medical studies. Now, BBC News reports that a team of scientists from Glasgow University have identified purple grape, cranberry and apple juice as … [Read more...]

Smoking in pregnancy damages baby's chromosomesMar 08, 05 Mothers who smoke when they're pregnant may cause genetic damage in their babies, findings from a new study suggest. In fact, one common type of chromosome damage linked to maternal smoking is known to increase the risk of blood cancers. While smoking is known to have a number of … [Read more...]

Crohn's and PregnantReported April 23, 2009 ROCHESTER, Minn. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More than half a million Americans have Crohn's disease -- a chronic inflammatory condition of the intestinal tract that causes stomach pain, diarrhea, low energy and joint pain. Many women worry the condition will keep them from becoming mothers, but new medicine is helping them have … [Read more...]

Diabetes Drug Slows Early Puberty in Girls Reported June 23, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) – There’s new help for young girls who are at risk of going through puberty early and developing insulin resistance – a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. A new report shows the diabetes drug metformin delays the onset of menstruation and decreases the development of insulin resistance. The … [Read more...]

Mom's stress can put unborn baby at risk Reported August 12, 2008 If you're pregnant, think twice before taking on an extra project at work. Severe stress, even in the short term, might almost double the risk of having a stillbirth -- although stillbirths are rare. Stress has been linked to premature birth, high blood pressure and other health … [Read more...]

Abortion must always be about choice Reported December 18, 2007 THOSE with moral objections to abortions should not have abortions. Neither should they be allowed — in a free and democratic society — to impose their particular moral beliefs on others, nor have those beliefs imposed through the law. The fundamental point to … [Read more...]

Many mums smoke through pregnancy: report   Reported June 03, 2009 Many Australian women who smoke don't quit during pregnancy, a study shows, and when they cut back it's only by a couple of cigarettes a day. Queensland researchers studied the smoking prevalence among a group of more than 260 pregnant women at an antenatal clinic. They found 37 per … [Read more...]