Tag

Fertility

All articles tagged with #fertility

demographics9 days ago•10 min saved

Most of the World Is Below Replacement Fertility, Reshaping Aging Populations

A Voronoi-style visualization of fertility rates across 236 countries shows about 71% of the global population lives in countries with below-replacement fertility (2.1 births per woman). India (~1.94) and China (~1.02) sit below replacement, while Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates (Chad 5.94, Somalia 5.91, DR Congo 5.90). Fertility has fallen from about five births per woman in the 1960s to a 2024 global average of roughly 2.2, with future growth increasingly concentrated in high-fertility regions, shaping aging populations, labor markets, and long-term demographics. The data come from the UN World Population Prospects 2024 Revision, using 2025 estimates.

via Visual Capitalist|

#demographics #demography #fertility

health25 days ago•9 min saved

Rare pituitary tumor rewrote a decade of pain and preserved fertility

A woman with congenital uterine anomalies endured years of pain and a suggestion for hysterectomy until doctors diagnosed a rare pituitary tumor (functional gonadotropic adenoma) that overproduced FSH, overactivating her ovaries and spiking estrogen, testosterone, and 17-OHP and fueling a massive ovarian cyst. Endoscopic removal of the tumor normalized her hormones, reduced the ovarian mass, eliminated pain, and restored regular cycles, preserving her fertility options.

via The Washington Post|

#fertility #gonadotropic-adenoma #health

science26 days ago•1 min saved

Biology not driving fertility decline; economy and smartphones blamed

A Science piece argues that biological infertility is unlikely to explain the global fertility decline, noting a meta-analysis showing US sperm counts have risen and time-to-pregnancy has remained stable. The downturn since 2007–2010 is more plausibly tied to economic conditions and increased smartphone use affecting coupling, rather than toxins or climate harms.

via The Guardian|

#fertility #infertility #pollution

health1 month ago•17 min saved

Utah Biotech Claims Lab-Grown Sperm Can Create Embryos, Fueling Fertility Breakthrough Debate

A Utah startup, aided by Mayo Clinic, says it has grown mature sperm from spermatogonial stem cells in the lab and used them to generate preliminary human embryos for safety testing, signaling a potential fertility breakthrough, but the findings haven’t been peer‑reviewed yet and costs could be a barrier.

via Gizmodo|

#embryos #fertility #health

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Chronic stress can quietly erode a man's fertility

Chronic stress can disrupt hormones and increase oxidative stress, which may lower sperm count, motility and morphology. Because sperm development takes 2–3 months, prolonged stress can affect future semen samples. It often coexists with poor sleep, weight gain and higher substance use, so fertility is usually multi-factorial. A semen analysis is a common first step; improving sleep (7–9 hours), regular activity, weight management, and reducing nicotine/alcohol can help, alongside medical evaluation for underlying issues.

via CNN|

#fertility #health #lifestyle

world1 month ago•23 min saved

Aging Latin America: The Quiet Demographic Rewrite Reshaping the Region

Latin America’s fertility rate has plunged to about 1.8 births per woman while life expectancy rises, triggering rapid aging that could slow growth and strain pension systems. By 2050 the median age may hit 40, reshaping labor markets, taxes, and social policy, even as a rising “silver economy” offers new opportunities in elder care, health tech, and productivity. Countries like Uruguay and Chile illustrate both the social challenges of shrinking student populations and the policy experiments intended to ease the transition, with potential cross‑generational and political shifts on the horizon.

via Americas Quarterly|

#aging #demographics #fertility

entertainment1 month ago•508 min saved

Erin Andrews Pursues a Second Child Through IVF at 47

Erin Andrews, 47, revealed on her Calm Down With Erin and Charissa podcast that she is trying to have a second child via IVF. The admission follows her 2023 birth of a son via surrogate after fertility challenges dating to cervical cancer in 2016, with embryos frozen beforehand; she noted that a recent IVF round didn’t work but remains hopeful and determined to grow her family.

via thecut.com|

#entertainment #erin-andrews #fertility

health1 month ago•55 min saved

The 30p supplement that could balance hormones and curb cravings

A health feature follows Abi Twomlow’s perimenopause symptoms and her use of a 1g daily inositol supplement after a ChatGPT suggestion, reporting relief from brain fog and sugar cravings within weeks and a delay in starting hormone replacement therapy. The piece discusses inositol’s potential benefits for PCOS, gestational diabetes, menopause symptoms and fertility, while stressing that large-scale trials are still needed and that safety appears favorable when used with medical guidance.

via Daily Mail|

#fertility #health #hormones

health1 month ago•13 min saved

Egg freezing as a practical hedge for future motherhood

Contrary to alarmist headlines, egg freezing is presented as a viable option to preserve fertility, especially when done in the twenties or thirties. The piece explains that fertility declines with age due to fewer and lower-quality eggs, outlines the IVF/egg-freezing process (including vitrification) and realistic success metrics, and emphasizes that clinic quality and costs shape outcomes. It suggests aiming to freeze around 20 eggs for a strong chance of a future live birth, notes that international clinics can offer lower costs, and recommends relying on official success data rather than clinic hype.

via Works in Progress Magazine|

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Meiosis-Blocking Drug Shows Non-Hormonal Path to Male Birth Control in Mice

Cornell researchers showed that the non-hormonal drug JQ1 can temporarily halt sperm production by blocking meiosis in male mice, with fertility returning and offspring normal after stopping treatment. While JQ1 itself is unlikely to be developed due to side effects and short half-life, the study provides a proof of concept for non-hormonal male birth control and underscores multiple other candidates and approaches in the field seeking long-lasting, non-hormonal options.

via Gizmodo|

#fertility #jq1 #male-contraception

health2 months ago•16 min saved

Frequent Ejaculation Linked to Healthier Sperm, Review Finds

A review of nearly 150 studies finds that regular ejaculation or sex can help sperm quality, while abstinence modestly degrades it via increased oxidative stress and DNA damage, reducing viability and motility in humans and other animals. A recent IVF trial suggested higher fertilization success when men ejaculate within 48 hours of sample collection, though the impact on natural fertility remains unclear. The findings could lead clinics to reassess abstinence guidelines and emphasize sperm quality alongside quantity, while general health benefits of regular sexual activity appear unaffected.

via gizmodo.com|

#abstinence #fertility #health

space2 months ago•97 min saved

Microgravity May Block Reproduction, Complicating Space Colonization

A study using a clinostat to simulate microgravity found that sperm navigation, fertilization, and embryo development are impaired in mammals (humans, mice, and pigs) under near-zero gravity, with fertilization dropping by about 30% in mice and 15% in pigs and embryos showing developmental delays. Progesterone helped sperm navigate but required unusually high concentrations, and safety concerns remain. These findings highlight gravity’s deep role in reproductive biology and suggest that long-term space settlements face significant fertility challenges, underscoring the need for further research before space colonization can be considered viable.

via Live Science|

#astronauts #fertility #microgravity

health2 months ago•3 min saved

Frequent ejaculation linked to a small fertility boost, study finds

A large meta-analysis across human and non-human studies shows that regular ejaculation helps prevent rapid deterioration of stored sperm, with longer abstinence associated with increased DNA damage and reduced motility. The findings suggest a modest fertility benefit from frequent ejaculation and hint that ejaculation timing could influence IVF success; current guidelines allowing up to seven days between samples may warrant revision.

via Euronews.com|

#ejaculation #fertility #health

health2 months ago•3 min saved

Frequent Ejaculation May Boost Sperm Quality and Fertility

A large meta-analysis of about 55,000 men shows that longer gaps between ejaculations increase sperm DNA damage and oxidative stress, lowering quality, while shorter abstinence can yield fresher, more motile sperm. WHO guidelines of 2–7 days for semen testing may prioritize count over quality, and a recent IVF trial found higher pregnancy rates with shorter abstinence. For natural conception, a balance between abstinence duration, sperm quantity and quality is likely best, with freshness often more important in assisted reproduction.

via The Guardian|

#dna-damage #ejaculation-frequency #fertility

health2 months ago•4 min saved

Ultra-Processed Diet Linked to Lower Fertility Odds for Women

A study analyzing NHANES data found that women with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods had about 60% lower odds of conceiving within a year, while those who ate more whole foods had better odds. The foods may expose the body to chemicals like phthalates, BPA and acrylamides that can disrupt hormones, though the study is observational and does not prove causation. Reducing UPFs and increasing whole foods could potentially improve fertility chances.

via New York Post|

#fertility #health #nhanes