All articles tagged with #infertility
An Oldsmar mother’s fertility journey accompanies the renaming of PCOS to PMOS, a shift toward treating the condition as a whole-body metabolic issue and prioritizing early screening to prevent diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
About half of infertility cases involve male factors. Dr. Sanjay Prakash J explains how lifestyle (stress, poor sleep, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol, drugs, steroids), medical conditions (varicocele, diabetes, thyroid disorders, infections, chemotherapy/radiation), and genetics can impair sperm production. For couples not conceiving after a year of unprotected intercourse (or men over 35), evaluation is advised, with early diagnosis aiding family planning and genetic counselling. Premarital fertility checks are also encouraged as part of proactive health planning.
Researchers transplanted human iPS-derived immature cells into a mouse kidney pouch, where they self-organized into early sperm-supporting structures and developed into spermatogonia after six months. While this marks progress toward lab-made sperm, the cells did not mature yet, signaling further hurdles. The work offers a new avenue to study early human sperm development and infertility, though clinical applications are far off and raise ethical questions about future reproductive technologies.
Anne Hathaway opened up about the painful fertility struggles she faced years before announcing her third pregnancy, stressing that the path to conception isn’t the same for everyone and highlighting the isolation and self-doubt many experience; she had a miscarriage in 2015, and with husband Adam Shulman already has two sons, Jonathan and Jack. She revealed baby No. 3 via Instagram and was photographed with a growing bump in St. Tropez.
Anne Hathaway, 43, announced in an Instagram video that she’s pregnant with her third child, joining husband Adam Shulman and their two sons. She has spoken publicly about infertility and a miscarriage in 2024, and she is slated for multiple 2026 projects including Mother Mary and The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Facing declining male fertility, more men are trying to boost sperm counts through lifestyle changes—better diet, regular exercise, improved sleep, reduced alcohol, and avoiding plastics—giving rise to a growing “spermmaxxing” trend fueled by influencers and wellness startups. Experts caution that only evidence-based habits (healthy BMI, not smoking, moderate alcohol, heat avoidance) have proven impact, and warn against unproven ‘stacking’ or extreme measures without clinical guidance. Personal stories illustrate improvements after lifestyle changes, while doctors stress the importance of proper semen analysis and professional medical advice rather than self-diagnosis. The piece also highlights the stigma around male fertility and the need for more open discussion and research in this area.
Experts rename polycystic ovary syndrome to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) to reflect its broader hormonal and metabolic features, not just ovarian cysts; diagnosis centers on irregular periods and signs of high androgens, with infertility and pregnancy risks acknowledged. Treatment emphasizes lifestyle changes and individualized options such as metformin, anti-androgens, and hormonal birth control based on fertility goals.
PMOS—polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome—replaces PCOS to better reflect its metabolic and endocrine nature and reduce misdiagnosis; the rename, published in The Lancet after 14 years of work, aims to improve care. PMOS features irregular periods and excess androgens, can cause acne or hair changes, and is linked to infertility and metabolic risks; treatment focuses on lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, sleep) and personalized options like Metformin, anti-androgens, or hormonal birth control. The change seeks to raise awareness and better tailor care for patients.
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.
Endometriosis affects about 1 in 10 women and is often misdiagnosed for a decade. Experts urge patients not to normalize chronic pain and to advocate for care. Management centers on an anti-inflammatory lifestyle (Mediterranean diet, omega-3s, regular exercise, acupuncture) and may include supplements; medical options to suppress ovulation exist but aren’t curative, and surgery is not a guaranteed cure. Diagnosis lacks a gold-standard tool, and infertility is common in affected couples, underscoring the need for holistic, proactive care.
A Columbia University team has developed the Star system, an AI-driven microfluidic method that can detect and extract single sperm in real time from semen samples of men with azoospermia, enabling some to achieve biological fatherhood. Since development, the technique has aided hundreds of patients, finding sperm in about 30% of cases and delivering up to 40 times more viable sperm than manual searches; the first Star-assisted birth occurred last year. While early results are promising, experts caution that large-scale clinical trials and careful handling of medical data are needed to assess long-term outcomes and manage expectations.
Utah-based Paterna Biosciences says it has found a way to coax sperm-forming stem cells from testicular tissue to become mature, functional sperm in a lab and used this sperm to create embryos; the work has not yet been peer-reviewed or independently verified, and the company plans larger studies to compare lab-made and natural sperm in men with infertility before attempting pregnancies; if validated, the approach could offer a biological option for some infertile men, but questions of cost and safety remain.
A Lund University study of more than 1.1 million men who fathered children found that those with severely reduced fertility had almost twice the risk of colorectal cancer and about three times the risk of thyroid cancer compared with men who conceived naturally, suggesting a genetic link between fertility issues and cancer risk amid rising male infertility.
A U.S. study analyzing NHANES data from over 2,500 women found that higher intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with about 60% lower odds of conceiving, independent of age, weight and lifestyle factors. A Mediterranean-style diet showed a positive link to fertility, though the benefit diminished when obesity was accounted for. The researchers cite possible hormonal disruption from additives and chemicals in processed foods; the study is cross-sectional, so it shows association, not causation.
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, highlighting a chronic condition that affects more than 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing severe pelvic pain, painful bowel movements or urination, dyspareunia, fatigue, and sometimes infertility. Many patients endure years of misdiagnosis or dismissal before getting answers, prompting advocates to push for greater awareness, education, and access to care, with medical experts like UAMS explaining the condition and how to seek timely care.