Study: IVF- miscarriage linked to age and embryo type

A recent study reveals that a woman’s age and the type of embryo(s) used affect the outcome of IVF procedures. The retrospective analysis of 52,874 pregnancies recorded on the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database (ANZARD) showed that women younger than 35 years old are almost 3 times less likely to miscarry compared withContinue reading “Study: IVF- miscarriage linked to age and embryo type”

Miscarriage and low levels of copper and zinc

A new study from the University of Granada has confirmed that low blood levels of copper and zinc in pregnant women may be a factor associated with miscarriage (spontaneous abortion). Dr. Jesús Joaquín Hijona Elósegui, one of the researchers in the study, points out that “despite the significant progress made in reproductive medicine, spontaneous abortion isContinue reading “Miscarriage and low levels of copper and zinc”

Newer birth control pills raise risk of blood clots

Two recent studies in the U.S. and the U.K. show that women taking newer forms of oral contraceptives, which include Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop blood clots compared to those taking older birth control pills that rely on a different form of hormone. These results highlight what doctors have known ever since birthContinue reading “Newer birth control pills raise risk of blood clots”

How well is your fertility treatment working? PCBs linked to IVF failure

A new study published today in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) has revealed that PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) found in the environment are associated with the failure of fertilized embryos to implant in the uterus after in-vitro fertilization (IVF). PCBs were banned in the United States and other developed countries in the 1970s afterContinue reading “How well is your fertility treatment working? PCBs linked to IVF failure”

Planning for a (healthy) baby?

Did you know that: In a study done by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, 35.6% of male partners of infertile couples had a whole blood mercury concentration higher than the normal range (concentration of sperm, percentage of morphologically normal sperm and percentage of motile sperm were reduced in these men, though the difference wasContinue reading “Planning for a (healthy) baby?”

Pollution. In you.

Today, we are constantly bombarded by chemicals and toxins in our everyday environment. Chemicals found in the air, water, household cleaners, laundry detergents, cookware, cosmetics and pesticides-all are potentially harmful to our bodies. What do toxins do in our bodies? Carcinogenic chemicals: cause or aggravate cancer Hormone-disrupting chemicals: mimic, block or interfere with hormones that regulate fertility and theContinue reading “Pollution. In you.”

Mobile phones and our health: Should we be concerned?

We hardly remember how life was before it existed. It’s with us all the time. We sit, stand, walk, drive and sometimes even use the bathroom with it to our ear (shh!). When it’s not at our ear, it’s in a purse or pocket, or charging on the nightstand near our pillow. Sure, we’ve all heard rumoursContinue reading “Mobile phones and our health: Should we be concerned?”