Press releases from Human Reproduction 2014

Semen quality, infertility and mortality in the USA

Among men undergoing an infertility evaluation, those with abnormal semen parameters have a higher risk of death, according to new research. The study of 11,935 men in the USA suggests a possible common etiology between infertility and mortality.
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Human embryos from overweight and obese women display phenotypic and metabolic abnormalities

New research indicates that the embryos of women who are overweight or obese at the time they conceive display distinct differences in early development compared to embryos from women of a healthy weight. The results of the study provide strong evidence for a direct link between what mothers eat and the ability of their fertilised eggs to divide and grow. The researchers claim this could potentially have long-term health implications for any children born from these embryos.
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Damaging legacy: mothers who smoke affect the fertility of their sons

Mothers who smoke while they are pregnant or breast feeding may be damaging the future fertility of their sons, according to new findings from research in mice published online  in Human Reproduction, one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals.
The study is the first comprehensive animal model to show the mechanism by which smoking can affect the fertility of male offspring.
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Do children make you happier? Sustaining a desire for a child after failed fertility treatment is linked to worse mental health

Women who have difficulty accepting the fact that they can’t have children following unsuccessful fertility treatment have worse long-term mental health than women who are able to let go of their desire for children, according to new research.

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Sperm size and shape in young men affected by cannabis use

Young men who use cannabis may be putting their fertility at risk by inadvertently affecting the size and shape of their sperm according to a new study of 2,249 men with poor sperm morphology. The research examined the impact of common lifestyle choices on sperm morphology, including smoking or alcohol consumption and having a history of mumps.  

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Mothers of women with PCOS have increased risk of early death

Mothers of daughters with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a significantly increased risk of death, particularly if they also have diabetes, when compared to the general population, according to new research.

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Effects of caesarean section on future fertility are minimal

Birth by caesarean section is unlikely to cause problems with future fertility, according to a new study looking at over 1 million, low-risk, first-time mothers who gave birth in English NHS hospitals. The study found that the medical and social circumstances leading to the decision to carry out a caesarean section may be associated with the apparent reduction in fertility, rather than the procedure itself. 
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