Iran’s parliament on Tuesday took a step closer to criminalizing permanent forms of contraception, in a move intended to turn around a decreasing population rate.
Month: June 2014
It’s Nobody’s Fault: Vengefully Gleeful Stories About Male Infertility Distract From the Real Problem
Male fertility is a new epidemic, at least if you’ve seen the news coverage. This burgeoning crisis seems to be related to the effects of age, inspiring headlines such as: “Men Also Suffer Age-Related Infertility,” “Too Old to Be a Dad,” “High Manxiety: Thirtysomething Men Are the New Neurotic Singles,” and my favorite, “The Male Biological Clock—It’s Tick-Tick-Ticking Too.”
High Cholesterol May Mean Low Fertility, Study Says
High cholesterol levels may diminish fertility in couples trying to have a baby, according to a recent study.
Awaiting Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby Ruling, Public Favors Contraception Mandate
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to finally issue its ruling this week in the highly anticipated case of the craft companies vs. Obamacare.Technically, it’s Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties, a showdown over the Affordable Care Act’s contraception coverage mandate. The core legal question is whether a private company can have religious rights.
The Truth About Male Fertility: Biological And Environmental Factors Behind Making Sperm Swim
There are plenty of rumors and myths surrounding infertility: both for females and males. Male infertility is caused by a number of factors, such as abnormal sperm production, or disruptions in the size and shape of sperm. Low sperm concentration, blocked sperm delivery, and hormonal problems are also often to blame for infertility.But in addition to genetics and biology, lifestyle and environment play quite a major role too: a man’s age, levels of alcohol and tobacco consumption, possible STD infections, weight, and even exposure to heat can all have an effect on male fertility.
Moms Pick Best Embryos From a Petri Dish With New Tool
Women in the U.S. having trouble conceiving the natural way now may use a new tool to help choose the lab-dish embryo most likely to result in a pregnancy.
Contraception Decision-Making: What Are Women’s Priorities?
This study, which surveyed 417 women aged 15-45 years and 188 contraceptive care providers in 2013, found important differences in what matters most to these two groups when it comes to discussing and deciding on a contraceptive method. Women’s most important question when choosing a contraceptive was “Is it safe?” – this was in the top three questions for 42% of women but only 21% of providers. Alternatively, providers’ most important question was “How is it used?”. Information on side effects and how a method actually works to prevent pregnancy was also a higher priority for women than for providers.
EMD Serono Launches Program to Help Vets Pay for Fertility Drugs
EMD Serono, the Rockland-based pharmaceutical subsidiary of Germany’s Merck KGaA, today launched a program to help U.S. military veterans to pay for needed fertility treatment.
New Mouse Model ‘Opens Doors to Better Understanding of Endometriosis’
Approximately 176 million women and girls worldwide have endometriosis. But regardless of its widespread occurrence, there is still little known about what causes the condition. Now, researchers have created a mouse model of endometriosis that they say will provide a better understanding of its development and may lead to improved treatment.
Weight Gain in Menopause: Why Does it Happen, and What Can You Do?
All too often the “change of life” results in unwelcome changes in the number on the bathroom scale. Many women find that no matter how sensible their diet or how frequently they exercise, they still start packing on the pounds once menopause begins.