Flimsy Antiabortion Studies Cited in Case to Ban Mifepristone Are Retracted
Outside experts found that two studies cited in a federal case on medication abortion had serious design problems and that their authors had undisclosed conflicts of interest
Semen Has Its Own Microbiome—And It Might Influence Fertility
Recent research found a species of bacteria living in semen that’s associated with infertility and has links to the vaginal microbiome
New IVF Test Could Increase Chances of Pregnancy Success
A noninvasive test for genetic material could predict embryo quality in IVF.
64,000 Pregnancies Caused by Rape Have Occurred in States with a Total Abortion Ban, New Study Estimates
Researchers calculated the number of pregnancies resulting from rape in states where abortion was banned throughout pregnancy after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision
Babies Exposed to COVID in the Womb Are More Likely to Suffer Breathing Problems
Infants born to people who had COVID while pregnant are at a higher risk of respiratory distress, but vaccination greatly lowers the risk
COVID Caused a Baby Bump when Experts Expected a Drop. Here’s Why
During the COVID pandemic, the U.S. initially saw a drop in births followed by a bump
Fathers’ Drinking May Affect Fertility and Fetal Brain Development
Historically, only women’s drinking was considered a risk during pregnancy, but new research points to the role of fathers’ habits as well
Wild Chimps Shown to Undergo Menopause for the First Time
Postreproductive life was once thought to be confined to humans and a couple of toothed whales, but some wild chimpanzees experience it, too
Artificial Womb Trials in Humans Could Start Soon
U.S. regulators will consider clinical trials of a system that mimics the womb, which could reduce deaths and disability for babies born extremely preterm
Racism in Health: The Roots of the U.S. Black Maternal Mortality Crisis
What is behind the Black maternal mortality crisis, and what needs to change? In this podcast from Nature and Scientific American, leading academics unpack the racism at the heart of the system.
Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills Have Been Approved. Let’s Make Them Inexpensive and Easily Available
Here’s how to make newly approved over-the-counter birth control pills affordable and easy to get
One Year after Dobbs, Abortion Bans Are Harming Reproductive Care, Ob-Gyns Say
The Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade is impacting health care well beyond abortion in states that have banned the practice