Reproductive health https://medicalxpress.com/reproductive-health-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Reproductive Health & Relationships After early pregnancy loss, 'what if' thinking affects 72% within first week When a person goes through a traumatic experience, they often find themselves thinking that what happened could have been different or even avoided. This process, known as counterfactual thinking, is an automatic psychological response to adverse events. Now, a study published in the journal Scientific Reports explores how this type of thinking affects women who have suffered an early pregnancy loss. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-early-pregnancy-loss-affects-week.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:01 EDT news699790561 Abortion hotline use soared before and after Dobbs, study finds A study of more than 16,000 people who sought help from a nationwide abortion and miscarriage hotline has found that demand for confidential clinical support surged both before and after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned federal abortion protections. Researchers found that the use of the Miscarriage & Abortion Hotline spiked 210% from June 2022 to June 2023, the year after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling overturned Roe v. Wade. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-abortion-hotline-soared-dobbs.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:20:03 EDT news699723181 Why stress can outlast the event: Dopamine tied to lingering sexual suppression in fruit fly study Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have revealed key parts of the biochemical pathways connecting stress to sexual dysfunction. By studying Drosophila fruit flies, they showed that the neurotransmitter dopamine was responsible for determining how long male flies showed persistent courtship suppression after being confined in a small space, but not whether mating was suppressed in the first place. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-stress-outlast-event-dopamine-lingering.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:10:01 EDT news699552482 An overlooked protein may decide how fast male fertility starts to unravel with age A study led by researchers at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute (IJC) along with researchers from Rutgers University (U.S.) has identified the Sirtuin 7 (SIRT7) protein as a new essential factor in maintaining the genome stability of male germ cells over time. The study, conducted with mice, is published in the journal Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-overlooked-protein-fast-male-fertility.html Sat, 30 May 2026 13:00:01 EDT news699112599 Oral inflammation may reach ovaries, speeding fertility decline, mouse study suggests A new study led by Prof. Michael Klutstein at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Prof. Asaf Wilensky at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center and spearheaded by the students Dr. Paz Kles and Stephen Ameho has uncovered a striking biological link between chronic oral inflammation and female fertility, suggesting that conditions in the mouth may have far-reaching effects on reproductive health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-oral-inflammation-ovaries-fertility-decline.html Thu, 28 May 2026 10:20:01 EDT news699179549 Cannabis use does not lower testosterone, study concludes The effects of cannabis on the hormonal system and male fertility remain controversial within the scientific community. A study conducted by the University of Geneva (UNIGE), in collaboration with the Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), provides a new answer by showing that cannabis use does not reduce testosterone levels in young men and may even increase its testicular synthesis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-cannabis-testosterone.html Thu, 28 May 2026 08:40:01 EDT news699175982 How a father's obesity affects his children's metabolism The scientific literature already contains robust evidence that obesity, whether maternal or paternal, can lead to metabolic changes in offspring that increase their risk of developing diseases. A new study published in the journal Nature Communications reveals the mechanism by which this "inheritance" is transmitted to the embryo by the father via the sperm. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-father-obesity-affects-children-metabolism.html Fri, 22 May 2026 14:40:01 EDT news698679170 Elderly people are more sexually active than most people think Sexuality is an important part of life—even when we grow old. The idea that desire disappears with age is a myth that needs to be debunked, argues a psychologist who has researched older adults' sex lives. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-elderly-people-sexually.html Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:07 EDT news698412081 A DNA-organizing protein offers new insight into infertility, IVF and generational health The causes of male infertility can be hard to diagnose, with many tests failing to detect genetic defects. Sometimes, infertility doesn't even involve the genes themselves. It can arise from improper folding of the father's DNA in the sperm. If a couple conceives, this mispackaged DNA can damage the lifelong health of the child. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-dna-protein-insight-infertility-ivf.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:03 EDT news698409961 Heat-treated probiotic may protect sperm from BPA-linked damage, rat study suggests Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the production of plastic materials. However, there have recently been concerns about its toxicity in humans, leading to the European Union banning its use in food containers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-probiotic-sperm-bpa-linked-rat.html Fri, 15 May 2026 15:20:01 EDT news698071381 Azithromycin exposure during pregnancy not tied to neurodevelopmental disorders, study finds Azithromycin exposure in pregnancy was not associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, according to a retrospective cohort study, and use in late pregnancy was linked with some lower risks. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-azithromycin-exposure-pregnancy-neurodevelopmental-disorders.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:40:04 EDT news698064301 Viagra could hold key to halting Peyronie's disease Combining two widely prescribed drug classes could provide the first effective treatment for early-stage Peyronie's disease, according to a new study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-viagra-key-halting-peyronie-disease.html Thu, 14 May 2026 19:10:01 EDT news697966741 A two-way street: The overlapping world of premenstrual disorders and mental health conditions Premenstrual disorders and psychiatric conditions often seem to flock together, and researchers now have data to make a case for it. A large Swedish study involving over 3 million women revealed a striking two-way path between premenstrual disorders (PMDs)—premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)—and common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-street-overlapping-world-premenstrual-disorders.html Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:03 EDT news697796998 Early-life adversity reshapes growth and reproduction in rhesus macaques for decades Many factors influence growth and reproductive patterns in animals and people alike. New research, led by postdoctoral researcher Rachel Petersen of the Lea Lab at Vanderbilt and Assistant Professor Sam Patterson of Notre Dame University, shows that adversity experienced during development may be an important factor to consider. The new paper, "Early-life adversity shapes the relationship between growth and reproduction in free-ranging female rhesus macaques" was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on May 5, 2026. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-early-life-adversity-reshapes-growth.html Mon, 11 May 2026 14:40:09 EDT news697728541