https://medicalxpress.com/reproductive-health-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Reproductive Health & Relationships About 9% of men of reproductive age in the United States experience fertility problems. One of the many causes of male infertility is a failure in germline development, the process by which embryonic cells develop into sperm or eggs. Finding treatments has been challenging because there are no laboratory models that accurately mimic how sperm develop, but a recent study brings us a step closer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-labgrown-sperm-scientists-stem-cells.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:30:02 EDT news703405262 Researchers at the University of Liverpool have discovered that SYCP1, a protein previously thought to function only during the production of sperm and eggs, can be reactivated in cancer cells, where it helps tumors survive and grow. The study, published in Science Advances, reveals that SYCP1 switches from its normal reproductive role to an entirely different function in cancer. Instead of helping chromosomes pair during meiosis, the protein enters the nucleus of cancer cells, binds directly to DNA and controls genes involved in cell division and DNA repair. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-fertility-proteins-flip-reproductive-role.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:40:01 EDT news703326479 Amid all the advances in modern medicine, much of the science behind a woman's menstrual cycle remains mysterious, so a team at Hudson Institute of Medical Research is aiming to change that. Professor Caroline Gargett is an expert in the human endometrium, the highly regenerative lining of the uterus, and is world-renowned for discovering the stem/progenitor cells it contains. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-stem-cell-science-mysteries-menstrual.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 10:00:09 EDT news703325825 A study has found some tampons leach low levels of chemicals that disrupt hormones, regardless of whether they are synthetic or organic. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-synthetic-tampons-leach-hormone-disrupting.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:20:01 EDT news702809760 Fertility declines as women get older for many reasons, such as a drop in egg quality, decreased follicle numbers and hardening of ovarian tissues. That's a problem for would-be mothers in many countries who prefer to have their children later in life, often in their 30s and 40s. Current treatments for infertility include hormone therapy and in vitro fertilization (IVF), which primarily focus on treating hormonal imbalances and helping eggs mature or be fertilized. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-softening-aging-ovaries-fertility-women.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:40:20 EDT news702806703 For most women past puberty, the uterine lining (endometrium) sheds from the body roughly every month if there is no fertilized egg present. Then, the uterus rebuilds itself to prepare for a potential pregnancy. While this process—the menstrual cycle—is widely known, how it works is not well understood. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-cellular-bandages-rebuild-uterine-lining.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:20:06 EDT news702741473 Modern IVF treatment can now achieve substantially higher success rates than historical approaches while dramatically reducing twin and triplet pregnancies, according to new research presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). The study abstract was published in Human Reproduction. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-modern-ivf-higher-success-embryo.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:10:01 EDT news702630373 Meningiomas are the most common brain tumors in adults, accounting for 38% to 42% of all primary central nervous system tumors. According to 2021 WHO data, 874 million of the world's 1.9 billion women of reproductive age use modern contraceptive methods. Many of these methods contain high doses of certain progestogens, a synthetic version of progesterone, a hormone that plays a key role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. So what does birth control have to do with meningioma? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-birth-equal-linked-higher-brain.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:40:01 EDT news702638707 New research presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) suggests that exposure to air pollution may affect genes associated with sperm development, raising new questions about male fertility, pregnancy outcomes and offspring health. The study was published in Human Reproduction. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-air-pollution-sperm-genes-function.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:00:05 EDT news702539391 A new study has found substantial regional differences in sperm quality, with men in the highest-performing region recording almost double the total motile sperm count of those in the lowest-performing region. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-men-regions-differences-sperm-quality.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:00:01 EDT news702539324 Researchers at the University of Liverpool have identified distinctive biological characteristics within adenomyosis lesions that could help pave the way for more targeted, less invasive treatments. The findings from a team based in Professor Dharani Hapangama's gynecology research group at the university provide new insights into the common but often underrecognized condition that affects up to 1 in 5 women of reproductive age. Despite its prevalence and significant impact on health and quality of life, adenomyosis has historically received limited attention in research and clinical practice. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-adenomyosis-atlas-reveals-lesion-specific.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:20:01 EDT news702290396 Tylenol (also known as acetaminophen or paracetamol) is one of the most widely used over-the-counter options for easing pain and reducing fever, including during pregnancy. More recently, safety concerns around use during pregnancy have gained attention, with claims of a possible link between prenatal exposure and autism in children increasingly appearing in news headlines and prime-time debates. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-pregnant-women-tylenol-year-sibling.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:26:25 EDT news702116735 Researchers from the EHU-University of the Basque Country have developed a robust protocol to detect the molecules involved in the metabolic reactions of sperm. The new method enables a detailed analysis even with small samples and allows the detection of the largest number of potential biomarkers identified to date; this advance could help diagnose male infertility and develop future clinical solutions. The paper is published in the journal Cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-methodology-biomarkers-male-infertility.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:20:01 EDT news701603238