Aurora magazine

Researchers at the University of Washington have found that a glass of red wine a week helps female fertility. It is likely that the merit of antioxidants that abound in red wine.

Resveratrol is a key molecule in grapes of red grapes, cocoa and blueberries. It protects cells from biological stress and helps them live more and better. It is present in many foods, but red wine is not particularly rich.

Scientists interviewed 135 women between the ages of 18 and 44 on alcohol consumption. Each of them had to score how many spirits consumed every month and what kind. The researchers also examined the health status of women's ovaries and the number of remaining oocytes.

Beyond factors such as age and health, women who regularly consumed red wine had more oocytes. The benefits would be particularly marked in women who consumed 1-5 glasses of wine per month. We talk about regular, but moderate, non-daily consumption.

The results must be taken with caution. A link is obvious, but it is not known whether the merit is all about red wine or whether there are other factors in play. It will be necessary to consider a wider sample of women, also considering other elements. It is also important to remember that even a minimal exposure to alcohol can be detrimental to an embryo in the early stages of development.

Source: independent.co.uk

A Niels Skakkebaek study at the University of Copenhagen analyzes why the average sperm count is declining. According to Professor, pesticides reduce sperm count and double the risk of testicular cancer.

Over the last forty years, a collapse in male fertility has been occurring in the West. Increased cases of testicular cancer, with related consequences on the ability to conceive. Even for these reasons, more and more couples resort to in vitro fertilization.

The data speak clear: male fertility is decreasing and cancer cases are increasing. The change was too quick to blame genetic factors. Only environmental and lifestyle-related ones remain.

The Danish study points the finger against some pesticides very present in foods consumed daily. Modern life exposes the organism to various substances that damage the endocrine system. Even minimal exposures could have devastating consequences on the ability to conceive.

Part of the blame for the overall decrease in fertility would also be the consumption of sugars. A woman who drinks more than one sugary drink a day would have 16% less chance of getting pregnant after IVF. This last discovery comes to Harvard University.

Source: guardian.ng

The US city of Flint has very low fertility rates since 2014. According to Daniel Grossman and David Slusky, the cause lies in the river water that crosses the city. In 2014, in fact, the city began to get out of the river to save on public water. The decision has, however, translated into a birthright.

The city's dwellings have immediately been perplexed about the quality of the water. According to residents, the water had a strange odor and look. However, the authorities insisted that the water was safe to drink and use. Allegations of contradictions with the events that have started to occur since 2014.

The decline in fertility at Flint was primarily due to an increase in fetal mortality. Between November 2013 and March 2015, there would be about 198-276 spontaneous abortions more than in previous years. According to the authors of the study, they would all be connected to the use of Flint River water. In addition, the number of children with high levels of lead in the blood increased.

In October 2015, the city came back to get in the waters of Lake Huron. However, the consequences continue today. Lead in the blood caused cognitive deficits, anti-social behaviors, brain problems, liver and kidneys. It has had devastating consequences on fertility rates, which have remained very low until the end of 2015.

Grossman and Slusky have compared Flint's birth rates to those of other cities affected by lead poisoning. Equal economic socio-economic conditions have shown a general decline in fertility rate. According to the authors of the study, poisoned water would have increased 58% of fetal deaths

Source: independent.co.uk

In 2015, 1 Japanese 20 newborn baby was born with in vitro fertilization. It is revealed by a questionnaire promoted by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The analysis reveals a steady and explosive growth of this technique in the country. A trend is to continue in this direction, according to experts.

In Japan, more and more couples rely on IVF to have children. According to data collected, only 424,151 in vitro fertilization cycles were delivered in 2015 alone. These have translated into 51,000 births, the highest number ever for the country.

Part of the blame is the average age of aspiring parents, also growing along with fertility treatments. 40% of women who in 2015 turned to fertility centers were 40 years or older. Of these only about 9% managed to conceive and give birth to a healthy baby.

IVF numbers are much more positive as age drops. 21.5% of women around 30 were successful. It takes just a few years to get rid of the percentages: around 18.4% of aspiring mothers around 35 have had a baby. Let's talk about a drop of about 3 percentage points.

According to the authors of the questionnaire, Japan needs to expand its offer of infertility treatments. It would be a fundamental need for a country that is experiencing a dramatic demographic collapse.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com