U.S. fertility rates have reached another record low, at 62.5 births per 1,000 women of childbearing age, according to the most recent government figures. To some, this is cause for hand-wringing, as concerns arise that low fertility will spell problems for the nation’s economy; while others, concerned about limited natural resources, may look positively on the decline.
Month: February 2015
What Are Your Odds Of IVF Success? Consider These 5 Factors
A new expert-developed algorithm can predict your success rate for in vitro fertilization. We caught up with the docs to learn what drives your odds.
My Life: Praying for Miracle End to Infertility
Infertility was one thing I never imagined I would have to deal with as no one in my family had any problems conceiving.
Sperm Donors Are Winning Visitation Rights
When it comes to parents, it seems that three or even four is no longer a crowd. At least, that’s the conclusion one might draw from the case of Sheena and Tiara Yates, a married lesbian couple in New Jersey. They’ve had their parenting expectations upended—twice—by the sperm donors of their two kids. Both men agreed, in writing, to provide their raw materials and to leave the parenting to the women. But then they decided that, after all, they’d like to have some role in the lives of their biological children, so they applied for visitation rights. As of now, the bio dads are winning. Their case is just the latest reminder of how perilous and confusing assisted reproduction cases can become.
More Young Women Getting Fertility Checkups
You may not even be thinking of having a baby yet, but if you’re in your 20’s maybe you should start thinking about and planning for that bundle of joy now.
‘Fertility Tourism’ struck Down by Thai Lawmakers. Why Now?
The case of ‘Baby Gammy’ involving an Australian couple, and a ‘baby factory’ case where a Japanese businessman fathered 16 children, brought a public outcry.
What Can My Insurance Do To Cover My Fertility?
While many Utah couples are aware of the steep costs of conceiving a baby using fertility treatments, the law surrounding insurance coverage for those treatments may be a bit more vague.
A Brief History of Contraception
In the March issue of The Atlantic, Olga Khazan investigates the future of birth control, from remote-controlled implants to a pill for men. The use of contraceptives dates all the way back to 1850 B.C., when women in ancient Egypt used honey, acacia leaves, and lint to block sperm. This two-minute animation traces the history of contraception through the centuries, from sea sponges (500 B.C.), linen sheath condoms (1564), lemon cervical caps (1700), and the “rhythm method” (1920) to modern advancements such as vaginal rings, hormone injections, IUDs, and patches.
New Male Birth Control Options In The Works
Women have been largely in charge of making sure unwanted pregnancies
don’t happen unexpectedly due to the availability of various forms of
contraception. While men have the obvious choice of using condoms or in
extreme cases going for the snip (and there have been talks of a future
pill-form for men), other potentially affective options are in research
stage.
Some Women Go To Great Lengths For Relief From Debilitating Monthly Cramps
For many women, mood swings and pain are a monthly ordeal, but in some cases, the cramping may be so severe women are taking drastic measures to find relief from the pain.