Reproduction

Carrying a baby creates some of the same epigenetic patterns on DNA seen in older people

The Supreme Court’s mifepristone decision could make abortions harder to access and challenge the FDA’s authority to regulate all drugs and devices

A study of more than 100 new parents showed that pregnancy and birth cause changes in brain circuits that may be involved in empathy and bonding with the child

People’s perceptions about who gets an abortion and why rely on stereotypes and misconceptions—with potential policy implications

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

Recent research found a species of bacteria living in semen that’s associated with infertility and has links to the vaginal microbiome

A noninvasive test for genetic material could predict embryo quality in IVF.

Researchers calculated the number of pregnancies resulting from rape in states where abortion was banned throughout pregnancy after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision

Infants born to people who had COVID while pregnant are at a higher risk of respiratory distress, but vaccination greatly lowers the risk

During the COVID pandemic, the U.S. initially saw a drop in births followed by a bump

Historically, only women’s drinking was considered a risk during pregnancy, but new research points to the role of fathers’ habits as well

Postreproductive life was once thought to be confined to humans and a couple of toothed whales, but some wild chimpanzees experience it, too