NO ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AGEING GAMETES AND BIRTH DEFECTSMay 08, 2002Authors of a research letter in this week's issue of THE LANCET conclude that there is no evidence to support the belief that sexual intercourse too soon or two long after ovulation is associated with an increased risk of birth defects and Down's syndrome. For many years, the ageing of gametes as a result of prolonged retention in the female reproductive tract before fertilisation has been circumstantially associated with major birth defects. Joe Leigh Simpson and colleagues from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA, studied over 1000 pregnant women from Chile, Colombia, Italy, and the USA, who had recorded the timing (with regard to presumed ovulation) of sexual intercourse leading to conception. There were no significant differences in the proportion of birth defects in infants born to mothers who reported optimally timed conceptions (on the day of or one day before ovulation) than infants born to mothers who reported non-optimally timed conceptions (2.7% compared with 2.5%, respectively). There was also no significant difference in the proportion of infants born with Down's syndrome (0.5% for optimally timed conceptions compared with 0.7% for non-optimally timed conceptions). Joe Leigh Simpson comments: "Overall, our findings are reassuring for users of natural family planning, for couples who have intercourse episodically, or for couples who have intercourse infrequently of their own volition for health or other reasons." | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Related Birth Defects Current Events and Birth Defects News Articles Hairspray is linked to common genital birth defect, says study Women who are exposed to hairspray in the workplace during pregnancy have more than double the risk of having a son with the genital birth defect hypospadias, according to a new study published today in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Microarray analysis improves prenatal diagnosis A "chip" or array that can quickly detect disorders such as Down syndrome or other diseases associated with chromosomal abnormalities proved an effective tool in prenatal diagnosis in a series of 300 cases at Baylor College of Medicine, said researchers in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Prenatal Diagnosis. Case Western Reserve University uncovers genetic basis for some birth defects A multidisciplinary research team at Case Western Reserve University led by Gary Landreth, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Medicine's Department of Neurosciences, has uncovered a common genetic pathway for a number of birth defects that affect the development of the heart and head. Abnormal development of the jaw, palate, brain and heart are relatively common congenital defects and frequently arise due to genetic errors that affect a key developmental pathway. New evidence strengthens link between cigarette smoke exposure and poor infant health The damaging effects of smoking and smoke exposure can be seen at any age. Pediatricians have even noted these negative effects in various stages of infant development. Moms' smoking linked to increased risk of birth defects Babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy were more than twice as likely to have a cleft palate or lip as those whose mothers didn't, according to research results released today. Scientists trace molecular origin of proportional development When it comes to embryo formation in the lowly fruit fly, a little molecular messiness actually leads to enhanced developmental precision, according to a study in the Oct. 14 Developmental Cell from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Statins may prevent miscarriages Hospital for Special Surgery researchers have found that statins may be able to prevent miscarriages in women who are suffering from pregnancy complications caused by antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), according to a study in mice. Rong Li Lab probes mechanism of asymmetry in meiotic cell division The Stowers Institute's Rong Li Lab has characterized a mechanism that allows for asymmetrical cell division during meiosis in oocytes. By tracking chromosome movement in live mouse oocytes, the team discovered that chromosomes can recruit to their vicinity a protein called formin-2. NTP finalizes report on Bisphenol A Current human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in many polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is of "some concern" for effects on development of the prostate gland and brain and for behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children, according to a final report released today by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). Alcohol consumption can cause too much cell death, fetal abnormalities The initial signs of fetal alcohol syndrome are slight but classic: facial malformations such as a flat and high upper lip, small eye openings and a short nose. More Birth Defects Current Events and Birth Defects News Articles |
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