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#1
General Discussion / More than 1200 genetic variant...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2026-09-08 08:41Posted Sep 8, 2026
Published 7 September 2026 posted in News and appears in BioNews 1355
Author
Dr Mireia Carcolé Estrada
Over 1200 genetic variants associated with differences in personality have been identified, in the largest study of its kind.
The study combined genetic and questionnaire data from over one million people across 46 studies and 13 countries to identify variants linked to the so-called Big Five personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience. The research team analysed roughly ten million genetic variants for each trait and identified 1260 associated with personality, 824 of them previously unknown. The genetic findings were used to calculate polygenic indices – single 'scores' bringing together the estimated effects of many genetic variants on their related Big Five trait. Further work then explored how these indices were associated with a range of life outcomes in other groups.
Professor Elliot Tucker-Drob, a co-lead author of the study from the University of Texas, Austin, said: 'I view the 1260 variants as kind of a testament to the fact that we've now got the power to answer all of these other questions that we couldn't answer before.'
The findings, published in Nature, suggest that personality is highly polygenic – it is shaped by thousands of genetic differences, each contributing only a small amount. Together, the variants explain only around five to 13 percent of variation in personality, depending on the measure used. However, these genetic associations remained stable across countries, age groups and different methods of measuring personality. In addition, work comparing more than 51,000 relatives indicated that the associations found between genetic variants and personality traits had little to do with the influence of a shared family environment.
The team also explored how the genetic variants they identified were linked to health, education, behaviour and other life outcomes. For example, their work suggests that genetic influences associated with extraversion are linked to a higher risk of COVID-19 infection, while genetic influences associated with conscientiousness were linked to lower body mass index and lower likelihood of starting smoking. However, the authors stress that these sorts of effects need further research.
'These genetic influences do not determine who we become,' said Professor Michel Nivard from the University of Bristol, a co-lead author of the study. 'Personality develops through the concurrent influences of genetics, family and social environments, life experiences and our own choices,' he added.
Published 7 September 2026 posted in News and appears in BioNews 1355
Author
Dr Mireia Carcolé Estrada
Over 1200 genetic variants associated with differences in personality have been identified, in the largest study of its kind.
The study combined genetic and questionnaire data from over one million people across 46 studies and 13 countries to identify variants linked to the so-called Big Five personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience. The research team analysed roughly ten million genetic variants for each trait and identified 1260 associated with personality, 824 of them previously unknown. The genetic findings were used to calculate polygenic indices – single 'scores' bringing together the estimated effects of many genetic variants on their related Big Five trait. Further work then explored how these indices were associated with a range of life outcomes in other groups.
Professor Elliot Tucker-Drob, a co-lead author of the study from the University of Texas, Austin, said: 'I view the 1260 variants as kind of a testament to the fact that we've now got the power to answer all of these other questions that we couldn't answer before.'
The findings, published in Nature, suggest that personality is highly polygenic – it is shaped by thousands of genetic differences, each contributing only a small amount. Together, the variants explain only around five to 13 percent of variation in personality, depending on the measure used. However, these genetic associations remained stable across countries, age groups and different methods of measuring personality. In addition, work comparing more than 51,000 relatives indicated that the associations found between genetic variants and personality traits had little to do with the influence of a shared family environment.
The team also explored how the genetic variants they identified were linked to health, education, behaviour and other life outcomes. For example, their work suggests that genetic influences associated with extraversion are linked to a higher risk of COVID-19 infection, while genetic influences associated with conscientiousness were linked to lower body mass index and lower likelihood of starting smoking. However, the authors stress that these sorts of effects need further research.
'These genetic influences do not determine who we become,' said Professor Michel Nivard from the University of Bristol, a co-lead author of the study. 'Personality develops through the concurrent influences of genetics, family and social environments, life experiences and our own choices,' he added.
#2
General Discussion / Comparison of semen parameters...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2026-09-07 12:21Saad Elzanaty 1, Johan Malm
Abstract
Objective: To investigate differences in semen quality between samples collected by masturbation at a clinic and at home.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: Fertility center.
Patient(s): Three hundred seventy-nine men assessed for infertility.
Intervention(s): None.
Main outcome measure(s): Semen was analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Seminal markers of epididymal (neutral alpha-glucosidase), prostatic (prostate-specific antigen and zinc), and seminal vesicle (fructose) function were measured. Two patient groups were defined according to sample collection location: at a clinic (n = 273) or at home (n = 106).
Result(s): Compared with clinic-collected semen, home-collected samples had statistically significantly higher values for sperm concentration, total sperm count, rapid progressive motility, and total count of progressive motility. Semen volume, proportion of normal sperm morphology, neutral alpha-glucosidase, prostate-specific antigen, zinc, and fructose did not differ significantly between groups. An abnormal sperm concentration (<20 x 10(6)/mL) was seen in statistically significantly fewer of the samples obtained at home (19/106, 18%) than at the clinic (81/273, 30%), and the same applied to proportions of samples with abnormal (< 25%) rapid progressive motility (68/106 [64%] and 205/273 [75%], respectively).
Conclusion(s): The present results demonstrate superior semen quality in samples collected by masturbation at home compared with at a clinic. This should be taken into consideration in infertility investigations.
Abstract
Objective: To investigate differences in semen quality between samples collected by masturbation at a clinic and at home.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: Fertility center.
Patient(s): Three hundred seventy-nine men assessed for infertility.
Intervention(s): None.
Main outcome measure(s): Semen was analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Seminal markers of epididymal (neutral alpha-glucosidase), prostatic (prostate-specific antigen and zinc), and seminal vesicle (fructose) function were measured. Two patient groups were defined according to sample collection location: at a clinic (n = 273) or at home (n = 106).
Result(s): Compared with clinic-collected semen, home-collected samples had statistically significantly higher values for sperm concentration, total sperm count, rapid progressive motility, and total count of progressive motility. Semen volume, proportion of normal sperm morphology, neutral alpha-glucosidase, prostate-specific antigen, zinc, and fructose did not differ significantly between groups. An abnormal sperm concentration (<20 x 10(6)/mL) was seen in statistically significantly fewer of the samples obtained at home (19/106, 18%) than at the clinic (81/273, 30%), and the same applied to proportions of samples with abnormal (< 25%) rapid progressive motility (68/106 [64%] and 205/273 [75%], respectively).
Conclusion(s): The present results demonstrate superior semen quality in samples collected by masturbation at home compared with at a clinic. This should be taken into consideration in infertility investigations.
#3
General Discussion / Relationship between the durat...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2026-09-07 12:19Analysis of 9,489 semen samples
Eliahu Levitas 1, Eitan Lunenfeld, Noemi Weiss, Michael Friger, Iris Har-Vardi, Arie Koifman, Gad Potashnik
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between duration of sexual abstinence and various characteristics of normal and subnormal semen.
Design: A retrospective study based on computerized data.
Setting: Fertility and IVF unit at a university medical center.
Patient(s): Nine thousand, four hundred eighty-nine semen samples from 6,008 patients were analyzed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) manual and grouped according to sperm concentration (10(6)/mL) into severe (0.2-4 x 10(6)), moderate (>4-10 x 10(6)), and mild (>10-19.99 x 10(6)) oligozoospermia, and normozoospermia (> or =20-250 x 10(6)) groups.
Main outcome measure(s): In each group mean values of semen volume, sperm concentration, percentage of motile sperm and of normal morphology (according to WHO or Kruger criteria), total sperm count, and total motile sperm count per ejaculate were related to duration of abstinence.
Result(s): Among the 3,506 oligozoospermic samples, the peak mean sperm motility of 30.3% was observed after 1 day of abstinence. Similarly, the mean percentage of normal morphology among mild-moderate oligozoospermic samples (n = 2,260) reached peak values of 7.4%-8.6% between 0-2 days of abstinence. The 5,983 normozoospermic samples showed a significant decrease in the percentage of sperm motility and normal morphology to mean values of 33.1% and 7.0%, respectively, on days 11-14 of sexual abstinence.
Conclusion(s): Our data challenge the role of abstinence in male infertility treatments and suggest that to present the best possible semen samples, patients with male factor infertility should collect the semen after just 1 day of sexual abstinence. Patients presenting normal sperm analysis or sperm donors for cryopreservation purposes should be advised not to exceed 10 days of sexual abstinence.
Eliahu Levitas 1, Eitan Lunenfeld, Noemi Weiss, Michael Friger, Iris Har-Vardi, Arie Koifman, Gad Potashnik
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between duration of sexual abstinence and various characteristics of normal and subnormal semen.
Design: A retrospective study based on computerized data.
Setting: Fertility and IVF unit at a university medical center.
Patient(s): Nine thousand, four hundred eighty-nine semen samples from 6,008 patients were analyzed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) manual and grouped according to sperm concentration (10(6)/mL) into severe (0.2-4 x 10(6)), moderate (>4-10 x 10(6)), and mild (>10-19.99 x 10(6)) oligozoospermia, and normozoospermia (> or =20-250 x 10(6)) groups.
Main outcome measure(s): In each group mean values of semen volume, sperm concentration, percentage of motile sperm and of normal morphology (according to WHO or Kruger criteria), total sperm count, and total motile sperm count per ejaculate were related to duration of abstinence.
Result(s): Among the 3,506 oligozoospermic samples, the peak mean sperm motility of 30.3% was observed after 1 day of abstinence. Similarly, the mean percentage of normal morphology among mild-moderate oligozoospermic samples (n = 2,260) reached peak values of 7.4%-8.6% between 0-2 days of abstinence. The 5,983 normozoospermic samples showed a significant decrease in the percentage of sperm motility and normal morphology to mean values of 33.1% and 7.0%, respectively, on days 11-14 of sexual abstinence.
Conclusion(s): Our data challenge the role of abstinence in male infertility treatments and suggest that to present the best possible semen samples, patients with male factor infertility should collect the semen after just 1 day of sexual abstinence. Patients presenting normal sperm analysis or sperm donors for cryopreservation purposes should be advised not to exceed 10 days of sexual abstinence.
#4
General Discussion / Air pollution may impact male ...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2026-07-16 11:44Air pollution is associated with epigenetic changes in sperm DNA, according to research presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in London.
US researchers found that sperm that developed during periods of higher air pollution were more likely to carry methylation changes on parts of their DNA. These changes do not affect the DNA sequence itself, but can impact how genes are turned on or off.
'Our findings suggest that air pollution exposure during key stages of sperm development may be associated with changes in sperm DNA methylation, including in genes involved in spermatogenesis and early developmental processes,' said lead author Dr Carrie Nobles from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who presented the research.
The researchers studied methylation in semen samples from over 1220 men in Salt Lake City, Utah, between 2013-2017. They were able to compare the findings with estimates of air pollution from the three-month period before the sample was collected, when the sperm were developing. Among genes affected by methylation changes was GNAS, which is known to be associated with sperm quality and is also imprinted. Imprinting means that the gene carries specific epigenetic marks denoting whether a particular copy came from the egg or sperm.
'The association with changes in the imprinted gene GNAS was particularly important. Because imprinted genes can persist through early embryonic development, this raises important questions about whether fathers' environmental exposures may influence not only fertility, but pregnancy and offspring health,' said Dr Nobles.
The study looked at levels of four specific pollutants: ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and fine particulate matter, concluding that ozone and nitrogen dioxide levels appeared to have stronger associations with methylation changes.
Professor Karen Sermon, a recent chair of ESHRE, said: 'This is another piece of the puzzle... We know that couples exposed to air pollution often have difficulties becoming pregnant, and this may be one of the explanations amongst the myriad ways that pollution impacts our reproductive health.'
'There has been growing evidence in recent years that aspects of human health can be impacted by air pollution, and this includes male infertility. However, we have not really understood much about the likely mechanism by which this occurs,' said andrologist Professor Allan Pacey, from the University of Manchester, who was not involved in the research.
He told BioNews he welcomes this research but added that: 'At present, it is not possible to conclude whether the observed changes to sperm DNA methylation are clinically meaningful for male infertility and further work will need to be done to confirm or refute that.'
Dr Nobles agreed: 'We also need to understand whether air pollution-associated changes in sperm DNA methylation have measurable downstream impacts on men's fertility and couples' pregnancy health.'
#5
General Discussion / IVF success rates increase whi...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2026-07-16 11:33Improvements in IVF protocols have improved birth rates, while reducing the number of multiple pregnancies, according to research presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in London.
Twin and higher-order multiple pregnancies are known to pose escalating health risks for both mothers and babies. Researchers in Australia have examined the impact of improvements in IVF techniques to evaluate whether transferring multiple embryos remains a legitimate option to increase IVF success.
'For many years, transferring two embryos increased the chance of pregnancy from any one transfer, but often came with twin pregnancy rates approaching 30 percent,' said Dr Dean Morbeck from Genea Fertility in Sydney, who presented the research. 'What our data show is that this trade-off has largely disappeared.'
The researchers looked at data from nearly 18,400 women who began IVF treatment at seven Australian fertility clinics between 2012 and 2023. Women using donor eggs or previously frozen eggs/embryos were excluded, as were those who needed PGT-M or PGT-SR. They were followed up until a live birth or until the end of three full cycles if no birth occurred.
The cumulative birth rate across three cycles was over 68 percent, with 95.3 percent single-embryo transfers and a multiple-birth rate below three percent. This compares with cumulative birth rates of 53-59 percent in earlier studies, in which multiple births exceeded 20 percent.
Dr Morbeck attributes this improvement to modern IVF laboratory techniques: 'Blastocyst culture ... became much more effective with vitrification, which dramatically improved embryo survival after freezing and warming, making frozen embryo transfer outcomes comparable to fresh transfers,' he said. 'Together, these advances enabled approaches such as freeze-all treatment, where embryos are transferred one at a time later, rather than during the initial stimulation cycle.'
The researchers also looked at the data broken down over time. Over the course of the study, the proportion of single embryo transfers increased from 92.8 percent to 97.3 percent, and multiple births fell from 3.2 percent to 2.7 percent.
Across the same time period, the proportion of fertilised eggs that developed into transferable blastocysts increased, which the authors attribute to the introduction of new embryo culture technologies.
'Improvements in IVF are typically driven by steady, incremental advances rather than dramatic breakthroughs,' said Professor Borut Kovacic, chair-elect of ESHRE. 'This study demonstrates that optimising laboratory practices, adhering to evidence-based guidelines and adopting a relatively conservative treatment approach can progressively increase cumulative live birth rates while reducing multiple births – two outcomes that matter most to patients seeking a safe and cost-effective route to parenthood within a single stimulation cycle.'
#6
General Discussion / Re: A Journey Through Male Inf...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2026-06-02 10:58One of the central themes of A Journey Through Male Infertility is that men and women often process loss, trauma, and emotional pain in very different ways. While the book is written through the lens of infertility, its message about communication, understanding, and navigating adversity together resonates far beyond fertility challenges alone.
The post below comes from a reader who has not experienced infertility but was struck by the parallels between the experiences described in the book and the profound loss he and his wife endured following the death of their son. His insights highlight how differing responses to grief can create distance and misunderstanding, yet also how patience, support, and open communication can help couples find their way back to one another.
The following post reinforces a key message of A Journey Through Male Infertility: when couples seek to understand—not judge—each other's way of coping, they are better able to face life's greatest challenges StrongerTtogether.
His post is as follows: "I have been trying to make time to read this, and making slow progress. It is a fascinating read and what strikes me more than anything is the simlarities in the relationship between my wife and me when our son killed himself. Of course it was unbearable for both both of us but this was manifested different ways. I had to be "strong" and rational about how this effected us both, while she was overtly emotional and blamed me a great deal. So my efforts to be strong merely made her more accusative. It took 2 to 3 years for us to reach an even keel. Our two daughters were even more distraught at first, but after a while they calmed down and their support helped us all to come together again. I shall continue with the book it's rather wordy, but it is enlightening".
The post below comes from a reader who has not experienced infertility but was struck by the parallels between the experiences described in the book and the profound loss he and his wife endured following the death of their son. His insights highlight how differing responses to grief can create distance and misunderstanding, yet also how patience, support, and open communication can help couples find their way back to one another.
The following post reinforces a key message of A Journey Through Male Infertility: when couples seek to understand—not judge—each other's way of coping, they are better able to face life's greatest challenges StrongerTtogether.
His post is as follows: "I have been trying to make time to read this, and making slow progress. It is a fascinating read and what strikes me more than anything is the simlarities in the relationship between my wife and me when our son killed himself. Of course it was unbearable for both both of us but this was manifested different ways. I had to be "strong" and rational about how this effected us both, while she was overtly emotional and blamed me a great deal. So my efforts to be strong merely made her more accusative. It took 2 to 3 years for us to reach an even keel. Our two daughters were even more distraught at first, but after a while they calmed down and their support helped us all to come together again. I shall continue with the book it's rather wordy, but it is enlightening".
#7
General Discussion / A post from a reader on: A jou...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2026-06-02 10:20One of the central themes of A Journey Through Male Infertility is that men and women often process loss, trauma, and emotional pain in very different ways. While the book is written through the lens of infertility, its message about communication, understanding, and navigating adversity together resonates far beyond fertility challenges alone.
The post below comes from a reader who has not experienced infertility but was struck by the parallels between the experiences described in the book and the profound loss he and his wife endured following the death of their son. His insights highlight how differing responses to grief can create distance and misunderstanding, yet also how patience, support, and open communication can help couples find their way back to one another.
The following post reinforces a key message of A Journey Through Male Infertility: when couples seek to understand—not judge—each other's way of coping, they are better able to face life's greatest challenges StrongerTtogether.
His post is as follows: "I have been trying to make time to read this, and making slow progress. It is a fascinating read and what strikes me more than anything is the simlarities in the relationship between my wife and me when our son killed himself. Of course it was unbearable for both both of us but this was manifested different ways. I had to be "strong" and rational about how this effected us both, while she was overtly emotional and blamed me a great deal. So my efforts to be strong merely made her more accusative. It took 2 to 3 years for us to reach an even keel. Our two daughters were even more distraught at first, but after a while they calmed down and their support helped us all to come together again. I shall continue with the book it's rather wordy, but it is enlightening".
The post below comes from a reader who has not experienced infertility but was struck by the parallels between the experiences described in the book and the profound loss he and his wife endured following the death of their son. His insights highlight how differing responses to grief can create distance and misunderstanding, yet also how patience, support, and open communication can help couples find their way back to one another.
The following post reinforces a key message of A Journey Through Male Infertility: when couples seek to understand—not judge—each other's way of coping, they are better able to face life's greatest challenges StrongerTtogether.
His post is as follows: "I have been trying to make time to read this, and making slow progress. It is a fascinating read and what strikes me more than anything is the simlarities in the relationship between my wife and me when our son killed himself. Of course it was unbearable for both both of us but this was manifested different ways. I had to be "strong" and rational about how this effected us both, while she was overtly emotional and blamed me a great deal. So my efforts to be strong merely made her more accusative. It took 2 to 3 years for us to reach an even keel. Our two daughters were even more distraught at first, but after a while they calmed down and their support helped us all to come together again. I shall continue with the book it's rather wordy, but it is enlightening".
#8
General Discussion / The affect of men’s health on ...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2026-03-30 13:35As set out in our review, one important pathway through which a father's health can affect both pregnancy outcomes and the infant's health is through sperm health.
Factors such as age, the father's nutrition, whether he smokes, is overweight or obese, has an unhealthy alcohol intake, experiences stress and his level of exposure to pollution or chemicals can all influence so-called non-coding nucleic acid (RNA) signals carried in sperm. These signals can affect how genes act in the early stages of the baby's development, which can subsequently impact long-term health outcomes in children.
For example, one study of over 500,000 couples found higher odds of birth defects (including cleft lip, digestive tract anomalies and congenital heart disease) when fathers reported drinking alcohol before pregnancy.
Older father's age (particularly those who conceived a child after the age of 35) is also linked with both risk of birth complications as well as a child's likelihood of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. These links are stronger than those seen with a mother's age.
Research involving millions of fathers and children has additionally shown that depression in fathers is linked with higher risks of depression in their children.
Some research even suggests that experiences earlier in life may play a role. For example, studies have linked nutrition and environmental exposures such as food shortage or abundance during boys' pre-teen years with health outcomes in the next generation.
But biology is only part of the picture, as described in our review.
Men also influence pregnancy through their relationships with their partners. Supportive partners are consistently linked with healthier pregnancies. Women who feel supported are more likely to attend antenatal appointments, avoid smoking or alcohol, maintain healthier diets and experience lower levels of stress and depression during pregnancy.
Supportive partners are linked with healthier pregnancies.Hananeko_Studio/ Shutterstock© The Conversation UK
These factors matter because a mother's mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy are closely linked to children's emotional, cognitive and physical development.
Another pathway is through parenting. A father's mental health, stress levels and childhood experiences can influence how he interacts with his children after birth.
For example, men who experienced adversity growing up – such as poverty, neglect or trauma – are more likely to experience anxiety or depression later in life. This can affect family relationships and parenting.
This means that experiences during a boy's childhood can have ripple effects decades later, shaping the environment his own children grow up in.
What this means for families
Taken together, the evidence from our review shows the importance of shared responsibility for pregnancy and parenthood.
Improving men's health before pregnancy benefits not only men themselves but also their partners and future children. Yet most health advice about preparing for pregnancy still focuses almost entirely on women. In many countries, there is little information or support available for men who want to prepare for fatherhood.
Raising awareness is an important first step. Research shows that many men want to be involved in planning for pregnancy and supporting their partners – but they often don't realise how their own health may influence outcomes.
For men who hope to become fathers, general health guidance needs to be followed: avoid smoking, limit alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, manage stress and seek medical advice for ongoing health conditions. Just as important, strong and supportive relationships between partners can help create healthier environments for future parenthood.
Our review suggests it's time to rethink how we approach preparing for pregnancy. Instead of focusing only on women before pregnancy, a more effective approach should involve supporting the health and wellbeing of both boys and girls throughout their lives.
This includes addressing wider social factors such as education, mental health support, economic stability and childhood adversity. Experiences early in life shape later health behaviour and relationships, influencing the next generation.
Most healthcare systems are also simply not designed to support father's involvement in preparation for pregnancy and parenthood. But men need to be included in conversations about reproductive health and couples should be supported to approach pregnancy preparation together.
More research is still needed to better understand the biological and social pathways linking men's health to pregnancy and child outcomes. But our review makes one message clear: the health of the next generation does not begin with pregnancy – it begins much earlier, in the early lives and wellbeing of both parents.
Keith Godfrey receives funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR Senior Investigator (NF-SI-0515-10042) and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR203319)) and the Wessex Medical Trust, Gerald Kerkut Charitable Trust and Rosetrees Trust.
Factors such as age, the father's nutrition, whether he smokes, is overweight or obese, has an unhealthy alcohol intake, experiences stress and his level of exposure to pollution or chemicals can all influence so-called non-coding nucleic acid (RNA) signals carried in sperm. These signals can affect how genes act in the early stages of the baby's development, which can subsequently impact long-term health outcomes in children.
For example, one study of over 500,000 couples found higher odds of birth defects (including cleft lip, digestive tract anomalies and congenital heart disease) when fathers reported drinking alcohol before pregnancy.
Older father's age (particularly those who conceived a child after the age of 35) is also linked with both risk of birth complications as well as a child's likelihood of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. These links are stronger than those seen with a mother's age.
Research involving millions of fathers and children has additionally shown that depression in fathers is linked with higher risks of depression in their children.
Some research even suggests that experiences earlier in life may play a role. For example, studies have linked nutrition and environmental exposures such as food shortage or abundance during boys' pre-teen years with health outcomes in the next generation.
But biology is only part of the picture, as described in our review.
Men also influence pregnancy through their relationships with their partners. Supportive partners are consistently linked with healthier pregnancies. Women who feel supported are more likely to attend antenatal appointments, avoid smoking or alcohol, maintain healthier diets and experience lower levels of stress and depression during pregnancy.
Supportive partners are linked with healthier pregnancies.Hananeko_Studio/ Shutterstock© The Conversation UK
These factors matter because a mother's mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy are closely linked to children's emotional, cognitive and physical development.
Another pathway is through parenting. A father's mental health, stress levels and childhood experiences can influence how he interacts with his children after birth.
For example, men who experienced adversity growing up – such as poverty, neglect or trauma – are more likely to experience anxiety or depression later in life. This can affect family relationships and parenting.
This means that experiences during a boy's childhood can have ripple effects decades later, shaping the environment his own children grow up in.
What this means for families
Taken together, the evidence from our review shows the importance of shared responsibility for pregnancy and parenthood.
Improving men's health before pregnancy benefits not only men themselves but also their partners and future children. Yet most health advice about preparing for pregnancy still focuses almost entirely on women. In many countries, there is little information or support available for men who want to prepare for fatherhood.
Raising awareness is an important first step. Research shows that many men want to be involved in planning for pregnancy and supporting their partners – but they often don't realise how their own health may influence outcomes.
For men who hope to become fathers, general health guidance needs to be followed: avoid smoking, limit alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, manage stress and seek medical advice for ongoing health conditions. Just as important, strong and supportive relationships between partners can help create healthier environments for future parenthood.
Our review suggests it's time to rethink how we approach preparing for pregnancy. Instead of focusing only on women before pregnancy, a more effective approach should involve supporting the health and wellbeing of both boys and girls throughout their lives.
This includes addressing wider social factors such as education, mental health support, economic stability and childhood adversity. Experiences early in life shape later health behaviour and relationships, influencing the next generation.
Most healthcare systems are also simply not designed to support father's involvement in preparation for pregnancy and parenthood. But men need to be included in conversations about reproductive health and couples should be supported to approach pregnancy preparation together.
More research is still needed to better understand the biological and social pathways linking men's health to pregnancy and child outcomes. But our review makes one message clear: the health of the next generation does not begin with pregnancy – it begins much earlier, in the early lives and wellbeing of both parents.
Keith Godfrey receives funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR Senior Investigator (NF-SI-0515-10042) and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR203319)) and the Wessex Medical Trust, Gerald Kerkut Charitable Trust and Rosetrees Trust.
#9
General Discussion / Re: HFEA Changes Surrogacy Rul...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2025-12-10 17:16"Yes, a patient can transport frozen eggs (oocytes) or embryos from the UK to the USA, but it's a highly regulated process requiring coordination with specialist couriers, compliance with both UK (HFEA) and US (FDA) rules, proper cryo-shipping in liquid nitrogen tanks, and specific infectious disease testing. The process involves the UK clinic, the receiving US clinic, and an expert courier managing documentation, customs, and maintaining the cold chain for the samples.
Key Requirements & Steps:
1. FDA Compliance (US Side): The primary hurdle for US entry is that donors must have completed specific FDA-required infectious disease screening (HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrohea) at an FDA-certified US facility at the time of donation.
2. HFEA Compliance (UK Side): The UK clinic must follow Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regulations for exporting gametes, ensuring donor consent and proper quality standards.
3. Specialist Courier: You need a licensed courier (e.g., Embryoport, Greenplace Healthcare, Biocair ) specialising in cryogenic transport (using LN2 dewars) and handling international paperwork.
4. Clinic Coordination: Both the UK exporting clinic and the US receiving clinic must work together to arrange the transfer and paperwork.
5. Documentation & Customs: The courier manages the extensive documentation, permits, and customs clearance.
Process Summary:
• Frozen eggs are placed in specialised liquid nitrogen shippers.
• A specialist courier transports them directly from the UK clinic to the US clinic.
• The receiving US clinic verifies the FDA-compliant testing results.
In short, it's possible but complex, requiring expert logistical and regulatory support from your clinics and a specialised courier. "
Key Requirements & Steps:
1. FDA Compliance (US Side): The primary hurdle for US entry is that donors must have completed specific FDA-required infectious disease screening (HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrohea) at an FDA-certified US facility at the time of donation.
2. HFEA Compliance (UK Side): The UK clinic must follow Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regulations for exporting gametes, ensuring donor consent and proper quality standards.
3. Specialist Courier: You need a licensed courier (e.g., Embryoport, Greenplace Healthcare, Biocair ) specialising in cryogenic transport (using LN2 dewars) and handling international paperwork.
4. Clinic Coordination: Both the UK exporting clinic and the US receiving clinic must work together to arrange the transfer and paperwork.
5. Documentation & Customs: The courier manages the extensive documentation, permits, and customs clearance.
Process Summary:
• Frozen eggs are placed in specialised liquid nitrogen shippers.
• A specialist courier transports them directly from the UK clinic to the US clinic.
• The receiving US clinic verifies the FDA-compliant testing results.
In short, it's possible but complex, requiring expert logistical and regulatory support from your clinics and a specialised courier. "
#10
General Discussion / Re: HFEA Changes Surrogacy Rul...
Last post by mensfe_admin - 2025-12-10 17:14Patient experience - "Theoretically, this is possible and we have both imported and exported to the States. They would need to be registered with an American clinic and have had a consultation there. There's usually consent and admin charges that would need to be paid to the UK clinic before they would be happy to send information over. The UK clinic would need to send freeze details, consents and virologies, but the American clinic would also have to provide information on their accreditation, quality management and traceability and this would have to meet HFEA guidelines to be able to export there. If these cannot be met, they could apply to the HFEA for special directions, but they may not grant this. Regulations between the countries vary and they would not be able to use the eggs for anything that is illegal within the UK, the most common being sex selection."