Credit: iStock/AsiaVision Many people assume poor sleep during pregnancy and the weeks after giving birth is simply part of the experience. The physical changes of pregnancy—and the demands of caring for a newborn—can make rest feel out of reach. But research shows sleep does far more than fight fatigue. It plays a direct role in … Continue reading Why Sleep During Pregnancy is a Health Issue, Not a Luxury
Reproductive Physiology
Protecting Pregnancy When Blood Types Differ
A classical depiction of Queen Niobe grieving her child, intertwined with symbolic antibodies and red blood cells to represent Rh incompatibility. Credit: Amin Mohajeri In Greek mythology, Queen Niobe’s pride led to her children’s death, and her endless grief turned her into stone. The human body, too, can be undone by its own devotion: A … Continue reading Protecting Pregnancy When Blood Types Differ
Spotlight On: The Menstrual Cycle
Credit: iStock/aga7ta The menstrual cycle is a remarkable biological process that plays a crucial role in human reproduction. The cycle involves a series of complex interactions between hormones and the body’s reproductive organs with the primary goal of preparing the body for pregnancy. Understanding these processes can provide insights into health, fertility and how birth … Continue reading Spotlight On: The Menstrual Cycle
The Physiology of Transgender Health Care
Credit: iStock/angelp Transgender people have a gender identity that is different from the gender associated with their assigned sex at birth. A transgender man may have been raised as a girl but later identifies as a man. A transgender woman may have been raised as a boy and now identifies as a woman. There are … Continue reading The Physiology of Transgender Health Care
Spotlight On: Cervical Cancer
Credit: iStock “Barbie”—an empowering movie about feminism featuring a personified version of the iconic doll—ends with a line that is shocking, surprising and funny (spoiler alert!): “I’m here to see my gynecologist.” Earlier in the movie, viewers learned that Barbie does not have genitals, but by the end of the movie, she starts to embrace … Continue reading Spotlight On: Cervical Cancer
How Breastfeeding Shapes the Gut Microbiome
Credit: iStock Human milk is often called “liquid gold” for its incredible benefits for infants. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding from the first hour after birth until the baby is 6 months old, and continuing breastfeeding along with complementary foods for up to two years. However, worldwide, fewer than half of infants … Continue reading How Breastfeeding Shapes the Gut Microbiome
Addressing the Gender Gap in Sports Science
Credit: iStock Whether your favorite sport is swimming, track and field, fencing, field hockey or another of the 33 sports with competitions in Tokyo this summer, watching elite athletes perform is often an awe-inspiring event. You may ask yourself “how do they do that?” as you watch the incredible feats. However, more and more scientists … Continue reading Addressing the Gender Gap in Sports Science
Why Biological Sex Matters in Research Studies
Credit: iStock “Boys are rotten, made out of cotton. Girls are handy, made out of candy.” While this silly elementary schoolyard rhyme is obviously not accurate, the underlying message is true: Males and females are physiologically different in some ways, particularly when it comes to sex organs and hormones. Until recently, however, the majority of … Continue reading Why Biological Sex Matters in Research Studies
Moms Who Exercise Have Healthier Kids
Credit: iStock When you exercise, your muscles get stronger, you may lose body fat, you can run farther and faster than before and your chance of getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease go way down. But have you thought about how your exercising can affect your kids’ health, too? At this year’s Experimental Biology … Continue reading Moms Who Exercise Have Healthier Kids
Spotlight On: Menopause
Credit: iStock Menopause is a stage in a person’s life when their menstrual cycle stops. The average age in the U.S. is 52. During this time, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone—hormones that regulate the reproductive cycle and support pregnancy—marking the end of reproductive function. After going without a period for 12 consecutive months, … Continue reading Spotlight On: Menopause