Frontiers in Reproductive Health | New and Recent Articles

BackgroundFertility preservation is the process of saving or protecting a person's reproductive substance of human origin intended to be used later in that person's life. Fertility preservation technologies have benefits and risks. Among the most discussed issues is the access to these technologies and their funding. Our study aims at the identification and analysis of specific ethical challenges…

BackgroundIsolated fallopian tube torsion (IFTT) is a rare gynecologic emergency that frequently presents with nonspecific symptoms and may mimic other causes of acute abdominal pain, resulting in diagnostic delay.Case presentationA 50-year-old woman presented with a 2-day history of right lower quadrant pain without gastrointestinal, urinary, or gynecologic symptoms and was initially admitted wi…

IntroductionIn 2024, an international consensus statement on non-invasive imaging techniques for the diagnosis of pelvic deep endometriosis was published, recommending transvaginal sonography as the first-line imaging modality because of cost, availability, and low impact on the environment. Despite the increasing body of evidence supporting the use of imaging in the preoperative diagnosis of end…

IntroductionIn rural Niger, child marriage remains highly prevalent, often functioning as a mechanism of risk mitigation. This qualitative study explores the cultural and bio-social drivers of child marriage, focusing on the intersection of physical maturation, anticipatory shame, and economic vulnerability.MethodsThe study drew on 53 in-depth interviews, six body mapping focus group discussions …

BackgroundIn 2023, U.S. Perinatal HIV Guidelines shifted from recommending exclusive formula feeding to endorsing shared decision-making for infant feeding among pregnant and postpartum persons with HIV (PPWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with sustained viral suppression. While the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding is small (< 1%) with sustained viral suppression, adherence protoc…

IntroductionExposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) has been linked in several studies to male reproductive dysfunction, with oxidative stress and sperm DNA damage proposed as key underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe present study evaluated the protective effect of Swadamshtradi rasayana (SDR) against RF-EMR–induced sperm alterations in mice. Twenty-four Swiss albino mice were a…

IntroductionThe global prevalence of obesity has increasingly affected women of reproductive age, leading to several adverse outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and for their newborns. The objective of this study was to estimate time trends in early pregnancy among women who delivered live births in Gran Canaria (Spain) from 1993 to 2022 with stratified analysis by age, educational level, and …

BackgroundStress, depression, and racial discrimination occurring in pregnant women have demonstrated associations with adverse birth outcomes, but their role during and after the COVID-19 pandemic among women living with HIV (WLHIV) has not been evaluated.MethodsWe conducted surveys in pregnant and postpartum WLHIV participating in the US-based SMARTT study, asking them to report their experienc…

BackgroundObstetric fistula is a preventable childbirth injury that remains socially devastating for women in low-resource settings. Existing evidence on obstetric fistula stigma is largely derived from treatment centres and urban settings, leaving limited understanding of the lived experiences of women in underserved rural communities. This study addresses this knowledge gap by qualitatively exa…

BackgroundBreastfeeding offers significant health benefits, and guidance for women with HIV increasingly emphasizes individualized, informed infant-feeding decisions. Breastmilk antiretroviral transfer and safety data are needed to inform shared decision-making discussions across all settings.MethodsBreastmilk transfer of ritonavir (RTV)-boosted atazanavir (ATV) was evaluated in the International…

Feminine hygiene products (FHPs), including douches, washes, and deodorants, are widely marketed as tools for maintaining vaginal cleanliness and freshness despite evidence linking some products to adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Black women have historically been disproportionately targeted by FHP marketing and use certain products at higher rates, raising concerns about the int…

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the unique stress experiences and multidimensional stress dilemmas of infertile women during assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment in the Chinese cultural context.MethodsFifteen infertile women undergoing ART treatment at a tertiary hospital in Chongqing were recruited for semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Guided by descriptive phenomenology,…

IntroductionSperm cryopreservation is increasingly recognized as a key strategy for fertility preservation, particularly for male infertility patients who may benefit from assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, the optimal abstinence period for maximizing semen quality prior to cryopreservation remains unclear, and whether this optimum varies with patient age has not been systematically…

IntroductionAntiretroviral therapy (ART) has made safer childbearing achievable for people living with HIV (PLHIV), and the reproductive health counseling PLHIV receive within HIV care shapes whether they can act safely on their fertility intentions. This study explored, from the perspective of PLHIV themselves, how the reproductive counseling they reported receiving shaped their fertility decisi…

BackgroundMenstrual tracking apps are widely used, yet research on what drives sustained engagement remains limited. Most studies rely on self-reported use, with few incorporating real-time behavioural data or validated theoretical frameworks such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).ObjectiveThis study examined associations between engagement with a reproductive health app offering menstrual…

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign smooth muscle neoplasm of the uterine wall and are a major indication for hysterectomy. Although common risk factors include African Ancestry, family history, obesity, and early menarche, exposure to non-essential metals is an emerging risk factor that has not been previously examined in Caribbean populations. In this cross-sectional study, a sample of …

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynecological condition associated with severe dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, deep dyspareunia, cyclic bowel or urinary symptoms and infertility. It is also linked to psychological morbidity, reduced quality of life and lost economic productivity. In low-resource settings, diagnostic and therapeutic delays often reflect pathway failure rather than speci…

The growing burden of male hypogonadism has raised concerns regarding the potential impact of modern lifestyles and environmental exposures on male reproductive health. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is widely used for the treatment of male hypogonadism. However, prolonged TRT may suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis, resulting in reduced gonadotropin production, decr…

IntroductionCervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide, with large geographical variations in incidence and mortality rates. The objective of this study is to determine whether women's autonomy is predictive of the use of cervical cancer screening services in Senegal.MethodThis was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of a sample of 312 women. Da…

Ovarian aging is a complex biological process traditionally attributed to the progressive depletion of the follicular reserve. However, accumulating evidence suggests that age-related reproductive decline is not solely determined by follicular loss but also by profound alterations in the ovarian microenvironment, including stromal fibrosis, vascular dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, ox…