Category: Obstetrics & Gynaecology

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How One ‘Forever Chemical’ Can Disrupt Foetal Facial Development

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Researchers discovered perfluorodecanoic acid is the most toxic during foetal craniofacial development

Credit: Chemical Research in Toxicology (2026). doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.5c00468

Researchers have long associated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” to certain severe birth defects but exactly how these pollutants harm a developing foetus has remained mostly a mystery. New research now provides the first clear molecular explanation, showing how one PFAS, called perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), can trigger craniofacial abnormalities before birth.

The research was published in ACS Chemical Research in Toxicology.

“Most people are exposed to small amounts of PFAS in everyday life but higher exposure can occur through contaminated water, living near manufacturing sites or certain jobs like firefighting and ski waxing, which is why it’s so important to understand the chemicals better,” said the paper’s senior author Jed Lampe, PhD, associate professor at University of Colorado Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “We wanted to understand which PFAS compounds are truly harmful during foetus development, especially for people with higher exposure, and how they cause damage.”

There are approximately 15 000 PFAS used in consumer and industrial products but scientists are increasingly finding that only some pose serious health risks. In this study, Lampe worked with the paper’s first author Michaela Hvizdak and co-author Sylvie Kandel to test 13 commonly found PFAS and discovered PFDA as the most toxic during foetal craniofacial development.

They demonstrated a possible link between PFDA and the extensive facial changes observed in humans and laboratory animals, with some estimates indicating a 10% increased risk at extremely low exposure levels. 

“This finding moves us beyond association by providing a clear explanation for how PFDA can interfere with foetal development. It’s a critical step toward understanding a vast and complex class of environmental chemicals,” said Lampe.

The cause of underdeveloped eyes and an abnormal jaw

They found that PFAS disrupts retinoic acid, a molecule essential for shaping the face and head during early pregnancy. Retinoic acid regulates hundreds of genes and its levels must be controlled. Because a foetus cannot produce or safely eliminate excess retinoic acid, it relies entirely on the mother to maintain the homeostatic balance of the hormone.

The researchers discovered PFDA blocks CYP26A1, a key enzyme responsible for breaking down excess retinoic acid. When this enzyme is inhibited, retinoic acid levels can rise too high, disrupting normal facial development. PFDA also suppresses the genes that produce this enzyme through a separate biological pathway, delivering a “double hit” to the system that regulates early development.

“As a result, severe craniofacial abnormalities can develop, including underdeveloped eyes and abnormal jaw formation, which were the most common effects of PFDA exposure during foetal development,” said Lampe.

The researchers hope by providing a molecular explanation for this abnormality that the research and scientific community can work to develop targeted laboratory assays and computer‑based screening tools to quickly rank PFAS by risk. They say this could help regulators and manufacturers distinguish more dangerous compounds from safer alternatives and guide the design of less toxic chemicals in the future.

They also hope the research can open the door to practical interventions for people with higher exposure, such as firefighters and ski wax technicians. This could include looking into how to reduce exposure levels and whether strategies can be developed to lower PFDA during pregnancy to protect foetal development.

By Julia Milzer

Source: CU Anschutz Medical Campus

Categories : Diet and Nutrition Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags : Leave a comment

Study: Intermittent Fasting Positively Affects Female Hormones in PCOS 

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Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, affects as many as 18% of all childbearing-age women. The condition occurs when a woman’s body produces too androgens, chiefly testosterone. Menstrual irregularity, obesity and even infertility can result.

The first line of treatment is typically hormonal birth control, said UIC professor of nutrition Krista Varady. But there can be negative side effects to mood, libido and metabolism, plus an increased stroke risk in some people, Varady said.

“We’re looking for other ways of lowering testosterone levels in these women,” she said. “One way is through weight loss. If someone loses around 5% of their body weight, they can actually help lower testosterone levels and sidestep any kind of drug intervention.”

A new study led by Varady tested how one weight-loss method — intermittent fasting — affects hormones and symptoms in patients with PCOS. Published in Nature Medicine, the research shows that restricting eating to a six-hour daily window decreased testosterone without negatively affecting female hormones. The study also showed that weight loss through calorie counting decreased testosterone. 

However, some critics of intermittent fasting have posited that the diet disrupts female hormones, Varady said.

“There’s a particular sentiment that intermittent fasting is really bad for women.” This is untrue, she said. “This study and several other studies published by our lab and others show that intermittent fasting can actually improve female hormone levels, particularly in women with PCOS.” 

Varady and her colleagues studied a type of intermittent fasting called time-restricted eating. In this method, you eat only during a set six- or eight-hour period each day. During the remaining 18 or 16 hours, you fast with calorie-free beverages and water until the next day. 

Simply put, the strategy helps people eat less, Varady said. So does counting calories, a method Varady and her colleagues tested alongside intermittent fasting in the study. But intermittent fasting had some additional benefits.

“It’s a way of reducing energy intake without having to do really complicated calorie counting,” she said about intermittent fasting. Varady and others have shown in previous work that eating only during an eight-hour window can cut around 300 to 500 calories a day.

In addition to obesity and insulin resistance, which raise risks of diabetes and heart disease, PCOS can cause ovarian cysts, acne and facial hair growth.

In a group of 76 pre-menopausal women with PCOS, the researchers tested how outcomes differed after six months between time-restricted eating between 1 and 7 p.m. daily and calorie counting. Both diet schemes ended up cutting participants’ intake by about 200 calories per day, the team found, leading to average weight loss of about 10 pounds over the six months.

Both groups also experienced a decrease in testosterone concentrations. But only time-restricted eating reduced free androgen index, the ratio between testosterone and the protein that transports it through the blood, which is a marker of how much active testosterone is reaching a body’s tissues. It also improved A1C levels, a risk marker for diabetes, Varady said.

Though intermittent fasting did not lessen other PCOS symptoms, like menstrual period irregularity, Varady suggested those symptoms might improve with longer time on the diet and greater weight loss.

About 80% of the participants in the time-restricted eating group said they were going to continue the diet, Varady said.

Story by Tess Joosse

Source: EurekAlert!

Categories : Environmental Effects Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags :

Breakdown Products from ‘Eco-friendly’ Plastics Impede Foetal Development in Mice

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Nanoplastics from biodegradable plastics can cross the placenta and accumulate in foetal organs

PLA plastic breakdown product Oligomeric nanoplastics can penetrate the placental barrier and reach the foetus. Image credit: Dr Jia Lv (CC-BY 4.0)

When the “eco-friendly” bioplastic, polylactic acid (PLA), biodegrades, the resulting nanoplastics can accumulate in the foetuses of pregnant mice and interfere with foetal growth. Yichao Huang and De-Xiang Xu of Anhui Medical University, China, and Mingliang Fang of Fudan University, China, report these findings in a new study published March 26thin the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

PLA, which is made from corn starch and sugarcane, came onto the market as a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics around two decades ago and has since become one of the most widely used bioplastics. Due to exponential growth in the production of PLA for packaging and medical applications, humans are increasingly exposed to its main breakdown product, oligomeric lactic acid (OLA) nanoplastics, which have recently been shown to have negative health effects.

In the new study, researchers exposed pregnant mice to OLA at doses proportional to what a human typically consumes and looked for impacts on the mouse pups. They demonstrated that OLA crosses the placenta and accumulates in various organs in the fetus. Furthermore, they showed that OLA interferes with a signaling pathway that controls the development of blood vessels in the placenta, which leads to slower growth of the fetus. This is a concern, because in humans, low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of stillbirth, as well as a higher risk of developing multiple other health problems later in life.

This work is the first animal study to evaluate the developmental health effects from the breakdown products of a supposedly eco-friendly plastic in pregnant mammals. The researchers propose that future work should focus on evaluating the exposure levels and health risks associated with eco-friendly plastics in humans, and a rethinking of our approach to plastic alternatives.

The authors add, “One of our co-authors Dr Mengjing Wang had previously discovered that the widely merchandised PLA microplastics undergo gut enzyme–mediated hydrolysis into oligomeric products that are toxic to the intestinal tract and can trigger enteritis.”

“To follow up on this work, as toxicologists, we went on to ask an additional question: do these oligomeric products, aka OLA, pose developmental threat particularly during the susceptible stage in utero?”

“What we have found was quite astonishing to us. Even under realistic exposure dose scenario during pregnancy, OLA nanoplastics can penetrate the placenta and even reach the foetus, in a mouse model. Such exposure would then cause placental vascular dysplasia and further lead to compromised foetal development.”

“While biodegradable plastics present a viable path to mitigate traditional plastic pollution, their potential health hazards necessitate a recognition in responsibility toward informed consumer intentions and conscientious usage.”

Provided by PLOS

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Why Women’s Health Drives Economic Resilience 

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Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash

By Merilynn Steenkamp, Managing Director, Southern Africa, Multi-Country Network, Roche Diagnostics

Across South Africa, women play a central role in sustaining economic activity. They lead classrooms, staff hospital wards, run small businesses, work in agriculture, build enterprises and manage households. In many communities, they are the primary earners and the primary caregivers.1

In March, as South Africa observes International Women’s Month, recognising women’s contribution also means ensuring that systems are structured to protect their health. Reliable access to early diagnostics remains one of the most practical levers available to support that protection.

When women experience illness, the impact extends well beyond a single diagnosis. Time away from work affects income, productivity and career progression. In informal employment, where many South African women operate without formal protections, illness can immediately reduce household earnings. The economic effects are felt first at the family level, then across communities.

Women make up the majority of South Africa’s health and social services workforce. They also carry a disproportionate share of unpaid care work in households². Globally, UN Women reports that women reinvest up to 90 percent of their income into their families and communities³. That reinvestment strengthens education, nutrition and long-term stability across generations.

Imagine a young nurse, working at a local clinic, earning a mid-level salary. As the sole breadwinner in her home, living month-to-month, she must use the funds available to pay school fees and associated costs for her children. As she also cares for her aged mother, five people rely on her steady income to survive. If she becomes seriously ill for an extended period of time, the effects are potentially catastrophic for her family, and compound pressure on the economy at large.

South Africa continues to carry a high burden of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis⁴ and HIV, while non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cancer are rising. Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among South African women⁵. But when this cancer is detected early, the five-year relative survival rate exceeds 90 percent. That makes it imperative to raise awareness around early detection, as when cervical cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, survival drops significantly⁶.

Early and accurate diagnostics protect women’s ability to remain economically active, particularly for preventable illnesses. Early testing enables faster treatment, reduces complications and limits the need for more complex interventions later. In the case of infectious diseases, it also reduces transmission and protects colleagues, families and communities.

South Africa has a strong laboratory foundation to build on. The National Health Laboratory Service operates one of the largest diagnostic networks in the region, supporting large-scale testing every day⁷. Leveraging existing laboratory capacity allows screening and early detection programmes to expand in ways that are sustainable and aligned with national health priorities.

High-performance HPV testing, rapid HIV diagnostics, molecular tuberculosis testing and integrated blood panels are examples of tools that shorten the path from suspicion to confirmation. Reducing diagnostic delays supports workplace continuity and strengthens health system efficiency. In a country focused on improving workforce participation and economic resilience, this connection is direct.

Protecting women’s health strengthens household stability, supports workforce participation and reinforces economic resilience. Prioritising early diagnosis is a clear and measurable way to invest in South Africa’s long-term growth. 

It starts at home, with our mothers, sisters and daughters. Let’s keep reminding them, every now and then, to take a moment and consider their own well-being, for them, and for all of us.  

References

  1. Statistics South Africa. Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS). Available at: https://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=16408
  2. Statistics South Africa. South Africa Time Use Survey. Available at: https://www.statssa.gov.za
  3. UN Women. Facts and figures: Economic empowerment. Available at: https://www.unwomen.org
  4. World Health Organization. Global Tuberculosis Report. Available at: https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/tb-reports
  5. Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). Cervical cancer. Available at: https://cansa.org.za/cervical-cancer/
  6. National Cancer Institute. Cervical Cancer Survival Rates. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/survival
  7. National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). About NHLS. Available at: https://www.nhls.ac.za/

Categories : Neurology Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags :

More Evidence Tying Epilepsy Drugs in Pregnancy to Developmental Risks

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Study adds weight to previously reported risks and calls for monitoring of new antiseizure drugs

Photo by SHVETS production

Findings published by The BMJ reinforce previous research linking use of the antiseizure drug valproate during pregnancy to neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism in children, and indicate no substantial risk for several other antiseizure drugs including levetiracetam and lamotrigine.

However, the researchers say continued monitoring of the few signals – possible associations between a medicine and an unintended side effect – that emerged (eg, for zonisamide) will be important.

Antiseizure drugs are commonly and increasingly used by women of childbearing age for conditions like epilepsy, bipolar disorders, and migraine prevention. Women with epilepsy are advised to continue taking these during pregnancy, as uncontrolled seizures pose risks to both mother and child.

Yet, while valproate use during pregnancy has been linked to impaired neurodevelopment in children, information on other antiseizure drugs is limited.

To address this gap, researchers analysed claims data for pregnancies with diagnosed epilepsy from two large US public and commercial insurance databases, spanning the period from 2000 to 2021.

They compared 14,993 children exposed to at least one antiseizure medication during the second half of pregnancy with 8,887 unexposed children. Of these, 5,505 were followed for at least 5 years and 2,516 for at least 8 years after birth.

Potentially influential factors including mother’s age, ethnicity, mental health, substance use, other medication use and underlying conditions were also taken into account.

Valproate and zonisamide showed associations with several neurodevelopmental disorders, whereas levetiracetam and phenytoin were not associated with an increased risk of any of the studied outcomes.

Although no meaningful associations were found for topiramate and lamotrigine across most outcomes, there was a potential signal for intellectual disability (both drugs) and learning difficulty (topiramate only). However, the authors note that  these findings are based on small numbers and require confirmation in follow-up studies.

Several other drugs were also associated with a risk increase for intellectual disability. However, the authors note that these estimates are based on small numbers and therefore should be interpreted with caution.

Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine also showed a modest risk increase for ADHD and behavioral disorders.

This is an observational study, so no definitive conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, and the authors point to several limitations including relying on insurance claims data and the potential influence of other unmeasured factors such as underlying epilepsy type and severity.

However, the use of two large nationwide databases of insured pregnant women linked to their children enhanced the generalisability of their findings and enabled them to assess the risk of specific neurodevelopmental disorders associated with individual antiseizure medications. Results were also consistent after additional analyses, suggesting that they are robust.

As such, they conclude: “Our study reinforces the substantial risks of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with prenatal valproate exposure and suggests the need to further evaluate the safety of zonisamide during pregnancy.”

“Continued monitoring of newer antiseizure drugs and the few potential signals that emerged (ie, the moderate increased risk of ADHD and behavioural disorder after carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine exposure, and the association of several antiseizure drugs with intellectual disability) will be important,” they add.

Source: BMJ Group

Categories : Obstetrics & Gynaecology Surgeries & ProceduresTags :

“Two-for-one” C-section and Tummy Tuck Idea Alarms Surgeons

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Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

The ‘mommy makeover’ is trending, and a growing number of patients are now asking whether cosmetic procedures such as a tummy tuck, liposuction, or breast augmentation can be performed at the same time as a Caesarean section. But surgeons warn that combining elective cosmetic surgery with a C-section can sharply escalate risk during an already vulnerable period for the body.

Professor Chrysis Sofianos, a triple-board certified plastic surgeon and Academic Head of the Division of Plastic and Restorative Surgery at the University of the Witwatersrand, says procedures such as a tummy tuck should only be considered once the body has adequately recovered after childbirth – typically around six months after delivery, depending on individual healing.

“Our practice is seeing a growing number of patients ask whether body-contouring surgery can be performed while they are already in theatre for a C-section. But this reflects a dangerous misunderstanding of surgical safety and postpartum physiology.

“While the idea may appear efficient or financially attractive, pairing medically necessary obstetric surgery with elective cosmetic procedures significantly increases operative risk at a time when the patient is physiologically vulnerable.”

Combining surgeries and compounding risks

C-sections account for around 75% of private sector hospital births in South Africa. Professor Sofianos notes that because there is often an overlap between women accessing private medical care and those who may later consider elective cosmetic procedures, more patients are likely to ask whether these operations can be combined.

“However, the more important question is whether they should. And the simple answer is no,” he says. “A C-section is already a major abdominal operation. Introducing additional surgical trauma before the body has recovered would introduce excessive strain and substantially raise the risk of complications.”

Pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period are associated with a hypercoagulable state, meaning the blood has an increased tendency to clot. Postpartum women therefore face a markedly elevated risk of venous thromboembolism, particularly in the first six weeks after delivery. Prolonging operative time and increasing tissue disruption may further elevate this risk by contributing to immobility, tissue stress, and inflammatory response.

A C-section on its own carries recognised complications, including haemorrhage, infection, anaesthetic complications, and clotting risk. Adding abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) can introduce additional risks such as bleeding, fluid accumulation, wound breakdown, delayed healing, and blood clots.

Liposuction also introduces risks, such as fluid imbalance, internal injury, infection, and, in rare but serious cases, fat embolism – a potentially life-threatening condition in which fat enters the bloodstream and compromises vital organs.

The false economy of combining procedures

Professor Sofianos also notes that combining procedures rarely provides the financial or practical advantages patients may assume.

“There is a common a misconception that theatre and anaesthetic fees can be consolidated if surgeries are combined into a single session. In reality, longer operative times, greater monitoring requirements, and the potential for complications may result in far higher medical costs. More importantly, financial reasoning should never supersede patient safety.”

He adds that the combined recovery period can also be far more demanding than patients anticipate.

“Recovery after a C-section already places significant physical, emotional, and psychological demands on a new mother. Adding major cosmetic surgery to that recovery period can complicate mobility, wound care, and pain management at a time when the patient must also care for a newborn.

“A more intensive recovery process may further require extended postoperative care, closer medical oversight, and additional support at home, all of which can add to the existing financial burden.”

Finally, he warns that operating during the immediate postpartum period might not produce the optimal long-term aesthetic result a patient may be looking for, and could expose them to unnecessary revision surgery later.

“Medically and ethically, I do not believe combined C-section and ‘mommy makeover’ surgeries should ever be considered. No responsible surgeon should minimise the compounded risks associated with performing such procedures. Ultimately, safe, staged care remains the gold standard for medical care, or allowing the body to recover fully before elective cosmetic surgery is undertaken.”

Categories : Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags :

Uneven Adherence to Magnesium Sulfate, Steroids in High-risk Pregnancies

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Prenatal magnesium sulfate and steroids can reduce the risks of cerebral palsy and respiratory complications in preterm infants. A review in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics found that despite being recommended internationally for pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery, these medications are used variably between and within countries.

When they analysed 2012–2024 information on 45 619 babies born at 24–32 weeks’ gestation at 1111 hospitals in an international network, along with information from the UK National Neonatal Research Database and a literature review, investigators found that on average, less than half of infants had been exposed to preterm magnesium sulfate in middle-income countries, and approximately three-quarters in high-income countries. Even within high-income countries, there were large discrepancies in care. Preterm steroids were used more frequently with less variation, although treatment gaps were still apparent.

“Our study has highlighted the international disparities in how two key treatments to protect pre-term babies are implemented. These gaps aren’t because of a lack of evidence,” said corresponding author Hannah B. Edwards, MA, MSc, of the University of Bristol, in the UK. “Lessons can be learned from successful implementation programs like PReCePT, which has transformed use of magnesium sulphate in pre-term births in England. The bigger-picture goal should now be to ensure that no matter where a baby is born, their mother has access to the evidence-based treatments that offer the best start in life.”

Source: Wiley

Categories : Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags :

Yawns in Healthy Foetuses Might Indicate Mild Distress

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Foetuses yawn in the womb, with more yawns associated with a lower weight at birth

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Even in the womb, where all oxygen is provided by the parental placenta, foetuses can – and do – yawn. More yawns during observation were associated with a lower weight at birth – potentially indicating mild foetal stress in the womb, according to a study published February 25, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Damiano Menin, of the Università degli Studi di Ferrara in Italy, and colleagues.

Yawning is a behaviour found across vertebrates – and no one quite knows why. In humans, foetuses yawn in the womb from about 11 weeks. Even though there is no air to breathe, they slowly open their mouths, make motions similar to inhalation and exhalation, and close their mouths again. To understand more about foetal yawns, the authors of this study used ultrasound to observe 32 healthy foetuses (56% female, 44% male) between 23 and 31 weeks. Each foetus was observed for 22.5 minutes.

The authors found that the foetuses yawned between zero and six times during the observation period, with an average of 3.63 yawns per hour. They also showed that foetuses that yawned more during their observations were more likely to have a low weight at birth, which is considered as an indicator of mild distress – though all foetuses in the study were born healthy.

The researchers did not perform any manipulations to see if they could affect foetal yawning and also did not record measures such as foetal heart rate or maternal temperature which might potentially be associated with the behaviour. Additionally, no high-risk pregnancies were observed. Based on their research, the authors suggest that frequent foetal yawning might be a sign of mild distress in the healthy foetus.

The authors add: “We found that yawning frequencies in the womb are negatively related to birth weight, potentially indicating a stress-related response in healthy fetuses. This suggests that even before birth, yawning may serve as an indicator of a foetus’s well-being.”

Provided by PLOS

Categories : Neurology Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags :

Second Pregnancy Uniquely Alters Women’s Brains

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A second pregnancy changes women’s brains in the same way as a first pregnancy, but in a different way than the first time. This is according to researchers from Amsterdam UMC, published in the scientific journal Nature Communications. The findings of Elseline Hoekzema and her colleagues show that a second pregnancy uniquely changes a woman’s brain, entailing both convergent and distinct neural transformations.

An earlier study by Elseline Hoekzema was the first to demonstrate that pregnancy changes the structure of the human brain. The research group also demonstrated that pregnancy changes the functioning of the brain. For the follow-up study, the results of which have now been published, 110 women were monitored: some were becoming mothers for the first time, others were having their second child, and a third group remained childless. Brain scans before and after pregnancy showed what changes occurred in the brain. “We have shown for the first time that the brain not only adapts during the first pregnancy, but also during the second,” says Hoekzema, head of the Pregnancy Brain Lab at Amsterdam UMC.

Different brain networks

The biggest changes during a first pregnancy occurred in the structure and activity of the so-called Default Mode Network. This part of the brain is important for many functions, including self-reflection and social processes. During a second pregnancy, this network changed again, but less dramatically. However, during a second pregnancy, there were more changes in brain networks related to paying attention and responding to stimuli. “It seems that during a second pregnancy, the brain changes more significantly in networks involved in responding to sensory stimuli and directing your attention,” explains researcher Milou Straathof, who analyzed the data. “These processes can be beneficial when caring for multiple children.”

Mental health of mothers

The researchers also found a connection between the changes in the brain and the bond between mother and child. This link was more prominent in the first pregnancy than during the second pregnancy. In addition, the researchers observed links between structural brain changes and peripartum depression, both during a first and a second pregnancy. This provides the first evidence that the changes that occur in a woman’s cerebral cortex during pregnancy are related to depression. In women who became mothers for the first time, this was particularly noticeable after giving birth. In women who had their second child, this was the case during pregnancy. “This knowledge can help us to better recognize and understand mental health issues in mothers. We must understand how the brain adapts to motherhood.”

The importance of research into the maternal brain

This study provides new insights into how the female brain adapts to motherhood and contributes to closing this important knowledge gap about female biology. Hoekzema: “The majority of women become pregnant one or more times in their lives, but only now are researchers beginning to unravel how this affects the female brain.” The results may also contribute to better care for mothers, for example, in the prevention and treatment of postpartum depression. The study also shows that the brain is flexible and can continually adapt to major changes in life.

Read the publication in Nature Communications: The effects of a second pregnancy on women’s brain structure and function

Source: University of Amsterdam Medical Centers

Categories : Cancer Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags :

Does a Past Abortion or Miscarriage Affect Breast Cancer Risk?

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Photo by National Cancer Institute

The potential effect of induced abortion and miscarriage on the risk of breast cancer has remained debated and has been a persistent source of misinformation. Many previous studies have been small and based on self-reported data. Now, a study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica found that prior abortion or miscarriage was not linked with an increased risk of developing pre- or postmenopausal breast cancer.

In the nationwide Finnish registry-based study, investigators analysed data on 31 687 women with breast cancer diagnosed in 1972–2021 and 158 433 women without breast cancer.

The risk of breast cancer was found to be similar among women with a history of induced abortion and women with no history of abortion, both before and after 50 years of age. Risks were also similar among women with and without a past miscarriage.

In addition, breast cancer risks did not vary significantly by the number of abortions or miscarriages, nor by the time of first abortion or miscarriage.

“Miscarriage or induced abortion as potential risk factors for breast cancer has continued to raise concerns and has led to the spread of misinformation. In this study using high-quality Finnish registry data, we can reliably eliminate these concerns,” said corresponding author Oskari Heikinheimo, MD, PhD, of the University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital. “Induced abortion or miscarriage are not risk factors for breast cancer, even if there are several of them. This information is important and reassuring for millions of women around the world.”

Source: Wiley