Fertility

In what might be a surprise for some, the male sex chromosome is far more complex than its female counterpart. This is why it’s taken scientists so long to work out exactly what makes a male a male. Now, they've completed the elusive Y chromosome map.

Scientists have created models of human embryos by programming stem cells. The models give a glimpse into a key stage of development that can reveal new insights into genetic disorders and preventing failure in early pregnancy.

Australian researchers have developed an AI algorithm called SpermSearch that can accurately identify sperm in severely infertile men in a fraction of the time it takes scientists, providing hope to men who want to father biological children.

If a couple is having difficulty conceiving a child due to low-quality sperm, in-vitro fertilization is always an option … although it frequently isn't successful. A simple new device could help, by selecting only the best sperm to do the job.

Swimmers who wore Speedo’s controversial LZR Racer suit at the 2008 Beijing Olympics broke 23 world records, proving that being more streamlined has advantages. A new study out of Japan has shown that the same theory applies to sperm.

There's no such thing as a biological clock for female mole-rat queens, which don’t experience a drop in fertility as they age. Now new discoveries about their remarkable reproduction may help prolong or boost human fertility.

Male contraceptives have traditionally been limited to condoms and vasectomies. Now scientists have demonstrated a promising new method that takes the form of a pill that can be taken just before sex, greatly reducing fertility for 24 hours.

The EctoLife Artificial Womb Facility envisages a controversial new way to be pregnant, with the baby growing in an idealized, but completely inhuman environment: transparent "growth pods" arranged by their hundreds in human baby farming operations.

A striking study published in 2017 reported a 50% decline in the average sperm count since the 1970s. Now, a follow-up study is suggesting the decline in sperm counts is accelerating. But not all researchers are convinced the data is as clear as it seems.

As many couples trying to conceive know, much can go wrong during that fateful meeting of sperm and egg. Now scientists have identified a new protein eggs use to draw in sperm, which could one day lead to new fertility treatments and contraceptives.

When performing artificial insemination, the better the motility of the sperm, the greater the chances of a successful pregnancy. That's where a new microfluidic chip comes in, as it selects only the most vigorous, "highly-motivated" sperm from the herd.

New research has identified a motor protein deficient in humans that could improve the success rates of fertility treatments by helping manage the number of chromosomes remaining in a human egg during cell division.