Endometriosis and uterine fibroids and risk of premature mortality: prospective cohort study.

Objective: To prospectively assess the effect of endometriosis and uterine fibroids on the long term risk of premature mortality (younger than 70 years).

Design: Prospective cohort study SETTING: The Nurses' Health Study II, United States (1989-2019).

Participants: 110 091 women aged 25-42 years in 1989 without a history of hysterectomy before endometriosis or fibroids diagnosis, cardiovascular diseases, or cancer.

Air pollution exposure in vitrified oocyte donors and male recipient partners in relation to fertilization and embryo quality.

Background: Studies on air pollution and outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) have focused on couples undergoing autologous IVF, in which it is challenging to disentangle maternal and paternal exposures during gametogenesis. We sought to evaluate the independent associations between air pollution exposure during oogenesis and spermatogenesis on fertilization and embryo quality in non-identified donor oocyte IVF cycles.

Methods: Our study included 500 oocyte donors and 915 male recipient partners who contributed 1,095 oocyte thaw cycles (2008-2019).

Development of a metabolomic risk score for exposure to traffic-related air pollution: A multi-cohort study.

To synthesize vast amounts of high-throughput biological information, omics-fields like epigenetics have applied risk scores to develop biomarkers for environmental exposures. Extending the risk score analytic tool to the metabolomic data would be highly beneficial. This research aimed to develop and evaluate metabolomic risk score (metRS) approaches reflecting the biological response to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure (fine particulate matter, black carbon, and nitrogen dioxide).

History of infertility and anti-Müllerian hormone levels among participants in the Nurses' Health Study II.

Objectives: To better understand whether history of infertility is associated with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels later in life, outside of reproduction.

Methods: Among 1,758 premenopausal women in the Nurses' Health Study II with measured AMH, we used multivariable generalized linear models to compare log-transformed plasma AMH for women with a history of infertility compared with fertile women. We investigated AMH levels by cause of infertility and effect modification by menstrual cycle regularity.

Epigenetic age acceleration in follicular fluid and markers of ovarian response among women undergoing IVF.

Study Question: Are markers of epigenetic age acceleration in follicular fluid associated with outcomes of ovarian stimulation?

Summary Answer: Increased epigenetic age acceleration of follicular fluid using the Horvath clock, but not other epigenetic clocks (GrimAge and Granulosa Cell), was associated with lower peak estradiol levels and decreased number of total and mature oocytes.

What Is Known Already: In granulosa cells, there are inconsistent findings between epigenetic age acceleration and ovarian response outcomes.

Study Design, Size, Duration: Our study included 61 women undergoing IVF at an academic fertility clinic in the New England area who were part of the Environment and Reproductive Health Study (2006-2016).

BMI status and weight trajectories across females' reproductive years and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is a well-established risk factor of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). The associations of long-term and short-term weight trajectories with APOs are less clear.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the associations of weight trajectories during females' reproductive years, before and between pregnancies, with risk of APOs.

The associations between pre-conception urinary phthalate concentrations, the serum metabolome, and live birth among women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Background: Phthalates are ubiquitous endocrine disruptors. Past studies have shown an association between higher preconception urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and lower fertility in women; however, the biological mechanisms remain unclear. Our exploratory study aimed to understand the metabolites and pathways associated with maternal preconception phthalate exposure and examine if any may underline the association between phthalate exposure and live birth using untargeted metabolomics.

Neighborhood deprivation in relation to ovarian reserve and outcomes of ovarian stimulation among oocyte donors.

Objective: To study the relationship between neighborhood deprivation index (NDI) and markers of ovarian reserve and outcomes of controlled ovarian stimulation among young, healthy oocyte donors.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Patients: A total of 547 oocyte donors who underwent 905 oocyte retrieval cycles (2008-2020) at a private fertility center in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States.

Former smoking associated with epigenetic modifications in human granulosa cells among women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Smoking exposure during adulthood can disrupt oocyte development in women, contributing to infertility and possibly adverse birth outcomes. Some of these effects may be reflected in epigenome profiles in granulosa cells (GCs) in human follicular fluid. We compared the epigenetic modifications throughout the genome in GCs from women who were former (N = 15) versus never smokers (N = 44) undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Ambient traffic related air pollution in relation to ovarian reserve and oocyte quality in young, healthy oocyte donors.

Studies in mice and older, subfertile women have found that air pollution exposure may compromise female reproduction. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of air pollution on ovarian reserve and outcomes of ovarian stimulation among young, healthy females. We included 472 oocyte donors who underwent 781 ovarian stimulation cycles at a fertility clinic in Atlanta, Georgia, USA (2008-2019).

Food, nutrition, and fertility: from soil to fork.

Food and nutrition-related factors, including foods and nutrients consumed, dietary patterns, use of dietary supplements, adiposity, and exposure to food-related environmental contaminants, have the potential to impact semen quality and male and female fertility; obstetric, fetal, and birth outcomes; and the health of future generations, but gaps in evidence remain. On 9 November 2022, Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the school's Food and Nutrition Innovation Institute hosted a 1-d meeting to explore the evidence and evidence gaps regarding the relationships between food, nutrition, and fertility. Topics addressed included male fertility, female fertility and gestation, and intergenerational effects.

In-utero exposure to polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and menstrual cycle function in adulthood.

Background: There is evidence that in-utero exposure to PBBs, and similar chemicals, are associated with several adverse reproductive health outcomes including altered pubertal timing. However, less is known about the effects of in-utero exposure to PBBs on menstrual cycle function and reproductive hormone levels in adulthood.

Methods: For this menstrual cycle study, we recruited reproductive-aged women in the Michigan PBB Registry who were not pregnant, lactating, or taking hormonal medications (2004-2014).

Neighborhood deprivation and racial differences in in vitro fertilization outcomes.

Background: There are significant racial disparities in in vitro fertilization outcomes, which are poorly explained by individual-level characteristics. Environmental factors such as neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors may contribute to these disparities. However, few studies have directly addressed this research question in a large, racially diverse cohort.

Diet and recreational drug use in relation to male reproductive health.

Diet and lifestyle interventions present promising avenues for the improvement of male fertility. Our objective was to review and synthesize the existing observational and experimental studies among humans on the associations of diet and recreational drug use with semen quality and fertility outcomes. The available data on this topic are limited and, at times, conflicting.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and male reproductive health.

Modifiable factors, such as environmental exposures, can impact human fertility. The objective of this review is to summarize the potential effects of exposure to important endocrine-disrupting chemicals on male reproductive health. Most experimental and animal data demonstrate strong evidence for the negative effects of exposure to phenols, phthalates, pesticides, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances on male reproductive health.

Exposure to Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Age of Menarche in a Nationwide Cohort of U.S. Girls.

Background: It remains unclear whether and childhood exposure to air pollution affects pubertal development, particularly age of menarche in girls.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether residential ambient particulate matter (PM) exposure and during childhood is associated with age of menarche.

Methods: We studied 5,201 girls in the Growing Up Today Study 2 (2004-present) who were 10-17 y of age at enrollment (47.

Deafening Silence of Male Infertility.

Think about 6 loved ones of reproductive age in your life. Now imagine that 1 of these 6 individuals is suffering from infertility. Perhaps they feel alone and isolated, unable to discuss their heartbreak with their closest friends, family, and support network.

Serum and follicular fluid metabolome and markers of ovarian stimulation.

Study Question: What metabolic pathways and metabolites in the serum and follicular fluid are associated with peak estradiol levels and the number of mature oocytes?

Summary Answer: In the serum metabolome, mostly fatty acid and amino acid pathways were associated with estradiol levels and mature oocytes while in the follicular fluid metabolome, mostly lipid, vitamin, and hormone pathways were associated with peak estradiol levels and mature oocytes.

What Is Known Already: Metabolomics has identified several metabolic pathways and metabolites associated with infertility but limited data are available for ovarian stimulation outcomes.

Study Design, Size, Duration: A prospective cohort study of women undergoing IVF from 2009 to 2015.

Association of Gestational Diabetes With Subsequent Long-Term Risk of Mortality.

Importance: Gestational diabetes has been associated with numerous chronic diseases. However, few studies have examined the association of gestational diabetes with long-term mortality risk.

Objective: To investigate the associations between gestational diabetes and long-term risks of total and cause-specific mortality.

Mediterranean diet and female reproductive health over lifespan: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of Mediterranean diet on female reproductive health outcomes over the life-course.

Data Sources: We searched PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify eligible studies published till February 2022.

Traffic-related air pollution and supplemental folic acid intake in relation to DNA methylation in granulosa cells.

Background: Higher exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is related to lower fertility, with specific adverse effects on the ovary. Folic acid may attenuate these effects. Our goal was to explore the relation of TRAP exposure and supplemental folic acid intake with epigenetic aging and CpG-specific DNA methylation (DNAm) in granulosa cells (GC).