Publications by authors named "Elizabeth E Hatch"

Study Question: To what extent is male physical activity (PA) associated with fecundability (per-cycle probability of conception)?

Summary Answer: Preconception levels of vigorous, moderate, or total PA were not consistently associated with fecundability across Danish and North American cohorts, but there was suggestive evidence that bicycling with a 'soft, comfort seat' was associated with reduced fecundability in both cohorts, especially among males with greater BMI.

What Is Known Already: Among males, some studies indicate that moderate PA might improve fertility, whereas vigorous PA, especially bicycling, might be detrimental.

Study Design, Size, Duration: We assessed the association between male PA and fecundability among couples participating in two preconception cohort studies: SnartForaeldre.

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Background: The use of fertility indicators to predict ovulation has largely been studied for contraceptive purposes, while less so as fertility-promoting tools.

Objective: To investigate the association between fertility indicators and fecundability in Danish women trying to conceive.

Methods: Web-based preconception cohort study.

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Background: Females exposed prenatally to diethylstilbestrol (DES) have an elevated risk of cervical dysplasia, breast cancer, and clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) of the cervix/vagina. Testicular cancer risk is increased in prenatally exposed males. Epigenetic changes may mediate the transmission of DES effects to the next ("third") generation of offspring.

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To evaluate associations between oil and gas development (OGD) and mental health using cross-sectional data from a preconception cohort study, Pregnancy Study Online. We analyzed baseline data from a prospective cohort of US and Canadian women aged 21 to 45 years who were attempting conception without fertility treatment (2013-2023). We developed residential proximity measures for active OGD during preconception, including distance from nearest site.

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Study Question: Is cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) associated with reduced fecundability, defined as the probability of conceiving per menstrual cycle?

Summary Answer: Overall, we observed no meaningful association between CIN and fecundability, regardless of surgical status, although a recent diagnosis of moderate or severe CIN might be associated with slightly reduced fecundability for 2 years after diagnosis.

What Is Known Already: About 15% of couples experience infertility. Few studies have examined the influence of CIN on fertility, and the results have been inconsistent.

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We examined the association between childhood adversity and fecundability (the per-cycle probability of conception), and the extent to which childhood social support modified this association. We used data from 6318 female participants aged 21-45 years in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a North American prospective preconception cohort study (2013-2022). Participants completed a baseline questionnaire, bimonthly follow-up questionnaires (until pregnancy or a censoring event), and a supplemental questionnaire on experiences across the life course including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and social support (using the modified Berkman-Syme Social Network Index [SNI]).

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Objective: To use self-reported preconception data to derive models that predict the risk of miscarriage.

Design: Prospective preconception cohort study.

Setting: Not applicable.

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Background: Dietary factors, including high sugar intake, may have adverse effects on male reproduction. Studies of the association between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and semen quality have reported inconsistent results.

Objective: We estimated the effects of SSB consumption on semen quality in a North American preconception cohort study.

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Women with prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure are excluded from less frequent cervical cancer screening because of their increased neoplasia risk. We report the results of a prospective follow-up study of prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure and lower genital tract high-grade (grade 2 or higher) squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). The age-adjusted risk of HSIL among diethylstilbestrol-exposed women (n=4,062) was higher than among the diethylstilbestrol unexposed (n=1,837) through age 44 years (hazard ratio 2.

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Spontaneous abortion (SAB), defined as a pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of gestation, affects up to 30% of conceptions, yet few modifiable risk factors have been identified. We estimated the effect of ambient air pollution exposure on SAB incidence in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a preconception cohort study of North American couples who were trying to conceive. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, every 8 weeks during preconception follow-up, and in early and late pregnancy.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates the link between low job control—defined as limited job independence and decision-making freedom—and time to pregnancy among couples trying to conceive in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Data were collected from a web-based study of 3,110 women aged 21-45, analyzing how their job-related stress might affect their ability to conceive.
  • Results show that lower job independence correlates with a decrease in fecundability (likelihood of pregnancy), suggesting that job stress may negatively impact reproductive health.
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Study Question: To what extent is preconception maternal or paternal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination associated with miscarriage incidence?

Summary Answer: COVID-19 vaccination in either partner at any time before conception is not associated with an increased rate of miscarriage.

What Is Known Already: Several observational studies have evaluated the safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and found no association with miscarriage, though no study prospectively evaluated the risk of early miscarriage (gestational weeks [GW] <8) in relation to COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, no study has evaluated the role of preconception vaccination in both male and female partners.

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Article Synopsis
  • Air pollution has potential adverse effects on fertility, but evidence is limited and varies across studies, making it unclear which specific pollutants are responsible.
  • The study analyzed data from 8,747 fertility planners in the U.S. and Canada, focusing on the impact of different air pollutants on their chances of conceiving during a one-year period.
  • Results showed no significant association between key pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone with fecundability rates in both countries, indicating that air pollution may not strongly influence fertility outcomes.
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Objectives: To evaluate the association between preconception contraceptive use and miscarriage.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Residents of the United States of America or Canada, recruited from 2013 until the end of 2022.

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Objective: To evaluate the association between seasonal influenza vaccination and miscarriage using data from an ongoing, prospective cohort study.

Methods: We analyzed 2013-2022 data from PRESTO (Pregnancy Study Online), a prospective prepregnancy cohort study of female pregnancy planners and their male partners in the United States and Canada. Female participants completed a baseline questionnaire and then follow-up questionnaires every 8 weeks until pregnancy, during early and late pregnancy, and during the postpartum period.

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Few studies have evaluated the association between periodontitis and spontaneous abortion (SAB), and all had limitations. We used data from the Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a prospective preconception cohort study of 3,444 pregnancy planners in the United States and Canada (2019-2022), to address this question. Participants provided self-reported data on periodontitis diagnosis, treatment, and symptoms of severity (i.

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We prospectively examined the association between COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual cycle characteristics in an internet-based prospective cohort study. We included a sample of 1,137 participants who enrolled in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a preconception cohort study of couples trying to conceive, during January 2021-August 2022. Eligible participants were aged 21-45 years, United States or Canadian residents, and trying to conceive without fertility treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the relationship between male fatty acid intake and fecundability in couples trying to conceive, finding weak positive associations with total and saturated fatty acids but no significant links to other types of fatty acids.
  • - Conducted from 2015-2022, the research involved 697 couples from the U.S. and Canada, using dietary questionnaires and follow-up surveys to track the time to pregnancy over a year.
  • - Out of the studied couples, 465 achieved pregnancies during nearly 3000 menstrual cycles, with various statistical methods applied to ensure the reliability of findings while considering potential biases.
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Objective: To evaluate the association between anthropometric measures and semen parameters.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Subjects: Male participants aged ≥21 years.

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Background: Prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) is associated with several adverse health outcomes. Animal studies have shown associations between prenatal DES exposure and DNA methylation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore blood DNA methylation in women exposed and unexposed to DES in utero.

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Objective: To assess the association between preconception antibiotic use and fecundability, the per menstrual cycle probability of conception.

Design: SnartForaeldre.dk, a Danish prospective cohort study of women trying to conceive (2007-2020).

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