Birth rates in some Mediterranean countries have fallen dramatically in the first months of 2021, prompting speculation that ever-shrinking fecundity might signal economic hardship ahead. Can IVF help?

A multicentre study analysing patterns of ovarian stimulation before and after the OPTIMIST trial found some protocol changes in routine practice but generally a ‘poor’ uptake of the study’s recommendation to avoid individualised starting doses.

False claims that the recently introduced COVID-19 vaccines impair fertility have been spreading on social media since December. The public worries which followed have prompted a unified response from professional and news organisations, denouncing the misinformation and particularly the ‘science’ behind it.

Review of over-the-counter analgesics taken in pregnancy finds their prevalent use ‘high’ and increasing, with knowledge gaps apparent relating to fetal exposure and offspring health.

Four research groups have in the past few weeks independently reported that they have grown clusters of cells which mimic the function of human blastocysts. Susana Chuva de Sousa Lopes, co-ordinator of ESHRE’s SIG Stem Cells, and deputy Mina Popovic describe how these breakthroughs might extend the present limits on human embryo research.

Luca Gianaroli, who was first author of the first randomised study of PGT-A in 1997, tells Focus on Reproduction that the place of blastocyst testing for aneuploidy is still a matter of discussion. A debate on ‘PGT-A for everyone’ with Gianaroli and Richard Paulson will be streamed online at 18.30 on Friday 9 April as part of the Best of ASRM & ESHRE meeting, followed by live discussion.

A complex study of more than 10,000 couples in China exposed to varying levels of air pollution finds that for every 10 microgram increase in exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the risk of infertility rose by 20%.

Largest prospective study to date finds that two mRNA vaccines induce an immune response likely to protect pregnant women and their infants from COVID-19 infection. ‘Excellent vaccine efficacy is very encouraging’ for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Filippo Ubaldi, whose group in Rome has completed several studies of dual stimulation in poor responders in the same ovarian cycle and has now extended its routine experience, talks to Focus on Reproduction ahead of a Back-to-Back session at this year’s Best of ASRM & ESHRE meeting. The session will be streamed online at 16.30 on Friday 9 April, followed by live discussion.

A large cohort study has shown that children conceived by ART are smaller at the time of delivery, experience a rapid catch-up growth, but are largely similar in height and weight to naturally conceived children at school age.