This is ELANZINE, a newsletter featuring must-read content by patients, clinicians and reproductive health industry experts. We bring both sides of the coin together in one place to help you become the most informed patient, clinician or women’s health leader you can be! If you enjoy this issue, please forward to a friend or colleague and hit the subscribe button to keep learning from peers and experts.

Here’s what we’re covering in today’s newsletter:

• The cost of giving birth in the US

• Air pollution and infertility linked

• Vaccination when pregnant may protect newborns

• 5 myths about endometriosis

• Is PCOS inherited?

What’s New:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, confirmed the news over the weekend that they are expecting their second child, after previously revealing they experienced a miscarriage in July 2020.

“We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child,” said a spokesperson for the couple.

Elsewhere, the movement tackling period poverty continues to grow: New Zealand will begin offering free menstrual products to students for the next three years from June, and Sri Lanka has also announced a program providing free period products to rural schoolchildren.

From The Experts

• Is sperm under threat? Dr. Paul Turek, a world renowned urologist, men's reproductive health specialist and researcher weighs in. The Optimizing Fertility podcast

• 5 myths about endometriosis. Kelly Bilodeau / Harvard Health Blog

• “My co-worker believes IVF is unnatural. Should she keep her views to herself?” - Dr Kirstin Ferguson answers. Sydney Morning Herald

• Solving the “motherhood” penalty and gender pay gap. Marija Butkovic / Forbes

• Is any amount of coffee safe during pregnancy? Denise Mann / WebMD

From The Patients

• “My partner is pregnant – and the cost of giving birth in the US is stressing me out.” Arwa Mahdawi / The Guardian

• “Whether or not Meghan and Harry had IVF is none if your business.” Rhiannon Evans / Grazia

• “I haven’t met Mr. Right yet. Do I spend $8K on freezing my eggs?” Why this may be an important investment. Robin Hartill / Tampa Bay Times

• Reality star Nicole Williams English on her egg retrieval procedure: “I was an emotional mess.” Deidre Simmons / MailOnline

Science & Ethics

• Air pollution significantly raises risk of infertility, study finds. With 30% of infertility unexplained, pollution could be an “un-ignorable” risk factor, scientists say. Damian Carrington / The Guardian

• COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant moms may protect newborns: A case study has found SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in placental cord blood after maternal vaccination. Catherine Shaffer / The Scientist

• PCOS may be inherited epigenetically, say scientists. Katarina Zimmer / The Scientist

• Why research and conversation about menopause is letting down Black and Asian people. Paula Akpan / Good Housekeeping

• UK doctors call for ban on “no baby, no fee” IVF deals. Andrew Ellson / Times

Upcoming Online Events

Click the register button to secure your spot at these free Zoom webinars with experts…

Engineering Your Family Building Years

Friday 19 February, 11am PT / 2pm ET / 7pm GMT

We hear from a software-engineer-turned-coach about how to apply tried and tested change methodologies to concept-model your life, and help you design a plan to optimally work through all stages.

RSVP

Enhancing Fertility Naturally

Friday 12 March, 11am PT / 2pm ET / 7pm GMT

Join us to hear from Dr. Angela Le, DACM, MSTOM, LAc., a leading integrative reproductive health expert, acupuncturist and founder of Fifth Avenue Fertility Wellness in New York City about key lifestyle areas that impact fertility.

RSVP

Thought for the day

“The body loves routine. Try to eat, sleep, and so on at the same times every day in order for the body to function at its optimum efficiency. The body loves consistency.” 

- Theresa Hearn Haynes.

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Written by ELANZA Wellness. All things reproductive health, healthtech and patient experience. You can find us elsewhere on Twitter and Instagram.