IVF increases the risk of premature birth

In vitro fertilization IVF increases the risk of women giving birth prematurely. Ten per cent of women who conceived through fertility treatment gave birth before 37 weeks, which is considered premature. However, those born before 37 weeks are still more likely than full-term babies to suffer from a range of long-term problems, including cerebral palsy, and developmental conditions such as ADHD. IVF may trigger changes in the placenta, which increases the risk of premature birth.

Experts believe that freezing the embryo first and then implanting it later, rather than doing everything in the same menstrual cycle, may offer protection against the risk. Women who had IVF were 63 per cent more likely to give birth before 37 weeks than those who had conceived naturally. Some studies indicate that ‘sub-fertile’ women who have trouble conceiving tend to be biologically predisposed to premature birth because implantation process is compromised slightly by IVF.

The removal of eggs during fertility treatment could damage the womb’s lining. If implantation could be delayed after egg collection – as enabled by freezing embryos, then the womb could be given time to heal, leading to a better chance of pregnancy. The potential benefits of freezing embryos are highly dependent on the skills of different IVF clinic's. If implantation could be delayed by a month or two after egg collection, premature birth could be prevented.
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Women have more active brains than men

Researchers used single photon emission computed tomography SPECT to spot the differences between the brains of men and women. Using functional neuroimaging tools like SPECT, are essential for brain treatments.

The brains of women in the study were significantly more active in many more areas of the brain than men, especially in the prefrontal cortex, involved with focus and impulse control, and the limbic or emotional areas of the brain, involved with mood and anxiety.

The visual and coordination centers of the brain were more active in men. SPECT can measure blood perfusion in the brain. Images acquired from subjects at rest or while performing various cognitive tasks will show different blood flow in specific brain regions.

Researchers examined healthy participants and patients with different psychiatric conditions such as brain trauma, bipolar disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD.

A total of 128 brain regions were analyzed while performing a concentration task. Understanding these differences is important because brain disorders affect men and women in different ways.

Women have significantly higher rate of depression, which is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and anxiety disorders, while men have higher rates of  attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD and incarceration.

Their is an increased prefrontal cortex blood flow in women compared to men, this may be the reason why women tend to exhibit greater strengths in the areas of empathy, intuition, collaboration and self-control.

Researchers also found increased blood flow in limbic areas of the brains of women, which may be the reason why women are more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, insomnia, and eating disorders.
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Flame retardant exposure lowers children's IQ

Dangerous class of flame retardant chemicals commonly found in furniture and household products damages children's intelligence, leading to loss of intelligent quotient IQ points.

Exposure to Polybrominated diphenyl ethers' PBDE lowers children's intelligence.Researchers discovered that increase in a mother's PBDE levels led to a drop of IQ points in her child.

Regular exposure of pregnant woman to PBDEs a lowers her child's IQ. There is a link between PDBE exposures and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD in children.

 PBDEs and common flame retardants are not chemically bonded to the foams they protect, but they are merely mixed and they leach out from the foam and into house dust, food, and human body. Dust, old furniture, and electronic equipment are common PBDEs reservoirs.
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