
Trump Has Called for More Babies but Dismissed Fertility Experts
Every year, tens of thousands of young women opt to freeze their eggs, an expensive and sometimes painful procedure. As more Americans postpone childbearing, the numbers are growing.
But there are many unknowns: What is the optimal donor age for freezing? What are the success rates? And critically: How long do frozen eggs last?
The answers to those questions may be harder to find. In its drastic downsizing of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Trump administration abolished a federal research team that gathered and analyzed data from fertility clinics with the purpose of improving outcomes.
The dismissal of the six-person operation 'is a real critical loss,' said Aaron Levine, a professor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech, who has collaborated with the C.D.C. team on research projects.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Forbes
13 minutes ago
- Forbes
Meet The ‘Horned' American Bird Last Seen On Martha's Vineyard 92 Years Ago — Now Lost To The World Forever
Birds, more than other animal groups, have had a horrific time with extinction, especially over the ... More past several hundred years. Here's one uniquely American example. The extinct heath hen (Tympanuchus cupido cupido) is historically interesting for a number of reasons, the first being that it is speculated to have been served at the Pilgrims' first thanksgiving. This speculation makes some sense. Heath hens were abundant along the United States' northeastern shoreline in the 1600s. Odds are it would have been easier to round up a few heath hens to serve at dinner than wild turkeys, though turkeys wouldn't have been a big ask either. In fact, heath hens came to be known as 'poor man's food' in the eighteenth century, as they were cheap and plentiful. And, yet, by 1932, the species was gone. The story of the heath hen underscores an important ecological point: just because a species is plentiful doesn't mean it is impervious to extinction. Take the American passenger pigeon, for example – once among the most numerous birds on Earth, with flocks so vast they were said to darken the skies for hours in the 1800s. But by 1914, it too had vanished, wiped out by relentless hunting and widespread habitat loss. (Sidebar: While humans have driven many bird species to extinction, the tables have occasionally turned. Meet four bird species known to attack humans – two with documented fatal consequences.) Here's the unfortunate tale of the heath hen, and why it went extinct so quickly. The heath hen, a subspecies of the greater prairie chicken, once thrived in the scrubby, coastal plains from Maine to Virginia. Its 'horns' – actually feathers on its head that males could raise during courtship displays – gave it a striking appearance. In the spring, males would gather in leks and perform dramatic dances, puffing out orange air sacs on their necks and stomping their feet to show dominance and vitality. These 'booming grounds,' as they were often called, could be used for generations, sometimes over a century. In parts of their range, the spectacle became such a draw that it even attracted tourists. A male greater prairie chicken in full spring display on the Midwestern prairie. The now-extinct ... More heath hen, once found along the eastern seaboard, performed similar courtship rituals on its own 'booming grounds' from New England to Virginia. The heath hen was unique as the only member of the North American prairie chickens (genus Tympanuchus) found along the eastern seaboard. Its geographic isolation gave rise to a genetically distinct population that was smaller in size and redder in color than greater prairie chickens from the Midwest. Sadly, the heath hen faced a rapid downfall. Overhunting was the first and most significant blow. By the early 1800s, the bird was already vanishing from much of its range. People hunted it with little restriction, often taking dozens in a day. Its reputation as cheap, easy protein made it a popular choice for colonists and later urban markets. Hunting wasn't the only threat. As the northeastern United States industrialized, the bird's scrubby, fire-maintained habitat was replaced with farms, towns and roads. Fire suppression policies also allowed forests to grow denser, making them less suitable for the heath hen, and increasing the risk of devastating fires. By the 1870s, the bird's range had contracted entirely to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. There, a small, isolated population struggled on for decades. Conservationists attempted to save it, even establishing a reserve, but it was too little, too late. Disease, harsh winters, fires, inbreeding, and predators all took their toll. The final blow came quietly. By 1929, only one known heath hen remained: a lonely male named 'Booming Ben.' He continued his courtship displays in vain for three years, calling for a mate who would never arrive. After 1932, he was never seen again. Today, the heath hen serves as a poignant reminder: even a species that seems secure can vanish within the span of a human lifetime. But if there's a silver lining, it's that the effort to save the heath hen marked one of the earliest coordinated attempts to prevent the extinction of an American bird. Although it came too late, the lessons it offered helped lay the foundation for future conservation successes – like the recovery of the whooping crane, trumpeter swan and wood duck. In this way, the loss of the heath hen helped shape a more hopeful path for the species that followed. Does thinking about the extinction of a species instantly change your mood? Take the Connectedness to Nature Scale to see where you stand on this unique personality dimension.


Forbes
31 minutes ago
- Forbes
Self-Employment Linked to Lower Heart Disease Risk
New study suggests self-employment may reduce the risk of heart disease. Every 33 seconds, someone in the U.S. dies from cardiovascular disease, according to the CDC. Yet a new 2025 UCLA analysis of 20,000 working adults finds that self-employment, especially for women, is linked to significantly lower rates of obesity, inactivity, and poor sleep, three of the biggest drivers of heart trouble. Here's what that means for anyone considering self-employment, including a side hustle, gig work, or simply pushing for more flexibility in their day job. The UCLA study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a rigorous national dataset that combines in-person exams, objective health measures, and detailed questionnaires. Researchers analyzed factors such as body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, exercise frequency, and sleep patterns, providing a comprehensive view of participants' heart health. Here's what the researchers discovered: Why might self-employment boost women's health? The study's authors and outside experts point to the job-demand-control model—a theory that suggests autonomy (control over tasks and schedules) buffers against job stress and its physiological effects. 'There is a relationship between self-employment and heart disease risk factors and this relationship seems to be stronger in women relative to men,' said lead author Dr. Kimberly Narain, assistant professor-in-residence of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 'It is imperative to increase our understanding of how the work environment gets under our skin so we can come up with ways to ensure that everyone has access to a healthy work environment.' Research from Harvard and other institutions consistently finds that high job control is associated with better cardiovascular outcomes, especially for women. Consider what a typical day looks like for someone self-employed: By contrast, traditional employment often involves stricter schedules, mandatory meetings, and fewer opportunities to tailor work to one's well-being. While women enjoyed clear benefits, the study found that men did not experience the same heart health advantages from self-employment. In fact, Black and Hispanic men who were self-employed had similar or even worse risk profiles than their employed peers. Experts suggest several possible explanations: This nuance matters because self-employment is not a universal cure-all, and policies to support healthier work should be mindful of structural and demographic differences. Heart disease remains the top killer of American women, but it's also among the most preventable. According to the CDC, small changes in weight, activity, and sleep can dramatically lower risk. Employers who care about the well-being—and long-term productivity—of their teams can make a difference by: If you're self-employed, or thinking about it ,you can maximize the health benefits of autonomy with a few mindful steps: The science is clear. Autonomy at work isn't just about productivity or job satisfaction. It could be a literal lifesaver. If you've ever considered a side hustle, self-employment, or simply pushing for more flexibility in your day job, now is the time. Your heart may thank you for it. 1. What is the connection between self-employment and heart disease risk? Research suggests that self-employed women experience lower rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and insufficient sleep, all major heart disease risk factors, compared to traditionally employed women. 2. Does self-employment improve heart health for men, too? The 2025 UCLA study found that self-employed men did not experience the same heart health benefits as women, and results varied significantly by race and ethnicity. 3. What explains the health advantage for self-employed women? Experts believe increased autonomy and schedule flexibility allow self-employed women to prioritize physical activity, sleep, and healthy habits, reducing their heart disease risk. 4. Are there downsides to self-employment for health? Self-employment can bring financial instability, stress, and, for some, reduced access to healthcare or social support, so not all aspects are beneficial for health. 5. What other research supports these findings? A 2023 Harvard study published in the American Journal of Public Health linked job autonomy and flexible work arrangements to lower rates of hypertension and cardiovascular events. 6. What can employers do to help employees reduce heart disease risk? Offering flexible hours, true results-based work, and health-supportive benefits can help all employees adopt heart-healthy behaviors. 7. How can self-employed workers protect their heart health? Experts recommend building financial stability, scheduling regular exercise and sleep, prioritizing preventive care, and maintaining social connections for long-term well-being.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘It's violently anti-woman': Melissa Murray reflects on the criminalization of miscarriage
One in five women experience a miscarriage according to the National Institutes of Health, and now women who suffer pregnancy loss can face prosecution. One prosecutor in West Virginia even went so far as to suggest women call law enforcement after having a miscarriage to avoid prosecution. Amanda Zurawski, lead plaintiff in the Texas case that included 20 women who were denied emergency care, called this suggestion 'reprehensible' and 'terrifying.' NYU Professor Melissa Murray says that