Pregnancy is usually a time of happiness and hope, but it also brings in the unexpected. While there is much talk placed on the health of the expectant mother, the quality sperm coming from the father could dramatically change the outcome of pregnancy. The latest study suggests the risks of sperm DNA damage, even increasing the risks of complications preeclampsia and birth prematurity.

In a groundbreaking research study conducted by scientists from Lund University in Sweden, scientists discovered that DNA damage in sperm increases the risk almost up to double that of preeclampsia, this is a dangerous condition that may arise during pregnancies characterized by high blood pressure. In addition, DNA anomalies also increase the risk of premature births, and this further entails increased related adverse health outcomes for infants born through such conditions.

The next step would be to find out which group of men respond best to methods to prevent and treat sperm DNA damage, and to test these methods to prevent pregnancy complications," said Dr. Amelie Stenqvist, a lecturer at Lund University. According to this study, a significant message is put forward that paternal health assumes an important role in a successful pregnancy.

It focused its research on men, specifically whose sperm contained high levels of DNA fragmentation. For instance, some 20% to 30% of babies born via in vitro fertilization have fathers whose sperm contains damaged DNA. The DNA fragmentation index, an indicator to assess the percentage of DNA damage in sperm, indicated that when the percentage of sperm with a DFI above 30% was observed, they had almost no chance of resulting in natural conception. Even a DFI greater than 20% showed that the chances of getting pregnant are highly risky as the risk factor for pregnancy complications like preeclampsia is much high.

Uncommon Complications during Pregnancy

The most alarming complication during pregnancy is preeclampsia. It affects approximately 5% to 8% of pregnancies worldwide, which can cause fatal conditions for both the mother and the baby. The new findings now point out that sperm DNA damage may contribute to this condition, especially if it is due to assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF pregnancies. The research found that a DFI above 20% doubled the risk of preeclampsia from a mere 5% to almost 11% per.

Apart from causing preeclampsia, DNA fragmentation in sperm is also known to increase the risk for prematurity. Most premature babies experience respiratory, neurological, and developmental complications. Therefore, some degree of early intervention might be important for prospective parents.

Some of the rarer, though serious complications include placental abruption, which is the separation of the placenta from the uterine wall and intrauterine growth restriction, a condition by which the baby does not grow normally in the womb. These conditions though rare are potentially catastrophic both to the mother and the child. Results from this study may help in establishing the contribution of the father in such pregnancies.

Further study into sperm DNA damage is of urgent interest with regard to its consequences for pregnancy outcomes. According to Professor Aleksander Giwercman of Lund University in the field of Reproductive Medicine, "the analysis of DFI should be introduced as routine test in all fertility clinics.". "It could give answers to couples who are having difficulties with infertility, but our latest result also shows that DFI analysis can be a method to identify high-risk pregnancies, explained Giwercman.

For many, DNA fragmentation in sperm is often treatable. Common causes are oxidative stress, age, smoking, being obese, and infections. Addressing these elements will likely reduce DNA damage in sperm for men, raising the chances for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Overall, the study importance should take into consideration paternal as well as maternal health towards reaching for a healthy pregnancy. Though DNA fragmentation in the sperm is supposed to increase the risk factors for complications in pregnancies, the advances into novel treatment approaches and tests are likely to alleviate complications in many families. Thus the findings of this study offer optimism and pave a pathway to more holistic fertility treatments in the future.

William, the Prince of Wales, has yet again voiced out concerns about mental health in males, which is often a neglected topic. He also opened up about his emotional struggles and urged men to speak out to normalize the issue.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1, William said it has taken a " long time” for him to understand his “emotions”.

"Learn to love yourself and understand yourself. I take a long time trying to understand my emotions and why I feel like I do, and I feel like that's a really important process to do every now and again, to check in with yourself and work out why you're feeling like you do," said the Prince of Wales.

He emphasized the "need for more male role models" who can speak about their mental health publicly.

"We need more male role models out there, talking about it and normalizing it, so that it becomes second nature to all of us."

"It's OK to ask for support, ask a mate, reach out," said William.

It is not the first time that the Prince has spoken about mental health. Earlier, he stated that people must "relax a little bit and be able to talk about our emotions because we're not robots".

Men And Mental Health

Compared to women, men are known to be less likely to seek help for mental health issues. Driven by stigma, reluctance to seek help, and societal pressures regarding masculinity, men are also more likely to die by suicide.

As per a recent study by The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, US, males die from suicide at twice the rate of females. Their attempts also result in death three times more often than female attempts.

A 2020 paper by the World Health Organization (WHO) identified self-reliance, difficulty in expressing emotions, and self-control as the key sociocultural barriers to men’s help-seeking about masculinity norms.

The National Institute of Mental Health attributed genes, a family history of depression, environmental stress, including financial problems, the loss of a loved one, work problems, a difficult relationship, a major life change, or a stressful situation as major reasons for a decline in mental health in men. Medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer are also known to raise the risk of depression in men.

Further, substance use, loneliness, and shame are also contributing factors to the elevated suicide rates among men.

While men and women develop most of the same mental disorders, their symptoms may be different. Some common symptoms among men include:

Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness

Prominent changes in mood, energy level, or appetite

Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much

Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge

Misuse of alcohol, drugs, or both

Many packaged baby foods marketed as healthy may contain hidden sugars and ultra-processed ingredients that can shape a child’s taste preferences and long-term health.

Brightly packaged baby cereals, fruit pouches, snack puffs and flavored yoghurts use “natural”, “organic” and “doctor recommended” labels to advertise their nutritional value and reassure parents.

“What shocked me was the top ingredient in 71% of these baby foods wasn’t a fruit or vegetable, it was one or more additives,” said Dunford, who is also a consultant at The George Institute for Global Health.

However, packaged baby food is instead packed with artificial additives and highly processed components such as carrageenan, xanthan and guar gum.

Why Ultra Processed Baby Foods?

The majority of packaged baby foods are classified as ultraprocessed because they undergo extensive industrial manufacturing and contain ingredients rarely found in a home kitchen.

Rather than using whole, simple foods, many manufacturers rely on heavy processing steps that strip away natural nutrients.

Key Indicators of Ultra Processed Food

Refined Bases: Many ready-to-eat snacks, like puffs, use refined starches and flours as their primary ingredients instead of whole grains.

Not Real Whole Fruit: Many brands often claim whole fruit however; they only provide taste and sweetness without the beneficial fiber and nutrients of the original fruit.

Hidden Sugars and Fillers: Products like flavored cereals frequently contain maltodextrin, added sugars and flavor enhancers to improve palatability.

Industrial Additives: To ensure shelf stability and consistent texture, these foods are often loaded with stabilizers, preservatives, and emulsifiers.

Which Additives That Parents Should Know About?

Even when a product claims to have "no added sugar," it can still be packed with sweeteners. Manufacturers frequently use fruit juice concentrates, corn syrup solids and glucose-based ingredients to enhance flavor.

These concentrated sugars train a baby’s developing palate. Early exposure to intense sweetness can create a lifelong preference for sugary foods, increasing the risk of poor dietary habits in adulthood.

2. "Natural Flavors"

The term "natural flavor" is often misunderstood. While the origin of the flavor must be a natural source, the final additive is often heavily modified in a laboratory.

These substances are engineered to make processed food taste more appealing than it naturally would, which can distort a child's appreciation for the taste of whole, fresh foods.

3. Stabilizers and Gums

To ensure a product looks perfect after sitting on a shelf for months, companies add stabilizers and industrial gums.

These additives create a permanent, uniform texture that prevents the food from separating or changing consistency during storage.

How To know If Baby Food Is Ultra Processed?

Hidden sweeteners: Sweeteners like dextrose, glucose syrup, malt extract, and corn solids are just fancy names for Sugar.

Go For Shorter lists: Avoid long lists of chemical sounding names.

Why Does Early Nutrition Matter?

Nutritious food: Babies require high nourished foods high in vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and proteins rather than just calories.

Freshness: Fresh consistently provide higher levels of essential nutrients compared to any packaged or processed product.

Palate Programming: This stage establishes a child’s lifelong food habits. Processed baby foods can systematically eliminate whole food choices by training the child to prefer artificial textures and flavors.

Adulthood: Early nutrition is a key pillar of foundational health; the quality of food a baby eats now sets the biological template for their health in adulthood.

How To Give Baby Nutritional Food?

Natural Choices: Simple combinations such as mashed fruits, steamed vegetables, dal, khichdi, and curd provide essential nutrients without artificial components.

Minimal Processing: If buying packaged, choose single-ingredient products, plain vegetable purees or unsweetened cereals to avoid hidden flavors.

NOTE: A shorter ingredient list is always the safest and healthiest choice for your child.

Endometriosis is traditionally defined by the presence of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, the endometrium growing in locations where it doesn't belong, such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic cavity.

Since this tissue is hormonally responsive, it bleeds and causes inflammation during a menstrual cycle.

While experts have long categorized this as a condition solely affecting women, rare clinical cases have shattered this assumption and revealed that the biological blueprint for endometriosis exists in the male body

as well.

What Causes Endometriosis?

• Retrograde menstruation: Fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity instead of out of the body. These cells may stick themselves to the inner pelvic lining and organs from where they multiply.

• Transformed peritoneal cells. Hormones or immune factors might transform cells that line the inner side of the abdomen, called peritoneal cells, into cells that are like those that line the inside of the uterus.

• Embryonic cell changes. Hormones such as estrogen may transform embryonic cells in the earliest stages of development into endometrial-like cell growths during puberty.

• Surgical scar complication. Endometrial cells may attach to scar tissue from a cut made during surgery to the stomach area, such as a C-section.

• Endometrial cell transport. The blood vessels or tissue fluid system may move endometrial cells to other parts of the body.

• Immune system condition. A problem with the immune system may make the body unable to recognize and destroy endometriosis tissue.

What Are Symptoms Of Endometriosis?

• Severe Abdominal Pain
• Bloating
• Painful periods
• Pain with sex
• Pain with bowel movements or urination.
• Excessive bleeding
• Infertility
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nausea

How Does Endometriosis Develop In Men?

They help in the formation of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and upper vagina. However, men develop the Anti Mullerian Hormone, also known as AMH which regresses the formation of these ducts.

Men can develop the ducts when exposed to estrogen. Typically, those who are undergoing prostate cancer treatment, hormone replacement therapy or suffering from obesity take estrogen.

Consistent exposure to estrogen can actually transform those inactive cells or remnants of Mullerian Ducts into endometriosis tissues and pave the way for the development of the disease.

How Common Is Endometriosis?

While the disease is almost diagnosed in women, documented cases in men confirm that they hold the biological potential to develop endometriosis.