World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), held in the first week of August every year, is a global campaign supported by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. This initiative was started in 1992 to encourage mothers to breastfeed their children and build a support community for new mothers who face any difficulties in breastfeeding.

Why Did We Need An Awareness Week?

Gynaecologist, obstetrician and founder of Baby Soon Fertility and IVF Center, Dr Jyoti Bali with 26 years of experience says, “A reason why some mothers stopped breastfeeding was because of the increased marketing of formula as a convenient solution compared to breastfeeding.”

Experts agree that women undergo physical changes in their bodies during their pregnancy and while breastfeeding too, however, these have been exaggerated. “Breastfeeding can lead to temporary changes in breast size and shape, but these changes are typically normal and revert to baseline after weaning. Perceptions about breastfeeding causing long-term body changes are often unscientific or exaggerated,” says Dr Rao.

These were some of the reasons why women stopped breastfeeding and thus an initiative like World Breastfeeding Week was started. This also aims to highlight the health benefits to the mother and the child on breastfeeding.

Benefits of Breastfeeding on Mother

Rao says that for the mother, it helps in faster postpartum recovery, reduces the risk of certain cancers, and can help with postpartum weight loss.

“Breast Feeding helps the mothers to shed their pregnancy weight more quickly because the production of milk requires the burning of calories,” agrees Dr Bali.

Other health benefits to mothers are postpartum healing, bonding with the baby and a decrease in the risk of ovarian cancer, mentions Dr Bali.

Breastfeeding Benefits on Baby

There are also nutritional values that help a preterm baby in his or her development. “For example, breast milk's higher protein content makes it easier for premature babies to absorb and digest than formula, which encourages better weight gain. Premature babies often have specific nutritional needs due to their early birth. Breast milk provides a tailored balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that support their rapid growth and development. The composition of breast milk adjusts to meet the changing needs of a preterm infant, including higher levels of certain nutrients,” says Dr Goel.

Dr Bali also points out that breast milk contains antibodies, probiotics and DHA and ARA, a kind of fatty acids that are required for brain development. Thus, a baby can benefit a great deal from breastfeeding.

Health Risks When Not Breastfeeding

Poor breastfeeding practices in infancy and early childhood, resulting in malnutrition, contribute to impaired cognitive and social development, poor school performance and reduced productivity in later life.

Sarwa points out that psychological factors like stress, anxiety, postpartum depression, poor latch due to anatomical issues or improper positioning, and other medical conditions are the common reasons for this. “Identification and management of the specific cause, appropriate counselling by a healthcare provider, support (emotional and workplace both) and alternative feeding options,” he says.

Unable To Breastfeed Your Child? Here is What You Can Do

Do not be worried about its safety, Dr Rao says that donated milk is screened, pasteurised, and distributed to ensure safety and nutrition.

Are You a Working Mother?

“Purchasing a superior electric breast pump can increase the effectiveness of the procedure. Maintaining a consistent pumping schedule—ideally, every three to four hours—helps keep the milk supply steady. Pumped milk can be refrigerated for up to four days if stored in sterile containers or bags that have been labelled with the date and time. Milk can be frozen and thawed for extended storage,” suggests Dr Goel.

We are all aware of the fact that the use of plastics causes harm to our environment, and dangerously so. But what will happen when we realize that plastic can enter our bodies too?

As far as gynecological reproductive health is concerned, the major emphasis has always been on genetic aspects, hormonal imbalance, and even the choice of food and regular exercise. PCOS and endometriosis are both known to cause health concerns in women during menstruation and during or after sex. However, today there is another threat to the health of women’s reproductive organs in the form of microplastics and nanoplastics.

Can these enter the ovaries and result in greater damage to women’s sexual and reproductive health? The answer, unsurprisingly, is a yes. Microplastics, along with nanoplastics, have actually been detected in ovarian tissues and in follicular fluid.

Understanding The Invisible Intruder

To grasp the scale of this issue, one must first define the particles involved. Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic less than five millimeters in size, while nanoplastics are less than one micrometer. These are so small that they remain invisible to the naked eye and can easily bypass the body’s natural biological barriers.

They can be identified as multiple polymers, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), commonly used in packaging and agricultural materials. The 2024 Science of the Total Environment study, which used Py-GC/MS to confirm the presence of polymers such as polyethylene and PVC in human follicular fluid for the first time. Out of the 18 women sampled, over 80% had microplastics in their follicular fluid.

The ovaries were once thought to be a protected zone, shielded by complex filtration systems. It is now understood that these particles enter the bloodstream through food, water, and even the air we breathe. From the bloodstream, they can directly seep into the reproductive organs too. Common polymers like polyethene found in plastic bags, and polystyrene used in packaging, are now being identified in the very fluid that determines the quality and competence of a woman’s oocytes.

The Trojan Horse Effect: How Damage Occurs

From a clinical standpoint, the concern is not just the presence of the plastic itself, but the Trojan Horse effect it creates. These particles often carry Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). When these particles lodge themselves in ovarian tissue, they trigger several harmful processes:

• Oxidative Stress and Cellular Ageing – The presence of a foreign object in the ovary triggers the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen). This is a form of cellular rusting as oxidative stress can damage the DNA of the oocytes and potentially cause poor maturation and a decline in overall egg quality at an early stage of their life.
• Hormonal Mimicry – Most plastics contain chemicals that mimic estrogen. When these enter the follicular environment, they disrupt the natural signaling of progesterone and estrogen. This can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and has been linked to conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
• Mitochondrial Dysfunction – Nanoplastics are particularly invasive because they can penetrate cell membranes. Once inside, they can disrupt the mitochondria, which are known as the cell’s powerhouses. Since an egg cell requires an immense amount of energy to develop and eventually fertilize, any disruption to energy production can compromise fertility. Also, plastic is eternal; it's very difficult for the human body to dissolve it and remove it from the body.

From Environment To Egg: The Journey Of Exposure

It is important to recognize that this is a cumulative issue. Human beings are exposed to these particles through multiple daily touchpoints:

• Ingestion: Microplastics shed from plastic water bottles, especially when heated. They are also found in ultra-processed foods and certain seafood. We should immediately stop using plastic containers for storing food and water, and shifting towards glass containers and copper bottles can be more beneficial both for the environment and for the body. Heat is the primary catalyst that causes plastics to leach into food and water. Switching to glass, ceramic, or stainless steel is a vital step; also, using high-quality carbon or reverse osmosis filters can catch a significant percentage of micro-particles.

• Inhalation: In urban environments, people breathe in synthetic fibers from clothing and carpets. The main component of most clothing today is polyester, especially blankets and sheets, which come in direct contact with skin. Polyester can directly penetrate our body and cause immense harm.

• Dermal Contact: Some personal care products contain microbeads or plastic-based thickeners that can be absorbed through the skin. For this, we need to be very careful before purchasing our products; it is time we start reading product labels – simply flip the product and see the ingredients listed behind.

To What Extent is it Harmful?

While there is strong evidence that these plastics are present in the ovaries, researchers are still studying the long-term, population-wide effects on fertility. This is not a reason for panic, but it is a call for preventive action.

Pre-clinical models suggest that high levels of microplastics can reduce the ovarian reserve, which is the number of healthy eggs remaining with each passing year. In clinical settings, investigators are also beginning to explore whether the presence of these particles can explain why IVF treatments sometimes fail despite profiles being otherwise healthy. The evidence points to a dose-dependent risk, which means that if exposure is reduced now, it may protect future reproductive longevity.

The Path Forward: Advocacy and Awareness

This issue now sits at a critical intersection of environmental science and gynecology. There is a growing movement to go beyond viewing infertility as a purely medical issue and start seeing it as an environmental one. Furthermore, policy-level changes are needed to regulate the use of plastic in the food and beauty industries.

The presence of microplastics in the ovaries is a quiet, invisible threat, but it can be addressed through awareness and intentional living. By making small changes today, individuals are not just protecting their own health but also the biological integrity of generations to come.

Growing fatty liver disease in India is significantly affecting both male and female fertility, said doctors ahead of World Liver Day.

World Liver Day is observed annually on April 19 to raise global awareness about liver-related diseases, the importance of early detection, and preventive measures. The liver is the second largest organ in the body and a vital "silent worker," often showing no signs of damage until late stages.

With nearly one in three adults is affected by fatty liver, the silent disease is now emerging as an important but often ignored cause behind infertility in India.

Poor liver health is causing health issues, such as irregular periods in women and falling sperm counts in men, affecting their reproductive health.

Rising Liver Disease Cases

A recent study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal showed that the Metabolically Dysfunctional-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affected 1.3 billion people around the globe in 2023.

India has also shown a sharp rise in MASLD prevalence, up 23.19 per cent from 1990 to 2023. India’s age-standardized MASLD prevalence rate rose from 10,191 per 100,000 in 1990 to 12,555 per 100,000 in 2023.

The findings show that the spike is increasingly driven by rising metabolic risk factors, including high blood sugar and obesity.

The alarming study estimates the numbers to further spike by over 38 percent to reach 1.8 billion cases by 2050, causing substantial health and economic impacts worldwide.

“We are seeing a big increase in fatty liver cases, even in younger people in their late 20s and 30s. Earlier, it was mostly seen in older patients, but now, due to poor lifestyle and diet habits, it is becoming very common in the young population also in India,” said Dr. Saurabh Singhal, Senior Consultant & Director, Centre for Liver-GI Diseases and Transplantation (CLDT) at Aakash Healthcare.

Also read: NAFLD to MASLD: Experts Explain Why This Common Yet Dangerous Liver Condition Got Renamed

"Almost every second patient we see has some degree of fatty liver. Many people do not even know they have it because it shows very few symptoms in the early stage. That is why it is called a silent disease,” added Dr Amit Miglani, Director & HOD, Gastroenterology, Asian Hospital, Faridabad.

Impact On Women’s Fertility

In India, around 8 per cent of women face infertility, and doctors are now seeing a strong link between fatty liver and difficulty in conceiving. The problem is more common in women with PCOS.

Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, Consultant Gynecologist & IVF Specialist, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, explains, “In women, fatty liver is closely linked with hormonal imbalance. We are seeing more patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and irregular periods, where fatty liver is also present. This affects ovulation and makes it difficult to conceive.”

The doctors noted fatty liver affects how the body handles insulin and hormones, which are very important for regular periods and pregnancy.

Impact On Male Fertility

Infertility is no longer only a woman’s issue. In India, 30-40 per cent of infertility cases are linked to men, and doctors say cases are rising.

As per the experts, liver problems directly affect hormones like testosterone in men.

In addition to obesity, fatty liver is leading to low sperm count and poor sperm quality.

Studies show that sperm count in Indian men has dropped sharply over the last few decades, which is a growing concern. Doctors stated that "liver problems can also increase body stress, which further damages sperm health".

How To Prevent?

Fortunately, the progression of fatty liver disease can be stopped if people lose weight early in the course of the disease and adopt healthy eating habits and exercise regularly, said Dr. Vikas Jindal, Consultant, Dept of Gastroenterology at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi

Further, the doctors stated that although liver disease is becoming a common problem, the worrying part is that people realize it very late.

They recommended:

• a liver health evaluation once a year, especially at-risk people like those with obesity, diabetes, altered liver parameters in blood test, fatty liver, hepatitis, or cirrhosis in family members.”

• Liver health and overall metabolic health must also be checked early in fertility treatment.

• Make simple lifestyle changes like healthy food, regular exercise, and weight control.

Felicity-Jo, a 13-year-old girl in the UK’s Lancashire, has survived a life-threatening bout of sepsis and two weeks of induced coma, after her symptoms were initially dismissed by doctors as a stomach bug.

In early February, Felicity-Jo suffered vomiting and abdominal cramps, and was admitted at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital where the medical team administered intravenous fluids. They discharged her the following day as the teen girl showed temporary improvement, and attributed her condition to gastroenteritis, also known as a stomach bug.

"They [gave] her some fluids to stop the dehydration, and she seemed to like come around and seemed to feel better — the pain eased and then she took to small sips of water,” Natalie-Anne Rowlett, her mother told the BBC.

"The doctors said they thought it was gastroenteritis or a stomach bug going around. They had said they wanted to take her for a scan, but they didn't do it because she perked up."

What Happened To Felicity-Jo?

While Felicity-Jo returned to her normal activities, her health suddenly deteriorated weeks later. On March 15, the teen collapsed in extreme pain and was admitted to the ICU at Burnley General Teaching Hospital. Here, the surgeons discovered she had been born with congenital adhesions, or internal scar tissue.

The adhesions caused a total bowel obstruction, which was eventually followed by an infection and sepsis, her mom told the BBC.

“The main symptoms were abdominal pain and persistent vomiting. It’s frightening how quickly things progressed from what seemed like a typical upset stomach to a life-threatening situation," Rowlett was quoted as saying to PEOPLE.

After undergoing two emergency surgeries, including the removal of a portion of her bowel, Felicity-Jo was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. She remained on life support for 14 days while battling the infection and subsequent blood clots.

"Sepsis develops so quickly, and I want others to be aware. I know she'll come through. She's a fighter," Rowlett said, according to the BBC.

How Is Felicity-Jo Now?

After being fitted with a stoma bag and diagnosed with two blood clots four weeks after the health scare, Felicity-Jo finally took her first steps in almost a month.

Felicity-Jo has “managed a smile,” which “melted” their hearts, wrote Rowlett on the GoFundMe page, which the family started to raise funds.

Rowlett confirmed that her daughter was being moved from the PICU to another ward in the hospital.

“She still has a long road of recovery, stoma care, and rehabilitation ahead, but moving to the ward is a giant leap forward,” Rowlett added.

Rowlett is now urging others to be aware of the symptoms of sepsis, telling them to "trust their guts" if something “doesn’t feel right,” the BBC reported.

Congenital Adhesions: How It Can Lead To Bowel Obstruction?

Abdominal adhesions are bands of scar tissue that form between the organs in the belly and pelvis. The scar tissue mainly forms between loops of the small intestine, but can also form between an organ and the wall of the abdominal cavity.

When the condition is present from birth, it is called congenital adhesion. Congenital bands arise from abnormal adhesions of folds in abdominal organs that form during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.

Adhesions are the most common cause of a small bowel obstruction — a medical emergency caused by complete or partial blockage in the intestines. With obstruction, food, liquid, air and waste can’t pass through the intestines and can cause:

• Severe abdominal pain.
• Cramping.
• Bloating.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Abdominal distension (when your abdomen swells outward).
• Obstipation (being unable to pass gas or poop).