August
IVF breakthrough shows AI just as good as humans, and much faster
A world-first study led by Australian researchers found an AI-powered embryo selection tool led to a similar number of pregnancies as human embryologists.
- Tess Bennett
- Opinion
- Review
As a childless man, a new coffee machine is my priority
A Londoner admits his life mirrors the no-kids stereotype criticised by Republican JD Vance: an obsession with food, wine and coffee beans
- Janan Ganesh
July
- Analysis
- Analysis
If this law graduate has two children, she will be exceptional
Claudia McDonnell, 24, belongs to the most childless generation of Australian women in modern history.
- Aaron Patrick
- Opinion
- AFR Weekend
Me, my niece and a generational shift in thinking about babies
The “happy accidents” that led to so many families having three or more children are a lot less likely to happen now.
- Emma Connors
May
- Opinion
- Population
How the world went from baby boom to baby bust
Helping people have the children they want in ways that fit with their plans should be a focus of policy. It is essential to help women combine careers with children.
- Updated
- Martin Wolf
Menopause hormone therapy is OK after all, long-term study finds
Since a study in 2002 was called off, women have been reluctant to take hormones. But a new study has reassuring news for women under 60.
- Marlene Cimons
April
Ozempic ‘oops’ babies spark debate as users fall pregnant
Some women on weight-loss drugs who have struggled with fertility issues are now expecting children, leading to questions about the safety of such medications.
- Madison Muller
March
- Exclusive
- IPO
Aussie IVF guru plans Nasdaq listing
GenEmbryomics founder Nick Murphy invented a test to screen embryos for genetic disorders. He wants to go public in the US, where the company’s customers live.
- Tess Bennett
February
- Opinion
- East Asia Forum
South Korea’s fertility crisis could shift regional power balances
The Asian nation has the worst fertility rate in the world. Without radical changes, sustaining the country’s formidable military posture will become impossible.
- Dylan Motin
Negative gearing timebomb is ticking, and nine more great reads
Welcome to the weekend. To start off your day, we’ve curated 10 great reads to enjoy.
Fertile forever: the research that is unlocking female fecundity
Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan is spending $100m to find answers to fundamental questions about ovaries.
- Hannah Kuchler
The people choosing not to have kids because of climate change
As global temperatures continue to race past previously acceptably levels, Millennials are grappling with the question: ‘Can I promise my child a future?’
- Lucy Dean
January
AI’s processing muscle could help end the ‘torture’ of IVF
Advocates say artificial intelligence can make the IVF process quicker and cheaper by sifting through huge amounts of data in short order. Not everyone agrees.
- Tess Bennett
November 2023
Why so many accidental pregnancies happen in women’s 40s
Nearly 4 per cent of all new babies are born to women 40 and older, and as many as 75 per cent of pregnancies in this age range are unplanned.
- Rachel Gross
April 2023
The elite couples breeding to save mankind
With global birth rates in free fall, Silicon Valley’s ‘pronatalists’ are aiming to halt the decline – by having as many babies as possible.
- Io Dodds
March 2023
Bindi Irwin: doctors dismissed endometriosis as pain women ‘deal with’
The 24-year-old conservationist said she struggled “with insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea” for a decade before being properly diagnosed.
- Jennifer Hassan
February 2023
‘Soul crushing’: The hidden reality of freezing your eggs
Social isolation and the difficulty of dating during COVID-19 lockdowns prompted more Australian women to freeze their eggs, but the procedure carries physical and financial costs.
- Georgie Moore
January 2023
Japan to offer families $11,000 per child to leave Tokyo
Japan’s shrinking and ageing population and the migration of younger people to the capital have disproportionately hit the regions beyond Tokyo, Osaka and a handful of other major cities.
- Leo Lewis
May 2022
NSW to offer $2000 rebates for IVF treatment
The state government is looking to put women and families front and centre of the coming budget.
- Updated
- Natasha Boddy
Virtus tells shareholders to sit tight after new BGH bid
Virtus Health is telling investors to sit tight and ignore BGH Capital’s latest $8.15 per share on-market takeover offer while the IVF provider waits to see if its preferred suitor, CapVest Partners, will match the higher offer.
- Lucas Baird