Science &amp; Life

Complete blood count in prenatal care

First-trimester CBC and repeat testing after week 30.

1 min · May 24

Cervical cytology during pregnancy

When Pap screening fits the first prenatal visit if you are due.

1 min · May 24

Urinalysis and urine culture in pregnancy

Why urine tests matter at the first visit and how to collect a clean sample.

1 min · May 24

Incomplete anatomy scan: rescheduling

Why return visits happen and how to prepare for attempt two — without blame.

1 min · May 24

Understanding your anatomy scan report

What common phrases mean and questions to ask your clinician.

1 min · May 24

What the anatomy scan checks in your baby’s body

Plain-language tour of what sonographers look at — and what screening cannot promise.

1 min · May 24

Preparing for anatomy scan day

What to pack, eat, expect in the room, and if you need to return.

1 min · May 24

Booking morphology scans: windows by trimester

1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-trimester morphology have different weeks and referrals.

2 min · May 24

Pregnancy ultrasound: step-by-step prenatal guide

Morphology scans exist in the 1st, 2nd, and sometimes 3rd trimester — each with its own window.

2 min · May 24

Birth plan: organizing your preferences

A flexible guide to environment, pain relief, support people, and first moments with baby.

1 min · May 21

Signs of labor

Contractions, fluid leakage, and bleeding — telling practice patterns from time to call your birth unit.

1 min · May 21

Rh negative blood and anti-D immunoglobulin

Blood typing, indirect Coombs testing, and when anti-D is used in prenatal care.

1 min · May 21

Anemia and iron in pregnancy

Why hemoglobin is rechecked after week 30, fatigue patterns, and safe iron supplementation.

1 min · May 21

Repeat serologies in the third trimester

When to repeat HIV and toxoplasmosis tests, who needs them, and how to stay organized.

1 min · May 21

Early pregnancy ultrasound

Weeks 11–14 imaging for dating, viability, and the start of structured fetal assessment.

1 min · May 21

Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy

Why screening around weeks 35–37 matters, how it is collected, and what a positive result means for birth planning.

1 min · May 21

Vaccines during pregnancy: Tdap, hepatitis B, flu

Which immunizations are recommended while pregnant, when to receive them, and what to avoid until after delivery.

1 min · May 21

Fetal movements: baseline habits and warning signs

From first flutters to formal kick counts — what is usually normal and when to call your care team the same day.

1 min · May 21

Glucose screening in pregnancy (OGTT): when and how

The 75 g oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks — fasting rules, result thresholds, and next steps if values are high.

2 min · May 21

Anatomy scan in pregnancy: timing and preparation

Why the mid-pregnancy ultrasound matters, what it looks at, and how to book it without missing the recommended window.

2 min · May 21

Prenatal visits: how often and what to expect

Monthly, then biweekly, then weekly visits — what changes each trimester and how to arrive prepared with your questions.

2 min · May 21

Prenatal lab tests: what to order and when

A practical timeline of prenatal blood work, imaging, and screenings by gestational week — so you know what to ask for at each visit.

3 min · May 21

BBT na 2WW: o que os padrões de temperatura dizem (e não dizem) sobre gravidez

Temperatura sustentada, padrão triphasic e queda breve pós-ovulação são sinais observáveis na BBT durante a 2WW — mas não diagnosticam gravidez. Entenda o que a ciência atual diz.

6 min · April 16

Fase lútea curta: o que diz a ciência sobre a deficiência luteal

Fase lútea com menos de 10 dias pode sugerir deficiência luteal, mas a ciência atual é cuidadosa. Entenda o que diz o consenso da ASRM e o que fazer.

6 min · April 15

A espera das duas semanas (2WW): como atravessar a fase mais difícil do TTC

A espera das duas semanas (2WW) é o intervalo entre ovulação e teste de gravidez. Entenda por que é tão estressante e como atravessar com menos ansiedade.

8 min · April 11

hCG e teste de gravidez: entenda o hormônio para testar na hora certa

Entenda como o hCG funciona na gravidez inicial, por que testar antes do DPO 10 quase sempre dá negativo e quando confiar no resultado do teste de farmácia.

7 min · April 11

Implantação embrionária: quando acontece, sinais e por que importa

A implantação embrionária acontece entre 6 e 12 dias após a ovulação (DPO), com mediana em 9 DPO. Entenda o processo, sintomas e por que testar cedo frustra.

7 min · April 11

Sono e fertilidade: como dormir irregular eleva o estradiol e afeta suas chances de engravidar

Dormir em horários irregulares eleva o estradiol em até 3,9% por hora extra de sono e aumenta o risco de anovulação. Entenda a conexão entre ritmo circadiano, hormônios reprodutivos e fertilidade.

8 min · April 8

Ômega-3 e fluido folicular: o que acontece em 6 semanas

Um RCT publicado na Lipids mostrou que 6 semanas de DHA e EPA alteram a composição do fluido folicular humano — o líquido que nutre o óvulo. Entenda o que isso significa para quem está tentando engravidar.

7 min · April 8

Dieta mediterrânea e fertilidade feminina: o que a ciência diz sobre alimentação e concepção

Estudos mostram que a dieta mediterrânea pode aumentar em até 91% as chances de nascido vivo em FIV. Entenda como esse padrão alimentar melhora os óvulos, reduz inflamação e favorece a concepção.

9 min · April 8

Vitamin D and Fertility: What Science Found About the Ovary

81% of Brazilian women of reproductive age are deficient or insufficient in vitamin D. Understand how this hormone acts directly on the ovary, follicles, and IVF outcomes.

7 min · April 8

CoQ10 and Egg Quality: The Antioxidant That Protects Your Eggs

CoQ10 is the antioxidant with the strongest clinical evidence for improving egg quality. Learn how it protects mitochondria, which dose to use, when to start, and what the latest studies show.

7 min · April 8

Basal Body Temperature: How to Use the BBT Chart to Get Pregnant

Learn how to measure basal body temperature correctly, read your BBT chart, confirm ovulation, and use that data to improve your chances of conceiving.

7 min · April 8

Cervical Mucus as a Fertility Sign: What Texture Reveals About Your Cycle

Cervical mucus changes texture and color throughout the cycle, reflecting your hormones. Learn the 5 types, what each one means, and how to pinpoint your fertile window with precision.

9 min · April 8

Fertility Myths and Facts: Position, Lubricant, and Underwear

Does sexual position matter? Is boxer underwear better? Is morning sex more effective? We debunk 6 popular fertility myths and verify 2 facts with peer-reviewed evidence.

5 min · April 8

How Often to Have Sex to Get Pregnant: What the Science Says

How many times per week actually increases your chances of conceiving? Wilcox et al. (NEJM, 1995) and Clay et al. (2026) show that the fertile window, frequency, and sperm quality are all connected.

5 min · April 8

Positive OPK: What Happens Next and When to Act

Your ovulation test is positive — now what? Understand what the LH surge means, how long until ovulation happens, and the exact window to try to conceive.

6 min · April 8

Stress and Female Fertility: How Cortisol Disrupts Ovulation

Chronic stress can double infertility risk by suppressing ovulation through cortisol and the HPA axis. Understand the science and discover evidence-backed strategies to protect your fertility.

7 min · April 8

Folic Acid Before Pregnancy: Why You Need to Start Early

Your baby's neural tube closes 28 days after conception — before you even know you're pregnant. Learn why 400 mcg of folic acid daily should start at least 3 months before trying to conceive.

6 min · April 8

Egg Biology and Male Fertility: What You Need to Know to Maximize Your Chances of Conception

The fertile window is only 6 days per cycle, and the egg survives just 12 to 24 hours. Learn how sperm survival, cervical mucus, male age, and lifestyle combine to determine your real conception odds.

6 min · April 8

The Partner's Role When Trying to Conceive: Emotional Support and Fertility

Partner support during TTC reduces cortisol, lowers anxiety, and improves treatment outcomes. Learn what the science says and how to act in concrete ways.

6 min · April 8

Stress, Cortisol, and Sperm Quality: What Science Says About Male Fertility

Chronic stress raises cortisol, suppresses testosterone, and damages sperm DNA. Understand the exact mechanism and what you can do now to protect your fertility.

6 min · April 8

Alcohol and Male Fertility: What That Beer Does to Your Sperm

Alcohol reduces testosterone, worsens sperm motility and morphology, and increases DNA damage in sperm. Learn the mechanisms and what science says about how much is too much when trying to conceive.

6 min · April 7

Folic Acid and Male Fertility: What the Partner Should Take

Low seminal folate increases sperm DNA fragmentation and reduces conception chances. Learn what science says about folic acid supplementation for men trying to become fathers.

5 min · April 7

Heat and Male Fertility: How Temperature Affects Sperm and What to Do Now

Excess heat in the testicles reduces sperm count, motility, and morphology. Understand why this happens and what you can change today to protect your male fertility.

5 min · April 7

Hair Loss in Women: Causes and When to Investigate

Female hair loss affects more than 50% of women over their lifetime. Understand the main causes — from iron deficiency to hormonal changes — and know when to seek help.

4 min · March 26

Eye Health in the Digital Age: Essential Care

Computer vision syndrome affects at least 50% of regular screen users. Learn the symptoms, causes, and proven strategies to protect your eyes from digital eye strain.

4 min · March 26

Music and Mental Health: What Science Says

Music therapy reduces depression and anxiety symptoms with small to large effect sizes. Listening to music lowers cortisol and improves mood. See what science says about the therapeutic power of music.

4 min · March 26