A birth defect, or congenital anomaly, is any medical condition a person has from birth. Congenital means acquired in the womb. These medical conditions range from mild to more severe. Some affect the ...

A recent study has uncovered new information about orofacial development in mice that researchers believe could one day help reduce the risk of certain birth defects in humans. Cleft lip and palate ...

A teratogen is an environmental factor that a person is exposed to during their pregnancy that may affect the baby’s development, resulting in birth defects. In fact, around 4% to 5% of birth defects ...

Babies conceived through certain fertility treatment techniques are about one-third more likely to have a birth defect than babies conceived without any extra help from technology, according to a ...

Birth defects affect 3% of pregnancies in the United States. Screening and diagnostic tests during pregnancy can identify many birth defects. Parents can take critical steps to help prevent certain ...

One in 33 babies in the United States are born with birth defects. But a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is raising awareness of ways to lower that risk. The study points ...

Analysis of U.S. survey data showed that two-thirds of reproductive age women had one or more modifiable risk factors for birth defects. Common risk factors included obesity, folate concentrations ...

(Reuters Health) - Pregnant women have another reason to avoid taking a class of antibiotics that includes erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin: it may increase their baby's risk of birth ...

Researchers found that pre-existing immunity to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can limit its transmission during pregnancy and protect against associated birth defects. The study marks an important step toward ...

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who take over-the-counter painkillers during early pregnancy have a slightly higher risk of having babies with certain rare birth defects, according to a new study.

WASHINGTON — The generational effects of chemical warfare agents and other hazardous materials on the descendants of service members would be evaluated under a bill to fund $15 million in research on ...