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Reproductive health

Reproductive health
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Reproductive health. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
An empty classroom in a South Korean high school, with rows of desks and a blackboard. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

South Korea’s record low birth rate leads to mass school closures

With student counts half of 1980 levels, South Korea confronts a crisis of empty classrooms and abandoned sites, raising worry over wasted assets.

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Science

Sperm quality decline: could easy-to-use balm from China solve the crisis?

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Wellness

Love your baby bump? How to get a bespoke pregnancy sculpture in Hong Kong

Wellness

Hong Kong Cancer Fund’s CheckMate scheme wants men to ‘check them’ and talk

The initiative launched this Movember promotes pre-emptive checks for and dialogue about male-specific cancers affecting thousands each year.

Hong Kong actor and martial artist Andrew Pong is the face of Hong Kong Cancer Fund’s CheckMate campaign, which aims to make men’s cancers “openly discussed to the same level that breast cancer is among women”. Photo: Instagram/Andrew Pong
United States

US Supreme Court rejects appeal to overturn same-sex marriage ruling

The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, denied Kim Davis’s appeal after she refused to issue marriage licences to a same-sex couple.

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China's ageing population

State matchmaking and a PR blitz – is this the way to boost China’s birth rate?

The dramatic approach adopted by one city is attracting nationwide attention, but critics warn more fundamental policy changes are needed.

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Wellness

Sol Menopause app offers information and tips for Asian women and employers

The Sol Menopause app addresses the lack of research into perimenopausal Asian women, offering guidance, tips and work solutions.

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Grace Oh is the founder of Sol Menopause, an app that offers personalised, scalable support for perimenopausal Asian women. Photo: Dickson Lee
Wellness

Breast cancer at 30, Hong Kong artist then met husband, became mum

May Yeung froze her eggs before undergoing radiotherapy, met her husband during successful treatment, and later gave birth to their son.

Wellness

What is chlamydia? The ‘silent STI’ that can cause infertility if untreated

Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection, is the most common STI in Hong Kong and can persist undetected for months or years.

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European Union

Trump’s Tylenol autism claim dismissed by WHO, EU

The agencies refuted Trump’s claim linking Tylenol in pregnancy to autism, affirming its safety with caution.

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks linking autism to childhood vaccines and to the use of popular pain medication Tylenol for pregnant women and children. Photo: Reuters
Wellness

‘It took away my creativity’: Malaysian director on testicular cancer battle

Jared Lee, who made Cathay Pacific’s ads with Jimmy O. Yang, reveals how his diagnosis taught him about kindness and changed his perspective.

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Malaysian film director Jared Lee (right) with Jimmy O. Yang during filming of adverts for Cathay Pacific. Lee reveals how his testicular cancer battle reshaped his filmmaking journey. Photo: Instagram/jaredle3
Nordic nations

Denmark, Greenland apologise for historic mistreatment of Inuit women

Thousands of Greenlandic women and girls were fitted with IUDs without consent from 1966 to 1991.

The Philippines

Filipinos increasingly open to sex education as teen pregnancies, HIV cases rise

Three in four Filipinos support sex education, survey shows, despite religious opposition and disinformation campaigns.

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Japan

Japan loses nearly 1 million people in 16th straight year of population decline

While the number of native Japanese fell by a record 908,000, foreign residents increased amid debate over immigration policy.

Pedestrians walk through a crossing at Shinjuku business and shopping district in Tokyo. According to government data, the country’s population decline accelerated due amid record low births. Photo: EPA-EFE
China's population

If preschool is free, will more have a baby? China to waive final-year tuition

State Council says that depending on an area’s fiscal strength, Beijing will fund at least half and up to 80 per cent of the total cost.

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Children play with bubbles at the Second Experimental Kindergarten in the Yantai High-tech Zone, in eastern China’s Shandong province, in May last year. Photo: Getty Images
Medicine

World’s oldest baby? US boy born from embryo frozen for over 30 years

The child developed from an embryo donated in 1994 and kept for 11,148 days, believed to be the longest storage time before birth.

South Korea

South Korea reverses birth rate decline with its fastest growth in 40 years

In 2024, South Korea ranked among the lowest five nations in birth rates, according to the World Population Review.

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United States

US Wisconsin court strikes down state’s 19th century abortion ban

The ruling leaves in place a 2015 Wisconsin law that bans abortion after 20 weeks.

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Abortion rights and anti-abortion rights activists protest in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC in 2024. Photo: TNS
Hong Kong society

Editorial | Hong Kong’s breast milk bank offers best start to life

Initiative has proved to be a huge success, yet much more needs to be done to encourage those Hong Kong mothers who can to breastfeed their babies.

United States

US doctor who posted videos of decapitated baby must pay parents US$2 million

Jackson Gates was hired to do an autopsy after the child died during a difficult delivery and published the footage without permission.

Wellness

Women’s longevity, heart health and more in focus at Hong Kong summit

Medical gaslighting, AI-driven tools also among topics to be examined by experts at the inaugural Women’s Health in Focus: A Global Summit.

Maaike Steinebach is the founder of FemTech Future, which with OM Health Hub and the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre is holding the inaugural Women’s Health in Focus: A Global Summit, in Hong Kong, from June 16-17. Photo: Maaike Steinebach
Hong Kong

Femtech top of agenda at women’s health summit in Hong Kong

Two-day symposium to highlight why supporting women’s health is not just a moral obligation but an economic imperative.

Anca Griffiths is co-founder of Women’s Health in Focus: A Global Summit, taking place on June 16 and 17. Photo: Handout
Japan

Japan faces ‘critical’ demographic crisis as birth rate hits historic low

Record-low births and an ageing population are driving Japan to implement urgent measures to encourage marriage and boost fertility rates.

Vietnam

Facing gender ratio crisis, Vietnam proposes tougher laws on sex selection

Officials warn Vietnam could have 1.5 million more men than women by 2034 without action.

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Wellness

Smoking risks beyond lung and heart, from colon cancer to genital warts

World No Tobacco Day is a good time to recall how smoking affects nearly every part of your body and causes or aggravates various conditions.

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A smoker with stained fingernails holds a cigarette. Photo: Shutterstock
France

Abortion pill inventor Etienne-Emile Baulieu dies aged 98

The French scientist helped create mifepristone, which provided a safe and inexpensive alternative to surgical abortion for millions.

French biochemist Etienne-Emile Baulieu poses in his office at the Kremlin-Bicetre hospital outside Paris in March 2023. Photo: AFP
United States

1 killed in ‘act of terror’ bombing at California fertility clinic

The FBI has launched ‘one of the largest bombing investigations’ in the area into the blast, which damaged the facility and nearby buildings.

Malaysia

Malaysia records fewest births ever, fuelling population decline concerns

Officials warn of a looming demographic crisis as more Malaysians opt for a ‘child-free’ lifestyle.

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