birth

Europe News

Belgian donor scandal sees man with cancer gene conceive 52 children

The Belgian government is pushing forward with efforts to get rid of the anonymity of sperm donors after it transpired that a Danish sperm donor with an inherited cancer mutation had conceived 52 children in the western European country.

03/06/2025

Health news

Woman gives birth after UK’s first womb transplant

The woman received a womb transplant from her sister in 2023, becoming the first in the UK to undergo the procedure.

08/04/2025

Europe in Motion

EU records lowest births in 2023 in over a decade

Experts believe the decline in birth rate may be driven by factors such as concerns over climate change, the pandemic, and the highest inflation surge in a generation.

05/12/2024

Europe News

Extended parental leave in Portugal faces delays until at least 2025

Under the new proposal, the current four-month fully paid leave could be extended to six months, and five-month leave at 80% pay could increase to seven months.

11/11/2024

Health news

How do European countries compare on same-sex family planning rules?

The new Italian law restricting overseas travel for surrogacy services goes further than other countries, but same-sex couples face family planning hurdles across Europe.

17/10/2024

Europe News

Greece confronts disastrously low birth rate in Aegean Islands

At 1.3 babies per woman, Greece's fertility rate is among Europe's lowest — and well below the threshold for population growth.

09/10/2024

Health news

Any smoking before or during pregnancy is unsafe, study shows

Light smoking is also tied to poor birth outcomes, even if the mother quits during pregnancy.

21/08/2024

Health news

Study finds air pollution reduces IVF success

Being exposed to air pollution around the time of egg retrieval can significantly curb the odds of a successful transfer through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), a new study has found.

08/07/2024

Health news

Pope tells Italians they need to have more babies

Italy’s birth rate, already one of the lowest in the world, has been falling steadily for about 15 years and reached a record low last year.

10/05/2024

Health news

Single injection of ketamine can reduce postpartum depression by 75%

One low-dose injection of esketamine administered right after childbirth reduces major depressive episodes, according to a new study.

17/04/2024

Health news

Global fertility rates will see 'dramatic decline' by 2100

Fertility rates in European countries are already below the global average, with the rates based on the number of children a woman will have in her lifetime.

21/03/2024

Health news

'Africa's oldest mother': Ugandan woman gives birth to twins aged 70

A Ugandan woman has given birth to twins at the age of 70, with the hospital claiming she is Africa's oldest mother.

01/12/2023

Health news

Where in Europe do people live the longest?

As demographics shift, life expectancy in the EU will only become more important as we grapple with an ageing population.

22/07/2023

World News

Italy's declining birth rate: Pope Francis and Meloni raise concerns

Italy has one of the lowest birthrates in the EU and the country is ageing at a much faster rate than other European countries.

13/05/2023

Creators

Meet the illustrator shining a light on miscarriage struggles

Miscarriage is a common struggle for many women but the emotions and turmoil it can create are too often overlooked or ignored. This French illustrator uses her drawings to shed light on the issue.

07/05/2023

Green News

Air pollution harms health from before birth to old age

Researchers say pollution affects our quality of life and impacts our ability to work, learn and contribute to society.

17/04/2023

Italy

Anonymous births - Italy's latest controversy

A newborn was left in one of Italy's safe haven baby boxes over Easter, sparking a fierce debate around motherhood and women's rights in the country.

14/04/2023

Netherlands

Sperm donor alleged to have fathered 550 children faces legal action

A Dutch man, said to have sired hundreds of kids through sperm donation, is being taken to court to stop him fathering more.

27/03/2023

Health news

Which countries have the highest and lowest fertility rates in Europe?

The fertility rate in the EU increased by 8 per cent over the last two decades but the number of children being born has started to gradually fall.

17/03/2023

Culture news

What are the most popular boys and girls names in Europe?

From Lucas to Sofia, Euronews Culture has found the most common and most given names in 30 European countries. Discover country by country, the most given names for girls and boys.

16/03/2023