College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine

Reproductive health

Researchers at the College are working on a range of projects related to human reproduction, including research into fertility, contraception, maternal and fetal health, and reproductive cancers.

A pregnant woman in shadow

Reproductive health concerns the study of all matters related to human reproduction. It is relevant at every life stage and includes the sexual health of all genders, fertility, contraception, maternal and child health. 

 

What we do

Our researchers work on many important human reproductive health problems. These include infertility, impacts of chemotherapy on germ cells, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, stillbirth, polycystic ovary syndrome, heavy periods, endometriosis, fibroids, androgen action, cancers of the reproductive system, and aberrations in brain development.

They are pioneers of fertility preservation for both men and women, enabling childhood cancer patients and others to have families of their own in later life. Our scientists are freezing tissue from the reproductive organs of boys and girls as young as one, which can be re-implanted once they reach adulthood. This research, which began more than 20 years ago, enabled the first UK woman to give birth following a transplant of her frozen ovary tissue. 

In 2017, we received a prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our work to improve women’s health. The award recognised both research that has given millions of women access to safe and effective contraception and research that led to life-saving treatments for breast and ovarian cancer.

Studies here have helped to reduce still birth rates and have led to better treatments for pregnancy problems to improve health for both pregnant women and the next generation.

Our experts also lead studies that consider how reproductive health issues relate to society as a whole. For example, the ethics of reproductive technologies, stem cells, embryo research and reproductive medicine. 

 

Where we do it

Many of the scientists working in reproductive health are based on the BioQuarter campus, at the Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH). CRH is the only MRC-funded research centre in the UK that focuses exclusively on reproduction, placing us in a unique position.

The CRH has close links with other research centres in the Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI), with the Clinical Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Simpson’s Centre for Reproductive Health, and with other research centres at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary site, and other hospitals or research labs in Edinburgh.

Our social science research into aspects of reproductive medicine is led by researchers in the Usher Institute and the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society.

The College is home to the Edinburgh Tommy’s Centre, which carries out research to improve pregnancy outcomes for mothers and babies.

We are also home to the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory, which works to improve the lives of women and children who suffer complications during pregnancy and the newborn period.

 

Study 

Graduate training in the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health 

MSc by Research in Reproductive Sciences

 

Explore

MRC Centre for Reproductive Health

Usher Institute 

Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society

Tommy’s Centre

Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory