Couples who are undergoing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in order to avoid transmission of inherited diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis, should also have their embryos screened for abnormal numbers of chromosomes at the same time, say Italian researchers. By doing this, only embryos that are free not only of the genetic […]
Category: Fertility
Starting menstrual periods at a young age and childlessness increase risk of premature and early menopause
Women who had their first menstrual period when they were aged 11 or younger have an increased risk of an early or premature menopause and if they remain childless the risk is increased even more, according to results from the first large scale, multi-national study to investigate the links between age at puberty and menopause […]
First results from the world’s oldest group of ICSI men show they have lower semen quantity and quality
First results from the world’s oldest group of young men conceived by means of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) fertility treatment because of their fathers’ infertility have shown that they have lower sperm quantity and quality than men who were spontaneously conceived. The study, which is published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading […]
Deaths from ovarian cancer decline worldwide due to oral contraceptive use
Deaths from ovarian cancer fell worldwide between 2002 and 2012 and are predicted to continue to decline in the USA, European Union (EU) and, though to a smaller degree, in Japan by 2020, according to new research published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. The main reason is the use of oral […]
First randomised trial shows IVF culture media affect the outcomes of embryos and babies
Fertility experts call for full information on composition of culture media to be made available Fertility experts are calling on the companies who make the solutions in which embryos are cultured during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to give a clear list of ingredients following publication of a trial that shows that the composition of these […]
Survey of 15,000 women and men reveals scale of infertility: nearly half do not seek medical help
One in eight women and one in ten men have experienced infertility, yet nearly half of them have not sought medical help, according to a study of more than 15,000 women and men in Britain published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. The study found that, of those who […]
World report on fertility treatments reveals high use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); editor attacks the over-use of ICSI as ‘ineffective and costly care’
The editor-in-chief of one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals has attacked the rising use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for the treatment of infertility, following publication of the latest world report on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) [1]. The report in Human Reproduction shows that while ICSI use has levelled off in some regions, […]
BRCA1 gene mutation is linked to women having fewer eggs in their ovaries
Researchers have discovered a link between the BRCA1 gene mutation and lower levels of a hormone that is an indicator of the number of eggs left in a woman’s ovaries, according to research published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. In the first large study looking at BRCA1 and […]
New research shows ovarian transplants appear to be safe and effective
Women who have ovarian tissue removed, stored and then transplanted back to them at a later date have a good chance of successfully becoming pregnant, according to a review of the largest series of ovarian transplants performed worldwide. The study, published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals, shows that, […]
A cancer diagnosis while pregnant should not lead to treatment delay or pregnancy termination
Vienna, Austria: Women who are pregnant when diagnosed with cancer can start treatment for their disease immediately and do not need to terminate their pregnancy due to worries over the effects of therapy on the development of their child. In a special session on cancer in pregnancy at the 2015 European Cancer Congress [1] on […]