Several studies have established the effect of obesity (BMI >30 kg/m²) on female fertility as well as on ART treatment outcomes; however, the mechanism underlying the association is still obscure. Now, a recent study published in the journal Reproduction, sheds more light on the impact of obesity on the major reproductive mechanisms and infertility treatment. Continue Reading

Potential screening tools for early ovarian ageing include small antral follicle counts, anti-Müllerian hormone levels, abnormal autoimmune function, and number of CGG repeats on the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. A recent preliminary prospective randomized controlled trial reiterates that 30 to 40 CGG trinucleotide repeats on FMR1 may serve as a predictor of premature ovarian ageing and premature ovarian failure (POF) in infertile women. However, no significant association was observed between the concentrations of anti-thyroid and anti-adrenal autoantibodies and FSH levels/CGG repeat numbers. The findings of the recent study have been published in the journal, Reproductive BioMedicine Online. Continue Reading

Crinone® vaginal gel, a natural progesterone supplementation approved by the U.S. FDA for women undergoing assisted reproduction, has better tolerability and comparable effectiveness to intramuscular progesterone (IMP) for luteal phase support during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles, according to the findings of a prospective randomized trial published in the online issue of the journal, Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

A new study published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online reports improvement in pain symptoms, fertility outcomes, and overall patient satisfaction rates following surgical resection of bowel endometriosis in women with infertility. Continue Reading

Previous studies have correlated parental infertility or its treatment with childhood cancer. However, very few have investigated its impact on individual cancer subtypes. A recent case-controlled study published in the journal Human Reproduction reports that no significant relationship exists between parental infertility/infertility treatment and infant leukemia. Continue Reading

A recent controlled clinical trial highlights that the underlying mechanism for the positive effect of endometrial biopsy on improved implantation rate in IVF cycles could be attributed to an injury-induced inflammatory response. The findings, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility further suggest that the increased expression of the macrophage inflammatory protein 1B (MIP-1B) could serve as a marker for predicting implantation competence. Continue Reading

Fertility-related problems and management, including medical monitoring, hormone administration, and IVF procedures, have been proven to cause ample physical and emotional distress, which lead to severe maladjustment in women during/after the infertility treatment. Emotional distress could result in high number of treatment dropouts, apart from causing deterioration in the general health and suboptimal treatment outcomes. Now, Danish researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of a screening tool, SCREENIVF, in identifying women at a high risk of developing emotional problems at an early stage of the treatment. The findings of the study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, suggest the potential of SCREENIVF as the first emotional screening tool, based on which the high-risk patients can be subjected to more detailed diagnostics for prompt treatment initiation. Continue Reading

A team of researchers has developed a breakthrough embryo screening technique termed molecular preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which uses a PCR-based protocol for analyzing translocations. The new approach, having the potential to identify more viable embryos for transfer, utilizes multiplexed short tandem repeat (STR) markers that are positioned on both segments of the translocated chromosomes during translocation analysis. The findings of the study have been published in the journal, Molecular Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), which involves the combination of IVF with gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) methods, is not commonly used as it is one of the more invasive ART procedures. A report by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) showed that ZIFT was used in <1% of the total cycles performed (n=140,795) across all the SART member clinics during the year 2008. Now, a recent prospective randomized trial published in Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, has reported increased rates of pregnancy and implantation in patients suffering from nontubal infertility with the use ZIFT compared to uterine embryo transfer (UET). Continue Reading

The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is reported to be high in infertile women. Despite this, its management remains controversial owing to the lack of proven treatment benefits. Now, a recent prospective, randomized trial has highlighted the importance of levothyroxine (LT4) supplementation for achieving clinical pregnancies in women with SH opting for IVF-ICSI. The findings of the study have been published in the recent issue of Endocrine Practice. Continue Reading