Australian Study Reports Higher Risk of Blastogenesis Birth Defects with IVF/ICSI
December 18, 2009
Blastogenesis denotes the development that occurs in the first 28 days after conception, wherein the basic body plan, gene expression domains, and the embryo’s developmental fate are established. The defects or malformations arising at this stage are generally severe and lethal, owing to several reasons such as the embryo’s small size, interdependent nature of its development, and proximity of the organ rudiments. Now, a recent study published in the journal, Human Reproduction highlights the link between IVF/ICSI procedures and blastogenesis birth defects, with the probability of the specific risk being lower with frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Read more
ALERT: New Guidelines for Oocyte Freezing Issued in the UK
November 26, 2009
Oocyte cryopreservation holds significant potential as an option for preserving female fertility, especially in patients undergoing aggressive radiation or chemotherapy. Following an intensive review, the British Fertility Society (BFS) and the Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE) have issued new clinical guidelines on egg freezing technologies for UK clinics. Read more
Imatinib Reported to Prevent Chemotherapy-induced Oocyte Death
October 27, 2009
The advent of newer chemotherapeutic drugs has increased concerns about their genotoxic effects in young patients undergoing chemotherapy. Although several strategies have been proposed to conserve female fertility before and during cancer treatment, there is a lack of evidence-based data that can substantiate the efficacy and safety of these techniques. The use of chemotherapeutic medications that do not induce oocyte damage or prevent it may emerge as a new option for fertility preservation. A recent study, elucidating the pathway linked to chemotherapy-induced death of oocytes, reports the protective effect of the anticancer drug, imatinib in preserving the oocytes during such treatments. The results of the study are published online in the journal Nature Medicine. Read more
ALERT: Novel Mechanical Method of Assisted Hatching Reported
October 25, 2009
Several assisted hatching (AH) techniques, such as mechanical dissection, zona thinning with acidified Tyrode’s solution or proteolytic enzymes, and laser energy, have been evaluated with varying reports on their clinical efficacy. Now a new method of hatching, in which the zona pellucida (ZP) is mechanically expanded using hydrostatic pressure has been developed, helping to increase the implantation rates of day-3 frozen-thawed embryos in IVF/ICSI cycles. The findings of this prospective study have been published in the latest issue of Fertility and Sterility. Read more
Slow Freezing Superior to Vitrification in Preserving Ovarian Development and Proliferation Potential
September 24, 2009
Vitrification, compared to conventional or slow freezing, is an effective technique for cryopreserving oocytes and embryos; however, its comparative efficacy in ovarian tissue cryopreservation is not proven. Now, a study published in the recent issue of the journal Reproduction reports that conventional freezing is more effective in the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, as it preserves greater developmental and proliferative potential. Read more
ALERT: Study Proposes Optimal Time for Oocyte Freezing Post hCG Administration
September 20, 2009
A recent retrospective study, emphasizing the significance of oocyte cryopreservation time in improving the clinical outcome of ICSI, has suggested a time-frame of 39 to 40 hours after hCG administration as the cut-off time for oocyte freezing. The findings of the study, highlighting the need for customizing the embryo transfer policy, are published in the online issue of the journal, Fertility and Sterility. Read more
ALERT: Fertility Preservation Option May be Extended to Premenarchal Girls
August 31, 2009
Owing to recent therapeutic advancements in the field of oncology, there has been a significant increase in the number of childhood cancer survivors. As per the estimates of the National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF), one in every 250 adults in the US will be living with a history of childhood cancer by 2010. Though studies have established the detrimental effects of chemotherapeutic drugs on gonadal functions, there lacks consensus on extending the option of fertility preservation to premenarchal girls. A recent cohort study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, supports cryopreservation of the ovarian cortex along with the freezing of aspirated, in vitro maturation (IVM) oocytes in premenarchal girls, before initiating cancer treatment. The researchers also noted that the age of the subjects is not directly linked to the number of oocytes identified, matured, and cryopreserved. Read more
ALERT: Study Reports Better Neonatal Outcome for Singletons Born After Frozen Embryo Transfer
August 25, 2009
In a national population-based controlled, follow-up study, Danish researchers have reported better neonatal outcomes in singletons born after the transfer of cryopreserved embryos as opposed to fresh cycle embryos. The study results were published in the online issue of the journal, Fertility and Sterility. Read more
Adverse Effect of Chemotherapy on Sperm DNA Integrity and the Need for Fertility Preservation Counseling
August 13, 2009
Advances in the treatment of cancer have generated significant interest in investigating the toxicity of chemotherapy on long-term cancer survivors. One such prospective longitudinal study published in the recent issue of Fertility and Sterility reports a high degree of sperm chromatin damage in patients with advanced testicular cancer or Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after chemotherapy. Highlighting the increased risk for abnormal reproductive outcome in such individuals, the study substantiated the need for counseling cancer patients prior to chemotherapy specifically regarding their elevated reproductive risks and various approaches to preserve their fertility. Read more
Study Reports Safety and Efficacy of eSET in PGD Cycles
July 30, 2009
The practice of elective single embryo transfer (eSET) in preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) cycles is generally not followed due to the belief that embryo biopsy could affect its post-thaw survival rate. Now, a recent study has reported that eSET following PGD and freezing at blastocyst stage results in implantation and pregnancy rates similar to non-PGD cycles, thereby reducing the chances of multiple pregnancies. The results of the study were published online in the recent issue of Human Reproduction. Read more
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