A team of researchers from the Newcastle University have developed a pioneering ‘three-person IVF’ technique, in which the fertilization procedure uses the nuclear DNA of the biological parents, and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from an oocyte donor. The technique, which facilitates exchange of DNA between two oocytes, could serve in preventing the transmission of mitochondrial diseases to offspring. The findings of the groundbreaking study have been published in the online edition of the journal, Nature. Continue Reading

There is substantial evidence to support the progressive decline in fertility in women with advancing age; however, this association has not been well established in men. Now, a recent study reports that semen volume, sperm motility, and the rate of fertilization reduces with age in men. The findings of the study are published in the recent issue of the journal, Reproductive BioMedicine Online. Continue Reading

Introduction
Over the past quarter century, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of people seeking infertility treatment. According to the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, around 11.8% of women in the US, aged between 15 to 44 years, had impaired fecundity. The importance given to reproduction and the generation of progeny has led to the development of various assisted conception techniques and methods to overcome infertility. One such method is “third party reproduction”, which uses sperms, oocytes, or embryos donated by a donor to help infertile couples achieve parenthood. Continue Reading

Although the efficacy of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) as a marker in IVF cycles has been established in various studies, there is insufficient evidence about its usefulness in oocyte donors. Now, a study has reported that AMH assessment in oocyte donors has the potential to ascertain the gonadotropin sensitivity and reduce/prevent the occurrence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The findings, indicating the benefits of testing AMH for individualizing stimulation protocols, have been published in the online issue of the journal, Reproductive BioMedicine Online. Continue Reading

The success of any IVF cycle is known to be multifactorial, although there is no consensus about the factors that influence the outcome. Now, a new retrospective study elucidates the negative effect of certain key recipient-related parameters, such as increased body mass index (BMI >30 kg/m²), endometrial thickness (<8 mm), and pituitary down-regulation, on IVF outcome in donor oocyte cycles, independent of the age of the recipient. The study results have been published in the current issue of Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

Multiple factors have been attributed to affect the outcome of IVF pregnancies achieved through oocyte donation; some of them include embryo quality, endometrial receptivity, reproductive status of the recipient, and the ages of the donor and recipient. Despite contradictory evidences on the effect of the recipient’s age, the age of the donor has been identified as a significant factor influencing the outcomes of assisted reproduction. Results of a multivariate analysis published in the journal Fertility and Sterility has further substantiated the crucial association between the donor’s age and the number of mature oocytes/embryos obtained. The study results also proposed the significance of other factors, such as estradiol level on the day of hCG administration and amount of gonadotropin used in the stimulation protocol, for predicting IVF outcome. Continue Reading

A group of researchers from Newcastle University and NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) has achieved a major breakthrough in medical history by creating sperm cells using embryonic stem cells. These sperm cells, scientifically termed as in vitro-derived (IVD) sperm, could make a valuable in vitro model for elucidating the causes of male infertility and exploring therapeutic innovations. The findings of the research have been published in the recent issue of the journal, Stem Cells and Development. Continue Reading

In one of the first studies comparing the feelings of donor-conceived children and adults, researchers from the Cambridge University have found that disclosure of donor paternity at an early age lowers the likelihood of negative reactions from the offspring. The study findings published in the recent issue of Human Reproduction provides new perspectives regarding the response of the offspring depending on the age at which their biological origin is disclosed. Continue Reading