A recent retrospective analysis, the findings of which were published in the journal, Human Reproduction, reports that performing additional rounds of hybridization during fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) improves the accuracy of the technique in preimplantation genetic aneuploidy screening (PGS), thereby increasing the number of competent embryos available for transfer. Continue Reading

A new breakthrough study has reported the development of a simple, non-invasive, prenatal blood test based on the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technique, which could help in the accurate detection of chromosomal aberrations in the developing fetus, and thereby avoid the risk of miscarriage associated with conventional invasive techniques such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. The findings of the study were also presented recently at the 26^th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), held at Rome from 27^th-30^th June, 2010. 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

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

A large prospective follow-up study has concluded that the long-term safety of ganirelix, a GnRH antagonist, with respect to neonatal outcomes and major malformation risk, is comparable to that of traditional GnRH agonists used in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycles. The study findings have been published in the journal, Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

Mutations in the Deleted in Azoospermia-like (DAZL) gene, an autosomal homolog of the DAZ gene located on chromosome 3p24, have been linked to spermatogenic abnormalities. Now, a prospective study published in the journal, Reproductive BioMedicine Online, provides further credence to the probable involvement of DAZL in the regulation of sperm counts, motility, and possibly also morphology. 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

A correlation between male factor infertility and the enhanced risk for testicular cancer has been reported earlier. Now, new research published in the journal Cancer, cautions infertile patients on the increased risk for high-grade prostate cancer. 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

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