A study in the latest online issue of Fertility and Sterility has reported that the length of embryo cryostorage does not adversely affect the post thaw survival rate or pregnancy outcome, suggesting it to be a safe and valuable adjunct to assisted reproduction technology (ART). Continue Reading

A team of Spanish researchers investigated the effect of male aging on assisted reproductive technologies, and reported that paternal age does not have a significant influence on embryo quality and implantation rate. The study, considered as one of the largest researches of its kind, till date, has been published in the November issue of the journal Reproductive Bio Medicine Online. Continue Reading

A systematic review published in the forthcoming issue of the journal Human Reproduction has reported ovarian tissue transplantation (OTT) as an effective strategy for preserving fertility in women at a high risk for premature ovarian failure (POF). However, the efficacy may not be as high with cryopreserved tissue, when compared to fresh grafts. Continue Reading

Earlier studies have indicated that spermatozoa of infertile men possess considerably more sperm DNA damage than that of fertile men, which could adversely affect both natural reproduction and assisted reproduction technology (ART) outcomes. Since the use of ART to treat infertility has increased substantially from its introduction in the US, in 1981, there is a huge concern regarding the safety of using DNA-damaged spermatozoa. Now, a recent study published online in the journal, Human Reproduction, demonstrates that sperm DNA damage is associated with a significantly enhanced risk of pregnancy loss following in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Continue Reading

In vitro maturation (IVM), a novel assisted reproduction technique, reduces risks associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) as the eggs are retrieved, matured and fertilized in vitro prior to implantation, thereby eliminating ovarian stimulation. However, the factors predisposing the success or failure of IVM cycles are unclear. Now, a recent study published in the December issue of the journal, Human Reproduction suggests that dominant follicle (DF) size of ≤14mm at oocyte retrieval following human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) priming improves pregnancy outcomes in cycles programmed for IVM treatment. Continue Reading

Analysis of a recent population-based, multicenter, case-control study carried out in the US reported a 2-4 fold increased risk of birth defects in infants conceived as a result of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) when compared to natural conception. The study results have been published in the recent online edition of the journal, Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), a glycoprotein growth factor, induces the hemopoietic stem cells to proliferate and mature into macrophages and other cell types. A recent study published in the online edition of the journal, Fertility and Sterility states that M-CSF plays a key role in follicle development and ovulation, thereby having the potential to predict the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Continue Reading

Seminal hyperviscosity could significantly impact the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rates (PR) in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), according to a recent study published in the November issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

Fetal cardiac activity (FCA) at 6 weeks gestation could be a potential predictor of first-trimester outcome in IVF induced pregnancy, according to a research article published in the November issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

A recent study published online in the journal Fertility and Sterility identifies the correlation between mean length of the menstrual cycle and success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF), suggesting its use as age-independent marker of ovarian reserve. Continue Reading