A gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist and exogenous hormone stimulation protocol, compared to natural endogenous hormone stimulation, offers higher live-birth rate and enhanced outcomes with cryopreserved-thawed blastocyst-stage embryo transfer (ET) cycles, according to a recent research published in the Fertility and Sterility journal. Continue Reading

A recent study published in the January issue of journal Human Reproduction reports that viable/healthy preimplantation embryos possess lower amino acid metabolic activity when compared to non-viable/damaged embryos. Researchers hypothesize that increased cellular/molecular damage in non-viable embryos augment amino acid metabolism rate for repair processes. Amino acid profiling could thereby help in choosing the best embryos for in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Continue Reading

A research study, headed by Dr Alistair Elfick from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), has developed a new test to assess the quality of sperm through ‘chemical fingerprinting’, which is based on the Raman Spectroscopy. The research is currently in the pre-clinical phase, and could be helpful in predicting embryo quality and IVF outcomes in infertility patients. Continue Reading

In vitro fertilization shows positive outcomes for infertility in women younger than 40 years, but does not help in overcoming age-dependent reduction in fertility, as demonstrated by researchers from the Boston IVF and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). The findings of the largest study of IVF patients till date have been published in the recent edition of The New England Journal of Medicine. Continue Reading

Several previous studies have correlated the serum levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), produced by the granulosa cells of preantral and small antral follicles, with oocyte yield, in assisted reproduction. Now, a recent study, published in the online issue of the journal Human Reproduction, reports that the monitoring of hormone levels may also aid in individualizing strategies for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS), thereby optimizing treatment safety and clinical pregnancy rates. Continue Reading

Triploidy, affecting around 2% of all conceptions, is the most common chromosomal abnormality during first trimester spontaneous abortions. It occurs due to either the fertilization of a mature haploid egg by two haploid sperms or meiotic division failure, resulting in a diploid gamete. A recent study published in the journal, Fertility and Sterility suggests that the proportion of triploid zygotes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a surrogate marker of oocyte competence in the entire cohort and a negative prognostic indicator for IVF cycle outcome. Continue Reading

Letrozole (Femara® | Novartis) is being comprehensively investigated as a novel ovulation inducing agent, and has been seen to effectively induce ovulation in anovulatory and ovulatory infertile women who fail to respond to clomiphene citrate. Now, a recent study published in the online issue of the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, suggests that letrozole could successfully induce ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on clomiphene citrate failure. Continue Reading

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in contrast to the conventional IVF procedures, may help attain a higher rate of normal fertilization in extremely low oocyte retrieval cycles. The results of the study have been published in the recent issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

Depression has been extensively studied in relation to postparturation, but its association during pregnancy is under-recognized. Very few studies have elucidated the role of psychological factors in increasing the risk of preterm birth, a major obstetric complication. Now, a recent study reports that depression during early pregnancy is linked to preterm labor. The study published in the latest edition of the journal Human Reproduction, also provides preliminary evidence on the role of social and reproductive risk factors, obesity, and stressful events in aggravating the effect. Continue Reading

Norwegian researchers have reported an increased prevalence of pre-eclampsia among women who had undergone infertility treatment, with previous history of miscarriages. The study has been published in the recent issue of the journal BJOG. Continue Reading