Written by Dr. Stacey Ellender.

The term “medicalization” first came into wide use in the early 1970s with the work of Eliot Freidson of New York University and Irving Kenneth Zola of Brandeis University. Since then there has been considerable scholarship on the subject, and numerous interpretations and definitions have emerged in the literature. Continue Reading

There have been ample studies suggesting the increased risk for prematurity, low birth weight, mortality, and other complications, including congenital heart defects, cerebral palsy, and impaired vision in twins born through ART. Now, a recent cohort study published in the online issue of the journal, Human Reproduction, highlights that ART twins, compared to those conceived spontaneously. are at an increased risk of neonatal intensive care admission and hospitalization during the first three years, apart from the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Continue Reading

Written by Dr.Peter Hollands.

It is now over 30 years since the first pioneering experimental embryologists, led by Bob Edwards, developed the role of a clinical embryologist. 1,2 Those early workers included people such as Roger Simons, Jacques Cohen, Carol Fehilly, Simon Fishel, John Keith, and myself, all working in the newly erected ‘portacabin’ labs and theatre at the Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge. These people were all academic experimental embryologists who had been trained by Bob Edwards, and many of them had a PhD (supervised by Bob) in experimental embryology from Cambridge University. Continue Reading

The individual effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration and body mass index (BMI) on IVF outcomes and treatment-associated risks have long been investigated. Contradicting evidence has been published with respect to the influence of BMI on the circulating serum hCG levels and IVF outcome. Now, a prospective study published in the journal, Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology, reports that a standard dosage (10,000 IU) of hCG, independent of BMI, is sufficient for triggering the final oocyte maturation in IVF cycles. Continue Reading

A recent meta-analysis has reported that elective single embryo transfer (eSET), compared to double embryo transfer (DET), lowers ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates in fresh IVF/ICSI cycles. The study results have been published in the recent issue of the journal, Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. Continue Reading

Several factors have been attributed to the chances of spontaneous conception in subfertile couples, including previous pregnancy, age, period of subfertility, and body mass extremes. According to a recent prospective cohort study published in the online issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility, the probability of spontaneous ongoing pregnancy in the near future is high in subfertile couples with a previous history of treatment-independent conception that ended in a miscarriage. Continue Reading

Sperm DNA damage, which negatively affects both natural and assisted fertility, is associated with putative mechanisms such as oxidative stress and defective sperm chromatin packaging. Infertility caused due to oxidative stress-induced sperm damage is mainly through the initiation of apoptosis or the direct oxidation of the DNA by reactive oxygen species (ROS). A recent study published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online highlights the potential of oral antioxidant therapy in substantially improving the sperm DNA integrity and protamine packaging, apart from reducing apoptosis and seminal ROS production in infertile men. Continue Reading

A greater understanding of the role of growth hormone (GH) in augmenting the ovarian response to gonadotropins has encouraged researchers to explore the use of GH as an adjuvant treatment for ovarian stimulation. In a recent retrospective study published in the journal, Reproductive BioMedicine Online, researchers have provided further credence to the potential of GH co-stimulation with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG), in enhancing the IVF treatment outcomes in patients with history of repeated ART failures. Continue Reading

Numerous studies conducted on animal models have reported the beneficial effects, such as improved embryo quality, and implantation and pregnancy rates, imparted by reduced oxygen tension on the in vitro embryo culture. However, there exist contradicting study results regarding the similar effects of reduced oxygen tension on human embryo development. Now, a prospective randomized trial published in the online issue of the journal, Fertility and Sterility reports that in vitro embryo culturing at reduced oxygen tension (5% O₂) could improve embryo development and cumulative pregnancy rate in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), regardless of the culture duration. The study also recommends the use of reduced oxygen concentration for embryo cultivation in poor responding cycles. Continue Reading

Maternal age has been identified as a key determining factor in the success rates of IVF/ICSI procedures; however, relatively few studies have investigated the effect of advanced paternal age on ICSI outcome. Now, a recent retrospective observational study, published in the journal, Fertility and Sterility, suggests the negative effect of increased paternal age of oligozoospermic patients on implantation rate after ICSI. The study reports a 5% decrease in the chances of pregnancy for such couples with each year of increase in paternal age. Continue Reading