Articles tagged with Infertility
A team of Bay Area researchers explores factors that differentiate fertile sperm from infertile sperm, identifying crucial proteins known as ion channels critical for sperm fertility. The discovery may lead to the development of new diagnostic testing and treatments for male infertility.
A comprehensive study of over 300,000 births in South Australia found that babies conceived through assisted reproductive therapies had a higher risk of stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, and neonatal death compared to naturally conceived babies. The risks varied depending on the type of assisted conception used.
Georgia Regents University has joined the Cooperative Multicenter Reproductive Medicine Network to conduct large-scale clinical trials on male and female infertility. The network aims to develop novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for complex reproductive health issues, including polycystic ovary syndrome and delayed puberty.
Couples undergoing fertility treatment face significant out-of-pocket expenses, with IVF cycles costing up to $19,234, while medication-only treatments cost around $912. The study's findings aim to inform couples and physicians about the true costs of infertility care.
Scientists at Oxford University have developed a technique using nanoparticles to investigate the mechanisms underlying 'mystery' cases of infertility. The method involves loading porous silica nanoparticle envelopes with compounds to identify or treat causes of infertility, demonstrating no detrimental effects on sperm function.
A recent study by Celmatix Inc. suggests that women may be stopping IVF treatment prematurely, with 68% conceiving within two cycles and over half (60%) becoming pregnant if they proceeded with an additional two cycles. The study also explored genetic markers for female infertility and IVF success.
A study by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that women with PCOS who ate a big breakfast had improved glucose levels, insulin resistance, and fertility rates. This suggests that timing of calorie intake may play a crucial role in overcoming reproductive difficulties.
Researchers at University of Otago discover key cellular location of kisspeptin-Gpr54 signalling, crucial for fertility. The study reveals that targeting this signalling can enable new therapies for infertility and approaches to controlling fertility.
Researchers found that BPA exposure can dramatically inhibit egg maturation, leading to decreased maturity, increased degeneration, and spontaneous activation. This study adds to growing evidence about the impact of BPA on human health and may explain why some couples struggle with infertility.
Women who survived childhood cancer face an increased risk of infertility, but nearly two-thirds conceive after trying unsuccessfully for at least a year. The study found that 64% of survivors conceived after six months, compared to 55% in the control group.
Childhood cancer survivors were nearly 50% more likely to experience clinical infertility compared to their siblings. Around two-thirds of those who reported clinical infertility eventually became pregnant, comparable to the historical pregnancy rate in all women with clinical infertility.
A study of egg banking for anticipated gamete exhaustion found that many women believe they'll never use their stored eggs, but still consider the experience positive. Most wish they had done so at an earlier age to preserve fertility.
A new low-cost method of in-vitro fertilization developed at the University of Colorado Boulder showed successful human clinical trials in Belgium, suggesting infertility care may be universally accessible. The simplified laboratory system, estimated to cost between $250, performed roughly the same as conventional IVF programs.
A study in Belgium demonstrates that simplified IVF methodology can be successful and cost-effective, with estimated costs as low as €200 per cycle. The research aims to make infertility care universally accessible to couples in developing countries.
Researchers found that inactivating taste genes TAS1R3 and GNAT3 caused male sterility in mice, leading to malformed and fewer sperm. The study suggests that certain compounds, such as fibrates, could be negatively impacting human fertility.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that global infertility rates have remained steady since 1990, with 1.9% of women aged 20 unable to conceive and 10.5% of those who previously gave birth unable to have another child. The levels of infertility varied by region, with higher rates in North Africa and the Middle East.
Scientists are harnessing big data analytics and genomics to tailor fertility treatments to individual women. Dr. Piraye Yurttas Beim's work at Celmatix Inc. aims to develop non-invasive diagnostic tests to identify genetic drivers of infertility, enabling personalized recommendations for effective treatments.
A recent study published in Human Reproduction found that children born after infertility treatment have a higher risk of developing asthma. At the age of five, these children were two to four times more likely to experience asthma, wheezing, and take anti-asthmatic medication compared to those conceived naturally.
A new study from Queen's University Belfast reveals that 80% of couples diagnosed with 'unexplained infertility' have a detectable cause, high sperm DNA damage. This breakthrough will lead to better treatment options, saving time, money, and heartache for affected couples.
Women undergoing IVF report decreased sexual desire, interest in activity, and satisfaction with their relationship, as well as increased difficulty with orgasm and pain
Researchers from Inserm unit 693 have discovered that hyperprolactinaemia directly inhibits the secretion of kisspeptin, a neurohormone essential for GnRH release and ovarian cyclicity. Administering kisspeptin can restore ovulation function in women with hyperprolactinaemia.
A new study reveals that childfree women perceive more social pressure to become mothers than others, yet feel less distress. The research highlights the varying reasons behind childlessness and their effects on women's lives, challenging societal assumptions about motherhood.
Researchers have discovered a key protein, RABL2, that affects sperm tail length and motility, potentially leading to new avenues for male infertility treatment. A mutation in this protein can result in significantly shorter sperm tails and decreased production.
Researchers found that women with multiple sclerosis who undergo assisted reproduction technology are at risk for increased disease activity. Sex hormones and reproductive hormones contribute to the regulation of immune responses in autoimmune diseases like MS.
A study published in Human Reproduction found that fear of treatment is a significant contributor to psychological stress in women undergoing fertility therapy. Women often experience anxiety, depression, anger, and low self-esteem due to infertility, which can negatively impact relationships with their partners.
Researchers at University of California, Berkeley report that epithelial cells in cornea express small antimicrobial peptides to defend against bacterial infections. High levels of prolactin block expression of kisspeptin, a protein hormone that induces secretion of GnRH, leading to infertility in women.
A large Danish cohort study reveals that childless women who undergo fertility evaluations have a higher risk of hospitalizations for psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety and depression. The study found significant correlations between childlessness and increased rates of substance abuse, schizophrenia, and eating disorders.
A recent study has identified more than 40 genetic regions influencing fertility in Hutterite men, which may shed light on unexplained cases of male infertility. The research also found nine genetic regions impacting sperm quality in non-Hutterites.
A groundbreaking study published in Human Reproduction found that American college students often overestimate their chances of getting pregnant later in life. The research highlights the importance of educating young adults about fertility issues to make informed reproductive decisions.
Research suggests that brief prenatal exposure to plant estrogens may affect a woman's fertility as an adult. Exposure to estrogenic chemicals in the womb or during childhood has been shown to alter immune response genes and compromise oviduct support for preimplantation embryo development, leading to infertility.
Researchers have diagnosed Frida Kahlo's infertility as Asherman's syndrome, a condition caused by scarring in the uterus following a traumatic injury. The diagnosis is supported by Kahlo's medical history and artwork, which show images of reproductive organs and fertility issues.
A recent study by Yale University researchers highlights the misconception that women can easily have a child at an advanced age using assisted reproductive technologies. While ART is available for women over 40, pregnancy success rates are limited and complications increase with age.
Research published in Arthritis Care & Research found that women with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus tend to have fewer children than desired due to increased infertility rates. The study also revealed that concerns about caring for children and genetic transmission of the disease may contribute to this trend.
A faulty molecular switch, SGK1, has been found to be associated with infertility and miscarriage. High levels of the protein are common in women with unexplained infertility, while low levels increase the risk of miscarriage. The research suggests that a temporary loss of SGK1 during the fertile window is essential for pregnancy.
A study found a higher prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease in women with unexplained infertility, which was significantly higher at 5.9%. Dietary changes, specifically a gluten-free diet, improved fertility rates for these women.
Researchers found that women share more about their infertility than men, and they often turn to other women for support. Couples adjust their information-sharing habits based on each partner's feelings of stigma and societal pressure.
Researchers found that antioxidants may have significant value in addressing infertility issues, including erectile dysfunction. Antioxidants can help control free radicals that destroy nitric oxide, an agent that relaxes and dilates blood vessels.
A study by UC Davis researchers found that a significant proportion of men carry defective genes for the sperm coat protein DEFB126, which may significantly affect their fertility. The protein plays a crucial role in allowing sperm to swim through mucus and avoid the immune system.
A study from Johns Hopkins researchers found a link between a gene variation and infertility in women, with the altered gene affecting cholesterol regulation and pregnancy hormone production. The discovery may lead to a treatment for this condition, as a cholesterol medication shown to work in mice could potentially restore fertility.
Researchers have identified a set of genes within mitochondria crucial to understanding male infertility. Mutations in these genes can build up unnoticed and cause harm to males but not females due to maternal inheritance.
A new study found that women participating in a mind/body program for stress reduction while undergoing IVF treatment had a significantly higher pregnancy rate (52%) compared to those who did not participate (20%). The study suggests that psychological distress may be an important detriment to IVF outcome.
Women's fertility is affected by chemotherapy due to oocyte quality control, which differs from male germ cells. The protein p63 plays a key role in this process.
A recent study has identified DEDD protein as essential for the formation of a functional decidua in mice. Defective DEDD function may be responsible for female infertility. The researchers suggest further investigation into the relationship between DEDD dysfunction and infertility in women.
A recent study from the University of North Carolina Health Care found that current infertility tests may label many women as infertile who actually get pregnant naturally. The researchers suggest using another hormone, antimullerian hormone (AMH), as a more accurate predictor of fertility.
The study reveals new insights into how the egg interacts with sperm at fertilization, providing potential clues to infertility and potentially leading to non-hormonal contraceptives. The research was conducted by Luca Jovine's team at Karolinska Institutet and has important implications for human reproductive medicine.
A recent study found that women with epilepsy are more likely to experience infertility compared to the general population, particularly those taking multiple epilepsy drugs. The study also revealed that older women and those with less than 10 years of education were more likely to experience infertility.
Researchers discovered a genetic alteration in the NR5A1 gene that disrupts sperm production, accounting for approximately 4% of cases of unexplained male infertility. The study suggests that these mutations may indicate mild abnormalities in testicular development, highlighting the need for further clinical investigation.
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and the International Federation of Fertility Societies are concerned about the lack of uniform clinical standards between countries, putting patients' safety at risk. The societies are developing a 'Code of Practice on Cross Border Reproductive Care' to protect and reassure pat...
A University of Gothenburg study reveals that involuntary childlessness has a significant negative impact on quality-of-life and wellbeing for both men and women who have undergone failed IVF treatment. Men often feel frustrated by unknown causes of infertility, while women experience bereavement-like emotions.
A study of 15,162 children born after assisted reproduction found a major congenital malformation rate of 4.24%, exceeding previous estimates. The majority of malformations were heart diseases and uro-genital system disorders, with a five times higher rate of angioma in girls.
Michigan State University has established a new Center for Women's Health and Reproduction Research with $6.8 million in funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Asgi T. Fazleabas, a leading infertility researcher, will lead the center and bring expertise to women's reproductive health.
Researchers have identified two proteins, sPLA2-III and group X secreted PLA2 (mGX), as crucial for sperm function and fertility in mice. Mice lacking these proteins had decreased fertility due to impaired sperm maturation and fertilization efficiency.
A new study published in Cancer suggests that infertile men are 2.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer than fertile men. The research found no association between the number of children a man has and his risk for prostate cancer, but rather focused on male fertility as a potential risk factor.
Research links BRCA1 gene mutations to lower ovarian response rates in women undergoing fertility preservation treatments for breast cancer. Women carrying the mutated gene are more likely to experience infertility due to decreased egg production.
A prospective case-control survey found that male factor infertility is associated with a higher rate of medical comorbidities, as objectively scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index. The study suggests that men with male factor infertility may be less healthy than age-comparable fertile men, regardless of their underlying causes.
Researchers have successfully transformed human embryonic stem cells into germ cells, a breakthrough that could help identify causes of unexplained infertility and birth defects. The discovery opens new avenues for research and may lead to the development of diagnostic tools to pinpoint genetic changes underlying infertility.
A Tel Aviv University study suggests that men's bodies have become 'reproductive antagonists', producing aggressive sperm to compete with women's bodies, which defend against them. This evolutionary arms race may be contributing to high rates of unexplained infertility.
The study found that an accelerated path to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) can offer a shorter time to pregnancy and cost savings. Couples who followed the new shortened protocol had a higher success rate and lower risk of multiple births.
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology reports an estimated 219,000 to 246,000 babies born through assisted reproductive technology (ART) globally each year. ART procedures have increased by over 25% in two years, with significant variations in availability and quality between countries.
Infertility has serious consequences for women in Nigeria, particularly those with patrilineal descent structures. In Amakiri, infertile women face marginal living conditions and limited social status.