Fertility preservation is effective in female cancer patients
The largest study looking at long-term outcomes of fertility preservation in female cancer patients has demonstrated how successful it can be, in particular for breast cancer patients. The research, presented at the virtual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2020 followed 879 young female patients (mean age 33.8) over a period […]
Female hormone in hair could predict response to ovarian stimulation for IVF
The prospect of a non-invasive test of ovarian reserve is a little closer following results from a study showing that measurement of a fertility hormone can be accurately taken from a sample of human hair. Anti-Mullerian hormone — or AMH — has become a key marker in the assessment of how women may respond to […]
Embryo vitrification is safe but longer storage reduces chances of pregnancy success
Freezing and storing embryos during fertility treatment using a technique called vitrification is safe, although women are less likely to become pregnant and have a live birth the longer the embryos are stored, according to new research published in Human Reproduction, one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. There have been concerns that vitrification […]
Sperm alterations caused by obesity are not detected in traditional tests
An analysis of sperm from men who were part of a couple whose partner was undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) identified differences in samples between obese vs nonobese men. Specifically, there were differences in the levels of 27 proteins contained in the sperm. Importantly, all 10 men in these infertile couples (5 obese men and 5 […]
Human eggs use chemical attraction to ‘choose’ sperm
The fluid that surrounds an egg when it is released from the ovary acts as a chemical attractant to sperm, but may also select sperm from certain males over others. Researchers from the universities of Manchester and Stockholm showed that follicular fluid contains chemical signals that improve the chances of successful fertilisation in humans. ‘Human […]
Fresh donor eggs appear to be better for IVF than frozen
Donor eggs provide the best chance of success for many women undergoing IVF. But it wasn’t clear whether using fresh or frozen donor eggs in IVF improves the chances of success, so a team from the University of Colorado and Duke University analyzed nearly 37,000 IVF cycles using donor eggs over three years. According to […]
Placentas from COVID-19-positive pregnant women show injury
Findings suggest abnormal blood flow between mothers and babies in utero The placentas from 16 women who tested positive for COVID-19 while pregnant showed evidence of injury, according to pathological exams completed directly following birth. Αccording to the findings of a new Northwestern Medicine study, the type of injury seen in the placentas shows abnormal […]
Benefits of exercise during pregnancy
Physical fitness is important for pregnant women. It also helps to keep anxiety at bay and maintain the well-being. The more active and fit you are during a normal pregnancy, the easier it will be for you to adapt to your changing shape and weight gain. It will also help you to cope with labour […]
High-resolution 4D imaging of sperm cells moving at top speed could improve IVF treatments
Tel Aviv University (TAU) researchers have developed a safe and accurate 4D imaging method to identify sperm cells moving at a high speed. The new technology could provide doctors with the ability to select the highest-quality sperm for injection into an egg during IVF treatment, potentially increasing a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant and giving […]
What are your chances of having a second IVF baby after fertility treatment for the first?
Women have a good chance of having a second child with the help of fertility treatment after the birth of their first child born this way, according to the first study to investigate this, published today in Human Reproduction, one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. Researchers in Australia calculated that after a woman […]