When you think about the subject of infertility, it is customary to focus on the challenges faced by women who may have to suffer though an expensive and physically demanding process known as In-Vitro Fertilization. This long road entails procedures to harvest the eggs from the ovaries, implant the embryos in the uterus and then carry a stressful pregnancy, frequently complicated by multiple gestations and the risk of miscarriage to term. However, as we all know, it ‘takes two to tango’ and often there is less discussion and awareness of the male side of the equation. Indeed, it is estimated that 40-50% of human infertility can be explained by ‘male factors’, and science is increasingly gaining insight into the requirements necessary for healthy male fertility.
Month: June 2015
Women with Lupus and APS at Risk of Reduced Fertility and Pregnancy Complication
New recommendations by EULAR for women’s health and pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and/or antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) were presented today at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress (EULAR 2015). Developed by expert consensus, these evidence-based recommendations provide crucial guidance to support family planning, assisted reproduction, pregnancy and the menopause in these patients.
Women Should Never Have an Age Limit on Fertility Treatment
A woman’s right to have a baby should be based on medical fact—not social judgment.
Woman Gives Birth After Transplant of Her Own Frozen Ovarian Tissue
Over a decade ago, a bone marrow transplant left a Belgian girl infertile. Now, a transplant of her own frozen ovarian tissue has helped her get pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby boy.
Auburn-based Company Works to Encourage Those Struggling with Infertility
According to the CDC, 6.7 million women in the United States are currently undergoing treatment for infertility. It’s something that affects about 1 in 8 couples, but it’s often a silent struggle. One company in Auburn is working to change that by opening up the conversation and providing an encouraging message of hope.
Researchers Identify Unique Marker on Mom’s Chromosomes in Early Embryo
Researchers in the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center are visually capturing the first process of chromosome alignment and separation at the beginning of mouse development. The findings could lead to answers to questions concerning the mechanisms leading to birth defects and chromosome instability in cancer cells.
Revisiting a Landmark Birth Control Ruling, 50 Years Later
Fifty years ago, on June 7, 1965, the Supreme Court reached a landmark decision on married couples’ “right to privacy” that effectively legalized the use of contraception.
Many African-American Women ‘Silent and Alone’ with Infertility
Researchers from the University of Michigan exploring the experiences of African-American women coping with infertility have found that many experience infertility in silence and isolation from friends and family.
FDA Panel Backs Female Libido Pill With Safety Conditions
The makers of a pill intended to boost sexual desire in women will try again this week to persuade regulators that the drug warrants approval after two rejections.
First X-Chromosome Related Cause of Male Infertility Identified
The known causes of male infertility not due to physical obstruction are usually because of sex-chromosome defects, such as deletions of the Y chromosome or duplication of the entire X chromosome in Klinefelter syndrome. Eight times out of 10, conventional genetic testing doesn’t reveal a chromosomal problem and infertility is considered idiopathic. We wanted to try to find other genetic reasons for the problem.