56% of the population are carriers of genetic mutations susceptible of causing major hereditary diseases, according to a study published in the journal Human Mutation. The research, which has been awarded by the Spanish Fertility Society, proposes to offer, systematically, genetic screening tests for recessive mutations in reproductive medicine units.
Category: Fertility Clock Headlines
W.H.O. Tells People in 46 Countries to Delay Pregnancy Because of Zika
The World Health Organization has told people living in areas with active transmission of the Zika virus that they should consider delaying pregnancy, presumably until further notice. The guidance affects people in 46 countries, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean — often heavily Catholic areas that frown upon any method of contraception more advanced than the rhythm method.
Female Reproductive Tract Not a Sterile Environment, Study Finds
Researchers have found bacteria in women’s ovaries and fallopian tubes — locations previously believed to be sterile. The investigators also discovered that women with ovarian cancer have a different bacterial population in these locations than women without the cancer. This finding raises the question of whether bacteria in the upper reproductive tract might play a role in the development or progression of ovarian cancer.
Improving Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy
In a study published today (June 8) in Nature, researchers at Newcastle University in the U.K. and their colleagues report having improved upon the pronuclear transfer technique, increasing the number of viable zygotes produced and reducing the number of defective mitochondria transferred along with nuclear DNA to the donor cell.
Zika Virus Forces Tough Choices on Couples Seeking Fertility Treatment
The day after she returned from her destination wedding in Puerto Rico, Elizabeth Agraz, of Los Angeles, received some unexpected news at a fertility appointment: Due to concerns about the Zika virus, she would have to delay her long-awaited pregnancy at least two more months.
Olympic Gold Medalist , Wary of Zika, Will Freeze His Sperm Before Rio Games
For months, the question bugging Olympic athletes hasn’t been about what they’re doing on the field or track, or in the pool or gym, in preparation of this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. It’s whether they’re going to attend the Brazil-hosted Games at all. There is good reason, too. With the mosquito-spread Zika sweeping across the Americas, spending two weeks near the epicenter of the virus probably doesn’t sound too appealing. But, hey, it is the Olympics. Which is why athletes are doing what they must to ensure their health and the health of their family members — current and future, apparently. Worried about the potential effects of the virus, Britain’s Greg Rutherford is taking an unorthodox measure in that regard. He will be freezing a sample of his sperm before traveling to Brazil.
B.C. Families Sue U.S. Sperm Bank After ‘Genius’ Donor Turns Out to be Felon with Mental Health Issues
A sperm donor billed as a genius turned out to be a convicted felon with serious mental health problems, according to lawsuits filed in B.C. Supreme Court.The man who donated sperm to two Vancouver families so that they could have children through artificial insemination was falsely characterized and improperly screened.
Early Puberty in Girls Raises the Risk of Depression
When girls come in for their physical exams, one of the questions I routinely ask is “Do you get your period?” I try to ask before I expect the answer to be yes, so that if a girl doesn’t seem to know about the changes of puberty that lie ahead, I can encourage her to talk about them with her mother, and offer to help answer questions. And I often point out that even those who have not yet embarked on puberty themselves are likely to have classmates who are going through these changes, so, again, it’s important to let kids know that their questions are welcome, and will be answered accurately.
The Ethics Of Posthumous Sperm Retrieval
After an initial refusal, a French court recently granted Mariana Gomez-Turri’s request to use her dead husband’s sperm, which he’d frozen while the two lived in Paris, just before he started chemotherapy.
After Contact from 2 Offspring, Sperm Donor Wants to Say ‘No More
Twenty years ago, I was a sperm donor. My motivation then was entirely financial — I was paid the kingly sum of $50/donation. Since then, I’ve rarely given it a thought. A year ago, I received word that one of my offspring, a woman of 19, wanted to get in touch with me. My wife gave me her blessing. So I did, and it turned out to be a wonderful thing.