BACKGROUND

In primate placenta, extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invades maternal tissue in temporally- and spatially-regulated fashions. We previously identified a novel placenta-specific cell-surface aminopeptidase, laeverin/aminopeptidase Q, which is expressed on EVT-lineage cells in the fetal membrane. Laeverin possesses a peptide-binding site that is evolutionally unique to primates, suggesting possible involvement of laeverin in a primate-specific phenomenon during placentation. Thus, this study was designed to elucidate the molecular characteristics and physiological roles of laeverin in human EVT.

METHODS

Placental tissues of various developmental stages were subjected to immunostaining and western blotting. Effects of siRNA and a soluble form of recombinant laeverin on EVT cells isolated from primary villous explant cultures were examined using Matrigel invasion assays and cell proliferation assays.

RESULTS

Laeverin was specifically immunolocalized to HLA-G-positive EVT in placentas from early and term pregnancy. In primary villous explant cultures, laeverin expression was induced on the cell surface of the outgrowing EVT. In western blotting, laeverin protein was detected as two distinct bands at 130 and 160 kDa along with a broad band ranging from 200 to 270 kDa. De-glycosylation treatment showed that these native laeverin isotypes are N-linked glycoproteins sharing a common 115-kDa core protein. In invasion assays, the reduction of laeverin expression by siRNA suppressed migration of the isolated EVT, while the soluble form of recombinant laeverin enhanced its migration.

CONCLUSIONS

Laeverin is a specific cell-surface marker for human EVT and plays a regulatory role in EVT migration.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Approximately 80% of childhood cancers can now be cured but a side effect of treatment results in about one-third of the surviving boys being infertile or severely subfertile when they reach reproductive age. Currently, more than 1 in 5000 men of reproductive age who are childhood cancer survivors suffer from this serious quality of life problem. It is possible to obtain a testicular biopsy before treatment to preserve the spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) of the male by cryopreservation, but the results of long-term storage of SSCs on their subsequent functional ability to generate normal offspring has not been examined in any mammalian species. Moreover, it will be necessary to increase the number of these cryopreserved SSCs to remove any contaminating malignant cells and assure regeneration of spermatogenesis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this report, we demonstrate that long-term cryopreservation (>14 years) of testis cells from mouse, rat, rabbit and baboon safeguards SSC viability, and that these cells can colonize the seminiferous tubules of recipient testes. Moreover, mouse and rat SSCs can be cultured and re-establish complete spermatogenesis, and fertile mouse progeny without apparent genetic or epigenetic errors were generated by the sperm produced.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide a platform for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys undergoing gonadotoxic treatments.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Gestational iron-deficiency anaemia has adverse pregnancy outcomes. Antenatal iron supplementation can be beneficial in anaemic women, but the effects in non-anaemic women are controversial. This observational study assessed the relationship of maternal iron stores (depleted or non-depleted) at gestational Weeks 8–12 with birthweight, in non-anaemic pregnant women following the guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Spain.

METHODS

Healthy, non-anaemic pregnant women (n = 205) were studied. At the first antenatal visit, a general clinical assessment was conducted, and basal blood taken. Women were classified as having non-depleted or depleted iron stores [serum ferritin (SF) < 12 µg/l)]. Daily antenatal iron supplements (48 mg on average) were started at 17 (range: 16–18) weeks. Blood haemoglobin, SF and transferrin saturation (TS) were measured in each trimester.

RESULTS

Of the study sample, 20, 54 and 66% had SF < 12 µg/l in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. The prevalence of iron-depletion (SF < 12 µg/l) and iron-deficiency (SF < 12 µg/l and TS < 16%) was greater during the entire pregnancy in women with initial iron depletion versus no depletion (81.6 and 73.7% versus 61.7 and 55.4%, respectively, in the third trimester, P < 0.05). Women with initial iron-depletion delivered babies weighing on average 192 g less than that with initial iron stores, after adjusting for confounding variables (P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

Beginning pregnancy with non-depleted iron stores is beneficial for the maternal iron status during pregnancy and infant birthweight. These findings reaffirm the importance of health promotion to ensure that women have adequate iron stores prior to, or early in, pregnancy when supplemented with moderate daily iron doses.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

In the ever changing field of reproductive medicine, clinics are regularly confronted with requests for novel variants of medically assisted reproduction. Particularly third-party (assisted) reproduction, which requires the involvement of an oocyte or sperm donor, is ethically and psychologically complex due to the parties involved, but nevertheless widely accepted. A particular type of third party reproduction concerns intrafamilial medically assisted reproduction (IMAR), where the donor is a family member of the recipients. In IMAR, some of the ethical and psychological issues associated with third party reproduction are intensified. The precise impact and consequences, however, remain speculative due to the lack of information regarding IMAR. Both the ESHRE Task Force on Ethics and Law and the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority have recently highlighted the lack of information and the need for debate. In order to contribute to the discussion and knowledge on IMAR, we present a couple that recently visited our academic clinic with a request for a very particular variant of IMAR: first degree, intergenerational father-to-son sperm donation. As our academic hospital did not have experience with this variant of IMAR, our interdisciplinary Ethics Committee for Reproductive Medicine extensively discussed the request, resulting in an advisory report on the ethics of IMAR in general and father-to-son sperm donation in particular. Here, we will first present the andrological and social background of the couple and subsequently discuss the ethical considerations that led to the approval of their request. We will conclude the paper with recommendations for a morally sound practice of IMAR.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

As elective transfer of a single embryo (eSET) becomes increasingly accepted, the need to improve implantation rates becomes crucial. Selecting the most competent embryo therefore constitutes a major challenge in assisted reproductive technology. Embryo morphology and developmental stage at given time points are closely correlated with developmental competence and assessment of morphological parameters at discrete inspection points thus remains the preferred way of evaluating embryonic potential. Lately, more attention has been given to the assessment of dynamic embryo development as a tool for evaluating embryonic potential. The introduction of time-lapse equipment approved for use on human embryos offers novel clinical opportunities for continuous monitoring of embryos, enabling flexible evaluation of known morphological parameters and potentially introducing new dynamic markers of viability. Due to lack of larger, randomized clinical studies it remains to be elucidated whether embryo selection using dynamic parameters improves clinical outcome and which parameters are of significance. Before such randomized controlled studies are organized, the most promising parameters to evaluate must be identified. This mini-review summarizes the current knowledge about dynamic markers of viability and discusses the potential clinical role of time-lapse analysis in embryo assessment and selection.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to calculate costs and health-related quality of life of women with endometriosis-associated symptoms treated in referral centres.

METHODS

A prospective, multi-centre, questionnaire-based survey measured costs and quality of life in ambulatory care and in 12 tertiary care centres in 10 countries. The study enrolled women with a diagnosis of endometriosis and with at least one centre-specific contact related to endometriosis-associated symptoms in 2008. The main outcome measures were health care costs, costs of productivity loss, total costs and quality-adjusted life years. Predictors of costs were identified using regression analysis.

RESULTS

Data analysis of 909 women demonstrated that the average annual total cost per woman was 9579 (95% confidence interval 8559–10 599). Costs of productivity loss of 6298 per woman were double the health care costs of 3113 per woman. Health care costs were mainly due to surgery (29%), monitoring tests (19%) and hospitalization (18%) and physician visits (16%). Endometriosis-associated symptoms generated 0.809 quality-adjusted life years per woman. Decreased quality of life was the most important predictor of direct health care and total costs. Costs were greater with increasing severity of endometriosis, presence of pelvic pain, presence of infertility and a higher number of years since diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study invited women to report resource use based on endometriosis-associated symptoms only, rather than drawing on a control population of women without endometriosis. Our study showed that the economic burden associated with endometriosis treated in referral centres is high and is similar to other chronic diseases (diabetes, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis). It arises predominantly from productivity loss, and is predicted by decreased quality of life.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Mounting evidence shows that nuclear factor-B (NF-B) plays an important role in endometriosis. We therefore evaluated the therapeutic potential of andrographolide, an NF-B inhibitor.

METHODS

Primary cell cultures were performed using ectopic endometrial tissue specimens and their homologous eutopic endometrial specimens from 16 women with endometriosis, as well as control samples from 4 women without endometriosis. Andrographolide was evaluated for an effect on cell proliferation and cell cycle, DNA-binding activity of NF-B and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tissue factor (TF). In a rat model of endometriosis, andrographolide treatment was evaluated for an effect on lesion size, hotplate response latency and expression of phosphorylated p50 and p65, COX-2 and nerve growth factor (NGF) in ectopic endometrium.

RESULTS

Andrographolide dose dependently suppressed proliferation and cell cycle progression, attenuated DNA-binding activity of NF-B in endometriotic stromal cells and inhibited COX-2 and TF expression. In the rat experiment, induced endometriosis resulted in reduced response latency. Andrographolide treatment significantly reduced lesion size in a dose-dependent manner and significantly increased response latency. Andrographolide treatment also significantly reduced immunoreactivity of COX-2, phosphorylated p50 and p65, and NGF in ectopic endometrium.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with andrographolide significantly suppresses the growth of ectopic endometrium in vitro and in vivo, and results in a significant improvement in generalized hyperalgesia in rats with induced endometriosis. Therefore, andrographolide may be cytoreductive and may relieve pain symptoms in women with endometriosis. With excellent safety and cost profiles, andrographolide could be a promising therapeutic agent for endometriosis.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis is a chronic and degenerative disease developing typically in the elderly; nonetheless, a condition of accelerated atherosclerosis can be observed precociously in the presence of some diseases. Endometriosis, a chronic benign gynecological disorder, shows some characteristics, such as oxidative stress, systemic inflammation and a pro-atherogenic lipid profile, which could increase the risk of developing accelerated atherosclerosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in young European women with endometriosis.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 37 women with endometriosis and 31 control subjects. The presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was investigated by ultrasound evaluation of common carotid intima-media thickness (ccIMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD); in addition, serum levels of lipids, inflammatory and coagulation parameters, as well as markers of endothelial inflammation and activation, were determined.

RESULTS

Women with endometriosis showed significantly lower values of FMD compared with controls [mean difference: –4.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): –6.52, –2.73; P < 0.001], whereas no significant differences in ccIMT values were found between the two groups. As regards markers of endothelial inflammation and activation, women with endometriosis had significantly higher values of inter-cellular adhesion molecule 1 (P < 0.001), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (P < 0.001), E-selectin (P < 0.001), von Willebrand factor (P = 0.004) and ristocetin cofactor (P = 0.001) compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that women with endometriosis have more subclinical atherosclerosis, resulting in a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disorders. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that endothelial dysfunction can occur in the absence of structural atherosclerotic changes; its evaluation might be helpful in young women with endometriosis.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic segmental resection as a treatment for intestinal endometriosis can be supported by favorable clinical outcomes, but carries a high risk of major complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate histopathological patterns of colorectal endometriosis and investigate potential relationships between histological findings and clinical data.

METHODS

We consecutively included 47 patients treated with laparoscopic segmental resection because of symptomatic colorectal endometriosis. All patients underwent follow-up for a median of 18 months (range: 6–35). We examined the histological patterns of colorectal endometriosis and evaluated the relationships between histological findings (satellite lesions, positive margins and vertical infiltration) and clinical outcomes (incidence of recurrence, quality of life and symptom improvement). Moreover, we observed if satellite lesions could influence preoperative scores of the short form-36 health survey (SF-36) questionnaire and visual analogue score (VAS) for pain symptoms.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in terms of anatomical and pain recurrences, pain symptoms and quality of life improvement among patients with or without positive margins, satellite lesions and different degrees of vertical infiltration (P > 0.05). Furthermore, women with or without satellite lesions were no different in terms of preoperative VAS of pain symptoms and SF-36 scores (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of satellite lesions or positive resection margins does not seem to influence clinical outcomes of segmental colorectal resection. Similarly, satellite lesions do not appear to have a major role in determining preoperative clinical presentation. These results may be useful to reconsider the surgical strategy for bowel endometriosis.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Given the current lack of clarity in the published literature, we performed a systematic review of the literature to determine the exact strength of the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometrial cancer (EC).

METHODS

All published studies on the association between PCOS and EC identified through MEDLINE (1966–April 2011), EMBASE (1980–April 2011) and Cochrane (1998–April 2011). Original data were abstracted where available and summarized on a separate Microsoft Excel (2007) database for analysis. A total of 14 studies comparative and non-comparative were identified and included.

RESULTS

The non-comparative and comparative data suggested that women with PCOS were more likely to develop EC. A meta-analyses of five comparative studies showed an increased risk of EC in women with an odds ratio of 2.89 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.52–5.48.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with PCOS are about three times more likely to develop EC compared with women without it. This translates into a 9% lifetime risk of EC in Caucasian women with PCOS compared with 3% in women without it. Although most women (91%) with PCOS will not develop endometrial cancer, our study has shown that they are more likely at increased risk. More studies are required to clarify the exact molecular mechanisms, determine the best way of screening and preventing disease progression.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Periodontal disease (PD) is a common chronic infectious and inflammatory disease of the gums and its supporting tissues, associated with several adverse health outcomes including significant obstetric consequences. PD is treatable with good oral hygiene and dental care, and consequently is a modifiable variable that may lead to improvements in adult health. To date, there are no published studies describing the influence of PD on a woman's time to conceive (TTC).

METHODS

This study formed part of the Smile study, which was a multi-centre randomized controlled trial of treatment for PD in mid-pregnancy. PD was defined as the presence of pockets ≥4-mm deep at ≥12 probing sites in fully erupted teeth. At the time of recruitment, women were asked about their TTC and whether they had required fertility treatment.

RESULTS

Of 3737 pregnant women recruited to the study, information was available from 3416 spontaneous conceptions, including 1014 cases with PD (29.7%). Planned pregnancies accounted for 1956 of the 3416 pregnancies available for study. For 146 women, the TTC was >12 months and PD was more prevalent in this group (34.9% versus 25.7%, P = 0.015). The mean TTC in women with PD was 7.1 months [confidence interval (CI): 5.7–8.6] compared with 5.0 months (CI: 4.4–5.5, P = 0.019) in those without PD. PD was present in 23.8% of Caucasian women and 41.4% of non-Caucasian women. Compared with Caucasian women without PD, non-Caucasian women with PD had an increased likelihood of TTC >12 months [13.9% versus 6.2%, odds ratio (OR): 2.88 (CI: 1.62–5.12), P < 0.001], but there was no difference for Caucasians with PD (8.6% versus 6.2%, OR: 1.15, CI: 0.74–1.79, P = 0.534). Other simultaneous predictors of TTC >1 year included age, BMI >25 and smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

In the non-Caucasian population, PD was associated with an increased TTC, but whether this is related to PD, or some other factor also present within this population, should be further investigated.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

There is increasing use of cryopreservation in IVF. This study compared singletons born after cryopreservation with singletons born after fresh IVF cycles and singletons born to women in the general population.

METHODS

Data were collected for Swedish IVF treatments during the years 2002–2006. All singletons from single embryo transfer (SET) and double embryo transfer (DET) after cryopreserved (n = 2348) and fresh cycles (n = 8944) were included and cross-linked with the Swedish Medical Birth Registry and compared with all singletons born after spontaneous conception (n = 571 914). Main outcomes were preterm and very preterm birth and low and very low birthweight (VLBW). Other outcomes were small for gestational age, large for gestational age (LGA), perinatal mortality and maternal outcomes.

RESULTS

Singletons from cryopreserved SET/DET or cryopreserved SET had increased rates of extreme preterm birth compared with singletons from the general population. A lower rate of LBW was found for cryopreserved SET/DET singletons compared with singletons from fresh cycles; however, a higher rate of perinatal mortality was detected. The rates of LGA and macrosomia were increased for cryopreserved SET/DET singletons when compared with those from fresh cycles and the general population. For maternal outcomes, a higher rate of pre-eclampsia was noted for pregnancies from cryopreserved cycles compared with those from fresh cycles or the general population, but the rate of placenta praevia was lower in pregnancies from cryopreserved cycles compared with those from fresh cycles.

CONCLUSIONS

The obstetric outcome of singletons after cryopreservation was slightly poorer when compared with the general population. In comparison with fresh cycles, the outcome varied. The finding of an increased rate of LGA after cryopreservation requires further study.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

The endometrial tuberculosis (TB) PCR test is now commonly employed for the diagnosis of female genital TB, a common cause of infertility in India. Although treatment in the absence of demonstrable tubal damage may be of doubtful benefit to fertility, the presence of mycobacterial DNA demonstrated by a positive PCR indicates infection by tubercle bacilli causing sub-clinical or latent disease potentially responsible for future clinical manifestations. This study was undertaken to assess the outcome of infertility management following early anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) based only on a positive endometrial TB-PCR test.

METHODS

This was an intervention study conducted at an IVF center in northern India in 443 infertile women of whom 169 (38.15%) were found to have positive TB-PCR (Group I), while 274 (61.85%) had negative Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-PCR (Group II). Infertile women of <40 years of age, without any evidence of tubo-peritoneal or endometrial involvement, who underwent endometrial biopsy for the detection of MTB by PCR, were included. All the TB-PCR positive women were administered standard 6-month anti-tubercular chemotherapy. Additional treatment with assisted reproduction techniques was offered in the case of failure of spontaneous pregnancy after completion of ATT.

RESULTS

There were no statistical differences in the two groups in the overall pregnancy rate, 101 (59.8%) versus 167 (60.9%). In Group I, 48 (92.3%) spontaneous conceptions occurred within the first 12 months, i.e. during the period of ATT administration or within 6 months of treatment completion; in Group II, the occurrence of spontaneous conceptions was distributed more evenly in relation to time, i.e. 36 (53.7%) in <12 months as compared with 31 (46.3%) after first year (P< 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Infertile women without tubal or endometrial damage given early anti-tuberculosis treatment based on a positive endometrial TB-PCR test had an excellent chance of early spontaneous conception.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

The use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist for triggering final oocyte maturation and ovulation can reduce ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in high-risk patients. LH levels post-trigger with GnRH agonist might be correlated with oocyte yield and maturity. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between serum LH level at 12-h post-trigger and oocyte yield, maturity and fertilization rate in patients at high risk of OHSS and therefore who were treated with a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol in which final oocyte maturation was triggered with GnRH agonist.

METHODS

In a prospective cohort study, 91 patients at high risk of OHSS were treated with a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol and divided into six groups according to their serum LH levels at 12-h after GnRH agonist administration: ≤15.0, 15.1–30.0, 30.1–45.0, 45.1–60.0, 60.1–75.0 and >75.0 IU/l. The oocyte yield, maturity, fertilization rate and clinical outcomes for each LH interval were analyzed.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant reduction in oocyte yield with a concentration of serum LH ≤15.0 IU/l (P < 0.05), whereas no statistically significant differences in the oocyte maturity and fertilization rate among the six groups (P > 0.05) were seen. Only 5 out of 91 patients (5.5%) had a serum LH ≤15.0 IU/l at 12-h post-trigger with GnRH agonist. In addition, no statistically significant difference was seen regarding high-quality embryos, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and early miscarriage between patients with LH ≤15.0 IU/l and >15.0 IU/l (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum LH level at 12-h post-trigger with GnRHa <15.0 IU/l is associated with a dramatically lower oocyte yield but not with the oocyte maturity and fertilization rate. Serum LH levels post-trigger with GnRH agonist do not affect clinical outcomes.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

In the USA, the postponement of childbearing reflects contemporary social norms of delaying marriage, pursing educational goals and securing economic stability prior to attempting conception. Although university students are more likely to delay childbearing, it is unclear to what extent they are aware of age-related fertility decline. The current study is the first of its kind to assess fertility awareness and parenting attitudes of American undergraduate university students.

METHODS

Two-hundred forty-six randomly selected undergraduate university students (138 females and 108 males) completed an online self-report survey adapted from the Swedish Fertility Awareness Questionnaire. Students were evenly distributed between the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes with a mean age of 20.4 years.

RESULTS

Participants wanted to have their first and last child within the window of a woman's fertility. However, participants demonstrated a lack of fertility awareness by vastly overestimating the age at which women experience declines in fertility, the likelihood of pregnancy following unprotected intercourse and the chances that IVF treatments would be successful in the case of infertility. Nearly 9 in 10 participants want to have children in the future and viewed parenthood as a highly important aspect of their future lives.

CONCLUSIONS

Delaying childbearing based on incorrect perceptions of female fertility could lead to involuntary childlessness. Education regarding fertility issues is necessary to help men and women make informed reproductive decisions that are based on accurate information rather than incorrect perceptions.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Obesity and related conditions, notably subfertility, are increasingly prevalent. Paternal influences are known to influence offspring health outcome, but the impact of paternal obesity and subfertility on the reproductive health of subsequent generations has been overlooked.

METHODS

A high-fat diet (HFD) was used to induce obesity but not diabetes in male C57Bl6 mice, which were subsequently mated to normal-weight females. First-generation offspring were raised on a control diet and their gametes were investigated for signs of subfertility. Second-generation offspring were generated from both first generation sexes and their gametes were similarly assessed.

RESULTS

We demonstrate a HFD-induced paternal initiation of subfertility in both male and female offspring of two generations of mice. Furthermore, we have shown that diminished reproductive and gamete functions are transmitted through the first generation paternal line to both sexes of the second generation and via the first generation maternal line to second-generation males. Our previous findings that founder male obesity alters the epigenome of sperm, could provide a basis for the developmental programming of subfertility in subsequent generations.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first observation of paternal transmission of diminished reproductive health to future generations and could have significant implications for the transgenerational amplification of subfertility observed worldwide in humans.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Given the high value placed on children in sub-Saharan Africa, previous research suggests that infertility increases the risk of psychological distress and marital conflict, encourages risky sexual behavior and deprives infertile individuals and couples of an important source of economic and social capital. This paper explores the implications of infertility for women in Ghana, West Africa.

METHODS

Semi-structured interview data collected from 107 women (aged 21–48 years, mean 33 years) seeking treatment in gynecological and obstetric clinics in Accra, Ghana, are analyzed. Based on iterative open coding of the interviews, the focus of the analysis is on mental health, marital instability, social interaction and gendered experiences.

RESULTS

Infertile women report facing severe social stigma, marital strain and a range of mental health difficulties. Many women feel that they shoulder a disproportionate share of the blame for infertility and, by extension, face greater social consequences than male partners for difficulties conceiving. Women who do not self-identify as infertile corroborate these findings, asserting that the social consequences of infertility are severe, particularly for women.

CONCLUSIONS

Infertility in Ghana has important consequences for social interactions, marital stability and mental health. These consequences are not perceived to be shared equally by Ghanaian men.

Source:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

The first human egg cells that have been grown entirely in the laboratory from stem cells could be fertilised later this year in a development that will revolutionise fertility treatment and might even lead to a reversal of the menopause in older women.

Scientists are about to request a licence from the UK fertility watchdog to fertilise the eggs as part of a series of tests to generate an unlimited supply of human eggs, a breakthrough that could help infertile women to have babies as well as making women as fertile in later life as men.

Producing human eggs from stem cells would also open up the possibility of replenishing the ovaries of older women so that they do not suffer the age-related health problems associated with the menopause, from osteoporosis to heart disease.

Some scientists are even suggesting the possibility of producing an elixir of youth for women, where the menopause is eradicated and older women will retain the health they enjoyed when younger.

Researchers at Edinburgh University are working with a team from Harvard Medical School in Boston to be the first in the world to produce mature human eggs from stem cells isolated from human ovarian tissue.

Until now, it has only been possible to isolate a relatively small number of mature human egg cells directly from the ovaries of women who have been stimulated with hormones. This technical limitation has led to an acute shortage of human eggs, or oocycts, for IVF treatment as well as scientific research.

The scientists want to fertilise the laboratory-grown egg cells with human sperm to prove that they are viable. Any resulting embryos will be studied for up to 14 days - the legal limit - to see if they are normal.

These early embryos will not be transplanted into a woman's womb because they will be deemed experimental material, but will either be frozen or allowed to perish.

Evelyn Telfer, a reproductive biologist at Edinburgh University, has already informally approached the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) with a view to submitting a formal licence application within the next few weeks.

We hope to apply for a research license to do the fertilisation of the in vitro grown oocytes within the IVF unit at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Dr Telfer said.

Follow this link:
Scientists rewrite rules of human reproduction

Posted: Apr. 16, 2012 | 1:59 a.m.

Sometimes, life throws things at you. What you decide to do with them can mean nothing.

Or it can mean everything.

Like when Alyssa Crittenden was an undergraduate and she took an introduction to evolution class at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Whoa. Blew. Her. Away.

"It changed my life," said Crittenden, now an anthropology professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas whose most recent study is shaking up the way anthropologists think about the evolution of the human diet.

After that first class threw her a curve ball, Crittenden handled it like this: She gave up on being a doctor, she changed her major, she went on to get a doctorate degree, she decided to study the Hazda people in east Africa, and she noticed something kind-of odd living out there in the bush.

The Hazda simply love honey.

Yes, you're saying right now, of course they love honey. Who doesn't love honey? It's yummy!

Well, yes. But. Would you risk your life to get it?

See the article here:
Honey's Effects On Human Evolution Excite Unlv Anthropologist

HUMANS aren't the only primate to risk the reproductive repercussions of a diet rich in oestrogen-like compounds. Gorillas and colobus monkeys both eat large quantities of plants containing the chemicals, which can disrupt reproduction but have been shown to protect against some cancers.

Phyto-oestrogens are plant chemicals that function like the female sex hormone. In foods like soy and red clover they may protect us from oestrogen-dependent cancers - a group that includes breast and colorectal cancers.

The sex hormone mimics may have a downside, though, says Katharine Milton of the University of California, Berkeley. "Oestrogens are potent chemicals; if you're taking them in excessive amounts, this can interfere with your reproductive physiology."

The potential health effects of phyto-oestrogens are often studied, but no one has looked at whether humans are the only primates with a taste for plants containing the chemicals, says Michael Wasserman of McGill University in Montreal, Canada. If other primates eat them, it might suggest that we have evolved to cope with them in small doses.

Wasserman, Milton and colleagues studied the diets of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei) and red colobus monkeys (Procolobus rufomitratus) in a national park in Uganda. They found that 10.6 per cent of plants in the colobus diet and 8.8 per cent of those in the gorilla diet contained phyto-oestrogens (American Journal of Physical Anthropology, DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22045).

Interest in how primates respond to oestrogen-disruptors has been sparked by the rising levels of synthetic oestrogenic chemicals in our environment, such as bisphenol A - although Wasserman cautions that these synthetic forms might act differently from the natural versions.

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Other primates share human taste for plant oestrogens