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UrduA new $3.4 million award to the Wayne State University School of Medicine from the National Institutes of Health aims to overcome the limitations of conventional semen analyses by examining mitochondrial DNA levels in sperm as a novel biomarker of sperm fitness.
Tag: Infertility
Endometriosis Awareness Month: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
It is one of the most common and painful disorders, affecting more than 6 million women in the United States. Endometriosis is often difficult to diagnose and effectively treat. But Cedars-Sinai experts find patients can now benefit from minimally invasive procedures, medications and integrative medicine.
Endocrine Society supports federal legislation protecting IVF access
The Endocrine Society is calling for members of Congress to support federal legislation protecting access to in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Bar-Ilan University researchers produce “laboratory testicles”
Dr. Nitzan Gonen, a Bar-Ilan University researcher specializing in the process of fetal sex determination, together with research students Aviya Stopel, Cheli Lev and Stav Dahari, has succeeded in creating “laboratory testicles” that may significantly advance understanding of the mechanisms involved in sex determination and provide solutions for male infertility, which affects one in 12 men worldwide.
Male fertility gene discovery reveals path to success for sperm
The discovery of a pair of genes that work in perfect harmony to protect male fertility, could provide new insights into some unexplained cases of the most severe form of infertility, research suggests.
Possible cause of male infertility
Mature spermatozoa are characterized by an head, midpiece and a long tail for locomotion. Now, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Transdisciplinary Research Unit “Life & Health” at the University of Bonn have found that a loss of the structural protein ACTL7B blocks spermatogenesis in male mice.
Overweight boys more likely to be infertile men
A new paper in the European Journal of Endocrinology, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that overweight boys tend to have lower testicular volume, putting them at risk for infertility in adulthood.
Endometriosis Awareness Month: One Woman’s Long Journey to Wellness
Many teenagers describe getting sweaty palms or butterflies in their stomach when they begin dating and their hormones are raging. But when Melanie McComb started having amorous feelings, she says it felt like someone was stabbing her in the back.
Researchers discover way to reverse infertility by reducing HDL cholesterol
Houston Methodist scientists reversed infertility in sterile mice by reducing HDL cholesterol with a bacterial protein in a promising development that shows further evidence linking high cholesterol to female infertility. The researchers worked with a protein called serum opacity factor that lowered cholesterol levels by over 40% in three hours.
Department of Defense Grants University of Miami Researcher $3.25 Million to Study Male Infertility after Spinal Cord Injury
Emad Ibrahim, M.D., director of the Male Fertility Research Program at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the clinical andrology lab at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has been awarded a $3.25 million grant by the Department of Defense for a four-year study on the use of an oral medication to treat an infertility issue that affects most men with spinal cord injury.
‘Urology on the Beach’ Conference Highlights Advances in Research and Patient Care
From urologic cancers to female urology to male infertility to kidney stones and sexual health, top urologists from throughout the nation shared their insights and practical tips at “Urology on the Beach,” a conference hosted January 13-15 by the Desai Sethi Urology Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
A Mediterranean diet not only boosts health, but also improves fertility
With an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and legumes, the Mediterranean diet has long been applauded for its multiple health benefits. Now, new research shows that it may also help overcome infertility, making it a non-intrusive and affordable strategy for couples trying to conceive.
Desai Sethi Urology Institute Draws Renowned Urologists, Researchers to Inaugural ‘Urology on the Beach’ Meeting, January 2023
The Desai Sethi Urology Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine will be hosting urology clinicians and scientists from today’s most prominent academic centers at the institute’s inaugural in-person “Urology on the Beach” meeting, January 13 to 15, 2023, at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach.
Scientists discover new protein which helps sperm fuse with an egg and could improve fertility treatments
New MAIA protein, named after the Greek goddess of motherhood, helps to draw the sperm into the egg cytoplasm for completion of fertilisation.
Scientists discover new protein which helps sperm fuse with an egg and could improve fertility treatments
New MAIA protein, named after the Greek goddess of motherhood, helps to draw the sperm into the egg cytoplasm for completion of fertilisation
Podcast: Menstrual cycles influence seizures in most women with epilepsy
The menstrual cycle influences seizure frequency in about two-thirds of women with epilepsy. This podcast episode explores the impact of sex hormones on epilepsy, including why some women experience fertility problems or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Sperm are masters of Tetris packing
If you are moaning once again about your suitcase being far too small as your vacation approaches, you should take human sperm cells as an inspiration.
Suppressed ovarian follicle development in women with obesity may explain reduced fertility
Women with obesity, even those with regular menstrual cycles, have suppressed ovarian follicle development and reduced production of reproductive hormones, which may underlie reduced fertility, according to a new study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2022, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Atlanta, Ga.
Minimally Invasive Treatment Could Allow More Women to Conceive Without Fertility Treatments
A simple diagnostic procedure, followed by an interventional radiology treatment known as fallopian tube recanalization, could allow a high percentage of women struggling with infertility from blocked fallopian tubes to conceive with less involved or, in some cases, no further invasive fertility procedures, according to new research to be presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting.
Struggling to Get Pregnant a Second Time? June is World Infertility Awareness Month
After having your first child, some may think that getting pregnant a second time and growing your family will be easy. But for many couples, this isn’t always the case. According to The Center for Disease Control (CDC) as many…
Frozen Eggs More Efficient Option than IVF for Women Starting Families Later
Largest U.S. study shows 15 years of frozen egg thaw outcomes for women facing age-related fertility decline.
Risk of breast cancer in males may be associated with male infertility
The risk of invasive breast cancer in men may be associated with self-reported infertility in the male partner finds a study published in the open-access journal Breast Cancer Research.
Nurses Week: Cancer Survivor Karla Lopez, RN, Goes Above and Beyond
Karla Lopez was nearing the end of her first year of nursing school when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It was a scary setback, but she wouldn’t let it stop her. “I wanted to become an amazing nurse,” she said, “so I fought through and … here I am a pediatric nurse.” Video Available.
Experts Provide Hope and Treatment Options during Infertility Awareness Week
Infertility is a common problem affecting millions of Americans. The National Center of Health Statistics estimates 1 in 8 couples of reproductive age has problems conceiving. Infertility refers to the inability to produce a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected…
Chemicals found in everyday products found to be harmful to fertility
Three studies found that a group of chemicals found in many plastic products are harmful to women who are pregnant and to couples planning a pregnancy – yet the products are often not on the list of things to be avoided.
NIH-funded research to address rising male infertility
Male infertility is on the rise, with significant declines in sperm quantity and quality occurring across the human population worldwide in the past two decades. The reason for this is poorly understood, but scientists suspect spermatogenesis – the process by which sperm develops – is a crucial piece in this puzzle.
Google trends, the COVID-19 vaccine and infertility misinformation
Google searches related to infertility and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines increased by 34,900% after a pair of physicians submitted a petition questioning the safety and efficacy data of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine.
Lifestyle program improves fertility for women with obesity, infertility
A lifestyle intervention targeting women with obesity and infertility is more effective in increasing the pregnancy rate compared with fertility treatments, according to a study presented virtually at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting.
How many tests after vasectomy? Guideline update leads to change in practice
A change in evidence-based guidelines for vasectomy may have led to a reduction in the number of follow-up tests to confirm the procedure was successful, reports a study in Urology Practice®, an Official Journal of the American Urological Association (AUA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
UAB establishes uterus transplant program
UAB’s uterus transplant program is the first in the Southeast and fourth in the United States.
Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy Receives Prestigious New Investigator Award from American Society for Reproductive Medicine
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) announced that Ranjith Ramasamy, M.D., associate professor and director of reproductive urology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is the Society’s 2020 Ira And Ester Rosenwaks New Investigator Award recipient.
New Survey Reveals How to Build Stronger Fertility Patient-Provider Relationships
A new survey from pregnantish, co-sponsored by EMD Serono and CooperSurgical, uncovers the key reasons why patients leave their fertility clinics and reveals the importance of doctor-patient relationship-building as a key factor to patient retention.
Genetic mutations may be linked to infertility, early menopause
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis identifies a specific gene’s previously unknown role in fertility. When the gene is missing in fruit flies, roundworms, zebrafish and mice, the animals are infertile or lose their fertility unusually early but appear otherwise healthy. Analyzing genetic data in people, the researchers found an association between mutations in this gene and early menopause.
Rutgers Study Finds Abnormal Puberty Onset Related to Long-Term Health Outcomes, Including Infertility
Puberty is a critical stage in child development and can be a trying time for both children and parents. For some adolescents, however, a delay or early onset of puberty can have long-term negative effects, including future infertility. A study by principle investigate Sally Radovick, MD, explores these implications.
As Evidence of “Hormone Disruptor” Chemical Threats Grows, Experts Call for Stricter Regulation
A growing number of chemicals in pesticides, flame retardants, and certain plastics have been linked to widespread health problems including infertility, diabetes, and impaired brain development, a set of reviews of hundreds of studies concludes.
Human Sperm Stem Cells Grown in Lab, an Early Step Toward Infertility Treatment
By inhibiting the molecule AKT, UC San Diego researchers favor the culture of human spermatogonial stem cells in the lab, a first step toward lab-produced sperm as a treatment for male infertility.
UC San Diego Health (@UCSDHealth) Reproductive Expert Talks about COVID-19 and Fertility
During the novel coronavirus pandemic, many couples have concerns about reproductive consequences related to COVID-19. Experts say when it comes to the impact of infections similar to coronavirus — such as influenza — on female and male fertility, the evidence…
Pregnancy Complications in Assisted Reproduction Linked to a Specific Process
An experimental study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania links a specific procedure – embryo culture – that is part of the assisted reproduction process (ART) to placental abnormalities, risk for preeclampsia, and abnormal fetal growth. The team, led by Marisa Bartolemei, PhD, a professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, published their findings today in Development.
Split Ends: New studies show how DNA crossovers can drive healthy, abnormal sperm, egg cell division
Human genetic diversity wouldn’t be possible without DNA crossovers in egg and sperm cells. Two Harvard Medical School studies provide new insights into how crossovers go right–and wrong, leading to infertility, miscarriages and birth defects.
Study suggests marijuana may impair female fertility
Female eggs exposed to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, have an impaired ability to produce viable embryos, and are significantly less likely to result in a viable pregnancy, according to an animal study accepted for presentation at ENDO 2020, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting. The abstract will be published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Fracking chemical may interfere with male sex hormone receptor
A chemical used in hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, has the potential to interfere with reproductive hormones in men, according to research accepted for presentation at ENDO 2020, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, and publication in a special supplemental section of the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Coronavirus’ Binding Action May Also Cause Kidney Damage and Infertility; Researchers Consider Potential Treatment Paths
Article title: COVID-19 infection and mortality – A physiologist’s perspective enlightening clinical features and plausible interventional strategies Authors: Zaid A. Abassi, Karl Skorecki, Samuel Noam Heyman, Safa Kinaneh, Zaher Armaly From the authors: “Cleavage of the S-glycoprotein by furin and its…
PLOS ONE: Online Program More Than Doubled Pregnancy Rate for Women With Infertility
A PLOS ONE study showed that an online version of Harvard’s Mind/Body Program for Fertility achieved results similar to the in-person counseling program, more than doubling pregnancy rates for women with infertility. Because many women can’t access in-person therapy, the online program fills a gap.
How Sperm Unpack Dad’s Genome so it Can Merge with Mom’s
UC San Diego researchers discover the enzyme SPRK1’s role in reorganizing the paternal genome during the first moments of fertilization — a finding that might help explain infertility cases of unknown cause.
BREAK POINT
At a glance:
Experiments in worms reveal the molecular damage caused by DEHP, a chemical commonly used to make plastics flexible
DEHP interferes with proper cell division during egg formation, leads to excessive DNA breakage, alters chromosome appearance
Abnormalities help explain known link between DEHP and human birth defects, male infertility
If replicated in further research, the insights can help inform regulatory changes, consumer choice
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Zinc, Folic Acid Supplements Fail to Enhance Male Fertility
Zinc and folic acid, a pair of dietary supplements long touted as an effective treatment for male infertility, failed to improve pregnancy rates, sperm counts, and sperm potency in a new study conducted at University of Utah Health and other medical centers in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health. According to the researchers, the finding presents the most definitive evidence to date that so-called fertility supplements do not live up expectations.
Direct-to-Consumer Fertility Tests Confuse and Mislead Consumers, Penn Study Shows
Direct-to-consumer hormone-based “fertility testing” for women is viewed by consumers as both an alternative, empowering tool for family planning, and a confusing and misleading one, according to the results of a new study from Penn Medicine. Findings from the small, first-of-its-kind ethnographic study reinforce the need for consumer education around the purpose and accuracy of the tests, which have seen increasing interest in recent years due to the low cost and widespread availability. The study was published in the journal of Social Science and Medicine.
Study tests potential solution to male infertility
Researchers from the University of Georgia, Emory University School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh have received a $2.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to test a novel method of producing viable sperm cells from skin cells.