RxPG News : Gynaecology

Hormone replacement therapy linked to cancer recurrence

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:32:07 PST

London, March 26 - Hormone replacement therapy - for pre and post menopausal women increases the chances of recurrence in breast cancer survivors, according to a study.

A new method to avoid multiple IVF pregnancies

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:03:51 PST

New York, March 16 - In a new study, scientists have identified genetic markers that allow the selection of eggs with the best chance of successful pregnancy after in vitro fertilisation -.

Fertility in developing countries: words into action

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

For almost 30 years - since the world's first test-tube baby was born in July 1978 - the benefits of modern infertility treatments have been largely confined to couples in developed countries. There, we have seen more than 3 million babies born as a result of IVF and, in some countries, as many as 4 per cent of all babies born conceived by modern fertility techniques.

Oregon study raises questions on synthetic progestins

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

The widely used synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) decreased endothelial function in premenopausal women in a study done at the University of Oregon. The finding, researchers said, raises concerns about long-term effects of MPA and possibly other synthetic hormones on vascular health in young women.

WHI follow-up study: Risks of long-term hormone therapy continue to outweigh benefits

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

New results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) confirm that the health risks of long-term use of combination (estrogen plus progestin) hormone therapy in healthy, postmenopausal women persist even a few years after stopping the drugs and clearly outweigh the benefits. Researchers report that about three years after women stopped taking combination hormone therapy, many of the health effects of hormones such as increased risk of heart disease are diminished, but overall risks, including risks of stroke, blood clots, and cancer, remain high. The WHI is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Teenage fathers are more likely to have babies affected by birth problems

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:00:00 PST

Teenage fathers are at increased risk of having babies born with birth problems ranging from pre-term delivery or low birth weight, through to death in or near to the time of delivery, according to new research published on(Thursday 7 February).

Congenital heart defects increasing among IVF twins

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:30:00 PST

The prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) among in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies was similar to that of the general population, but there is an increasing risk of CHD among twins resulting from IVF, according to research by Yale School of Medicine researchers.

Wild chimpanzees appear not to regularly experience menopause

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- A pioneering study of wild chimpanzees has found that these close human relatives do not routinely experience menopause, rebutting previous studies of captive individuals which had postulated that female chimpanzees reach reproductive senescence at 35 to 40 years of age.

Women aren't men

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

CHICAGO --- Women's bodies and medical needs are vastly different than men's way beyond their reproductive systems. Women wake sooner from anesthesia, have less familiar symptoms of cardiovascular disease and are more likely to suffer from depression and sleep problems-- just to name a few of the differences.

Mice help researchers understand chlamydia

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Genetically engineered mice may hold the key to helping scientists from Queensland University of Technology and Harvard hasten the development of a vaccine to protect adolescent girls against the most common sexually transmitted disease, Chlamydia.

Cow infections could provide clue to preventing infertility in women

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College, London, have made a significant breakthrough in their understanding of how infection of the uterus damages fertility in cows. Their findings, which show that common uterine infections can damage the ovaries, may provide insights into how to treat infections such as Chlamydia in humans.

MacArthur commits $11 million to further UCSF work in maternal safety

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has promised $10.75 million to extend a ground-breaking UCSF project to help combat maternal mortality in Nigeria and India � two countries that comprise one-third of all maternal deaths worldwide.

Immune cells promote blood vessel formation in mouse endometriosis

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

A discovery in mice of immune cells that promote the formation of new blood vessels could lead to new treatments for endometriosis, a painful condition associated with infertility that affects up to 15 percent of women of reproductive age.

In-vitro fertilization improved with 3-D/4-D-guided embryo transfer and new placement target

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Beverly Hills, Calif. and Washington DC (ASRM Annual Meeting) - October 15, 2007 - The pregnancy rate for patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is improved when doctors use advanced 3D/4D imaging to guide the placement of embryos to the point where the endometrium is most receptive to implantation, according to a study presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Media availability: low-fat dietary pattern may lower risk of ovarian cancer

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

A diet low in fat could reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in healthy postmenopausal women, according to new results from the Women�s Health Initiative (WHI) Dietary Modification Trial. Researchers found that after four years, women who decreased the amount of dietary fat they consumed were 40 percent less likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who followed normal dietary patterns. As expected, no effect was found during the first four years because preventive benefits on cancer often take many years to develop. Ovarian cancer affects about 1 in 60 U.S. women in their lifetimes and has the highest mortality of all cancers of the female reproductive system.

David Grimes, FHI physician, inducted into Institute of Medicine

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Research Triangle Park, NC -- David Grimes, MD, of Family Health International (FHI) was publicly welcomed into the National Academy of Sciences� prestigious Institute of Medicine (IOM) today. Dr. Grimes is the second IOM member from FHI.

In birds, expecting to mate leads to higher fertilization rates

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

From an evolutionary perspective, the primary task of an organism is to pass along its genes to future generations. Such genetic transmission is usually assumed to be instinctive. However, a new study shows that species also learn to adapt to their surroundings in order to increase their �reproductive fitness�� the likelihood that they will successfully reproduce.

Fetal cell 'transplant' could be a hidden link between childbirth and reduced risk of breast cancer

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA � Some benefits of motherhood are intangible, but one has been validated through biostatistical research: women who bear children have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer. In Seattle, Washington, researchers at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center believe they have identified a source of this protective effect: fetal cells �transplanted� to the mother before birth.

IVF technique enables pregnancy without multiple births, Stanford researchers find

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

STANFORD, Calif. - An in vitro fertilization technique that can avoid multiple births appears to be effective for women older than 35, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Of mice and men: new male contraceptives successful in rodents and humans

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Pills, sponges, IUDs, diaphragms-- women have many options for planning their fertility, none of them quite perfect. But what if men want to help out? They have only two options -- vasectomy, which is usually permanent, and condoms, which are crucial for dating but get old in long-term relationships. Will men ever have a way to reliably make sure that nobody is every calling them Daddy before they are ready?

Mutation of the COX2 gene can double or treble a woman's risk of ovarian cancer

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Barcelona, Spain: Researchers in Portugal have discovered that a specific mutation of the COX2 gene seems to play a role in the onset of ovarian cancer, increasing women�s susceptibility to developing the disease.

Primate sperm competition: speed matters

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at UC San Diego and UC Irvine have found evidence that supports the theory that reproductive competition during the evolution of primate species has occurred at the level of sperm cell motility. In a paper published online by the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, a team led by Michael Berns, an adjunct professor of bioengineering at UCSD and a professor of biomedical engineering at the Beckman Laser Institute at UC Irvine, and UCSD Ph.D. candidate Jaclyn Nascimento reported that sperm cells from the more promiscuous chimpanzee and rhesus macaque species swim much faster and with much greater force than those of humans and gorillas, species where individual females mate primarily with only one male during a reproductive cycle.

Multiple corticosteroid injections in pregnant women may increase cerebral palsy

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHAPEL HILL -- When pregnant women are at high risk for preterm birth, giving them a single injection of corticosteroids has been shown to reduce the baby�s chances of having serious lung problems after birth.

Species still have more viable offspring if they can choose their best mate

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Athens, Ga. -- When it comes to picking a mate, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young had an answer: �If you can�t be with the one you love, love the one you�re with.� As it turns out, that may be a cardinal rule in the animal kingdom, too.

Women prescribed drugs linked to birth defects not often advised to use birth control

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 17 � Although prescription medications that may increase the risk of birth defects are commonly used by women in their childbearing years, only about half receive contraceptive counseling from their health care providers, according to a large-scale study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine reported in the Sept. 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

New cell death pathway involved in sperm development

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Heavy and bulky sperm would not be good swimmers. To trim down, sperm rely on cell death proteins called caspases, which facilitate the removal of unwanted cellular material and radically remodel these cells into their sleek, light shape. New research from scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Rockefeller University has now uncovered a new pathway that regulates these killer proteins, yielding new knowledge about caspase function as well as insights into the causes of human infertility. The findings are reported in the

UVA researchers find important clue to immune infertility

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (Sept. 12, 2007) � Most of us have never heard of immune infertility, yet it prevents many prospective parents from conceiving.

Scientists discover how to isolate stem cells in womb tissue

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Scientists in Australia have found a way of identifying probable stem cells in the lining of women�s wombs. The finding opens up the possibility of using the stem cells for tissue engineering applications such as building up natural tissue to repair prolapsed pelvic floors. Pelvic floor prolapse is a common condition, affecting over 50% of women after childbirth; around one in ten women have surgery and a third of these women require repeated operations to correct the problem.

'Fruity vegetables' and fish reduce asthma and allergies

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Giving children a diet rich in fish and �fruity vegetables� can reduce asthma and allergies, according to a seven-year study of 460 Spanish children, published in the September issue of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.

Common misdiagnosis: most women believe they have a yeast infection when they don't

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

ST. LOUIS -- Most women who think they have a vaginal yeast infection are wrong and may be doing more harm than good in treating their problem, says a Saint Louis University researcher who presented her findings recently.

Low vitamin D during pregnancy linked to pre-eclampsia

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 7 � Vitamin D deficiency early in pregnancy is associated with a five-fold increased risk of preeclampsia, according to a study from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences reported this week in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

MU researchers to collaborate on $20 million project

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- More than 10 million people in the United State have cancer, and more than half of them are women. For those who could still give birth, cancer treatments might signal the end of their fertility. Now, a new $20 million, 5-year program from the National Institutes of Health is creating a national team of scientists to investigate every aspect of fertility preservation for women with cancer. Part of that effort is being led by University of Missouri-Columbia researchers.

Drug could improve pregnancy outcomes in wider range of women with insulin resistance

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

St. Louis, Sept. 6, 2007 � Women who are obese, have type 2 diabetes or a family history of type 2 diabetes could one day have more successful pregnancies because of a study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Choosing a mate: what we really want

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- While humans may pride themselves on being highly evolved, most still behave like the stereotypical Neanderthals when it comes to choosing a mate, according to research by Indiana University cognitive scientist Peter Todd. In a new study, Todd and colleagues found that though individuals may claim otherwise, beauty is the key ingredient for men while women, the much choosier of the sexes, leverage their looks for security and commitment.

Auto immune response creates barrier to fertility; could be a step in speciation

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Plant biologists at the Max Planck Institute of Developmental Biology and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered that an autoimmune response, triggered by a small number of genes, can be a barrier to producing a viable offspring.

Removing ovaries before menopause leads to memory and movement problems

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

ST. PAUL, Minn. � Women who have their ovaries removed before menopause are at an increased risk of developing memory problems or dementia and movement disorders such as Parkinson�s disease, according to two studies published August 29, 2007, in the online edition of Neurology�, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Human testes may multiply mutations

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

The testes in humans may act as mutation multipliers that raise the odds of passing improved DNA to offspring � but that can also backfire by increasing the frequency of certain diseases.

Study sheds new light on intimate lives of older Americans

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

The first comprehensive, nationally representative survey on the prevalence of sexual activity among older Americans provides a portrait of the intimate lives of people ages 57 to 85.

Early cord clamping could be harmful for baby

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:58:12 PST

London, Aug 17 - A British expert has said that clamping the umbilical cord right after birth could be harmful for babies.

$6M NIH grant to fund U-M research on childbirth-related prolapse, incontinence

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

ANN ARBOR, Mich. A group of researchers from the University of Michigan Health System has been awarded a $6 million federal grant to study the serious injuries that afflict millions of women as a result of childbirth. More than 300,000 women require surgery each year for problems such as incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse that arise from injuries sustained during vaginal birth.

Risk of common vaginal infection linked to preterm birth appears higher for blacks

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

BOSTON, Aug. 11 Risk of a common vaginal infection linked to preterm birth appears to escalate when even one partner is African-American, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study presented today at the 34th annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology in Boston.

Inflammation may cause preterm labor and fetal deaths

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

CLEVELANDInflammation from bacterial infections is linked to preterm births and deaths, according to researchers from Case Western Reserve Universitys School of Dental Medicine and the Case School of Medicine. They found if receptors responding to the presence of dead or living bacteria in the placentas of mice can be blocked, the number of preterm deaths will decline by nearly half.

Macho men are seen as bad choice for long-term love

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Women see masculine men as unsuitable long-term partners, new research suggests. Conversely, the psychologists from Durham and St Andrews Universities found that men with feminine facial features are seen as more committed and less likely to cheat on their partners.

Postpartum hospital discharges -- when is the 'right time?'

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

LEBANON, N.H. A landmark nationwide study, published today in the journal Pediatrics, is the first ever to prospectively examine the decision-making process of over 4,000 mothers and their physicians around the readiness of mothers and their infants to leave the hospital after childbirth.

Progesterone treatment does not prevent preterm birth in twin pregnancy

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Progesterone therapy does not reduce the chances of preterm birth in women pregnant with twins, reported researchers in a network sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

Progesterone injections do not prevent preterm birth in twin pregnancies

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHAPEL HILL -- Weekly progesterone injections do not prevent premature births in women pregnant with twins, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study has found.

First case of successful ovarian tissue transplantation between two, nonidentical sisters

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

A woman, whose ovaries had failed due to damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has received a successful ovarian transplant from her genetically non-identical sister. The transplant restored her ovarian function, she started to menstruate and, after a year, doctors were able to recover two mature oocytes from her ovaries and fertilise them to produce two embryos.

Fluctuating weight during pregnancy could affect babies

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:59:35 PST

London, July 30 - Scientists have warned that fluctuating weight of women during pregnancy could affect their unborn babies.

Penn study shows lower Cesarean rates associated with preventive labor induction

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA At a time when national rates of cesarean delivery have climbed above 30%, a four-year study of patients receiving an alternative method of obstetric care experienced a significantly lower rate of cesarean births, according to a study published in the current issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, reports that a cohort of women exposed to a safe, alternative method of maternity care had a 5.3 percent cesarean delivery rate compared to a 11.8 percent of women who received more traditional care.

Breast cancer and hormone therapy -- A looking-glass mirror?

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

The medical community has been debating for many years whether, and to what extent, postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) use is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, says Professor Amos Pines, President of the International Menopause Society. Although it is agreed that long-term HT slightly increases that risk, the definition of long-term use is still unclear, particularly in view of data showing that it may vary significantly by type of HT (estrogen-alone vs. estrogenprogestin, brand of progestin, dosage). A new study from the Kaiser Permanente health plan[1] raises the question whether trends in breast cancer incidence and use of HT over the past 25 years may be directly linked.

Sperm banking before treatment preserves fertility in young male cancer patients

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A recent study at Hamilton Health Sciences proves that sperm freezing and banking is an effective way to preserve fertility in adolescents and young adult (AYA) males with cancer.

Vaccine trials inject hope into koala's future

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

The first Australian trials of a vaccine developed by Queensland University of Technology that could save Australia's iconic koala from contracting chlamydia are planned to begin later this year.

Latest WHO handbook presents family planning options for women around the world

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Washington, DC The recently released Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers includes a chapter on fertility-awareness based methods of family planning highlighting the Standard Days Method and the TwoDay Method, two family-planning methods developed by Georgetown University Medical Centers Institute for Reproductive Health, as effective, easy-to-use and without the health risks of chemically based family planning methods such as birth control pills.

Nearly 90 percent of babies receive recommended newborn screening tests

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., JULY 11, 2007 Nearly 90 percent of all babies born in the United States more than double the percentage in 2005 live in states that require screening for at least 21 life-threatening disorders, according to the latest March of Dimes Newborn Screening Report Card.

Complementary therapy for infertile women may reduce chances of pregnancy

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Complementary therapies in assisted reproduction may diminish the effectiveness of medical treatment for infertility in women, a scientist will tell the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Lyon, France, (Wednesday 4 July). Dr. Jacky Boivin, from the School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales, UK, will say that her research had also shown that women who used complementary therapies were more negatively affected by their fertility problems than non-users, and that this could account for the fact that they were willing to use complementary therapies that were not proven to improve fertility.

Germany's embryo protection law is 'killing embryos rather than protecting them'

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France: Instead of preserving life, Germanys embryo protection law has had the unintended consequence of increasing the number of foetuses killed after fertility treatment according to new figures presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Wednesday). A representative of the German IVF registry has called for the law to be changed urgently to ensure that this situation does not continue.

Complex ART procedures more likely to lead to umbilical cord abnormality

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France: The more complex the assisted reproduction procedure, the more likely the umbilical cord develops in an atypical place or have other abnormalities, a scientist told the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Wednesday 4 July). Mrs. Ilse Delbaere, from Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium, said that the study, including over 4000 twin pregnancies, was the first to examine umbilical cord abnormalities in such a large population.

SNAP -- patches and stop

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

1050 pregnant women are being recruited for the most extensive trial of its kind to establish the effect of using nicotine patches during pregnancy. The £1.3m clinical trial Smoking, Nicotine and Pregnancy (SNAP) trial will investigate whether nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is safe, effective and cost-effective for mums-to-be who want to give up smoking. It will also study the effect on the behaviour and development of the child.

Pre-implantation genetic screening reduces both ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates in over 35s

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France: Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS), often considered to hold out the best chance for older women undergoing IVF to have a pregnancy and birth, does not increase on-going pregnancy or live birth rates, an embryologist told the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Wednesday 4 July). The research is published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine*. Sebastiaan Mastenbroek, M.Sc, from the Centre for Reproductive Medicine of the Academic Medical Centre of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, said that the results of his teams research suggested that PGS should not be carried out routinely in women of advanced maternal age.

Cloning the male genome may help infertile men

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France -- Artificially replicating the male genome could help men with very low sperm counts become fathers, a scientist told the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (Tuesday 3 July). Professor Takumi Takeuchi, of Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, USA, said that mouse experiments by his team, led by Professor Gianpiero D. Palermo, had shown that offspring born as a result of such replication had shown a level of abnormalities consistent with that shown in cloned animals.

New research holds promise for protecting cancer patients against infertility

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France: A promising new therapy for protecting the fertility of women with cancer and auto-immune diseases such as lupus was revealed at the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Tuesday 3 July 2007). Dr. Kate Stern, Research Director of the Royal Womens Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, told the conference that her pilot study had shown gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists were likely to be able to protect the ovary in women receiving potentially toxic doses of chemotherapy. We are now hoping to carry out a randomised controlled trial to assess the long term protective effect of this treatment, she said

Risk-taking in infertility treatment correlates with women's negative moods

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France -- A study of womens moods during IVF has found a strong relationship between negative mood and multiple embryo transfer, a scientist told the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (Tuesday 3 July). Dr Christopher Newton of the University Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, London, Canada, said that his work could lead to better understanding of the importance of couples emotional health during IVF treatment, and the effect this has on their decision-making.

Male or female factor infertility -- men suffer just the same

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France: Although most psychosocial research into infertility is centred round the unhappiness it causes women, men suffer just as much, a scientist will tell the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Wednesday 4 July). Ms Laura Peronace, from the School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales, UK, will say that, as compared to the use of formal counselling, the development of appropriate support networks for infertile patients is more likely to be used by couples and therefore lessen their unhappiness.

Europe struggles to meet the challenges posed by PGD patients travelling abroad

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France -- A new study has shown that increasing numbers of couples are travelling abroad for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and that the main reason for this cross-border movement is the legal position in patients countries of origin.

First baby is born after oocytes were matured in the lab and frozen

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France: The first baby to be created from an egg that had been matured in the laboratory, frozen, thawed and then fertilised, has been born in Canada. Three other women are pregnant by the same process. The research was presented to the 23rd annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Monday 2 July).

Time-lapse recordings reveal why IVF embryos are more likely to develop into twins

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France: Evidence gathered from time-lapse recordings of the formation of early embryos (blastocysts) in the laboratory has revealed why embryos created via IVF and undergoing extended culture are more likely to develop into twins than those created via natural conception. Furthermore, the research has shown that the culture in which the IVF embryos are formed is possibly responsible for the embryos dividing into twins.

Endometriosis increases the risk of certain cancers

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France -- Doctors in Sweden have shown for the first time that although endometriosis is associated with an increased risk of various cancers, this risk does not depend on the number of times women with the condition have given birth.

Personalized approach to ovarian stimulation achieves high ART pregnancy rates

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France -- An international group of fertility specialists has developed an easy-to use mathematical formula that allows a personalised approach to ovarian stimulation therapy for women seeking fertility treatment. Clinical tests demonstrated that when clinicians used the formula (or algorithm) to calculate the best starting dose for each patient, both the number of oocytes retrieved and pregnancy rates rose.

New approaches to endometriosis treatment -- mouse experiments point the way

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France -- Possible new directions for the treatment of endometriosis, a painful condition associated with infertility that affects up to 15% of women of reproductive age, will be outlined in the presentation of two experimental studies at the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (Tuesday July 3). Both concern targeting angiogenesis the formation of new blood vessels which is encourages endometriosis by providing a rich blood supply.

Extracting eggs from pre-pubertal cancer patients brings hope for future fertility

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France -- Scientists in Israel have been able to obtain and freeze eggs from the ovarian tissue of girls as young as 5 years old, the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology will hear on Tuesday (3 July). Dr. Ariel Revel, from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, said that the growing number of survivors of childhood cancers meant that such techniques would become increasingly important in preserving fertility in young patients.

Key to male infertility

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

A factor in immune cells regulates human semen and seems to determine whether a man will be fertile, according to a new study.

Researchers find gene that spurs development of the epididymis

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Human sperm cells travel up to 6 meters in their transit from testes to penis, and most of that journey occurs in the epididymis, a tightly coiled tube that primes the cells for their ultimate task: fertilization. In a paper released this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the University of Illinois report that they have discovered a gene and related mechanism essential to the embryonic development of the epididymis.

SSRI antidepressants do not pose major birth defect risk

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Boston, MA -- Researchers from Boston Universitys Slone Epidemiology Center have found that certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressants do not appear to increase the risk for most kinds of birth defects. The findings, to be published in the June 28, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that individual SSRIs may increase the risk for some specific defects, but these are rare and the absolute risks are small.

Pregnancy nausea/vomiting may indicate lower risk of breast cancer

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- It may not seem so at the time, but women who suffer through morning sickness during their pregnancies actually may be fortunate.

Children of smokers have more than 5 times higher levels of a nicotine toxin

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:00:00 PST

Children who have at least one parent who smokes have 5.5 times higher levels of cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine, in their urine, according to a study by researchers from Warwick Medical School at the the University of Warwick, and the University of Leicester, published online ahead of print in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

More than half of infertile couples may be willing to donate unused embryos to stem cell research

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

DURHAM, N.C. -- In a survey of over a thousand patients who have created and frozen embryos as part of fertility treatment, 60 percent said they would be likely to donate unused embryos for stem cell research, according to a study led by researchers at Duke University Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University. The researchers published their findings online in the June 21, 2007 Science Express, the online component of the journal Science, and the study will be published in the journals July 6, 2007 print issue.

Postmenopausal hormone therapy and coronary disease -- the truth of the matter

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

With each new publication of coronary artery disease (CAD) data from the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) study, the inevitable reaction is Why on earth did the WHI investigators claim in 20022004 that postmenopausal hormone therapy has deleterious effects on the risk for CAD, when, from the beginning, they were aware of the importance of the age factor in this clinical scenario. Women in the age group of 5059 years who participated in the estrogen-alone arm of the WHI study were asked immediately after the early cessation of the trial to become part of an ancillary study the WHI-CACS which looked at the magnitude of coronary calcifications measured by ultra-fast coronary CT. Coronary calcium deposits develop as part of the atherosclerosis process and correlate well with findings of coronary angiography.

Estrogen therapy in younger postmenopausal women linked to less plaque in arteries

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

New results from a substudy of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Estrogen-Alone Trial show that younger postmenopausal women who take estrogen-alone hormone therapy have significantly less buildup of calcium plaque in their arteries compared to their peers who did not take hormone therapy. Coronary artery calcium is considered a marker for future risk of coronary artery disease.

Changes in chromosomal constitution of preimplantation embryos suggest caution in genetic screening

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Nice, France: Embryos that are selected out as abnormal can undergo chromosomal modifications, a scientist will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today. Ms Tsvia Frumkin, from the Racine IVF unit, LIS Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Tel Aviv, Israel, will tell the conference that her teams findings meant that the results of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) for chromosomal abnormalities were not always reliable and should be interpreted with caution.

Children born after PGD as healthy as those born after conventional IVF treatment

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Nice, France: Children born after embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) do not show any more major malformations than those born after artificial reproduction technologies (ART) without PGD, a scientist will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today. Professor Ingeborg Liebaers, from the Research Centre for Reproductive Genetics, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium, will say that the results of her study of 583 children born after PGD was reassuring.

Noninvasive screening in early pregnancy reduces Down's births by 50 percent

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Nice, France: Non-invasive screening of pregnant women with ultrasound early in pregnancy, combined with maternal blood analysis, has reduced the number of children born in Denmark with Down Syndrome by 50%, a scientist will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today. Professor Karen Brøndum-Nielsen, of the Kennedy Institute, Glostrup, Denmark, will say that another benefit of the introduction of this procedure in her country was a drop in the number of invasive pre-natal diagnostic procedures from 11% to approx. 6% of pregnancies.

Hormone therapy offers new hope for ovarian cancer patients

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have shown that hormone therapy can extend life in ovarian cancer patients, giving women a new alternative to chemotherapy.

Periodontal diseases are blind to age

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO Two new studies in the June issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP) suggest that periodontal diseases are a threat to women of all ages due to hormonal fluctuations that occur at various stages of their lives.

Low libido in menopause linked to trouble sleeping

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Women whose sexual desire diminishes during menopause are more likely to report disturbed sleep, depression symptoms, and night sweats, according to Group Health research in the June American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Studies to find better ways to preserve human eggs, ovarian tissue under way

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

The goal is to make human eggs, ovarian tissue, blood vessels, even whole organs available when needed.

It's safe for obese moms-to-be to lose weight during pregnancy, new SLU research finds

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

ST. LOUIS Most women who are obese can safely exercise and diet to lose weight during pregnancy, according to a small pilot study conducted by Saint Louis University researchers.

Cigarette smoke alters DNA in sperm, genetic damage could pass to offspring

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

The science has long been clear that smoking causes cancer, but new research shows that children could inherit genetic damage from a father who smokes.

Focused ultrasound relieves fibroid symptoms in women

Tue, 29 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

A noninvasive ultrasound procedure effectively shrinks uterine fibroids and significantly relieves fibroid-related symptoms in women, according to the results of a multicenter clinical trial reported in the June issue of the journal Radiology. Magnetic resonance-guided, focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) allows radiologists to precisely target fibroids without harming healthy surrounding tissue.

Rapid syphilis testing in Haiti will prevent congenital disease and stillbirths

Mon, 28 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (May 28, 2007) -- Congenital syphilis is a major preventable public health problem in many developing countries, frequently causing stillbirths or neonatal death and disabling children who survive. Often undiagnosed or untreated, syphilis is passed from mother to child -- even when mothers take part in prenatal programs to prevent the spread of HIV.

Eating apples and fish during pregnancy may protect against childhood asthma and allergies

Tue, 22 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

Women who eat apples and fish during pregnancy may reduce the risk of their children developing asthma or allergic disease, suggests a new study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference, on Sunday, May 20.

UW study to clarify safety, effectiveness of hormone therapy during menopause

Tue, 22 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

MADISON - When is the best time in a woman's reproductive history to start hormone therapy? How does estrogen therapy affect a woman's cognition and mood? What is the most beneficial form of estrogen?

Study shows dramatic increase in Caesarean sections

Tue, 15 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

The report, published in the prestigious international journal, the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that the rise could not be explained by increases in clinical reasons for caesareans such as complications in pregnancy or labour/delivery and was more likely due to societal factors.

Study shows continued success for new HPV vaccine against virus responsible for cervical cancer

Wed, 09 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancer is nearly 100 percent effective against the two types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. Results of a nationwide study of the vaccine will be published in the May 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Estrogen fluctuation affects epileptic seizures

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

In more than a third of women with epilepsy, seizures fluctuate across the menstrual cycle, due in part to continually fluctuating effects of estrogen on the neural circuitry in the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in learning and memory - and in epileptic seizures.

Rush University Simulation Laboratory honored for innovation

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

The Rush University Simulation Laboratory (RUSL) has been awarded the 2007 CHEF Leadership Award for Innovation by the Chicago Health Executives Forum, one of the largest chapters of the American College of Healthcare Executives. The award recognizes innovative and outstanding programs that foster a positive evolution in the healthcare arena in the Chicago market.

Hot flashes have a genetic component

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:43:03 PST

Many women in the menopausal transition experience hot flashes: unpredictable, sometimes disruptive, periods of intense heat in the upper torso, neck and face. Although generations of physicians have prescribed hormones to reduce these symptoms, very little research has focused on the underlying causes of hot flashes.

No-scalpel vasectomies by skilled surgeons may speed recovery

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

Although no-scalpel vasectomies are becoming more popular among physicians and patients, there are no definitive statistics to confirm the superiority of this choice, and a new review's main conclusion is to underline the importance of training.

Researchers find gene mutation that causes infertility in male mice

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

Up to 15 percent of couples of childbearing age struggle with the heartache of infertility. Now there is the promise of new hope with Cornell researchers' identification of a mutation in a gene that causes male infertility in mice. Because this is the first time that a dominant mutation that leads specifically to infertility in a mammal has been discovered, the researchers say they can now look for similar mutations in the DNA of infertile men.

Researchers call for national database of epidural complications

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers have called for a national database to be set up to identify major complications arising from epidural pain relief after a small number of serious problems were identified during a six-year UK study, according to the April issue of Anaesthesia.

Disabled hit huge roadblocks in routine health care

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO -- Rachel steered her wheelchair into a Chicago area medical center for a series of upper gastrointestinal tests. But when Rachel, who has cerebral palsy, entered the radiology lab, the technician told her she had to stand up to take the test.