Information on Infertility from the National Library of Medicine
Infertility means not being able to become pregnant after a year of trying. If a woman keeps having miscarriages, it is also called infertility. Lots of couples have infertility problems. About a third of the time, infertility can be traced to the woman. In another third of cases, it is because of the man. The rest of the time, it is because of both partners or no cause is found. Read more from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Information on Male Infertility from the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine
Read overview at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School
Information on Female Infertility from MayoClinic.com
MayoClinic.com Female Infertility Treatment Information
Fertility problems: Essentials from Consumer Reports
What is it? What are the symptoms? How is it diagnosed? How common is it? What will happen? Questions to ask. Key points. More at ConsumerReports.org.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the joining of a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish. In vitro means ‘outside the body.’ Fertilization means the sperm has attached to and entered the egg. Read more at the National Library of Medicine, NIH.
The Medical Aspects of Egg Donation
Read more at The National Infertility Association
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
MayoClinic.com Intrauterine Insemination Information
Podcast: Commonly asked questions about infertility.
For couples having difficulties conceiving a child, there are many tests and tools physicians can use to identify and overcome reproductive barriers. This podcast – features fertility specialist Dr. Rachel Ashby of the Brigham and Women's Hospital IVF Program.
Podcast: Female Factor Infertility and Donor Eggs
Listen to a podcast featuring Dr. John Schnorr, Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at MUSC.
Video: Infertility Treatment Advances
Infertility affects thousands of couples. In this interview, Dr. Howard McClamrock, discusses advances in understanding and treating infertility. Available at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Guidelines on number of embryos transferred
See recommendations at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Guidelines for Reducing the Risk of Viral Transmission During Fertility Treatment
See recommendations at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Revised Minimum Standards for Practices Offering Reproductive Techniques
See recommendations at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Abstract: Preimplantation genetic testing.
OBJECTIVE: To review the techniques and indications of preimplantation genetic testing, including preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening. OPTIONS: Limited to an introductory discussion about the genetic aspects of preimplantation reproductive techniques. OUTCOMES: This update does not discuss in detail the adverse outcomes that have been recorded in association with assisted reproductive technologies. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: The impact of body mass index on assisted reproduction.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Obesity is a worldwide problem. The effect of obesity on the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques is quite controversial. RECENT FINDINGS: Although there is not an absolute consensus based on evidence, obesity may lengthen the duration of ovulation induction, increase the gonadotrophin dose, decrease the peak estradiol levels, number of mature follicles and number of oocytes retrieved, and increase the cycle cancellation rate. Moreover, obesity may have a negative impact on oocyte and embryo quality. See Abstract at PubMed.
Approaches to improve the diagnosis and management of infertility
Recent advances in our understanding of the causes of infertility and of assisted reproductive technology (ART) have led to the development of complex diagnostic tools, prognostic models and treatment options. The Third Evian Annual Reproduction (EVAR) Workshop Meeting was held on 26–27 April 2008 to evaluate evidence supporting current approaches to the diagnosis and management of infertility and to identify areas for future research efforts. Full text available free through PubMed.
Endometrial thickness, Caucasian ethnicity, and age predict clinical pregnancy following fresh blastocyst embryo transfer: a retrospective cohort
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) with blastocyst as opposed to cleavage stage embryos has been advocated to improve success rates. Limited information exists on which to predict which patients undergoing blastocyst embryo transfer (BET) will achieve pregnancy. This study's objective was to evaluate the predictive value of patient and cycle characteristics for clinical pregnancy following fresh BET. Full text available free at PubMed.
Is Surgical Repair of the Fallopian Tubes Ever Appropriate?
The overall median prevalence of infertility, defined as no conception after more than 12 months of unprotected intercourse with the husband or cohabiting partner in women aged 15 to 44 years, is approximately 9%. About 25% to 33% of female infertility is the result of tubal disease and endometriosis. In view of very successful alternative treatment of tubal factor infertility, the surgical repair of the fallopian tubes is all but obsolete and has been replaced with assisted reproductive technology. This article reviews situations in which surgical repair of the fallopian tubes may facilitate conception. Full text available free at PubMed.
Associations between maternal older age, family environment and parent and child wellbeing in families using assisted reproductive techniques to conceive
Maternal age effects on parenting and family outcomes are of increasing interest because of the demographic shift toward older maternal age at first birth. Maternal age is also of interest because of the greater use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) to bypass age-related infertility in couples trying to conceive late in the reproductive life cycle of the woman. The aim of the present study was to investigate maternal age effects associated with delayed parenting by comparing families of mothers who gave birth at a younger (<31 years) or older (>38 years) age and to ascertain whether associations were linear associations by comparing these groups to women who had conceived in between these ages (i.e., >31 and <38 years). All children (4–11 year olds) were first-born and conceived using ART. Full text available free at PubMed.
Abstract: Psychiatric aspects of infertility and infertility treatments.
Infertility deeply affects psychosocial aspects of young couples, who often erroneously take fertility for granted. The inevitable transformation from apparently healthy adults into patients can lead to loss of self-esteem, confidence, health, close relationships, security, and hope. See abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Number of embryos for transfer following in-vitro fertilization or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection.
BACKGROUND: Multiple embryo transfer during IVF has increased multiple pregnancy rates (MPR) causing maternal and perinatal morbidity. Elective single embryo transfer (SET) is now being considered as an effective means of reducing this iatrogenic complication. OBJECTIVES: To determine in couples undergoing IVF/ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) whether:(1) elective transfer of two embryos improves the probability of live birth compared with:(a) elective single embryo transfer,(b) three embryo transfer (TET) or(c) four embryo transfer (FET).(2) elective transfer of three embryos improves the probability of live birth compared with:(a) elective single embryo transfer, or(b) elective four embryo transfer. See abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: ICSI: where we have been and where we are going.
Notwithstanding the broad success of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a failure to achieve fertilization still plagues a substantial group of patients, with sperm abnormalities the main culprit. In the 1980s, several micromanipulation procedures were adopted from animal husbandry to facilitate gamete interaction, and this resulted in the development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a procedure through which an oocyte can be fertilized independently of the morphology and/or motility of the single spermatozoon injected. See abstract at PubMed.
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