SpainFertility

Researchers identify biomarkers that predict reproductive outcome in proton nuclear magnetic resonance profiles of spent embryo culture media.

The metabolomic profile of spent embryo culture media holds information that can help predict which embryos are likely to result in a pregnancy, researchers reveal.

Analysis of signals in the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (1H NMR) corresponding to lactate and the amino acids glutamate and alanine predicted sustained implantation with a sensitivity and specificity of 88.2 percent.

Emre Seli (Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA) and co-workers studied spent media samples from the day-3 culture for 17 embryos that led to pregnancy and delivery and 17 that failed to implant.

1H NMR showed that glutamate concentrations were significantly higher in media in which the successful embryos were incubated than in media used for the other 17 embryos, the team reports.

The ratio of alanine to lactate was also linearly associated with the implantation rate on multivariate analysis.

By comparison, mean embryo score did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Seli and colleagues believe that such metabolomic assessment could help better assess the reproductive potential of individual embryos.

They add: “A major benefit of an improved embryo selection methodology would be an increase in implantation rates and pregnancy rates.

“Such a benefit would lead to a decrease in the cost, as well as the physical and psychologic morbidity, associated with prolonged infertility treatment.”

The team recommends trials comparing embryo selection based on spectroscopy with current methods based on cleavage rate and morphology.

Orgyn.com

The American Fertility Association introduces Manicures and Martinis, a new and innovative educational program which brings young women together in a casual setting over manicures and martinis while learning the “dos and don’ts” of preserving fertility. It’s free, relaxing, fun, and educational. The series will roll through 20 U.S. cities and be hosted by leading professionals in the reproductive medical field, including Jamie Grifo, MD, Ph.D., of NYU School of Medicine.

The goal of the program is to bring young women the necessary information to help them preserve all of their fertility choices if and when they choose to use them, and inform young women of early treatment options should they need them.

Most young women in their 20’s and early 30’s are more interested in avoiding pregnancy than becoming moms. Choices made early on can effect whether a young woman will have the ability to become a mom later in life. There are things one can do to help prevent infertility: avoid exposure to certain environmental toxins; protect against sexually transmitted infections; and plan a family with the knowledge that fertility does decline with age.

Manicures and Martinis is the brainchild of Corey Whelan, Director of Development for The AFA, who was told at age 19 she’d never be able to have children. Sure enough, when she began trying in her 30’s she struggled, but thankfully conceived twins through In Vitro Fertilization.

“As a mom, I feel very protective of young women today. Through The AFA, I have the ability to educate them about making choices — from going green to the possibility of freezing their eggs — in an appealing format. I know I would have been happy to attend a Manicures and Martinis at 25, but you couldn’t have dragged me to an infertility seminar,” says Whelan.

Manicures and Martinis will be held at some of the nation’s finest and trendiest nail salons and restaurants with the first event taking place this winter at Dashing Diva Nail Salon in New York City. The AFA chose Dashing Diva because of their commitment to women’s health and focus on formaldehyde-free nail polishes.

The AFA will launch this initiative with a recipe contest for the Fertilitini(TM), the special drink that will be served at all of the events. The AFA has already received enthusiastic encouragement from its supporters and expects Manicures and Martinis to be a tremendous success.

The AFA acknowledges Schering-Plough, the inaugural sponsor, for having the vision to help launch this program.

The American Fertility Association (The AFA), a national non-profit organization, is a lifetime resource for fertility preservation, reproductive health and family-building. An inclusive provider of advocacy, education and support services, The AFA is here to help.
medicalnewstoday.com

Investigating whether culturing embryos in a low-oxygen environment is justified.  
Embryos cultured in a low-oxygen environment consistently results in higher rates of live birth implantation and live births when compared with embryos cultured in an atmospheric oxygen environment, a randomized trial suggests.

“The overall increase in live births when culturing embryos in a reduced oxygen environment in this study clearly justifies the additional effort and expense associated with low-oxygen culture,” report Marius Meintjes (Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, Texas, USA) and colleagues.

In this study, embryos from 230 women undergoing routine IVF or ICSI were randomly assigned to be cultured in a 21 percent oxygen (atmospheric) or 5 percent oxgyen environment.

Culturing embryos in a reduced-oxygen environment resulted in higher rates of live birth implantation (42.9 percent versus 30.7 percent) and live births (57.4 percent versus 42.6 percent) when compared with culture in an atmospheric oxygen environment.

Animal studies have consistently shown that embryo culture in low oxygen improves in vitro embryo development compared with higher oxygen concentrations. Lowering the oxygen in the culture environment can be expensive and difficult, but this trial shows it is worth the additional effort, say the researchers.
Orgyn.com

Determining the tolerability of hysterosalpingocontrast sonography in infertile women.

An Italian study suggests that hysterosalpingocontrast sonography (HyCoSy) is well tolerated by infertile women and has a low rate of side effects.

The introduction of HyCoSy has enabled the evaluation of uterine and ovarian conditions and tubal patency without exposing the patient to radiation, say the researchers.

Noting that there is, however, scant information on its tolerability, side effects, and complications, the team studied a large series of women consecutively undergoing HyCoSy at a tertiary infertility clinic.

Of 660 women examined, 483 completed telephone follow-up a mean of 14.7 months after the procedure. Mean patient age was 34.5 years and mean duration of infertility was 28.1 months.

Mean pain rating was 2.7 on a 0 to 10 scale, and 2.0 percent of patients required post-procedural drugs for pain relief. Mild vasovagal reactions were experienced by 4.1 percent of women.

Less than one percent of patients suffered severe vasovagal reactions. No late complications were reported, and no patient required hospital admission after the procedure.

Luca Savelli and co-workers at the University of Bologna conclude that HyCoSy is well accepted and “can be chosen as a first-level evaluation of tubal patency and uterine cavity morphology in infertile patients.”
Orgym.com