Infertility News and Research

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Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term.

First-of-its-kind map of recombination hotspots in a multi-celled organism

Researchers have zoomed in on mouse chromosomes to map hotspots of genetic recombination - sites where DNA breaks and reforms to shuffle genes. The findings of the scientists at the National Institutes of Health and Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USU) have the potential to improve the detection of genes linked to disease and to help understand the root causes of genetic abnormalities.

6 Apr 2011

Study finds low multiple birth rates in 15 states that provide insurance coverage for IVF

Faced with the prospect of costly in vitro fertilization but with no help from insurance coverage, some infertile couples feel pressure to transfer multiple embryos in an attempt to ensure that the IVF is a success.

6 Apr 2011

Eating disorders - hitting early and hard

Children as young as seven have been admitted to hospitals for eating disorders. A peak support group has reported a doubling of calls about children under the age of 12 in the past decade. Being hit so early with these disorders also means malnutrition leading to retarded growth, osteoporosis, infertility and changes in brain structure say experts.

30 Mar 2011

Merck submits Erbitux indication extension to EMA for NSCLC treatment

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today that it has submitted an indication extension to the European Medicines Agency for the approval of Erbitux in combination with standard 1st line platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with high epidermal growth factor receptor expression.

30 Mar 2011

Medical experts: Nation needs to offer more confidential care for sexually active teens

After reviewing existing research regarding the common practices of health care providers who see adolescent patients across the country, Rebecca Allen, MD, MPH, a clinician and researcher at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, and her colleague, Michelle Forcier, MD, MPH, an adolescent medicine specialist at Hasbro Children's Hospital, asserted that the nation needs to offer more confidential care for teenagers who are sexually active.

25 Mar 2011

Mouse sperm created in lab: Hope for male infertility

In a scientific breakthrough, researchers report that they've grown mouse sperm from testicular tissue in the laboratory, a development that could advance the field of infertility in human males. Although still proven in mice, “this is a small but important step in understanding how sperm are formed, which may, in time, lead to us being able to grow human sperm in the laboratory,” said Dr. Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield in England, who is familiar with the study results.

24 Mar 2011

MD Anderson receives $2.7 million NCI grant for acupuncture study in cancer

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has been awarded a grant to study whether xerostomia, a debilitating side effect caused by head and neck cancer radiation treatment, can be prevented when acupuncture is part of a patient's treatment regimen.

23 Mar 2011

Research highlights new parameters for HIV study

A research article co-authored by Brenna Anderson, MD, director of Reproductive Infectious Diseases Consultation in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, was included in the recently published special issue of the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology.

17 Mar 2011

On The Issues Magazine examines how environmental health affects women's lives

The Spring 2011 edition of On The Issues Magazine – "The Ecology of Women" – examines how environmental health affects women's lives, particularly the toxins and chemicals that enter our bodies from the air, water, food and consumer products. These toxins are implicated as possible causes of conditions like cancer, early puberty, infertility, miscarriages, and birth defects.

16 Mar 2011

AYA cancer patients require targeted care, say experts

Adolescents and young adults are neither children nor adults and those affected by cancer require targeted care that crosses the boundaries between pediatric and adult oncology, according to several pioneers in this still-developing field of adolescent and young adult oncology.

15 Mar 2011

Columbia fourth quarter total net revenues increase 74% to $14.9 million

Columbia Laboratories, Inc. today reported financial results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2010.

10 Mar 2011

FRSQ, NSFC announce funds for genomic research on male infertility

The Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec, Génome Québec and the National Natural Science Foundation of China are pleased to announce the funding of a first project as part of their joint program for research on genomics and diseases, which was launched in July 2010.

10 Mar 2011

UCSF's new pharmacy to focus on direct patient care

Although it won't be obvious to UCSF Medical Center patients, behind the scenes a family of giant robots now counts and processes their medications. With a new automated hospital pharmacy, believed to be the nation's most comprehensive, UCSF is using robotic technology and electronics to prepare and track medications with the goal of improving patient safety.

8 Mar 2011

Breast Health Center receives three-year accreditation from NAPBC

The Breast Health Center at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island recently earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

3 Mar 2011

Uterine fibroid treatments greatly improve quality of life in women

Women who received one of three treatments for uterine fibroids at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston said their symptoms diminished and their quality of life significantly increased, according to a new study published in the May issue of Radiology.

1 Mar 2011

Stress & infertility treatment success unrelated: Study

British researchers from Cardiff University looked at 14 studies that included a total of 3,583 women who had undergone fertility treatment and been assessed for anxiety and stress before they began their therapy. They compared women who became pregnant and those who did not and noted that there was no association between emotional distress and the likelihood of becoming pregnant. The results were published in the online edition of British Medical Journal on Feb. 24.

28 Feb 2011

Ballerinas need to know dangers of excessive weight loss and overexercise

With actress Natalie Portman in Oscar contention, the movie "Black Swan" has taken center stage. So have concerns surrounding the dramatic weight loss Portman underwent for the role. Her depiction of a dangerously thin ballerina sheds light on a potential downside of this art form.

25 Feb 2011

Aetna introduces new IHP for employees to adopt healthy behaviours

Aetna, a leading global diversified health care benefits company, today announced the launch of a new suite of International Healthcare Plans for employers with globally mobile employees.

24 Feb 2011

G-CSF treatment improves inadequate endometrium during IVF cycles

During in vitro fertilization cycles, treatment with a medication called granulocyte-colony stimulating factor significantly improves inadequate endometrium, according to a report published electronically on February 15 in Fertility and Sterility - the official journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

24 Feb 2011

Planned parenthood cuts draw opposition from state, local officials

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and two Democratic governors spoke out against House Republicans' family planning cuts Tuesday as the Senate prepares to take up the stop-gap funding bill for the rest of the year.

24 Feb 2011