The Sexual Impact of Infertility Among Women Seeking Fertility Care.

IntroductionInfertility affects approximately 6.7 million women in the United States. Couples with infertility have significantly more anxiety, depression, and stress. This is compounded by the fact that almost 40% of couples undergoing assisted reproduction technology still cannot conceive, which can have an ongoing effect on quality of life, marital adjustment, and sexual impact.AimTo assess the sexual impact of infertility in women undergoing fertility treatment.MethodsThis study is a cross-sectional analysis of women in infertile couples seeking treatment at academic or private infertility clinics. Basic demographic information was collected. Respondents were surveyed regarding sexual impact and perception of their infertility etiology. Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify factors independently associated with increased sexual impact.Main outcome measureSexual impact of perceived fertility diagnosis.ResultsIn total, 809 women met the inclusion criteria, of whom 437 (54%) agreed to participate and 382 completed the sexual impact items. Most of the infertility was female factor only (58.8%), whereas 30.4% of infertility was a combination of male and female factors, 7.3% was male factor only, and 3.5% was unexplained infertility. In bivariate and multivariate analyses, women who perceived they had female factor only infertility reported greater sexual impact compared with woman with male factor infertility (P = .01). Respondents who were younger than 40 years experienced a significantly higher sexual impact than respondents older than 40 years (P < .01). When stratified by primary and secondary infertility, respondents with primary infertility overall reported higher sexual impact scores.ConclusionIn women seeking fertility treatment, younger age and female factor infertility were associated with increased sexual impact and thus these women are potentially at higher risk of sexual dysfunction. Providers should consider the role young age and an infertility diagnosis plays in a women's sexual well-being

Application of ultrasonography in female infertility: a comprehensive review

The quest for detailed evaluation of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries that is radiation free, inexpensive, readily available, non-invasive, relatively less time consuming and easily repeatable in female infertility has resulted in further studies. However, ultrasonography (US) remains the first line indispensable tool for gynecologic workup, monitoring and treating infertility. The aim is to review the current knowledge regarding the application of ultrasonography in female infertility. This was a descriptive review of ultrasonography in female infertility. We searched several databases (Medline, Google scholar, PubMed) with keywords “ultrasonography and female infertility”, “evaluation of female infertility”, “role of ultrasonography in female infertility:, and imaging in female infertility”. Female infertility is multifactorial in origin. Ultrasonography is the most widely used imaging in gynecology and has revolutionized the management of female infertility worldwide. The recognition, evaluation and treatment of female infertility are complicated, complex, stressful and emotionally devastating for most couples. The couple’s emotional state should be supportive, informative and well tolerated. Female infertility is an immense stress to couples, families and relatives worldwide. The causes are multifactorial in origin with both congenital and acquired problems of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Ultrasound plays an important role in female infertility workup with hysterosalpingography (HSG), sonohysterography (Sono-HSG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), each playing a complimentary role in the screening, diagnosis and/or management of female infertility

Methylation Status of Imprinted Genes and Repetitive Elements in Sperm DNA from Infertile Males

Stochastic, environmentally and/or genetically induced disturbances in the genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming processes during male germ-cell development may contribute to male infertility. To test this hypothesis, we have studied the methylation levels of 2 paternally (H19 and GTL2) and 5 maternally methylated (LIT1, MEST, NESPAS, PEG3, and SNRPN) imprinted genes, as well as of ALU and LINE1 repetitive elements in 141 sperm samples, which were used for assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including 106 couples with strictly male-factor or combined male and female infertility and 28 couples with strictly female-factor infertility. Aberrant methylation imprints showed a significant association with abnormal semen parameters, but did not seem to influence ART outcome. Repeat methylation also differed significantly between sperm samples from infertile and presumably fertile males. However, in contrast to imprinted genes, ALU methylation had a significant impact on pregnancy and live-birth rate in couples with male-factor or combined infertility. ALU methylation was significantly high-er in sperm samples leading to pregnancy and live-birth than in those that did not. Sperm samples leading to abortions showed significantly lower ALU methylation levels than those leading to the birth of a baby. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base

Fertil Steril

ObjectiveTo investigate the risk of preterm birth among liveborn singletons to primiparas who conceived with assisted reproductive technology (ART) using four mutually exclusive categories of infertility (female infertility only, male infertility only, female and male infertility, and unexplained infertility) and to examine preterm birth risk along the gestational age continuum.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingNot applicable.Patient(s)Singletons born to primiparas who conceived with or without ART.Intervention(s)None.Main Outcome Measure(s)Preterm (<37 weeks\u2019 gestation) and preterm/early term birth <39 weeks\u2019 gestation).Result(s)For the male infertility only, female infertility only, combined male and female infertility, and unexplained infertility groups, ART-conceived singletons were significantly more likely than non-ART singletons to be born preterm: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.24 (95% CI, 1.13, 1.37), aOR 1.60 (95% CI, 1.50, 1.70), aOR 1.49 (95% CI, 1.35, 1.64), and aOR 1.26 (1.12, 1.43) respectively. Among infants whose mothers were diagnosed with infertility, the odds of preterm birth were highest between 28\u201330 weeks [female infertility only, aOR 1.95 (95% CI, 1.59, 2.39); male and female infertility: 2.21 (95% CI, 1.62, 3.00)] compared with infants in the general population. Within the ART population, singletons of couples with female infertility only were more likely to be born preterm than singletons born to couples with other infertility diagnoses.Conclusion(s)Among singleton births to primiparas, those conceived with ART had an increased risk for preterm birth, even when only the male partner had been diagnosed with infertility. The risk of preterm birth for ART-conceived infants whose mothers were diagnosed with infertility included the earliest deliveries.CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United StatesT32-HD046377/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States2016-04-01T00:00:00Z25707336PMC451595

Spontaneous pregnancies and determinant factors in infertility: A cross-sectional study

Background: The phenomenon of infertility may be derived from different factors - either in males or females or both genders, including few unexplained factors. It is generally managed by medical and surgical treatments. Objective: To find a relation of occurrence of spontaneous pregnancy (SP) with effective factors in infertility. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at two referral infertility centers (university and privacy center) in the southwest of Iran from March 2015 and March 2016 on 655 infertile couples, who were divided in two groups of with (n = 31) and without (n = 624) SP. The variables included female and male age, male smoking, male job, the place of living, the causes of infertility, the type and duration of infertility, and the subgroups of infertility causes. Results: Infertility may be caused due to both male- and female- related factors (47.5%). While female-related infertility was found in 31.5%, male-related infertility in 14.5%, and infertility due to unexplained factors in 6.6% of our patients. The rate of SP was 4.7%, which had a significant relation with the duration of infertility (p = 0.01), with women’s age (p = 0.048), unexplained infertility (p = 0.001), and husband’s job (p = 0.004). Conclusion: The occurrence of SP in infertile couples was related to age of the female partner, the duration of unexplained infertility, and the male partner’s job. Key words: Male infertility, Female infertility, Spontaneous pregnancy, Epidemiology, Etiology

Mesenchymal stem cells to treat female infertility; future perspective and challenges: A review

Infertility negatively impacts the overall health and social life of affected individuals and couples. Female infertility is their inability to perceive pregnancy. To date, polycystic ovary syndrome, primary ovarian insufficiency, fallopian tube obstruction, endometriosis, and intrauterine synechiae have been identifiedas the primary causes of infertility in women. However, despite the mutual efforts of clinicians and research scientists, the development of an effective treatment modality has met little success in combating female infertility. Intriguingly, significant research has demonstrated mesenchymal stem cells as an optimal source for treating infertility disorders. Therefore, here we attempted to capsulize to date available studies to summarize the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells in combating infertility in women by focusing on the underlying mechanism through which stem cells can reduce the effects of ovarian disorders. Furthermore, we also discussed the preclinical and clinical application of stem cell therapy, their limitation, and the future perspective to minimize these limitations. Key words: Pregnancy, Infertility, Female, Stem cell transplantation, Uterine diseases, Mesenchymal stem cells

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used as remedy for female infertility and menstrual disorder in southwestern Nigeria

Background: In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 30% of premenopausal women are affected with secondary infertility. Nigerian (Yoruba) women show a higher tendency towards exaggerated ovarian (PCOS) response to stimulation for assisted conception associated with a higher prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.Objective: Identify and document medicinal plants traditionally used to treat female infertility and menstrual disorders among Yoruba ethnic group.Materials and Methods: Data on medicinal plants traditionally used to manage menstrual disorders and female infertility were collected through interviews and Focus group discussions (FGDs).Results: Twenty nine plant species belonging to 20 families were mentioned for management of infertility and menstrual disorder. Plant families mostly used were Euphorbiaceae (20%), Cucurbitaceae (15%), Bignoniaceae (10%), Apocynaceae (10%), Arecaceae (10%) and Solanaceae (10%).Conclusion: This study provides documentation of medicinal plants used in the management and treatment of infertility and menstrual disorder in Southwestern Nigeria.Keywords: Female infertility, Menstrual disorder, Medicinal plants, Bioactive constituent

Is hysterolaparoscopy a real theranostic approach for anatomical barriers in female fertility? A future argument

Background: Hysterolaparoscopy is a modality that provides the real time abdomino-pelvic view during diagnosis in infertile female patients and any pathology is noticed can be tackled at the same time. So we investigate the theranostic application of hysterolaparoscopy in structural causes of female infertility in present study.Methods: Authors prospectively evaluate 157 female patients (mean age 27.7 years) diagnosed as infertile, underwent hysterolaparoscopy during diagnostic work-up.  All the enlisted patients fulfilled the criteria of infertility. The noticed anatomical abnormalities in the hysterolaparoscopy were tackled at the same time if possible.Results: Of the 157 infertile female patients, 93 (~59.2%) were of primary infertility and remaining 64 (~41.8%) were secondary infertility patients. Hysterolaparoscopy showed abnormalities in 125/157 (~85.0%) patients. The detected hysterolaparoscopic abnormalities were distributed in 77/93 (~82.8%) primary and 48/64 (~75.0%) secondary infertility patients. Of the 125 patients with abnormal hysterolaparoscopic findings, 121 (~96.8%) experienced for active therapeutic interventions. All of the 48 secondary infertility patients with hysterolaparoscopic abnormalities experienced for active hysterolaparoscopic interventions. Of 77 patients with hysterolaparoscopic abnormality in primary infertility group, 73 (~94.8%) experienced active intervention. Only four patients with streak ovaries and hypoplastic uterus, few tiny fibroids and adenomyosis did not undergo for active hysterolaparoscopic intervention.Conclusions: Authors concluded that hysterolaparoscopy has a better theranostic approach for the anatomical barriers of female fertility so it can be performed in the initial phases of the infertility diagnostic work-up