IVF NewsNews: Just four percent of sperm donor applicants become donors
Ana Vasconcelos 16 January 2023
Fewer than one in 20 men who applied to become sperm donors in the USA and Denmark in 2018 and 2019, were accepted by a sperm bank, a recent study has shown. The number of sperm-donor-conceived children born in the UK has tripled in the past 13 years in the UK, meaning demand for sperm donors outstrips supply. Recent figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority show half of donor sperm used in the UK is imported, often from Denmark. In a study published in Human Reproduction of over 11,000 men who applied to be sperm donors to the sperm and egg bank Cryos in the USA and Denmark, researchers looked at the points in the application process men dropped out or were rejected by the clinic. They also looked at the impact of being asked to waive anonymity on willingness to donate and acceptance. Lead author – and Progress Educational Trust (PET) trustee – Professor Allan Pacey from the University of Sheffield, pointed out that although sperm donors can choose to retain their anonymity in the USA and Denmark (though not the UK since 2006), over a quarter of donors shifted from an initial decision to remain anonymous, to be identifiable, over the course of the donation process. He said: 'What's particularly fascinating is that more donors, who initially wanted to remain anonymous, were willing to be identifiable as the screening and donation process continued. This is particularly good news for patients in the UK undergoing fertility treatment, as it is a legal requirement for sperm donors to be identifiable to any children born from their donations.' Around half of applicants dropped out or were rejected before being invited to provide a sperm sample, for the second stage of the application process, researchers found. Of the men who provided a sample 21 percent did not have a high enough quality semen, according to the clinic. Of men accepted after semen analysis and invited to complete a medical questionnaire, just 18 percent continued to the next stage. A report published by PET in June 2022 Fertility, Genomics and Embryo Research: Public Attitudes and Understanding showed that 64 percent of the UK public would consider sperm or egg donation with identity release. Professor Pacey said: 'In the UK you can only become a donor if you agreed to be identifiable and there simply aren't enough guys in the UK that are willing to do that, or we haven't managed to tempt them enough, because we haven't got an advertising system that targets them.' He went on: 'The study with Cryos highlights how hard it is to become a sperm donor. It's not like blood donation where once it's done you can have a cup of tea and go home. Sperm donation is a regular commitment with lots of screening and regular testing as well as life-long implications for the donor if any children are born from their sample.' Sources and References
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: 7th IUI Symposium & Hands-on Workshop 2023, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Zamri Ahmad Yusof 04 January 2023
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News: ART & Embryology training program
Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 02 January 2023
Feburary 2023 Training Batch Schedule - 6th Feb To 20th Feb 2023 The International School of Embryology was established to offer training for Clinicians in advanced Reproductive Technologies. Our skill and precision to all aspirants help them to know in-depth knowledge and experience. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring doctors and embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about reproductive techniques and practical capability in the field. Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on). Limited Seats. For admission Contact 9003111598 / 8428278218 [ Full Article ]
Announcement: CLINICAL COURSES IN ART
Dr Yogitha Rao 11 December 2022
CLINICAL COURSES IN ART Santasa IVF &Endosurgery Institute is a forefront healthcare organization with a goal to render progressive healthcare service to every childless couples. Santasa has been in the process of training future ART and OBG clinicians to develop their technical skills and knowledge in the field of reproductive medicine. Clinical courses offered:
In addition to the above short courses, santasa offers Fellowship in reproductive medicine affiliated to RGUHS which is of 18 months duration. For queries contact, Dial: 8904253475 Whatsapp : 9845688608 Mail :[email protected] [ Full Article ]
News: HANDS-ON TRAINING PROGRAMME IN EMBRYOLOGY & ANDROLOGY
Dr Yogitha Rao 11 December 2022
HANDS-ON TRAINING PROGRAMME IN EMBRYOLOGY & ANDROLOGY Santasa IVF &Endosurgery Institute established in 2008, is a pioneering health care organization with a mission to provide advanced healthcare affordable to every woman. Its main domain of care includes fertility specialists, Embryologists & Andrology lab technicians. Laboratory training offered at santasa imparts solid knowledge of basics as well as intricate technologies. The course also helps in getting updated with the new ART regulations. Laboratory courses:
For queries contact, Dial: 8904253475 Whatsapp : 9845688608 Mail :[email protected] [ Full Article ]
Webinar: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 13TH BIENNIAL ALPHA CONGRESS: IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!
International IIVF Initiative 06 December 2022
6th Dec 2022, 3pm EST LIVE, 8pm UK, 9pm CET Moderators: [ Full Article ]
News: 30-year-old embryos result in live birth
David O'Rourke 05 December 2022
Twins have been born from embryos that had been frozen for 30 years, the longest any embryo has been frozen before leading to a live birth to date. The embryos were created for an anonymous married couple using IVF in 1992. The man was in his 50s and the couple reportedly relied on a 34-year-old egg donor. The embryos were kept at a fertility lab on the West Coast until 2007, when the couple who created them donated them to the National Embryo Donation Centre (NEDC) in Knoxville, Tennessee, hoping that another couple might choose them. They were selected by couple Philip and Rachel Ridgeway who had requested that the non-profit Christian NEDC provide embryos that had 'special consideration', meaning they had proved difficult to place with couples who wished to use a 'donated' embryo. 'We weren't looking to get the embryos that have been frozen the longest in the world,' Philip Ridgeway said. 'We just wanted the ones that had been waiting the longest.' Two of the five thawed embryos were nonviable. Of the three that were transferred, two successfully implanted 29 years and ten months after they were frozen, resulting in the live birth of Lydia and Timothy Ridgeway on 31 October'. The couple considers the twins to be their 'oldest children' even though they are less than a month old: they already had four naturally-conceived children aged eight, six, three and one. Theoretically, embryos can remain in cryostorage in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196C indefinitely. The birth of Lydia and Timothy is further evidence of this theory. On 1 July 2022, the rules on how long you can store eggs, sperm or embryos in the UK changed. Before this date, people in the UK could usually only store their embryos for up to ten years (though there were a few medical exceptions allowing for 55 years). The law now permits storage of embryos for use in treatment for up to a maximum of 55 years from the date the embryos are first placed in storage. Sources and References
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News: Analysis suggests decline in human sperm counts
David Cansfield 05 December 2022
Global sperm counts have declined in the last 50 years, an analysis of data published since 1973 has indicated. Published in the journal Human Reproductive Update by an international team led by Professor Hagai Levine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the data suggests that between 1973 and 2018 the average sperm concentration fell by 51.6 percent and total sperm count also fell by 62.3 percent. Previously the same team had previously published data in Human Reproduction demonstrating a decline in sperm count since 1981, but that analysis had been underpowered for demonstrating this decline in South and Central America, Asia and Africa. However, their latest analysis has indicated the trend is global. 'Overall, we're seeing a significant worldwide decline in sperm counts of over 50 percent in the past 46 years, a decline that has accelerated in recent years' Professor Levine explained. Meta analysis of 223 studies, yielding 288 estimates based on semen samples collected between 1973-2018 was conducted among two groups of men, from North America, Europe, Australia and South and Central America, Asia, Africa. Sperm concentration was found to drop from an estimated 101 million per ml to 49 million per ml during that time period. Data suggested this decline had accelerated with a 2.6 percent per year decrease in sperm count observed since 2000, compared to an overall decline of 1.2 percent per year since 1973. Data on sperm movement and shape, which can both affect fertility and are considered when analysing sperm, were not included in this analysis. The authors of the paper called for more urgent research into the causes of the decline in sperm count they had observed. 'The main suspects are global warming and air pollution, but also exposure to chemical substances and smoking before birth, and exposure to pesticides, smoking, mental stress and poor nutrition in adult life' summarised Professor Levine. However, although this study accounted for factors such as age and excluded men known to suffer from infertility, there were limitations on the conclusions that could be drawn from this study. Improvements had been made in sperm analysis in the 50 years pointed out Allan Pacey, professor of andrology at the University of Sheffield and Progress Educational Trust trustee. 'I remain concerned about the quality of the data in the papers that were published (particularly in the far past) and upon which this new (and previous) analysis was based,' he warned. 'Counting sperm, even with the gold standard technique of haemocytometry, is really difficult. I believe that over time we have simply got better at it because of the development of training and quality control programmes around the world. I still think this is much of what we are seeing in the data. 'There have been a couple of other interesting articles which have raised other concerns about this approach, so I am not alone in my skepticism.' Sources and References
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News: First baby born in England following ovarian tissue graft
Dr Maria Botcharova 05 December 2022
A baby has been born in England for the first time to a mother who had tissue from her ovary removed before breast cancer treatment, and then had it regrafted back. The mother of the recently born baby had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2018, at the age of 33. She and her husband wanted the chance to have a baby later, but the advanced stage of her cancer meant that she could not delay her treatment by the weeks that egg freezing could take. Her ovary was removed using keyhole surgery, and tissue containing eggs was frozen at -180°C. After successful cancer treatment was completed, the tissue was re-implanted onto her remaining ovary, and she was able to conceive through IVF. 'We offer a clinical service to children and young adults across the UK who are at high risk of infertility and who cannot store mature eggs or sperm. It's quite unique in that sense and very much focused on their future.' Dr Sheila Lane, consultant paediatric oncologist at Oxford Children's Hospital and director at the Oxford Fertility Tissue Cryopreservation Programme told The Times. This cryopreservation procedure is most often offered to children and young adults who require treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which can cause infertility. Unlike regular egg freezing, the removal of ovary tissue does not require the ovary to be fully formed before removal, which means that it gives children undergoing cancer treatment a chance to have a child later in life. It can also be performed very quickly, allowing urgent cancer treatment to progress. Although this was the first birth following this procedure in England, it follows an earlier one in 2017 in Scotland, where the freezing of both ovarian and testicular tissue, as well as gametes and ovaries, receives dedicated funding. In England, the procedure is currently offered through the National Paediatric Fertility Preservation Service by a small number of doctors, working on a voluntary basis. Since 2013, they have performed the procedure for around 2700 people. 'Sometimes I get a call from someone saying 'I need an ovary out tomorrow because we need to start treatment on Friday', and we can do that' Nic Alexander, consultant neonatal and paediatric surgeon at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, St Mary's Hospital told The Times. 'But we've reached a critical juncture with the biobank in Oxford where they can only process two cases a day' he continued. 'We have had a couple of cases where children aren't offered treatment, because there isn't enough time' 'We know that a significant number of patients who become infertile in their teenage years have serious mental health issues. We would never think it was the right thing to chop off a child's leg because they have bone cancer and not give them a prosthesis so they can walk.' Alexander added 'Now there is something we can do and I think this should be seen as being an integral part of cancer care.' Sources and References
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News: ART & Embryology training program
Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 04 December 2022
January 2023 Training Batch Schedule 18th Jan - 01st Feb 2022. The International School of Embryology was established to offer training for clinicians in advanced reproductive technologies. Our skill and precision to all aspirants help them to know in-depth knowledge and experience. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring doctors and embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about reproductive techniques and practical capability in the field. Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on). Limited Seats. For admission Contact 9003111598 / 8428278218 [ Full Article ]
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