IVF NewsWebinar: MIND THE [GENERATIONAL] GAP: THE NEXT GENERATION OF EMBRYOLOGISTS
International IVF Initiative 14 November 2022
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15th Nov 2022, 3pm EST LIVE, 8pm UK, 9pm CET [ Full Article ]  
News: UK survey reveals challenges of fertility treatment
Joanne Delange 07 November 2022
A Fertility Network UK survey of 1279 fertility patients has revealed the impact of treatment on mental health, finances, relationships and career. The survey was conducted by the charity which provides support to be affected by infertility between April - July 2022. Results were published on 31 October 2022 to mark the start of National Fertility Awareness Week. Forty percent of patients responding to the survey reported to have experienced suicidal feelings at some point, 63 percent had paid for their own treatment (at an average cost of £13,750), 36 percent felt their career was damaged as a result and 59 percent reported some detrimental impact on their relationship with their partner. '…[this] major new survey reveals the far-reaching trauma of infertility, painting a stark, distressing picture of what it is like to experience infertility and fertility treatment in the UK.' said Gwenda Burns, chief executive of Fertility Network UK. 'Fertility patients encounter a perfect storm: not being able to have the child you long for is emotionally devastating, but then many fertility patients face a series of other hurdles, including potentially paying financially crippling amounts of money for their necessary medical treatment, having their career damaged, not getting information from their GP, experiencing their relationships deteriorate, and being unable to access the mental support they need.' The survey further uncovered that 75 percent of patients felt that their GP didn't provide enough information about fertility problems and treatment, with 51 percent receiving counselling. However, the majority of patients that had counselling had to pay for it themselves, with 78 percent saying that they would have liked to have had counselling if it was free. Nearly half of the patients would have liked to have attended a support group, but did not have one nearby. According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), more than 50,000 UK women undergo IVF treatment annually. 'Going through fertility treatment can be one of the most challenging times of a person's life and it's clear from this survey that the emotional, physical and financial implications of fertility, continue to affect patients today.' Julia Chain, chair of the HFEA, said in response to the report. 'Providing fertility care is not just about achieving a pregnancy. A patient's mental health should be a priority too. We are particularly concerned to see that 40 percent of respondents reported suicidal feelings and around half felt depressed. This emphasises the importance of access to counselling which UK licensed clinics are legally required to offer and make available to any patient who wants that support.' The figures have changed little since the survey in 2016, with participants still reporting inadequate access to NHS-funded fertility treatment and mental-health services, as well as lack of workplace policy and support. Fertility Network UK's survey was conducted with Dr Nicky Payne, associate professor of psychology at Middlesex University, London and the full report published as 'The Impact of Fertility Challenges and Treatment'. Burns concluded: 'This is unacceptable. Infertility is a disease and is as deserving of medical help and support as any other clinical condition.' Sources and References
[ Full Article ]
News: Role of BMI on fertility treatment outcomes explored
Hannah Flynn 07 November 2022
BMI is not associated with pregnancy rates following transfer of non-aneuploid frozen embryos, according to research presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's (ASRM) 2022 scientific congress. Analysis of over 55,000 IVF patients who had not experienced recurrent miscarriage or uterine factor infertility, was carried out by researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois. Researchers found no correlation between BMI – a measure obtained using a person's weight and height – and pregnancy rates following IVF when results were adjusted for age at transfer, race, number of children, prior pregnancy loss, smoking, ovulation disorder and other factors. Authors noted results taken from this analysis of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System were contrary to other findings. 'While previous studies suggested otherwise, this study failed to find an association between BMI and pregnancy loss following euploid frozen embryo transfer.' said Dr Marcelle Cedars, ASRM president. The ASRM 2022 scientific congress also heard from other researchers exploring the role of BMI, overweight and obesity in fertility patients and their treatment outcomes. Another abstract presented results that showed maternal obesity was significantly correlated with increased risk of miscarriage following embryo transfer using donor eggs. In this single-centre study, researchers paired the recipients of 476 donor oocytes in different BMI categories (obese >30 or non-obese <30) who had similar age, type of sperm used, number of previous children and ethnicity. They found a small, but significant increase in the risk of miscarriage in obese women when adjusting for variables. Researchers from Northwell Health Fertility and North Shore University Hospital, both in New York, presented data showing that restricting access to fertility treatment on the basis of BMI, could contribute to reducing access to IVF for people who are black or Hispanic. Authors of the abstract had measured the BMI of 3350 patients who wanted to initiate fertility treatment at a single clinic. Analysis showed that black and Hispanic patients were more likely to have a BMI over 40, and that lower BMI and being white were both positively associated with initiating fertility treatment there. They warned BMI cut-offs in eligibility criteria for treatment may contribute to this disparity. A small study of 97 women carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic by researchers from Tufts Medical Centre and Boston IVF, both in Boston, Massachusetts, sought to analyse the effectiveness of remote support to lose weight in obese women with infertility. Obese women with a mean BMI 43.2 of were given access to a multi-disciplinary obesity management program delivered through a telehealth platform, including a monthly video call with a board-certified obesity medicine physician and a registered dietician. Participants reported a mean weight loss of 9.7 percent and 15.4 percent of patients were currently pregnant, the scientific congress was told. Sources and References
[ Full Article ]
News: ART & Embryology training program
Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 03 November 2022
December 2022 Training Batch Schedule - 5th Dec - 19th Dec 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 ]
Announcement: MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS (DEMO CLASS)
Dr. Sarabpreet Singh 02 November 2022
The Fertilis Academy is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. [ Full Article ]
Webinar: QUALITY INSIDE
International IVF Initiative 31 October 2022
8th Nov 2022, 3pm EST LIVE, 8pm UK, 9pm CET Moderators: [ Full Article ]
News: UK survey reveals challenges of fertility treatment
Joanne Delange 31 October 2022
A Fertility Network UK survey of 1279 fertility patients has revealed the impact of treatment on mental health, finances, relationships and career. The survey was conducted by the charity which provides support to be affected by infertility between April - July 2022. Results were published on 31 October 2022 to mark the start of National Fertility Awareness Week. Forty percent of patients responding to the survey reported to have experienced suicidal feelings at some point, 63 percent had paid for their own treatment (at an average cost of £13,750), 36 percent felt their career was damaged as a result and 59 percent reported some detrimental impact on their relationship with their partner. '…[this] major new survey reveals the far-reaching trauma of infertility, painting a stark, distressing picture of what it is like to experience infertility and fertility treatment in the UK.' said Gwenda Burns, chief executive of Fertility Network UK. 'Fertility patients encounter a perfect storm: not being able to have the child you long for is emotionally devastating, but then many fertility patients face a series of other hurdles, including potentially paying financially crippling amounts of money for their necessary medical treatment, having their career damaged, not getting information from their GP, experiencing their relationships deteriorate, and being unable to access the mental support they need.' The survey further uncovered that 75 percent of patients felt that their GP didn't provide enough information about fertility problems and treatment, with 51 percent receiving counselling. However, the majority of patients that had counselling had to pay for it themselves, with 78 percent saying that they would have liked to have had counselling if it was free. Nearly half of the patients would have liked to have attended a support group, but did not have one nearby. According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), more than 50,000 UK women undergo IVF treatment annually. 'Going through fertility treatment can be one of the most challenging times of a person's life and it's clear from this survey that the emotional, physical and financial implications of fertility, continue to affect patients today.' Julia Chain, chair of the HFEA, said in response to the report. 'Providing fertility care is not just about achieving a pregnancy. A patient's mental health should be a priority too. We are particularly concerned to see that 40 percent of respondents reported suicidal feelings and around half felt depressed. This emphasises the importance of access to counselling which UK licensed clinics are legally required to offer and make available to any patient who wants that support.' The figures have changed little since the survey in 2016, with participants still reporting inadequate access to NHS-funded fertility treatment and mental-health services, as well as lack of workplace policy and support. Fertility Network UK's survey was conducted with Dr Nicky Payne, associate professor of psychology at Middlesex University, London and the full report published as 'The Impact of Fertility Challenges and Treatment'. Burns concluded: 'This is unacceptable. Infertility is a disease and is as deserving of medical help and support as any other clinical condition.' Sources and References
[ Full Article ]
News: Exposure to WiFi reduces sperm motility and viability in the lab
Laxmee Ramkhelawon 31 October 2022
A smart phone carrying out a voice call over WiFi, has been shown to negatively affect sperm motility and viability in semen in the laboratory. Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Florida, have shown that while semen in vitro was affected by exposure to a mobile phone carrying out a voice call over WiFi, it was not affected by exposure to the same voice call carried out using 4G or 5G. They hypothesised this could be due to increased heat emanating from a voice during a call carried out over WiFi, as well as radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) emitted by the phone. 'The data shows that sperm-exposure to WiFi reduces sperm motility and viability. I have no problem with this conclusion on the basis of the information presented in this abstract, but we need to be cautious about how this is interpreted in a real-world setting,' said Allan Pacey professor of andrology at the University of Sheffield and Progress Educational Trust trustee who was not involved in the research. He added: 'It is important to note that sperm in the male body before ejaculation do not swim. Therefore, it is a leap of faith to assume that the damaging effects of WiFi signals might affect unactivated sperm in men's bodies in the same way as the authors of this study have shown for ejaculated sperm in the laboratory.' The abstract of the study was presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's 2022 scientific congress held 22-26 October 2022 and published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. Researchers had set out to investigate the impact of RF-EMR, which is emitted by smart phones accessing WiFi, 4G and 5G, on sperm motility and viability from ejaculated semen in the laboratory from fertile men between the ages of 25-35 years old. They used a current generation smartphone to carry out a six hour WhatsApp voice call via WiFi, 4G or 5G to generate RF-EMR for the experiment. The team found a statistically significant association between exposure to WiFi and a decrease in sperm viability, a 13 percent reduction, and sperm motility, a 12 percent reduction. This association was not observed in semen samples that were exposed to 4G or 5G RF-EMR. Noticing the phones became warmer when carrying out the voice call over WiFi than over 4G or 5G networks, researchers hypothesised the effect observed on sperm was due to heat emitted by the phone. To test this researchers also incubated ejaculated semen in a 37C incubator, and found this also affected motility of sperm. Authors also found the use of a phone case, or increasing the distance of the semen from the smartphone, reduced the effect of WiFi on sperm. As different phone models behaved differently, the researchers noted that continued research on the association between WiFi exposure and lower sperm motility was needed. Sources and References
[ Full Article ]
Webinar: WEBINARS PREPARING EMBRYOLOGY CERTIFICATION
Marc Van den Bergh 18 October 2022
[ Full Article ]
Webinar: CRYOGOVERNANCE® VI: BEST PRACTICES IN CRYOSTORAGE
International IVF Initiative 16 October 2022
18th Oct 2022, 3pm EST LIVE, 8pm UK, 9pm CET Moderators: [ Full Article ]
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