Infertility

Sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) is a DNA damage able to predict natural conception. Thus, many laboratories added tests for the detection of sDF as an adjunct to routine semen analysis with specific indications. However, some points related to sDF are still open. The available tests are very different each from other, and a direct comparison, in terms of the prediction of reproductive outcomes, is mandatory. The proposed mechanisms responsible for sDF generation have not yielded treatments for men with high levels of sDF that have gained the general consent in clinical practice, thus requiring further research...

Background/Objectives : Infertility constitutes a significant challenge for couples around the world. Ovarian dysfunction, a major cause of infertility, can manifest with anovulatory cycles, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and diminished ovarian reserve markers such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels or the Antral Follicle Count (AFC). Blood-derived therapies including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have been used in fertility treatments in women with low ovarian reserve or premature ovarian insufficiency...

This review article aims to summarize current tools used in the diagnosis of adenomyosis with relative pharmacological and surgical treatment and to clarify the relative association between adenomyosis and infertility, considering the importance of an accurate diagnosis of this heterogeneous disease. Among different reported concepts, direction invagination of gland cells from the basalis endometrium deep into the myometrium is the most widely accepted opinion on the development of adenomyosis. Adenomyosis has been increasingly identified in young women with pain, AUB, infertility, or no symptoms by using imaging techniques such as transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance...

Background: Endometriosis is known to be a common chronic disease that often affects the quality of life of patients. Especially for deep endometriosis (DE), the most challenging form of the disease, surgery remains an important component of treatment. However, long-term outcomes after surgery are poorly studied. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the postoperative clinical course of women with DE who underwent surgery, particularly with regard to pain relief, fertility, and re-operations. Methods: Thus, women who underwent surgical treatment for DE between 2005 and 2015 were included in this retrospective questionnaire-based analysis...

Background/Objectives : While it is known that adenomyosis is associated with poor reproductive outcomes, the underlying mechanisms are unclear, and to date, there is no standard treatment protocol for these patients. Endometrium from adenomyosis patients is characterized by several abnormalities, potentially resulting in impaired receptivity and subsequent implantation failure. Methods : Endometrial biopsies were collected from 26 women with adenomyosis and 26 control subjects. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of markers of endometrial receptivity, namely the progesterone receptor (PR), glycodelin, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), homeobox A10 (HOXA10), integrin beta chain beta 3 (integrin β3) and osteopontin...

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is important for commercial hybrid seed production. However, it is still not used in eggplant ( Solanum melongena L.), and corresponding regulatory genes and mechanisms of action have not been reported. We report CMS line 327A, which was derived from the hybridization between cultivated and wild eggplants. By looking at different stages of anther development under a microscope, we saw that the 327A anther's tapetum layer vacuolized during meiosis, which caused abortion. To investigate the 327A CMS regulatory genes, the mitochondrial genomes of 327A and its maintainer line 327B were assembled de novo...

Female infertility affects a significant portion of the population, and recent studies suggest a potential link between glycemic control and reproductive health. This study investigates the association between serum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and female infertility, utilizing data from the NHANES 2017-2020 and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1578 women aged 20-45 who attempted pregnancy for at least one year. Serum HbA1c levels were analyzed in relation to infertility status, with multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for covariates such as age, body mass index, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia...

Obesity, which leads to metabolic dysregulation and body function impairment, emerges as one of the pressing health challenges worldwide. Excessive body fat deposits comprise a dynamic and biologically active organ possessing its own endocrine function. One of the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of obesity is low-grade systemic inflammation mediated by pro-inflammatory factors such as free fatty acids, lipopolysaccharides, adipokines (including leptin, resistin and visfatin) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, Il-6), which are secreted by adipose tissue...

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) possess the characteristics of self-renewal and differentiation, as well as the ability to generate functional sperm. Their unique stemness has broad applications in male infertility treatment and species preservation. In rodents, research on SSCs has been widely reported, but progress is slow in large livestock such as cattle and pigs due to long growth cycles, difficult proliferation in vitro, and significant species differences. Previously, we showed that histone 3 (H3) lysine 9 (K9) trimethylation (H3K9me3) is associated with the proliferation of bovine SSCs...

This study aims to investigate the role of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, in male infertility. The motivation behind this research stems from the increasing recognition of oxidative stress and iron metabolism dysregulation as critical factors in male reproductive health. In this study, 28 infertile patients (grouped by the presence of urogenital infections or varicocele) and 19 fertile men were selected. Spermiograms were performed by light microscopy (WHO, 2021). Testosterone, ferritin, transferrin-bound iron, transferrin, and F2 -isoprostanes (F2 -IsoPs) were detected in seminal plasma...

Ovarian aging results in reproductive disorders and infertility in mammals. Previous studies have reported that the ferroptosis and autophagy caused by oxidative stress may lead to ovarian aging, but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we compared the morphological characteristics between the aged and young ovaries of pigs and found that the aged ovaries were larger in size and showed more corpora lutea. TUNEL assay further showed that the apoptosis level of granulosa cells (GCs) was relatively higher in the aged ovaries than those in young ovaries, as well as the expressions of autophagy-associated genes, e...

Reproductive disorders in donkeys present a significant challenge to their health and welfare, impacting their roles in agriculture, conservation, and companionship. With the development of large-scale donkey farming in recent years, reproductive disorders have become a limiting factor for the expansion of the donkey population. In general, donkeys suffer from a similar array of diseases like horses, but little is known about the specificities of donkey reproductive disorders. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the pathogenesis, distribution, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of a diverse array of reproductive disorders affecting donkeys...

STUDY QUESTION: Which decision-making factors influence family building among permanently infertile couples? SUMMARY ANSWER: Ethical, legal, and financial considerations outweigh genetic relatedness in decision-making, favouring domestic gestational surrogacy, if this were possible, over international options. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Permanent infertility affects 4-5% of people in the fertile age. Their family-building options include adoption, surrogacy, uterus transplantation, foster care, and intentional multiple parenthood...

BACKGROUND: In-depth understanding of dynamic expression profiles of human granulosa cells (GCs) during follicular development will contribute to the diagnostic and targeted interventions for female infertility. However, genome-scale analysis of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) in GCs across diverse developmental stages is challenging. Meanwhile, further research is needed to determine how aberrant lncRNA expression participates in ovarian diseases. METHODS: Granulosa cell-related lncRNAs data spanning five follicular development stages were retrieved and filtered from the NCBI dataset (GSE107746)...

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop an Infertility Perception Scale for Women (IPS-W). METHODS: Initial items were based on an extensive literature review and in-depth interviews with five infertile women and fifteen women not diagnosed with infertility. Forty-one items were derived from a pilot survey. Data were collected from 203 women who had experienced intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) more than once. The data were analyzed to verify the reliability and validity of the scale...

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This study leveraged microarray datasets to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in cumulus cells and their relevance in predicting the successful implantation of embryos in human in-vitro fertilization procedures. The microarray data were obtained from the GEO database, encompassing samples of cumulus cells during in vitro culture and different passages. To ensure data consistency, inter-batch normalization was performed, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to assess the impact of normalization on sample group clustering...

Ovarian stimulation has been the single most efficient measure ever taken in ART for improving outcome by harvesting multiple oocytes and ultimately, embryos. Today, ovarian stimulation protocols consist in administrating exogenous gonadotropins in order to override the natural mechanisms which controls the ovulatory quota to one in humans. For practicality issues, there has been numerous attempts to control, or 'program', when ovarian stimulation are initiated in order to improve functionality and in turn efficacy for ART programs...

STUDY QUESTION: Is there an association between male creatinine levels and time to pregnancy (TTP) in couples planning pregnancy? SUMMARY ANSWER: Low and high male creatinine concentrations were associated with reduced couple fecundity. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Abundant evidence suggests male creatinine dysfunction is associated with infertility in males with kidney diseases. However, the association of preconception creatinine levels with reduced fecundity among general reproductive-aged couples lacks evidence from an in-depth population study...

Characterization of long non-coding telomeric repeat-containing RNAs in sperm of normozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men as new biomarker of idiopathic male infertility. We conducted an observational prospective study with two groups of men with normal or orligoasthenozoospermic spermiogram, aged 40 and above. Fertility parameters were analyzed in men undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection with donor oocytes, to avoid the female factor. Telomeric RNAs and telomere length were measured by quantitative fluorescent in situ hybridization...