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Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica... Jun 2017Endometriosis is a common condition in women of reproductive age. In addition to pain, endometriosis may also reduce fertility. The causes of infertility in women with... (Review)
Review
Endometriosis is a common condition in women of reproductive age. In addition to pain, endometriosis may also reduce fertility. The causes of infertility in women with endometriosis may range from anatomical distortions due to adhesions and fibrosis to endocrine abnormalities and immunological disturbances. In some cases, the various pathophysiological disturbances seem to interact through mechanisms so far not fully understood. Whether surgery should be offered as a treatment option in endometriosis-associated infertility has become controversial, partly due to its modest or undocumented effect. Medical or hormonal treatment alone has little or no effect and should only be used in conjunction with assisted reproductive technology (ART). Of the various methods of ART, intrauterine insemination, due to its simplicity, can be recommended in women with minimal or mild peritoneal endometriosis, even though insemination may yield a lower success rate than in women without endometriosis. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an effective treatment option in less-advanced disease stages, and the success rates are similar to the results in other causes of infertility. However, women with more advanced stages of endometriosis have lower success rates with IVF.
Topics: Endometriosis; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Infertility, Female; Insemination, Artificial; Ovulation Induction; Pregnancy; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
PubMed: 27998009
DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13082 -
Journal of Dairy Science Dec 2017Reproductive technology revolutionized dairy production during the past century. Artificial insemination was first successfully applied to cattle in the early 1900s. The... (Review)
Review
Reproductive technology revolutionized dairy production during the past century. Artificial insemination was first successfully applied to cattle in the early 1900s. The next major developments involved semen extenders, invention of the electroejaculator, progeny testing, addition of antibiotics to semen during the 1930s and 1940s, and the major discovery of sperm cryopreservation with glycerol in 1949. The 1950s and 1960s were particularly productive with the development of protocols for the superovulation of cattle with both pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin/equine chorionic gonadotrophin and FSH, the first successful bovine embryo transfer, the discovery of sperm capacitation, the birth of rabbits after in vitro fertilization, and the development of insulated liquid nitrogen tanks. Improved semen extenders and the replacement of glass ampules with plastic semen straws followed. Some of the most noteworthy developments in the 1970s included the initial successes with in vitro culture of embryos, calves born after chromosomal sexing as embryos, embryo splitting resulting in the birth of twins, and development of computer-assisted semen analysis. The 1980s brought flow cytometric separation of X- and Y-bearing sperm, in vitro fertilization leading to the birth of live calves, clones produced by nuclear transfer from embryonic cells, and ovum pick-up via ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration. The 20th century ended with the birth of calves produced from AI with sexed semen, sheep and cattle clones produced by nuclear transfer from adult somatic cell nuclei, and the birth of transgenic cloned calves. The 21st century has seen the introduction of perhaps the most powerful biotechnology since the development of artificial insemination and cryopreservation. Quick, inexpensive genomic analysis via the use of single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping chips is revolutionizing the cattle breeding industry. Now, with the introduction of genome editing technology, the changes are becoming almost too rapid to fully digest.
Topics: Animals; Breeding; Cattle; Dairying; Female; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Pregnancy; Reproductive Techniques; Semen; Sheep
PubMed: 29153167
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-13138 -
Fertility and Sterility Feb 2020To provide evidence-based recommendations to practicing physicians and others regarding the effectiveness and safety of therapies for unexplained infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To provide evidence-based recommendations to practicing physicians and others regarding the effectiveness and safety of therapies for unexplained infertility.
METHODS
ASRM conducted a literature search, which included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and prospective and retrospective comparative observational studies published from 1968 through 2019. The ASRM Practice Committee and a task force of experts used available evidence and informal consensus to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Outcomes of interest included: live-birth rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, fertilization rate, multiple pregnancy rate, dose of treatment, rate of ovarian hyperstimulation, abortion rate, and ectopic pregnancy rate.
RESULT(S)
The literature search identified 88 relevant studies to inform the evidence base for this guideline.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Evidence-based recommendations were developed for the following treatments for couples with unexplained infertility: natural cycle with intrauterine insemination (IUI); clomiphene citrate with intercourse; aromatase inhibitors with intercourse; gonadotropins with intercourse; clomiphene citrate with IUI; aromatase inhibitors with IUI; combination of clomiphene citrate or letrozole and gonadotropins (low dose and conventional dose) with IUI; low-dose gonadotropins with IUI; conventional-dose gonadotropins with IUI; timing of IUI; and in vitro fertilization and treatment paradigms.
CONCLUSION(S)
The treatment of unexplained infertility is by necessity empiric. For most couples, the best initial therapy is a course (typically 3 or 4 cycles) of ovarian stimulation with oral medications and intrauterine insemination (OS-IUI) followed by in vitro fertilization for those unsuccessful with OS-IUI treatments.
Topics: Aromatase Inhibitors; Clomiphene; Evidence-Based Practice; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Gonadotropins; Humans; Infertility, Female; Insemination, Artificial; Pregnancy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 32106976
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.10.014 -
Lakartidningen Dec 2022Since 1985 only non-anonymous sperm donation (where a child born as a result of treatment can recieve information about the identity of the donor at a mature age) is...
Since 1985 only non-anonymous sperm donation (where a child born as a result of treatment can recieve information about the identity of the donor at a mature age) is performed in Sweden, and from 2003 the same applies to egg donation. Treatment is legal for different groups of patients; man-woman couples, female same sex couples and single women. Treatment can be performed at publicly funded and at private clinics, and for sperm donation it is possible using either insemination or IVF. Treatment with donated gametes is steadily increasing.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Male; Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous; Oocyte Donation; Semen; Tissue and Organ Procurement; Tissue Donors; Germ Cells
PubMed: 36519705
DOI: No ID Found -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Sep 2020While only a single sperm may fertilize the egg, getting to the egg can be facilitated, and possibly enhanced, by sperm group dynamics. Examples range from the trains... (Review)
Review
While only a single sperm may fertilize the egg, getting to the egg can be facilitated, and possibly enhanced, by sperm group dynamics. Examples range from the trains formed by wood mouse sperm to the bundles exhibited by echidna sperm. In addition, observations of wave-like patterns exhibited by ram semen are used to score prospective sample fertility for artificial insemination in agriculture. In this review, we discuss these experimental observations of collective dynamics, as well as describe recent mechanistic models that link the motion of individual sperm cells and their flagella to observed collective dynamics. Establishing this link in models involves negotiating the disparate time- and length scales involved, typically separated by a factor of 1000, to capture the dynamics at the greatest length scales affected by mechanisms at the shortest time scales. Finally, we provide some outlook on the subject, in particular, the open questions regarding how collective dynamics impacts fertility. This article is part of the theme issue 'Multi-scale analysis and modelling of collective migration in biological systems'.
Topics: Animals; Fertility; Flagella; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Motion; Sheep, Domestic; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 32713305
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0384 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2021Seminal plasma (SP), the non-cellular component of semen, is a heterogeneous composite fluid built by secretions of the testis, the epididymis and the accessory sexual... (Review)
Review
Seminal plasma (SP), the non-cellular component of semen, is a heterogeneous composite fluid built by secretions of the testis, the epididymis and the accessory sexual glands. Its composition, despite species-specific anatomical peculiarities, consistently contains inorganic ions, specific hormones, proteins and peptides, including cytokines and enzymes, cholesterol, DNA and RNA-the latter often protected within epididymis- or prostate-derived extracellular vesicles. It is beyond question that the SP participates in diverse aspects of sperm function pre-fertilization events. The SP also interacts with the various compartments of the tubular genital tract, triggering changes in gene function that prepares for an eventual successful pregnancy; thus, it ultimately modulates fertility. Despite these concepts, it is imperative to remember that SP-free spermatozoa (epididymal or washed ejaculated) are still fertile, so this review shall focus on the differences between the in vivo roles of the SP following semen deposition in the female and those regarding additions of SP on spermatozoa handled for artificial reproduction, including cryopreservation, from artificial insemination to in vitro fertilization. This review attempts, including our own results on model animal species, to critically summarize the current knowledge of the reproductive roles played by SP components, particularly in our own species, which is increasingly affected by infertility. The ultimate goal is to reconcile the delicate balance between the SP molecular concentration and their concerted effects after temporal exposure in vivo. We aim to appraise the functions of the SP components, their relevance as diagnostic biomarkers and their value as eventual additives to refine reproductive strategies, including biotechnologies, in livestock models and humans.
Topics: Animals; Female; Fertility; Humans; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Pregnancy; Reproduction; Semen; Sperm Motility
PubMed: 33922047
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094368 -
Animal : An International Journal of... Jun 2018Fertility is one of the most economically important traits in both beef and dairy cattle production; however, only female fertility is typically subjected to selection.... (Review)
Review
Fertility is one of the most economically important traits in both beef and dairy cattle production; however, only female fertility is typically subjected to selection. Male and female fertility have only a small positive genetic correlation which is likely due to the existence of a relatively small number of genetic variants within each breed that cause embryonic and developmental losses. Genomic tools have been developed that allow the identification of lethal recessive loci based upon marker haplotypes. Selection against haplotypes harbouring lethal alleles in conjunction with selection to improve female fertility will result in an improvement in male fertility. Genomic selection has resulted in a two to fourfold increase in the rate of genetic improvement of most dairy traits in US Holstein cattle, including female fertility. Considering the rapidly increasing rate of adoption of high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping in both the US dairy and beef industries, genomic selection should be the most effective of all currently available approaches to improve male fertility. However, male fertility phenotypes are not routinely recorded in natural service mating systems and when artificial insemination is used, semen doses may be titrated to lower post-thaw progressively motile sperm numbers for high-merit and high-demand bulls. Standardization of sperm dosages across bull studs for semen distributed from young bulls would allow the capture of sire conception rate phenotypes for young bulls that could be used to generate predictions of genetic merit for male fertility in both males and females. These data would allow genomic selection to be implemented for male fertility in addition to female fertility within the US dairy industry. While the rate of use of artificial insemination is much lower within the US beef industry, the adoption of sexed semen in the dairy industry has allowed dairy herds to select cows from which heifer replacements are produced and cows that are used to produce terminal crossbred bull calves sired by beef breed bulls. Capture of sire conception rate phenotypes in dairy herds utilizing sexed semen will contribute data enabling genomic selection for male fertility in beef cattle breeds. As the commercial sector of the beef industry increasingly adopts fixed-time artificial insemination, sire conception rate phenotypes can be captured to facilitate the development of estimates of genetic merit for male fertility within US beef breeds.
Topics: Animals; Breeding; Cattle; Dairying; Female; Fertility; Genomics; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Semen
PubMed: 29618393
DOI: 10.1017/S1751731118000599 -
Poultry Science Nov 2020The increased consumption of protein derived from poultry demands greater poultry production, but increased poultry production (meat and eggs) is dependent on the... (Review)
Review
The increased consumption of protein derived from poultry demands greater poultry production, but increased poultry production (meat and eggs) is dependent on the fertility of the parent flocks. Clearly, the fertility of poultry flocks is associated with the fertility of both males and females, but the low numbers of males used for natural or artificial insemination mean that their role is more important. Thus, enhancing the semen volume, sperm concentration, viability, forward motility, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in sperm, as well as protecting against oxidative damage, could help to optimize the sperm membrane functionality, mitochondrial activity, and sperm-egg penetration, and thus fertility. Therefore, this review summarizes the nutritional factors that could improve the fertility of poultry males as well as their associated mechanisms to allow poultry producers to overcome low-fertility problems, especially in aging poultry males, thereby obtaining beneficial impacts on the poultry production industry.
Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Fertility; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Poultry; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 33142481
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.06.083 -
Animal : An International Journal of... Jun 2018In cattle artificial insemination plays not only a vital role in the successful establishment of pregnancy, which is a prerequisite for initiation of the subsequent... (Review)
Review
In cattle artificial insemination plays not only a vital role in the successful establishment of pregnancy, which is a prerequisite for initiation of the subsequent lactation, but also in accelerating genetic improvement and facilitating the distribution of semen from genetically elite sires. The latter has been greatly facilitated by the ability to successfully cryopreserve semen. The objective of an insemination is to ensure that there is an adequate reservoir of competent, capacitated, motile sperm in the caudal region of the oviductal isthmus, the site of the main sperm reservoir in the cow, at the time of ovulation to ensure fertilisation. Handling of semen, particularly the 0.25 ml straw, is critically important. Thawed semen needs to be protected from cold and heat shocks and inseminated within 6 to 8 min of thawing. Uterine horn insemination give a modest improvement in conceptions rates particularly in situations where conception rates are low following uterine body inseminations. Most of the studies that evaluated heterospermic insemination were conducted on fresh semen only, and many lacked adequate replication. Consequently, it is difficult to deduce if there are real benefits from using heterospermic semen. While the interval from oestrous onset to time of ovulation would appear to be similar for cows and heifers at about 28 h there is huge variation (standard deviations of 5 to 6 h) around this average. While best conception rates are achieved when cows are inseminated from mid oestrus to a few hours after the onset of oestrus, this is difficult to achieve in practice. There is emerging evidence that having one insemination time, when all cows requiring insemination in the herd on that day are inseminated, does not compromise fertility provided insemination technique is good and the semen used is of high fertility.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Fertility; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Pregnancy; Semen; Semen Preservation; Specimen Handling; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 29717688
DOI: 10.1017/S1751731118000952 -
Scientific Reports May 2021Non-lethal methods for semen collection from elasmobranchs to better understand species reproduction has accompanied the development of artificial insemination....
Non-lethal methods for semen collection from elasmobranchs to better understand species reproduction has accompanied the development of artificial insemination. Ejaculates (n = 82) collected from whitespotted bamboo sharks Chiloscyllium plagiosum (n = 19) were assessed and cold-stored raw or extended at 4 °C. Females (n = 20) were inseminated with fresh or 24-48 h cold-stored raw or extended semen and paternity of offspring determined with microsatellite markers. Insemination of females with fresh semen (n = 10) resulted in 80 hatchlings and 27.6% fertility. Insemination of females with semen cold-stored 24 h (n = 4) and 48 h (n = 1) semen resulted in 17 hatchlings and fertilization rates of 28.1% and 7.1% respectively. Two females inseminated with fresh or cold-stored semen laid eggs that hatched from fertilization and parthenogenesis within the same clutch. Parthenogenesis rate for inseminated females was 0.71%. Results demonstrate artificial insemination with cold-stored semen can provide a strategy for transport of male genetics nationally and internationally, precluding the need to transport sharks. Production of parthenotes in the same clutch as sexually fertilized eggs highlights the prevalence of parthenogenesis in whitespotted bamboo sharks and poses important considerations for population management.
Topics: Animals; Ejaculation; Female; Fertility; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Microsatellite Repeats; Oviposition; Parthenogenesis; Paternity; Semen Analysis; Semen Preservation; Sharks; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Zygote
PubMed: 33980873
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88568-y