In vitro fertilisation for all?

In vitro fertilisation for unexplained subfertility.

BACKGROUND One-third of subfertile couples have no identifiable cause for their inability to conceive. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a widely accepted treatment for this condition; however, this treatment is invasive and expensive and is associated with risks. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of IVF compared with expectant management, unstimulated intrauterine inseminatio...

In vitro fertilisation and moral equivalence.

In vitro fertilisation: the major issues.

In vitro fertilisation is now an established technique for treating some forms of infertility, yet it remains ethically controversial. New developments, such as embryo donation and embryo freezing, have led to further discussion. We briefly discuss the ethical aspects of IVF, focusing on the issues of resource allocation, the 'unnaturalness' of the procedure, the moral status of the embryo, sur...

Spondylodiscitis after transvaginal oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilisation.

The frequency of iatrogenic spondylodiscitis is clearly increasing, which may reflect the increasing number of aggressive interventional procedures which may cause it. One of these is oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilisation. The authors describe a case of Streptococcus faecalis L5-S1 spondylodiscitis. Conservative treatment is the rule, but surgery may be indicated in specific cases such as...

Recent advances in clinical aspects of in vitro fertilisation.

While early success rates using in vitro fertilisation ranged from 10% to 15%, improved technology has more than doubled that rate, owing to the availability of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone, improved ovarian stimulation protocols, and assisted fertilisation technology. This latter technology has already revolutionised the management of male-factor infertility. The future goal is to ...