Background: It is established that sperm DNA integrity is essential in fertilization and normal embryo and fetal development. Routine semen analysis gives an approximate evaluation of the functional competence of spermatozoa, but does not always reflect the quality of sperm DNA. Therefore, the evaluation of sperm DNA integrity, in addition to routine sperm parameters, could add further informat...

Research of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) has expanded dramatically in recent years, and many novel PPIs may be useful in couples therapy. The present work identifies, summarizes, and suggests adaptations of PPIs that may improve couples therapy outcomes. Each intervention is presented as part of a larger organizational framework that may help couples therapists determine how and whe...

This article identifies and operationalizes the newly defined construct of attachment injury. An attachment injury occurs when one partner violates the expectation that the other will offer comfort and caring in times of danger or distress. This incident becomes a clinically recurring theme and creates an impasse that blocks relationship repair in couples therapy. An attachment injury is charac...

BACKGROUND Previous studies have measured cytokines expressed within follicular fluid and compared the profiles with the aetiology of infertility and/or successful or unsuccessful assisted reproduction technology (ART) outcomes. METHODS In this study, 71 paired follicular fluid and vaginal secretions collected from ART patients were cultured to detect microorganisms and tested for the presenc...

Semen analysis lacks a functional component and best identifies extreme cases of infertility. The ganglioside GM1 is known to have functional roles during capacitation and acrosome exocytosis. Here, we assessed whether GM1 localization patterns (Cap-Score™) correspond with male fertility in different settings: Study 1 involved couples pursuing assisted reproduction in a tertiary care fertility ...

Infertility is a common problem affecting one in six couples, and in 30% of infertile couples, the male factor is a major cause due to defective sperm quality. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a product of the MDR1 (ABCB1) gene, may be a link between genetic and environmental factors contributing to the development of male infertility because pesticides (P-gp substrates) are well established factors of m...

OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that leatherwork is associated with male infertility mediated through the development of oligozoospermia. The basis of any association was postulated, at the outset, to be with exposure to the solvents used in leatherwork. METHODS All new referrals with infertility presenting in Leicestershire hospital clinics between November 1988 and September 1992 and Kett...

background: it is established that sperm dna integrity is essential in fertilization and normal embryo and fetal development. routine semen analysis gives an approximate evaluation of the functional competence of spermatozoa, but does not always reflect the quality of sperm dna. therefore, the evaluation of sperm dna integrity, in addition to routine sperm parameters, could add further informat...