Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated the relationship between the existence of fibroids and the occurrence of infertility; indeed fibroids have been reported in 25-30% of infertile women and are responsible for them alone to 2 to 3% of infertility cases when no other cause was found. The objective of this study was to investigate the probable association between the presence of a f...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy on semen parameters and pregnancy outcomes in couples with male factor subfertility. DESIGN Case series. SETTING Male Infertility Clinic in an academic institution in Hong Kong. PATIENTS The clinical records of 42 consecutive subfertile male patients who had subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy (from Jan...

Although the zinc finger transcription factor Wt1 has been linked to female fertility, its precise role in this process has not yet been understood. We have sequenced the WT1 exons in a panel of patients with idiopathic infertility and have identified a missense mutation in WT1 in one patient out of eight. This mutation leads to an amino acid change within the zinc finger domain and results in ...

INTRODUCTION Chlamydia antibody testing (CAT) in serum has been introduced as a screening method in the infertility workup. We evaluated the test characteristics of two ELISA tests compared to micro-immunofluorescence tests (MIFs). MIFs are considered the gold standard in the C. trachomatis IgG antibodies detection. We also compared the accuracy of all CAT tests in predicting tubal subfertility...

When conventional treatment of unexplained infertility has not been successful, the next choice lies between either gonadotrophin treatment with intrauterine insemination (FSH/IUI) and IVF. Cohort studies indicate that FSH/IUI is less effective while the cost per birth is higher with IVF. The relevant evidence should come from randomized controlled trials, but the results need to be recalculate...

The use of the term "infertility" and related terms in reproductive medicine is reviewed. Current terminology is found to be ambiguous, confusing and misleading. We recommend that the fertility investigation report of a couple should consist of statements concerning description, diagnosis and prognosis. The description concerns the duration of non-pregnancy before consulting the clinician. A sy...

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and therapies are defined as ‘practices and ideas which are outside the domain of conventional medicine in several countries’, and their usefulness as ‘preventing or treating illness, or promoting health and wellbeing’ [1]. Common therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and manual therapies. Few high quality studies of the effect of compleme...

BACKGROUND Intramural leiomyomas have been long debated as a potential cause of infertility and pregnancy loss. FINDINGS Previous research has linked intramural fibroids to defective implantation, as well as to abnormal peristaltic events of the uterine smooth muscle. Previous reports describe the effects of intramural fibroids on normal human fertility and early pregnancy loss, specifically ...

C.Gnoth, E.Godehardt, P.Frank-Herrmann, K.Friol, Jürgen Tigges and G.Freundl Center for Family Planning, Gynaecological Endocrinology & Reproductive Medicine Grevenbroich, Biometric Research Group, Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heinrich-Heine University of Duesseldorf, Department of Gynaecological Endocrinology, University of Heidelberg and Department of Reproductive Medicine,...