http://www.pollentree.com/feed/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:51:58 +0000 PollenTree en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/three-person-ivf-consultation http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/three-person-ivf-consultation

Inherited defects
Mitochondria can be found within almost every human cell, and provide the energy they need to function, much like a battery. Like the nucleus of the cell, they contain DNA, although in very small quantities. Approximately 1 in 5,000 babies is born with inherited defects in their mitochondrial DNA, the effects of which can be very severe, or even fatal, depending on which cells are affected.

Scientists believe they have found a way to substitute the defective mitochondria and hopefully prevent the child from developing a disease.


Three person technique
They take two eggs, one from the mother and another from a donor. The nucleus of the donor egg is removed, leaving the rest of the egg contents, including the mitochondria, and is replaced with the nucleus from the mother's egg. The resulting embryo has properly functioning mitochondria from the donor, and should, in theory, be healthy. This replacement is like replacing a battery and therefore has no impact on the DNA that determines other factors, such as appearance.


Genetic manipulation
Even though the child would have a very limited genetic contribution from the third person, there is still opposition from some groups, who say such genetic manipulation carries risks.


IVF law change
A change in the law would be needed before it could be offered to patients.


Government consultation
Announcing the consultation, David Willetts, minister for universities and science, said: "Scientists have made an important and potentially life-saving discovery in the prevention of mitochondrial disease. "However, as with all developments in cutting-edge science, it is vital that we to listen to the public's views before we consider any change in the law allowing it to be used." It is hoped the consultation will be complete by the end of this year.


Wellcome Trust
Sir Mark Walport, from the Wellcome Trust, said the technique might prevent previously incurable diseases. "We welcome the opportunity to discuss with the public why we believe this technique is essential if we are to give families affected by these diseases the chance to have healthy children, something most of us take for granted."


Newcastle University
Prof Doug Turnbull, from Newcastle University, added: "Every year we see hundreds of patients whose lives are seriously affected by mitochondrial disease. "We want to make a major difference to the lives of these patients."


Genetic Alliance
Groups representing patients and their families also welcomed the announcement. Alastair Kent, from Genetic Alliance UK, said that the impact of mitochondrial disease could be "devastating". He said: "It will be quite a long time before this is available as a clinical service, and our primary concern is to make sure the technique is safe. "But it would be sensible and reasonable to offer it to prevent these conditions."

Read more at: bbc.co.uk/news
]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:29:23 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-method-may-reduce-multiple-births-and-increase-success http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-method-may-reduce-multiple-births-and-increase-success
Results of the study were published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. Researchers at Cardiff University and Oxford University were able to view specific internal movements, called ‘spasms’ of a human egg. The movements have been linked to exact timing of biochemical changes during fertilization.


IVF selection treatment
Researchers pointed out that IVF treatment takes selection criteria such as the number of cells, as well as appearance of cells produced and involves choosing the healthiest egg for implantation. "The implantation of selected eggs using current methods requires days in culture and does not always succeed" said Professor Karl Swann from Cardiff University's School of Medicine, who led the research.


Rhythmic cytoplasmic motions
According to Professor Swann previous research in an animal model found "rhythmic cytoplasmic motions" predict successful embryo development, the same type of movements also occur in human eggs. “We have now discovered that this method has the potential to be applied to human eggsm" said Professor Swann.


IVF viability
Researchers hope that the new information will help provide an early and effective indication of viability of successful pregnancy in human IVF.


IVF statistics 
Currently about 1 in 4 in vitro fertilizations leads to multiple birth and women using IVF are 20 times more likely to have multiple pregnancies. Also, the live birth rate is 30-35 percent for women under 35 and less than 6-10 percent for women over the age of 40.

Reade more at: medicaldaily.com
]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:34:36 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/couple-win-battle-for-nhs-ivf-funding http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/couple-win-battle-for-nhs-ivf-funding
Previously Portsmouth PCT stated they were not eligible to access state-funded IVF, and so would have to turn to private providers


Previous child
The couple, who had been trying for a baby for three years, were told they did not meet the local criteria of being “childless”, because Mr Marshall had a child from a previous relationship even though this child lived 200 miles away with his former wife. Mrs Marshall was also slightly over the local age limit of 30 - 34, even though national guidelines state that treatment should be funded for women aged between 23 and 39.


IVF national guidelines
Like thousands of other couples they were denied treatment because of increasingly tough restrictions on IVF funding by NHS bodies. Although national guidance states that women should be given three cycles of infertility treatment, only one in four Primary Care Trusts now follows this guidance.


Individual funding request
However the Marshalls made a series of appeals through a process known as an Individual Funding Request, and their infertility treatment will now be funded by Portsmouth PCT. However, their victory, is not binding on other health bodies.


Devastated
Mr Marshall, 41, and Mrs Marshall, 36, said: “We were devastated when we were told we would not be eligible for IVF funding on the NHS because of his child from a previous relationship. “We were told to pay privately for IVF treatment or keep trying for a baby naturally. We do not have a child together as a couple (despite having regular contact with his child from his first marriage) and it felt terribly unfair and put a huge strain on us. “It is bad enough when you are struggling to conceive without being told you will not be offered IVF funding on the NHS and you have the added worry and burden of having to pay privately for treatment.


Exceptional case
Portsmouth PCT said it could not discuss individual cases but added that it considers "exceptional cases" where refusing funding may relieve psychological distress.

Read more at: telegraph.co.uk
]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:28:19 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-clinic-destroys-donated-eggs http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-clinic-destroys-donated-eggs
The news was given to the couple, known only as Chris and Lorraine, over the phone on the evening they returned from IVF Wales, in Cardiff.


Trying for seven years
The couple, who had been trying for seven years to have a baby, are now calling for urgent action to ensure others do not suffer the heartache they have had to endure.


Previous errors
Their loss is just the latest in a series of errors at the south Wales clinic. Earlier this month the clinic came under fire for mistakenly destroying sperm donated by cancer patients about to undergo treatment. The mistake was revealed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which regulates IVF centres in the UK.


HFEA concerned
The HFEA report said it was 'extremely concerned' by the errors at the clinic this year. Chris, 35, and Lorraine, 34, (who do not want to reveal their full identities) were just two of the victims. The couple, from Barry, south Wales, have now begun legal proceedings.


Sister donated eggs
The couple turned to IVF after trying to start a family without success for seven years. They went through a cycle of IVF in 2007 when Lorraine, a care worker, produced two eggs, one showing low fertility and the other failing to fertilise. She turned to her sister who agreed to donate eggs. The couple were delighted when 10 eggs donated by Lorraine's sister in February were described by consultants as 'of exceptional quality'.


Mechanical error
But hours later, they received a call from IVF Wales telling them of their destruction in a 'mechanical error'.


Donated eggs destroyed in accident
Chris, Lorraine, her sister and their parents were all summoned to a meeting at the clinic that night. They listened in disbelief as they were told a pipette containing all 10 eggs had hit a microscope during a transfer to a dish. All were destroyed in the accident. 'I was left numb by what happened and couldn't really take in what I was being told at the time,' said Lorraine.


Embryo error
IVF Wales hit the headlines in 2009 when it settled a case where a couple whose last viable embryo was transferred to the wrong patient.


Publicity and legal process
Dr Graham Shortland, medical director for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board which hosts IVF Wales, said: 'As those involved have instigated legal proceedings against IVF Wales, we are unable to comment in detail on this case. 'However, we would like to make clear that all clinical incidents are reported robustly, in line with HFEA requirements. 'Patients are offered support throughout the process, investigations are rigorous and there are systems in place to ensure lessons are learned. 'It is disappointing that the legal firm representing the couple has chosen to invoke the media while the legal process remains in train, thus hampering the UHB's ability to comment in any detail.'

Reade more at: dailymail.co.uk
]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:25:26 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/chantelle-houghton-miracle-pregnancy http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/chantelle-houghton-miracle-pregnancy
The baby is being hailed as a "miracle" because the couple were supposed to be starting IVF treatment shortly.

Chantelle, 28, and Alex, 36, have been trying for a baby for two months, with the pair giving a number of interviews about IVF being their only option when it came to starting a family.

However, Chantelle discovered she was pregnant just before she was about to start the treatment.

Chantelle commented, “We were a week away from starting IVF. The thought of conceiving naturally had gone out of my mind completely – I didn’t even think it was possible. I had my fertility injections in the fridge.”

Read more at: mirror.co.uk]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:08:15 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-clinic-admits-destroying-sperm http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-clinic-admits-destroying-sperm

Resignations
Two senior IVF Wales staff resigned after samples from three people who were patients between 1988 and 1998 were affected in March this year.


Not harmed
However Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said the ability of the patients to become parents was not harmed.


Improved procedures
The health board hosts the IVF Wales clinic and said it had learned lessons and was working to improve procedures. The Welsh government has urged the board to take urgent action.


HFEA report
The concerns were highlighted in a report by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).


Two incidents
In the first case, a staff member was told to transfer samples, (including some from cancer patients) from old storage units to a new container. The member of staff found unlabelled straws at the bottom of a tank and disposed of them without telling anyone in charge.

In a second incident, donor sperm was given to some women before the test results had come back for sexually transmitted diseases. However, the report said the results had since proved negative.


Action aganist clinic
The HFEA said the matters were investigated and conditions were issued against the clinic's licence, reducing the number of cycles of treatment it can carry out.


Welsh government
The Welsh government said: "Whilst this is an operational matter for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, we are concerned about the findings of the report. "We expect them to continue to take urgent action to address the areas highlighted."

Conservative health spokesman Darren Millar said: "This is another incredibly serious incident at the unit in question and it requires urgent answers, both from the health board and the minister. "It is deplorable that the full extent of this dreadful mistake is not yet known. "The impact on families will be enormous and it is only right that those affected are spoken to as soon as possible."

Read more at: bbc.co.uk/news
]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:26:37 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-mother-at-57-admits-too-old-644 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-mother-at-57-admits-too-old-644

Criticism
Many criticised her decision, saying she was too old to become a parent. At the time, Mrs Tollefsen defended her choice and pointed out that her partner Nick Mayer was 11 years her junior – and would therefore be around to care for their daughter Freya during all of her childhood.


Couple split
However, she says they have now split and concedes her critics were right as she encounters the difficulties of bringing up a three-year-old child alone at the age of 61.


IVF age limit
Mrs Tollefsen, states that, with hindsight, there should be an age limit of 50 for IVF treatment for women.

"Freya is without doubt the best thing I have ever done in my life, and I have no regrets. But with the benefit of hindsight I recognise that perhaps some of my critics were right. "I get a great emotional feeling when I look at her and a sadness when I realise time’s running out. If I could change just one thing I would wish to be younger so I could enjoy watching Freya grow up, get married and have children of her own. "I’m doing my best to raise her to be completely independent but the prospect of her being taken from me, if I die, particularly when she’s still young, breaks my heart."


UK government IVF guidelines
Government guidelines recommend doctors do not offer IVF to women over 40 on the NHS, and private clinics will generally refuse to treat women older than 50.


Scrap IVF age limit
The health watchdog NICE is considering whether to scrap the age limit in favour of treating women based on tests which estimate how many eggs they have left.


Parenting pressures
Like so many parents with young children, the pressures and responsibility began to pull the couple apart. "I felt as if he didn’t want his life to change at all after Freya came along, even though mine had changed completely. "I realise that we didn’t communicate well. That wasn’t a problem when we only had ourselves to consider, but it became an ever-widening gap after Freya was born."


Wisdom
"One advantage of being my age is the wisdom you gain from experience and I intend to make the most of every second I get to share with my daughter – I never want it to end." She also confesses how tiring is it at times to cope, after separating from her partner and moving out of their home in Laindon, Essex, to live nearby. She brings up Freya on her own, on a tight income that includes her pension, while her daughter sees her father every fortnight, staying with him for a weekend. "I never imagined it would work out this way,’ Mrs Tollefsen said. "I’ve never regretted having Freya but I’ve had to pay a heavy price for my dream of being a mother. In fact, it’s cost me my relationship. You think you’re madly in love with someone and you just don’t realise what they’re going to be like after you’ve had children."

Read more at: telegraph.co.uk
]]> Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:31:17 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-success-using-three-in-one-test-639 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/ivf-success-using-three-in-one-test-639
By allowing only the best eggs or embryos to be selected for IVF, the Oxford University test is expected to reduce the chances of miscarriage and greatly boost the chances of a woman having a healthy baby.

Just one in four of the 40,000 women who have IVF each year have a baby.


IVF test inventor
The test's inventor, Dagan Wells, said: 'It offers the possibility of enhancing success rates of IVF, allowing couples to more rapidly get to the point of having a child and avoids the heartbreak of miscarriage and termination of pregnancies affected by serious disorders.'


CGH test
The new technique is based upon an existing test called array comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) which counts the number of chromosomes in an egg or embryo. Healthy eggs should have 23 chromosomes and embryos 46, but many have more or less than this, greatly increasing the risk of miscarriage and of having a child with a condition such as Down's syndrome.


Mitochondria and telomeres
Now, the technique’s pioneer Dr Wells is trying to make it even better by bolting on two other checks. One involves counting the number of mitochondria – the tiny ‘batteries’ inside cells that turn the food we eat into energy. The other test involves checking structures called telomeres. These are tiny biological clocks that cap the ends of chromosomes, protecting them from damage, much like the caps on the ends of shoelaces prevent fraying. Studies suggest that short or fraying telomeres can make the difference between ‘life or death’ for an embryo.


100 per cent IVF success
Dr Wells said testing for three defects rather than one could take the IVF success rate from the 80 per cent or so of array CGH to approaching 100 per cent. ‘We hope to fill in that gap and get closer to getting a successful pregnancy from every IVF cycle.’


Only assists some women
The test won’t help women whose pregnancies fail because of problems with the womb. But this is not a major cause of IVF failure and other researchers are working on ways of getting round it.


New test available in weeks
Dr Wells plans to make it available to around 15 British IVF clinics within weeks. However, initially, only the chromosome data will be used when deciding which embryos to use in IVF. After around six months, he will look at the telomere and mitochondria data taken from the embryos at the time and see whether it also helped predict the women’s odds of becoming pregnant. If so, he plans to make the full three-in-one test available to British clinics. It will only be available privately initially and is expected to add around £2,000 to the cost of IVF, the same as array CGH.


British Fertility Society
The British Fertility Society has previously cautioned against the use of array CGH until there is large-scale data on how well it works. 

Read ore at: dailymail.co.uk
]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:25:55 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/radio-station-ivf-competition-winners http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/radio-station-ivf-competition-winners

Five winners
On Tuesday morning, however, after “tens of thousands” of votes had been cast, New Hot 89.9 ultimately awarded all five finalists a prize. “The second before the announcement felt like forever,” Natasha Derouchie said after a sleepless night. “I had to hear it twice.”


Praise & criticism
The contest proved controversial among ethicists, infertility advocates and some listeners. Others praised the station, however, for bringing the issue some much-needed attention.


Contest rule change
While fertility treatments are now publicly funded in Quebec, they are not in Ontario. Morning show host Jeff Mauler said he and his team realized how heartbreaking it would be for the other four couples in the finals to watch someone else win. “It just didn’t sit right,” he said. The station approved a budget of up to $175,000 so all five couples could be eligible for treatment.


Shock
Silence filled the room after the announcement as the couples absorbed the news, followed by sobs of joy. “I was shaking,” said Tracy Broad, another of the contestants. Tuesday was also her 30th birthday. Although she’d never entered a contest before, Broad applied to “win a baby” immediately after hearing the advertisement. She and her husband Nathan, or Couple C, tried for three years to have a child but couldn’t afford IVF treatment. “I owe so much to that station for the gift that they’ve given my husband and me,” she said. “It’s been a miracle.”


Emotionally exploitative
Even though the contest ended well, it was still emotionally exploitative, said Arthur Schafer, director at the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba. “The fact that everyone won doesn’t take away from that.”


The couples
Couple A: Has been trying for a family since they got married five years ago. They also dealt with a car accident and a layoff.

Couple B: Together for four years, they have trouble putting into words how much they want a baby. “I feel like I have lost part of my heart. We feel stuck in limbo, life is moving on without us while others live our dream.”

Couple C: Tried everything to have a baby — they quit smoking, eat healthy and take vitamins, but nothing has worked.

Couple D: Has been best friends since they were kids. They thought the male partner would never be able to have children due to a reproductive malformation, but they recently discovered this is not the case — they can potentially conceive through IVF.

Couple E: Cannot conceive naturally because four years ago, the man was in a car accident that left him a quadriplegic and diminished his sperm count.

Read more at: thestar.com
]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:19:02 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/single-woman-to-sue-us-fertility-clinic http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/single-woman-to-sue-us-fertility-clinic

Dubious defence
Dr. Douglas Daly had rejected Alison Moon, claiming he feared being sued for child support and citing what he considered inadequate protection under Michigan law. "Until I feel there is adequate law, I will not be providing insemination services to single individuals. ... I am not willing to gamble my financial future on this issue," Daly said in an email that was part of the court record.


Defence upheld
A  judge said doctors have the right to choose patients and dismissed the case.


Appeal hearing
But a three-judge panel at the appeals court said discrimination based on marital status is illegal in Michigan. "A doctor may only deny his or her consent to enter into a doctor-patient relationship ... based on legally permissible, non-discriminatory reasons," judges Elizabeth Gleicher, Joel Hoekstra and Cynthia Diane Stephens said.

A doctor, they said, can't be allowed to follow "personal prejudices or biases."

Ms Moon, 42, had been traveling to Ann Arbor but wanted a clinic closer to her home. She asked about becoming pregnant through in vitro fertilization with donated sperm, but Daly turned her down, fearing he could somehow be pursued for child support for helping a single woman become pregnant.


Doctors not liable for child support
Moon's attorney, Ken Rathert, said the doctor had nothing to fear. "Parents are liable for support, not third parties," Rathert said. "He was blowing that out of proportion. ... I'm very pleased with the decision."  


Second ivf case
Ms Moon also sued another clinic that turned her down, but settled the case out of court.

Read more at: chicagotribune.com]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:06:44 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/canadian-radio-station-win-a-baby-contest http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/canadian-radio-station-win-a-baby-contest
Ottowa's Hot 89.9 will pay for 3 rounds of IVF to the person who makes the best case to them. The contestants have to write in 100 words or less why they want a child and and a panel of judges will pick the most persuasive as the winner.

The mother will then undergo a physical examination before being given the treatment. Hot 89.9's Morning Hot Tub show, which is running the competition, has been unapologetic and brags on its website that it is the 'first in history' to be making such an offer.


Adverts
Its "tasteful" adverts feature babies with the various captions, "She could be yours", "Win me", and "Are you my mommy".


IVF cost
Three rounds of IVF could cost upwards of $35,000 Listeners complained that the contest was sending out the wrong message, not least to the child whose parents will have to explain the story of how he was born. But Hot 89.9 has pointed out that the cost of three rounds of IVF is $35,000, which some mothers desperate to have children may not be able to afford.


Canadian citizens only
The competition, which closes on October 10th and is only open to Canadian citizens,  


Audience backlash
Dozens of listeners have also shown their disgust on the radio station's Facebook page and by calling in.

A listener called Sharon emailed in to say: 'I will never listen to you again. I think this contest is in extremely poor taste and I am surprised you are even allowed to do this. 'I think this is the most unethical and insulting contest you could have aired. What if the winner is someone who isn't really serious but thought it would be 'fun' to enter a contest? 'Congratulations on hitting a new low.'


Some support
But others were more supportive and pointed out it might enable a poor couple to have a child where they otherwise would not be able to. Tony Hodkinson posted: 'Way to go Morning hot tub! 'A contest usually involves winning something you would really want but may not be able to afford. 'The way you guys have set it up is awesome and one lucky couple will be forever grateful to win such expensive treatments!

Read more at: dailymail.co.uk]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:33:08 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/becoming-pregnant-harder-if-obese-630 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/becoming-pregnant-harder-if-obese-630
Researchers led by Barbara Luke of Michigan State University found women who were overweight or obese were less likely to become pregnant using fertility treatments than normal-weight women.

Past studies have hinted at worse IVF outcomes in heavier women, although they don't prove the extra weight is responsible for the reproductive troubles those women experience.

Luke and her colleagues, whose findings were published in Fertility and Sterility, drew data from a reporting system that includes more than 90 per cent of IVF treatments done in the United States - 150,000 fertility treatment cycles done in 2007 and 2008 at 361 different clinics.

For each cycle, the reporting system included whether the cycle was canceled, if it led to a pregnancy, and whether that pregnancy ended early in a miscarriage or stillbirth, or if the woman gave birth to a live baby.

For most cycles, it also had data on women's height and weight before starting treatment. Heavy women saw poorer results overall. "We know that being overweight and obese is not good, it's just how bad is it and where are the bad effects?" said Brian Cooper of Mid-Iowa Fertility in Clive, Iowa, who wasn't involved in the study.

About 9 per cent of cycles in normal-weight women were stopped early, compared to 16 per cent of cycles in the heaviest women - those with a body mass index over 50.

Normal-weight women had a 43 per cent chance of getting pregnant during each cycle using their own, fresh eggs for IVF, compared to 36 per cent for very heavy women.


Losing a child
For women who did get pregnant, the heaviest were about twice as likely as normal-weight women to lose the baby in many cases. One explanation for the connection between extra weight and worse IVF outcomes is that extra fat tissue releases estrogen, which fools the brain into thinking the ovaries are working when they really aren't, so it doesn't do its part to kick the ovaries into gear, Cooper said.


Age and smoking
However, weight still isn't as big an issue for fertility as age, or whether a woman smokes, he said.

Read more at: timescolonist.com]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:03:06 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/couple-sue-ivf-clinic-for-mixup-627 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/couple-sue-ivf-clinic-for-mixup-627
The married couple in their 30s, conceived their three-year-old son artificially and had the remaining embryos frozen in the hope they would get pregnant again.


Embryos lost
But when they returned to the Santa Monica clinic this year they were told the embryos had been lost.


Implanted in another woman
Los Angeles court papers from a suit filed by the couple suggest the three remaining embryos are 'most likely' to have been mistakenly implanted into another woman's womb. 'They are torn apart by this,' the couple's lawyer, Andrew Vorzimer, told ABC News. 'It's the worst possible nightmare for parents on both sides.'


Court action
The couple has filed a lawsuit against their IVF specialist Dr John Jain, the president of the Santa Monica Fertility clinic, seeking damages of $500,000, plus money to cover the cost of trying for another child and punitive damages for fraud, professional negligence, breach of contract and emotional distress.

Mr Vorzimer added: 'Where the genetic parents are, we have no idea. 'Part of the litigation is to go back and try to trace where these embryos went. Ultimately, it may require every patient who has undergone an IVF cycle with John Jain to have genetic testing of the babies.'


Clinic surprised
Speaking to ABC News, the doctor said: 'It was a bit of a surprise for us and we are trying to figure out what's going on. 'It just came to our attention this morning. Things normally turn out that things are not what they appear to be.'


Statement changed
The couple were told by Dr Jain that the embryos had been destroyed accidentally'. 'The straws that contained them broke at the bottom of the cryotank,' Mr Vorzimer said. 'When they asked to see evidence of that, Dr Jain changed his statement, and said he could not find the straws that contained the three embryos.'

Read more at: dailymail.co.uk]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:42:16 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/study-states-no-evidence-aspirin-boosts-ivf-success http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/study-states-no-evidence-aspirin-boosts-ivf-success
New research has found no evidence that taking aspirin can increase the chances of IVF treatment being successful. Women have been told that taking a daily dose of aspirin can help during IVF treatment.

However, the results from 13 international studies found that a low daily dose of aspirin had no clear effect on IVF pregnancy or subsequent birth rates.

Three of the studies analysed birth rates. Of 525 women who used aspirin during their IVF treatment cycle, 108 gave birth.

But the odds of success were similar among women not given aspirin: of those 528 women, 119 gave birth.

"Couples undergoing IVF often feel so desperate that they are prepared to try anything that may improve their chances of conceiving," said lead researcher Dr. Charalambos Siristatidis, of the University of Athens.

"But given the current evidence," he said, "there is still no basis to recommend that women take aspirin to help them become pregnant."


Aspirin theory
The theory behind aspirin is that it improves IVF success by boosting blood flow to the ovaries and uterus. It is also said to help by preventing blood clots in the vessels of the placenta.

There is a small minority of women who have repeat miscarriages due to problems with blood clotting, said Dr. Roger Lobo, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University in New York.

If a woman undergoing IVF has blood-clotting issues, then aspirin or other blood-thinners may help, said Lobo.

However for most women undergoing IVF, "it's really the embryo quality that's the major factor. So I'm not surprised that aspirin shows no benefit overall."

One of the larger studies that looked only at pregnancy rates did suggest a benefit. Of 300 women, the pregnancy rate among aspirin users was 45 percent, versus 28 percent of women not on aspirin.

But when the researchers combined the results of different studies, they found no overall effect on women's pregnancy or birth rates, or on their risk of miscarriage.


Risks
Many couples undergoing infertility treatment are desperate to try anything that could raise their chances of having a baby. But even low-dose aspirin can have risks, including gastrointestinal bleeding.

"Based on the evidence, there really appears to be no benefit from using aspirin," Lobo said. "And if you add to that the fact that there are risks, it probably shouldn't be done."

Read more at: reuters.com]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:33:59 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/costa-ricas-ivf-ban http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/costa-ricas-ivf-ban

Catholic church
In-vitro fertilization was banned in Costa Rica in 2000 under pressure from the Catholic Church.

It remains a criminal offence to carry out any IVF procedure since 2000 when the Constitutional Court established that fertilized embryos, even before implantation, should be considered people and cannot be discarded.

IVF procedures require that numerous eggs are fertilized and then the most viable embryos are selected and frozen. The rest are often donated are discarded.


Church media campaign
The Roman Catholic Church recently launched a media campaign to denounce IVF as "homicide," but the government ordered the campaign to be halted.


Court case
However, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said on Monday it will take Costa Rica to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for not legalizing IVF after the commission twice extended its previous deadline for the country to do so.

Some couples have taken their cases to the Inter-American Court, which is based in Washington, and 50 couples have joined to file the petition.


Costa Rican government
The Costa Rican foreign minister, Enrique Castillo, told La Nacion newspaper that he believes "the prestige of Costa Rica will not be affected by the case, because everyone knows that assisted fertilization is controversial."


New bill proposed
A new bill that would have lifted the ban was stopped because some evangelical officials oppose IVF while others said the bill was too conservative and did not protect the women's rights.

Read more at: google.com/hostednews ]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:19:08 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/israel-becomes-ivf-capital-of-the-world-618 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/israel-becomes-ivf-capital-of-the-world-618
Israel provides free and unlimited IVF procedures for up to two "take-home babies" until a woman reaches 45 years of age.

This very generous policy has made Israelis the highest per-capita users of IVF treatment in the world. In turn it has also made Israel world experts in IVF treatments.


IVF for all
IVF treatment is available to all - Jewish, Arab, stright, gay, secular and religious.

IVF treatment is widely accepted in Israeli society, even amongst the devoutly religious. There is even said to be a growing number of single religious women using IVF, their efforts are approved by rabbis.

"The unique thing about Israel is that it's a high-tech culture on the one hand and a very traditional one on the other," said Sigal Gooldin, a Hebrew University medical sociologist who has studied IVF regulation in Israel.

"It's not just because of the fear of losing children in high-risk military activity, it's because family is an extremely important social institution in Israel and what makes a family is the children."

She added, "Anyone who lives here is expected to have children."


Demographics
Israelis have a high fertility rate, with an average of 2.9 children per family. Part of this has been to remain the majority. However Arab citizens of Israel also have exactly the same access to the generous IVF program.


Four percent
Four percent of Israeli children are born through IVF, compared to approximately one percent in the US - where IVF treatment is always private and costs a substantial amount of money per course - on average $12,400. This can be compared against the cost in Israel of $3,450 - though the state pays this, not the patient.

Read more at: seattletimes.nwsource.com
]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:23:58 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/information/fertility-treatments/gamete-intrafallopian-transfer-gift http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/information/fertility-treatments/gamete-intrafallopian-transfer-gift
It is still necessary to use fertility drugs to stimulate ovulation so that mature eggs can be collected.

The eggs are then injected with sperm inside a catheter (this all takes place in a laboratory) and then the eggs and sperm are transferred immediately into the woman’s fallopian tubes using laparoscopy so that fertilisation can take place in the woman’s body and the eggs can travel to the uterus for implantation to allow the embryo to develop.

This procedure is not suitable for women who have blocked fallopian tubes.

It can however be used in conjunction with egg donation.

Whilst it is regarded as more natural than IVF because fertilisation takes place in the woman’s body it does involve surgical procedure and so can be more invasive that IVF.

Of all the different types of fertility treatments this is the one that is most acceptable to religious groups because it involves minimum interference with the process of fertilisation.]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:05:37 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/information/fertility-treatments/zygote-intrafallopian-transfer-zift http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/information/fertility-treatments/zygote-intrafallopian-transfer-zift IVF and GIFT procedures.

First the hormone simulating drugs such as hMG are used to stimulate the follicles to increase the number of mature eggs produced.

These are then extracted and combined with sperm outside the woman’s body (in a laboratory).

The fertilised eggs are then inserted into the woman’s fallopian tube to allow the remaining reproduction stages to take place naturally.

It is an invasive form of treatment that requires surgery and is not therefore recommended as the first fertility treatment to be tried.

However, it is recommended for women over 40 whose fertility may have declined or for women who have had several unsuccessful cycles of IVF.

Not all clinics however offer this procedure.

]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:49:45 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/big-brother-contestant-blames-dieting-for-infertility http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/big-brother-contestant-blames-dieting-for-infertility
"Because of my obsession with food and my crash dieting when I had bulimia, I've ruined my chances of having a baby naturally," she said.

Chantelle has revealed that she went to a gynaecology and fertility clinic after experiencing pain in her left ovary.

She was shocked to receive a report back from the clinic which stated her chances of having children naturally were low.

She went to see her doctor two days later, and was told that her fertility was low and that IVF was the only real option. Also, that if she waited another three years she may not be able to have children at all, as the number of eggs would have diminished by then.

"There's always the chance I could miraculously fall pregnant naturally, but it's so remote."

"I hate myself and can never forgive myself," she added.

Read more at: bbc.co.uk/newsbeat
]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:05:44 +0000 http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/australian-sex-offender-seeks-access-to-ivf-treatment http://www.pollentree.com/ivf/news/ivf-news/australian-sex-offender-seeks-access-to-ivf-treatment

Previous offence
The man, known only as "ABY" was convicted in 2003 of having sex with a 16-year-old student while he was employed as a teaching assistant. He was jailed for three years with two years suspended.

The man through his lawyer is arguing that denying him and his partner IVF treatment constitutes a breach of his human rights.

His partner had already started IVF treatment before his arrest and subsequent conviction - the couple planned to continue the treatment on his release from prison.


Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act
However, under Victorian state law convicted sex-offenders must appear before a review panel before treatment can be granted. Under the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act all those seeking IVF treatment must undergo police and background checks. The Act operates a presumption that couples should not be offered IVF treatment if one of the couple has a conviction for a sexual offence, the argument being that they pose a risk to any child produced with the assistance of IVF.


Alcohol and drug abuse
During the hearing evidence was presented that ABY did not pose a risk to any potential child produced using IVF. However, the panel did hear evidence that he had a history of drug and alcohol dependence.


Human rights
The man's lawyer argued that his human rights were breached in denying him and his partner treatment and that he was being punished twice for the previous conviction.

Read more at: bionews.org.uk]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:19:25 +0000