Sunshine could help fix male infertility Oct 25, 2008
Among the group of males tested, 40 pregnancies had been achieved, with more than half of those pregnancies occurring naturally or with minimal intervention such as intrauterine insemination and with only three miscarriages (6%) compared to an average 22% miscarriage rate among women using fertility treatment. Dr. Clark says the findings could have major implications for the costs of fertility treatment as one in six Australian couples experiences infertility - a blood screening test costs about... (News-Medical.net)
Ray of sunshine for infertile males Oct 22, 2008
Among the group of males tested, 40 pregnancies had been achieved, with more than half of those pregnancies occurring naturally or with minimal intervention such as intrauterine insemination. Dr Clark says there were only three miscarriages or a 6 per cent miscarriage rate among those pregnancies. (ABC Online)
Scottish survey reveals contraception myths Oct 8, 2008
Last Updated: Wednesday 8 October 2008 07:21 GMT. by Published on October 7, 2008 - 0 comments. (TheMedGuru)
Trends & Innovations - Monday Oct 7, 2008
Only 10% of surveyed women said they used reversible contraceptives, which include hormonal injections, contraceptive implants and an intrauterine method. The researchers said many believed that long-term fertility could be affected by long-acting contraceptives. (Yahoo News -- Technology)
Myths about contraceptives revealed! Oct 7, 2008
However, there were others who said that they would not go for the intrauterine devices such as a coil because of the need to have it inserted by a doctor. In fact, even thinking about an implant sitting under the skin was off-putting for some of the women. (India Times, India)
* Charity slams Bush administration over political decision Oct 4, 2008
The US does not give any direct assistance to the group but is a leading family planning health provider and one of several distributors of US-donated contraceptive commodities, including condoms and intrauterine devices, in some of Africas least developed countries. Under US law, the government must withhold aid to agencies and groups found to support or participate in management of family planning programs abroad that involve abortion or coerced sterilization. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
US cuts off family planning group in Africa Oct 3, 2008
The United States does not give any direct assistance to the group but it is a leading family planning health provider and one of several distributors of U.S.-donated "contraceptive commodities" including condoms and intrauterine devices in some of Africa's least developed countries. Under U.S. law, the government must withhold assistance to agencies and groups found to support or participate in management of family planning programs abroad that involve abortion and coerced sterilization. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
Birth Size Linked to Breast Cancer Risk Oct 3, 2008
Birth size reflects, to a considerable extent, the effects of the intrauterine environment on the fetus, Trichopoulos noted. "To this day, they had not been sufficiently appreciated by the scientific community, because each individual study could not provide conclusive evidence. We are facing now a new reality: that breast cancer has its origins several decades before its clinical appearance," he said. (MEDLINEplus)
Stress in Pregnancy Linked with Schizophrenia Oct 3, 2008
"Schizophrenia has been linked with intrauterine exposure to maternal stress due to bereavement, famine and major disasters," co-author Dr. Dolores Malaspina of New York University School of Medicine and colleagues write. According to recent evidence, the first three months of pregnancy may be the time of greatest vulnerability. (MEDLINEplus)
Pregnancy Situations Have Impact On Brain Development In Pre-term Infants Aug 30, 2008
The central nervous system in small premature infants is highly susceptible to damage as the immature organism tries to adapt to the intensive care environment following release from the intrauterine environment. Scientists working on the PIPARI project at Turku University Central Hospital have followed premature low-weight infants and investigated factors impacting the growth and development of their brain as well as their two-year prognosis from pregnancy onwards. (Science Daily)
HEALTH BLOG: Digging into the latest cancer studies Aug 28, 2008
Intrauterine devices, or , not only are extremely effective at preventing pregnancy, but new research presented at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' annual meeting says they also might slash women's risk of by 40. Worldwide, IUDs are the most popular reversible contraceptive, but only one out of 50 U.S. women who use a contraceptive choose an IUD, according to this Reuters. (USA Today -- Money)
US Regulation Would Prevent Doctors Personal Beliefs from Being ... Aug 25, 2008
US Regulation Would Prevent Doctors Personal Beliefs from Being Violated. US Regulation Would Prevent Doctors Personal Beliefs from Being Violated. (eFluxMedia)
Bush plan would blunt state birth control law Aug 22, 2008
That language, and other portions of the regulation, cover the most common oral contraceptives and intrauterine devices, said Ellen Golombeck, a national Planned Parenthood spokeswoman. Although some have interpreted the proposal more narrowly, Deirdre McQuade, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' spokeswoman on abortion, said the goal is to protect those who object to any form of artificial contraception. (San Francisco Chronicle)
U.S. Regulation Stops Short of Defining Abortion Aug 22, 2008
But it no longer defines some types of contraception as abortion, after family planning groups complained an earlier draft would have defined abortion to include birth control pills and the intrauterine device or IUD.. "This is about protecting the right of a physician to practice medicine according to his or her moral compass," Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt told reporters in a conference call. (Newsmax)
Top Calif. court rules doctors can't deny treatment to gays Aug 19, 2008
Benitez contended that Dr. Christine Brody, an obstetrician at the North Coast Women's Care Medical Group, told her that her religious views prevented her from performing an intrauterine insemination on a lesbian. Another physician at the clinic, Dr. Douglas Fenton, told Benitez that the staff was uncomfortable helping her conceive a child and advised her to find a doctor outside the medical group, Benitez said. (Boston Globe)
Calif. Supreme Court: Religion Not a Shield for Discrimination Aug 19, 2008
Christine Brody and Douglas Fenton, who claimed their Christian faith prevented them from providing intrauterine insemination in some circumstances. The doctors, who worked at the North Coast Women's Care Medical Group in Vista, Calif. (Law.com)
State Supreme Court says doctors must treat gays and lesbians Aug 19, 2008
Guadalupe Benitez sued North Coast Women's care in Vista and two of its doctors, saying they told her in 2000 that because she was a lesbian their Christian beliefs prohibited them from performing intrauterine insemination for her. The doctors later claimed they would have refused the treatment for any unmarried couple. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Low-Birth-Weight Babies at Risk for Salt Sensitivity Aug 13, 2008
Causes of intrauterine growth restriction include maternal high blood pressure and maternal smoking during pregnancy. During the study, the children ate a controlled sodium diet for a week and then a high-sodium diet for a week. (MEDLINEplus)
Common Fertility Treatments Little Use Aug 12, 2008
These women often take Sanofi Aventis' Clomid or undergo a type of artificial insemination called unstimulated intrauterine insemination as first-line treatments. Sanofi had no immediate comment. (MEDLINEplus)
Common Infertility Treatments Are Unlikely To Improve Fertility Aug 11, 2008
Bhattacharya et al. Clomifene citrate or unstimulated intrauterine insemination compared with expectant management for unexplained infertility: pragmatic randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 2008; 337 (aug07 2): a716 DOI. (Science Daily)
What's the best way to get pregnant? Aug 11, 2008
A report in the BMJ has suggested that fertility clinics should send patients home empty-handed after a study by Siladitya Bhattacharya, a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Aberdeen, found that the fertility pill clomifene and intrauterine insemination (IUI) were no more effective than recommendations on when couples should have sex. A frequent cause of infertility is not making love enough in the middle of the woman's cycle. (guardian.co.uk)
Fertility study scorns frontline treatments Aug 10, 2008
The study, reported in the British Medical Journal, showed that many women who were given the fertility pill clomifene, or who had intrauterine insemination (IUI), which involves injecting sperm directly into the womb, had no more babies than those who were sent home with nothing but advice on when best to have sex ... Allan Pacey, an andrologist at Sheffield University and secretary of the British Fertility Society, said: "Intrauterine insemination has been offered to couples with unexplained... (guardian.co.uk)
Men Adopt Twice As Often As Women Aug 9, 2008
Drug Treatment And Intrauterine Insemination May Not Work When Used Separately. . (CBS News)
Groups still unhappy with abortion proposal Aug 9, 2008
Leavitt said the part that many groups objected to most strongly, which defined abortion to include most birth control pills and intrauterine devices, would not be included. But Nancy Northup of the Center for Reproductive Rights said her group objected to other parts of the proposal. (Scientific American)
New Research Questions Use Of Common Fertility Treatmets Aug 9, 2008
" There is a need for high quality clinical trials as well as better information for patients to determine the best treatments in light of effectiveness and adverse effects. El-Toukhy and Khalaf also call for the current NICE guidelines to be reviewed with this research in mind. Clomifene citrate or unstimulated intrauterine insemination compared with expectant management for unexplained infertility: pragmatic randomised controlled trial S Bhattacharya, K Harrild, J Mollison, S Wordsworth, C... (Medical News Today)
Millions of Women Who Had Abortions Don't Know It Aug 9, 2008
That's one of the ways many birth-control pills and intrauterine devices. And if that's abortion, millions of women who didn't know they were pregnant -- who medically weren't pregnant -- have killed their unborn children. (Bloomberg -- Columnists)
Study questions fertility choices Aug 9, 2008
The study, covering five hospitals in Scotland, followed 580 couples who were randomly assigned either to receive no treatment beyond advice about the timing of intercourse, a course of Clomid, or the intrauterine insemination (IUI) that finally helped the Jances, but without the ovary-stimulating injection. Allan Templeton, the research leader - and architect of Britain's current fertility treatment policy which requires couples to try low-tech methods before they can access publicly funded IVF... (Sydney Morning Herald)
Fertility treatments 'no benefit' Aug 8, 2008
The options listed by the National Institute of Clinical and Health Excellence (NICE) include up to six cycles of unstimulated intrauterine insemination - where sperm is inserted directly into the woman's womb - and use of clomid (clomifene citrate), a drug which stimulates the ovaries ... Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer at the University of Sheffield and secretary of the British Fertility Society, said: "It is very important that we have a strong evidence base to support the treatments that are... (BBC News)
HHS chief denies new rule to attack contraception Aug 8, 2008
The part that many groups objected to most strongly was the definition of abortion, which would include most birth control pills and intrauterine devices, or IUDs. "The Department proposes to define abortion as 'any of the various procedures -- including the prescription and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action -- that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after... (Scientific American)
Study: Infertility Treatments No Help Aug 8, 2008
Drug Treatment and Intrauterine Insemination May Not Work When Used Separately By WebMD Health News Reviewed by ... Researchers compared drug treatment to induce ovulation with no treatment; they also compared intrauterine insemination -- in which the sperm are placed inside the uterus to facilitate fertilization -- with no treatment ... In the intrauterine insemination group, women monitored their hormone levels and when they were ideal, the sperm were placed inside the uterus to facilitate... (WebMD)
Study: 2 popular fertility treatments don't work Aug 8, 2008
In the last group, doctors performed an intrauterine insemination in 193 women, a process where sperm are injected into the womb using a syringe. In Britain, clomifene citrate costs about $390 per course and the sperm insemination costs about $975 per cycle. (USA Today -- News)
Treating the Pill as Abortion, Jul 31, 2008
A draft regulation, still being revised and debated, treats most birth-control pills and intrauterine devices as abortion because they can work by preventing fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus. The regulation considers that destroying "the life of a human being.". (Wall Street Journal)
HEALTH BLOG: Mental health news and notes Jul 23, 2008
Mental health - Better Life - USATODAY.com. Study: Viagra might help some women. (USA Today -- Money)
State fines health insurer $1 million for denying claims Jul 22, 2008
Regulators say the fine follows an investigation by the Insurance Department into a complaint from an Ithaca woman who challenged the denial of a 154 claim for an intrauterine insemination treatment. Most of the improper denials involved claims of approximately 150. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
Clinton vows to fight "insulting" abortion plan Jul 20, 2008
The former Democratic presidential candidate joined family planning groups to condemn the proposal that defines abortion to include contraception such as birth control pills and intrauterine devices. It would cut off federal funds to hospitals and states where medical providers are obligated to offer legal abortion and contraception to women. (Reuters)
Colo. faces vote on 'when life begins' Jul 14, 2008
And the amendment carries broader implications, critics say, such as limiting medical research involving embryos, inviting intrusive government oversight of pregnancies, and banning certain contraception, including the morning-after pill and the intrauterine device. "If we give fertilized eggs legal rights, abortion could be considered murder and a woman could be sent to jail for making the difficult life decision to terminate a pregnancy," said Crystal Clinkenbeard, spokeswoman for Protect... (Boston Globe)
His biological clock is ticking, too Jul 13, 2008
The scientists suggest that when either the man or the woman is over age 35, infertility treatment options, including in vitro fertilization (so-called test tube fertilization), might be more successful than intrauterine insemination (so-called turkey baster insemination. . (Los Angeles Times)
Study: Fertility Problems Affect Men Older Than 40 Jul 8, 2008
"Our data gives evidence for the first time, for a strong paternal effect on IUI (intrauterine insemination) outcome either on pregnancy rates but also on miscarriage rates," said Stephanie Belloc and her team from the Eylau Centre for Assisted Reproduction in France. The team looked at samples from more than 21,000 so-called IUI in which the sperm was washed in centrifuge to separate them from seminal fluid and then inserted directly into the uterus. (Fox News)
Dad's Age Plays Role in Fertility Jul 8, 2008
Researcher Stephanie Belloc of the Eylau Centre for Assisted Reproduction in Paris and colleagues analyzed the outcomes of more than 21,000 intrauterine inseminations (IUIs). An IUI is a type of fertility treatment in which the man's sperm is first separated (or "washed") from the seminal fluid and then inserted into the woman's uterus. (WebMD)
Male biological clock 'ticks too' Jul 7, 2008
All were given intrauterine inseminations (IUI), also known as artificial insemination, where sperm is inserted into the womb when the woman is ovulating. It is given to couples where the woman has no fertility problems and is less invasive than IVF.. (BBC News -- Health)
Men's fertility decreases after 35, study confirms Jul 7, 2008
A study by Laboratoire d'Eylau, a centre for assisted reproduction in Paris, followed more than 21,000 men who had intrauterine inseminations at fertility clinics ... "But how DNA damage in older men translates into clinical practice has not been shown up to now. Our research shows for the first time that there is a strong paternal age-related affect on [intrauterine insemination] outcomes and this information should be considered by both doctors and patients in assisted reproduction." ... She... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Couples with fertility problems where the man is over 35 have increased difficulty in conceiving Jul 7, 2008
Dr. Belloc and colleagues followed up 21239 intrauterine inseminations (IUIs). In IUI the sperm is 'washed', or spun in a centrifuge, in order to separate them from the seminal fluid, and then inserted directly into the uterus. (EurekAlert!)
Men Over 40 Less Fertile Jul 7, 2008
"Our data give evidence for the first time, for a strong paternal effect on IUI (intrauterine insemination) outcome either on pregnancy rates but also on miscarriage rates," Belloc and her team from the Eylau Centre for Assisted Reproduction in France said ... The French team analyzed samples taken from more than 21,000 so-called intrauterine inseminations in which the sperm are washed or spun in a centrifuge to separate them from the seminal fluid and then inserted directly into the uterus. (Newsmax)
Scientists warn that biological clock affects male fertility Jul 7, 2008
Those who fail to conceive after mild forms of fertility treatment, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in which sperm is washed and transferred directly into the uterus, should move quickly to more advanced treatments, such as ICSI, where the best quality sperm are picked out and injected directly into the woman's egg. The study looked at pregnancies and miscarriages recorded for couples having IUI treatment at the clinic between 2002 and 2006. (guardian.co.uk)
The Pill is Outdated Jul 2, 2008
Instead of relying on the Pill, James Trussell of Princeton University, said women should use other methods of contraception that are longer-lasting such as hormonal implants or intrauterine devices (IUDs). They can be fitted and forgotten, but can easily be removed if the woman changes her mind and wishes to become pregnant. (Newsmax)
The Pill has had its day as an effective contraceptive Jun 27, 2008
Speakers at the conference on the fu 00004000 ture of abortion will say that women should use longer-lasting methods such as hormonal implants or intrauterine devices (IUDs) that can be fitted and forgotten , but later removed if a woman wants a baby. Related Links. (Times Online)
Late Congenital Cytomegalovirus Has No Effect on Fetal Outcome Jun 25, 2008
They add that this study was small and observational design only, performing amniocentesis to diagnosis third trimester intrauterine CMV infection appears to be an unnecessary invasive procedure. SORCE: BJOG International, June 2008. (MEDLINEplus)
Sexually Transmitted Disease, Urinary Tract Infections May Be Bad Combination For Birth Defect Jun 24, 2008
6, 2007) Researchers have found that intrauterine devices are safe and effective in a population of women previously not considered as good candidates for this method of birth. (May 22, 2008) An analysis of nearly 7 million US live births found that about 8 percent of babies born preterm had a birth defect -- more than twice the rate as full-term infants. (Science Daily)
Religious, gay rights clash in Calif. case Jun 20, 2008
Brody replied that, should Benitez require intrauterine insemination, she could not perform it for religious reasons. The two dispute exactly what Brody said would violate her beliefs. (Boston Globe)
Mothers Diet May Affect Daughters Puberty Jun 19, 2008
Researchers believe the condition arises from elevated placental cortisol levels which alter infant metabolism and lead to intrauterine growth retardation. Ultimately, such children show much higher rates of insulin resistance, obesity and atherosclerosis than normal. (New York Times)
Expectant Moms Should Wait Out Due Date For Deliveries, Experts Urge Jun 17, 2008
13, 2007) Pregnancy at age 40 and beyond is an independent risk factor for intrauterine fetal demise or stillbirth, according to an abstract presented by Yale School of Medicine researchers at the Society for. (Dec. (Science Daily)
ACCESS: Patients often struggle to obtain records Jun 12, 2008
On the envelope containing the strip that the hospital said was made days before her baby died is written "Stover, Beth," and "IUFD" for intrauterine fetal demise, "Female 3-5-06.". Stover and Lehna's father, Andy Brewer, do not believe the strip came from their child. (USA Today -- News)
Women Who Gain Excessive Weight During Pregnancy More Likely to Have Overweight Children Jun 9, 2008
"The earliest determinants of obesity may operate during intrauterine life, and gestational weight gain may influence the environment in the womb in ways that can have long-term consequences on the risk of obesity in children," said study leader Brian Wrotniak, P.T., Ph. D., of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. (PR Newswire)
New Mouse Model Mimics Hyperglycemia, Aids In Diabetes Research Jun 7, 2008
(May 11, 2008) Intrauterine growth retardation results in a baby having a low birth weight and has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. It has been suggested that IUGR alters the. (Science Daily)
Greater Awareness Of Genetic Testing For Impaired Fetal Movement Can Save Babies' Lives Jun 5, 2008
4, 2008) New genetic mutations responsible for impaired fetal movement, which leads to a multitude or problems in later life as well as early spontaneous abortion, have been identified by a group of scientists, the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics will hear Saturday 31 May. Dr. Katrin Hoffmann, of the Charit; University Hospital, Berlin, Germany, will say that her team's findings could lead to strategies to prevent multiple miscarriages, and for children born with... (Science Daily)
Court weighs if doctors can not treat lesbian May 30, 2008
Benitez sued North Coast Women's Care, a fertility clinic in Vista (San Diego County), and two of its doctors who refused in 2000 to provide intrauterine insemination. She said Christine Brody, her treating physician, and Douglas Fenton, the clinic's medical director, told her their Christian beliefs prohibited them from furnishing the infertility treatment for a lesbian couple. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Calif. Justices Appear to Favor Lesbian in Dispute Over Artificial Insemination May 29, 2008
Case with unusually high number of amicus briefs involves doctors who claimed religious beliefs kept them from providing intrauterine insemination ... Justice Joyce Kennard all but announced a win for the gay community when she asked Los Angeles lawyer Jennifer Pizer, who represented a San Diego County lesbian who had been denied intrauterine insemination, whether she would be satisfied with a narrowly tailored ruling in her client's favor, or whether she was hoping for a ruling that touched on... (Law.com)
State Supreme Court may give gays a medical victory May 29, 2008
Several justices suggested during Wednesday's hearing that they would rule that religion was not a legal justification for two Christian physicians in San Diego County who declined to perform an intrauterine insemination for Lupita Benitez, a lesbian who sought to become pregnant in 1999. Justice Carol A. Corrigan, who voted against same-sex marriage, appeared strongly in favor of Benitez's right to medical treatment. (Los Angeles Times)
REGION: State's high court to hear local case of civil rights clash May 28, 2008
The attorney said the doctors, who are Christians, did not perform the intrauterine insemination because Benitez is not married ---- not because of her sexual orientation. And this was not a medical emergency, but rather an elective procedure, Tyler said. (North County Times)
Triplets Birth Complicated By Shared Placenta,... May 24, 2008
Alvarez said the following can be used as treatment options: intrauterine laser treatment, amniocentesis and ligation of the umbilical cord. "In mild cases, conservative treatment can achieve viable outcomes," Alvarez said. (Fox News)
Is The Future Of Surgery Painless And Scarless? May 21, 2008
Successful Diagnostic and Therapeutic Intrauterine Fetal Interventions. Investigators using NOTESTM have found for the first time that it can look at the entire uterus and reach areas that had not previously been accessible. (Science Daily)
How Slow Growth As A Fetus Can Cause Diabetes As An Adult May 12, 2008
ScienceDaily (May 11, 2008) Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), which results in a baby having a low weight at birth, has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes in adulthood ... Development of type 2 diabetes following intrauterine growth retardation in rats is associated with progressive epigenetic silencing of Pdx1 ... 8, 2003) The birth of the first cloned animals in North Carolina may soon lead to advances in animal and human health, particularly the prevention of intrauterine... (Science Daily)
IUDs Seen to Reduce Cancer Risk May 9, 2008
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Intrauterine devices are not only among the most effective contraceptives, but they also can help protect women from a cancer of the uterus called endometrial cancer, researchers reported on Tuesday. Doctors often forget the devices, known commonly as IUDs, can treat endometriosis, Dr. David Grimes of Family Health International in Chapel Hill, North Carolina told a meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in New Orleans. (MEDLINEplus)
A mom's guide to birth control May 2, 2008
You can also safely use an intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) or try any barrier method, such as a diaphragm, cervical cap, sponge, condom, and Leah's Shield (a reusable rubber insert), says Karen Meckstroth, M.D., assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco. Q: I'm not sure whether I'm done having babies, so what's long-term but not permanent. (CNN -- Health)
New Treatment Could Double Pregnancy Rates With Assisted Reproductive Technology Apr 21, 2008
Existing ART procedures triple the risk of pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and pre-term births, some of which are life-threatening to the mother and/or her baby. Associate Professor Roberts and her colleagues hope to correct these problems with the new treatment. (Science Daily)
