Reproduction & fertility最新文献

{"title":"Recombinant hCG versus dual triggering for final oocyte maturation in ICSI cycles among poor responders with endometriosis.","authors":"Fatemeh Davari Tanha, Mahbod Ebrahimi, Zahra Kaveh, Elham Feizabad, Shirin Zarrinjooie, Hakimeh Roshani, Shima Rahimi, Elham Rashidi","doi":"10.1530/RAF-25-0215","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-25-0215","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>This double-blind randomized clinical trial compared recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (rhCG) alone with dual triggering (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist plus rhCG) for final oocyte maturation in women with endometriosis and poor ovarian response (Bologna criteria) undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection. A total of 152 eligible women were randomized (1:1) to receive either rhCG (250 μg) plus placebo (n = 76) or rhCG (250 μg) plus GnRH agonist (0.2 mg; n = 76). Ultimately, 128 participants completed the protocol through embryo transfer (per-protocol cohort: n = 65 rhCG, n = 63 dual trigger). The primary outcome was the number of retrieved metaphase II (MII) oocytes; secondary outcomes included embryo quality and pregnancy rates. The dual-trigger group yielded significantly more MII oocytes (6.53 ± 4.61 vs 4.14 ± 2.91; effect size (ES) = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.30-0.95; P < 0.001) and Grade A embryos (0.66 ± 0.82 vs 0.37 ± 0.62; ES = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.05-0.73; P = 0.023). Per-protocol chemical pregnancy (38.1 vs 15.4%; relative risk of success (RR) = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.29-4.75; P = 0.004) and clinical pregnancy rates (38.1 vs 10.8%; RR = 3.54, 95% CI: 1.64-7.62; P < 0.001) were significantly higher following dual triggering, with consistent findings in intention-to-treat analyses. Dual triggering significantly enhances oocyte maturity, embryo quality, and clinical pregnancy outcomes compared with rhCG monotherapy in poor responders with endometriosis; larger multicenter trials are warranted to corroborate these findings.</p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>Women with endometriosis often face difficulty becoming pregnant, especially when their ovaries produce only a small number of eggs. In assisted fertility treatments, hormones are used to help eggs mature before they are collected. One common method uses a hormone called hCG, whereas another approach, known as dual triggering, combines hCG with an additional hormone to better mimic the body's natural process. In this study, we compared these two methods in 152 women with endometriosis and poor ovarian response undergoing fertility treatment. We found that women who received the two-hormone method produced more fully mature eggs and more good-quality embryos, and had higher pregnancy rates than those who received hCG alone. These findings suggest that using both hormones may offer a better chance of success for some women with endometriosis undergoing fertility treatment and could help doctors tailor treatment to individual patient needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149043242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"One-year reproductive effects of anti-GnRH and rabies vaccination in female pet cats.","authors":"Shiri Novak, Boris Yakobson, Roni King, Lauren Jaebker, Douglas C Eckery, Tal Raz","doi":"10.1530/RAF-26-0102","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-26-0102","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abstract: &lt;/strong&gt;Overpopulation of domestic cats poses risks to public health, biodiversity, and animal welfare. Surgical sterilization is widely used but has substantial limitations. Gonacon, an anti-GnRH vaccine, provides a nonsurgical alternative; however, data are lacking for owned queens living in natural habitats and for simultaneous vaccination against rabies. We evaluated the 1-year immunogenicity, safety, and efficacy of simultaneous Gonacon-rabies vaccination in pet queens and compared responses between indoor and outdoor cats. In a prospective field study, 36 intact queens (≥6 months) received Gonacon-rabies vaccination (Gonacon-Rabies, n = 30) or ovariohysterectomy with rabies vaccination (Ovx-Rabies, n = 6). Queens remained under their owners' care and were monitored at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months. Twenty-five queens completed the follow-up (22 Gonacon-Rabies, 3 Ovx-Rabies). Injection-site nodules were observed only following Gonacon vaccination (13.6 vs 0%; P = 0.0564). Anti-GnRH seropositivity was detected in 68.2, 31.8, and 27.3% of Gonacon-Rabies queens at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Among responders (n = 15), 53.3% were positive only at 3 months, 6.7% remained positive up to 6 months, and 40% remained positive throughout the study. All Gonacon-vaccinated nonresponders were outdoor queens (outdoor: 7/13; 53.8%; indoor: 0/9; P = 0.0167). The duration of anti-GnRH immunity was shorter in outdoor queens (2.1 ± 0.9 vs 8.3 ± 1.5 months; P = 0.0005). Reproductive events (estrus or pregnancy) occurred in 76.9% of outdoor vs 11.1% of indoor Gonacon-Rabies queens (P = 0.0075). AMH concentrations were inversely correlated with anti-GnRH levels (r = -0.53; P &lt; 0.0001). Rabies antibodies remained protective (≥0.5 IU/mL) but were lower in outdoor vs indoor queens (P = 0.0490). Owner satisfaction was higher for Gonacon-Rabies indoor queens and those without reproductive events. Simultaneous Gonacon-rabies vaccination was safe and partially effective over 1 year, with better responsiveness in indoor queens.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lay summary: &lt;/strong&gt;Domestic cats are highly prolific, contributing to overpopulation that negatively affects animal welfare, wildlife biodiversity, and public health. Although surgical sterilization is widely used to prevent reproduction in cats, it has important practical, economic, and ethical limitations. We studied the safety, immune response, and reproductive effects of a contraceptive anti-GnRH vaccine (Gonacon) administered concurrently with a rabies vaccine in female pet cats living under normal home conditions. The combined vaccination was generally safe, and most queens maintained protective immunity against rabies. However, the contraceptive effects varied considerably among animals. Indoor queens developed stronger, longer-lasting immune responses and experienced fewer signs of estrus and fewer pregnancies than outdoor queens. In contrast, many outdoor queens showed weaker and shorter-lasting immun","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149121716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Semen quality in men with cancer: comparison with a healthy Swiss reference population.","authors":"Myriam Vogt, Rita Rahban, Benedetta Campana, Gyongyver Teglas, Alfred Senn, Cyril Jaksic, Serge Nef, Alexandra Kohl Schwartz, Marcel Steinmann","doi":"10.1530/RAF-26-0110","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-26-0110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the impact of cancer and its treatment on semen quality and to examine the differences according to cancer type and stage. This monocentric retrospective cohort study included men aged 12-50 years who underwent semen analysis for fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment between 2005 and 2024 at a public hospital in Central Switzerland. Semen parameters of 373 cancer patients were compared with those of a healthy Swiss reference population (2,871 military recruits) with adjustment for potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were performed by cancer type and stage, while paired analyses evaluated changes in semen quality before and after treatment. Before treatment, cancer patients had lower sperm concentration, total sperm count and total motile sperm count compared with the reference population. After adjustment, these differences remained significant only in men with testicular cancer. Following treatment, the proportion of men with azoospermia increased across all cancer types. While partial recovery was observed in patients with testicular cancer, patients with haematological and other solid cancers demonstrated a clear deterioration in semen quality, consistent with the higher gonadotoxicity of their treatments. In conclusion, semen quality may already be compromised in men with cancer prior to treatment, especially in testicular cancer. The extent of treatment-related impairment varies by cancer type and treatment. These findings highlight the importance of individualised and timely fertility counselling, sperm cryopreservation prior to treatment and the need for structured long-term follow-up of reproductive health in cancer survivors.</p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>Cancer and its treatment can reduce fertility in men of reproductive age and can affect the ability to have children. It is still unclear how much of this effect is caused by the disease itself and how much by the treatment. In this study, we compared semen quality in men with cancer before and after treatment with that of healthy Swiss men. We found that some patients, especially those with testicular cancer, already had lower semen quality before starting the treatment. After treatment, semen quality often further decreased and more men had no sperm in their ejaculate. This was particularly seen in patients who received treatments known to strongly affect fertility. These findings show that both cancer and cancer treatment can impair male fertility. This highlights the importance of early counselling and offering sperm freezing before treatment, as well as providing long-term reproductive follow-up after cancer care.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149083438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Menopause following cancer treatment-induced menopause: unique considerations and current recommendations.","authors":"Gabriella Yongue, Zachary Nash, Kristyn Manley, Melanie C Davies, Shibani Nicum","doi":"10.1530/RAF-26-0082","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-26-0082","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abstract: &lt;/strong&gt;Menopause following cancer treatment is an increasingly recognised component of survivorship yet remains under-addressed in clinical care. The aim of this review was to synthesise current evidence on menopause induced by cancer treatment, by bringing together current evidence on the underlying mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and management in the context of survivorship care. Evidence was evaluated from contemporary clinical studies, guideline recommendations, and emerging evidence across oncology and menopause research. Cancer treatment-induced menopause commonly results from surgical removal of the ovaries, follicular depletion from chemotherapy, and radiation-induced ovarian damage, and in some cases, it is chemically induced by gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists. The resulting symptom burden is often substantial, including vasomotor symptoms, mood disturbance, genitourinary syndrome, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties that impair quality of life. In addition, premature or early menopause is associated with increased long-term health risks, including reduced bone density, cardiovascular disease, and adverse psychosocial outcomes, such as infertility and altered self-identity. Menopause symptoms can also overlap with treatment side effects, and management is often complex, requiring an individualised, multidisciplinary approach. Whilst hormone replacement therapy is effective, its use is limited by concerns regarding cancer recurrence in hormone-sensitive disease. As a result, non-hormonal and supportive strategies play a pivotal role in symptom management. Despite increasing recognition of the impact of menopause, there are few effective licensed therapies and access to specialist support and counselling is limited. Integrated menopause care that incorporates menopause management into oncology pathways offers a pragmatic approach, providing holistic, patient-centred strategies that balance long-term health risks with quality-of-life priorities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lay summary: &lt;/strong&gt;Cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or long-term therapies, can cause menopause, which is often sudden, resulting in severe symptoms that may overlap with treatment-related side effects. Menopause can therefore be complex to manage, and there may also be added concerns around promoting cancer recurrence. Menopause symptoms can include hot flushes, poor sleep, mood disturbance, vaginal dryness, reduced sexual well-being, fatigue, and problems with memory - these can all impact daily life. There may also be longer-term health impacts, including bone loss and cardiovascular disease. This review brings together current evidence to discuss why treatment-related menopause occurs and how it can be best managed. It highlights that, despite growing awareness, many cancer survivors do not receive adequate information, support, or treatment for these symptoms. As cancer survival improves, ","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13663626/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148979107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"DDX3Y loss-of-function variant in AZFa-like non-obstructive azoospermia highlights gaps in current Y-chromosome microdeletion testing.","authors":"Florence Abou, Netanel Waldenberg, Shany Kravat, Moran Gershoni, Sandra E Kleiman, Naama Steiner, Atef Zeadna, Guy Bar, Oshri Barel, Snir Dekalo, Ruti Parvari, Shlomi Barak","doi":"10.1530/RAF-26-0046","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-26-0046","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abstract: &lt;/strong&gt;Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) due to spermatogenic failure is one of the most challenging conditions for surgical sperm retrieval (SSR). Complete AZFa deletions on Yq11 typically lead to a uniform Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) phenotype, rendering testicular sperm extraction futile. Current EAA/EMQN guidelines rely on sequence-tagged site (STS)-based PCR to detect multi-kilobase AZFa deletions; however, by design, they do not capture intragenic loss-of-function (LoF) variants in key AZFa genes. Recent exome studies have identified DDX3Y as the critical spermatogenic factor within AZFa, showing that isolated DDX3Y LoF variants can reproduce the classical AZFa-like SCO phenotype despite an apparently normal AZFa STS profile. We present a case of a man with idiopathic NOA and an AZFa-like phenotype; elevated FSH, normal karyotype, negative standard AZFa/b/c STS testing, and microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) showed complete SCO syndrome with no sperm retrieved. Whole exome sequencing (WES) subsequently revealed a novel likely pathogenic LoF variant in DDX3Y in one of its coding exons, a defect not detectable by routine AZFa PCR. This case adds to the small number of published DDX3Y loss-of-function variants associated with NOA and SCO syndrome and illustrates an important diagnostic limitation of STS-based AZF testing. We suggest that DDX3Y should be considered in exome or targeted-panel interpretation for selected men with NOA and an AZFa-like presentation despite negative microdeletion testing. Prospective cohorts are required before routine testing algorithms, SSR contraindications, or cost-effectiveness conclusions can be established. Upon validation, such an approach would avoid unnecessary, low-yield SSR while enhancing prognostic counseling and resource utilization.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lay summary: &lt;/strong&gt;Some men have no sperm in the semen because sperm production in the testis has failed. In selected patients, surgical sperm retrieval may be performed, in which small pieces of testicular tissue are examined to look for rare sperm that could be used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, a form of IVF in which a single sperm is injected into an egg. Before surgery, men are usually tested for large missing regions on the Y chromosome, including the AZFa region. Complete AZFa deletions are associated with a very poor chance of finding sperm. In this case report, we describe a man with no sperm in the semen, negative standard AZF deletion testing, and no sperm found during microdissection testicular sperm extraction. Later exome sequencing identified a previously unreported stop-gain variant in DDX3Y, a gene located within AZFa and now considered to have moderate evidence for involvement in severe sperm production failure. Together with previously published cases, this finding illustrates a limitation of standard deletion testing: it cannot detect small gene-level variants. In carefully selected men ","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149027444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inflammation in the endometrium of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) at the time of birth.","authors":"Marie K Muenzenberger, Brandon R Menzies, Barbara Drews","doi":"10.1530/RAF-25-0211","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-25-0211","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Graphical abstract: </strong></p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Pregnancy involves inflammatory processes, and the endometrium is populated by a range of immune cells whose functions depend on pregnancy length, species and placentation type. In eutherians, prolonged embryo-maternal contact during placentation implies mechanisms of immune tolerance to the semi-allogeneic fetus. However, at the time of birth, inflammatory processes prevail. Marsupials provide an opportunity to identify mechanisms of placentation and parturition in a lineage separate from that of eutherian mammals. Here, we identified and quantified crucial immune cells in the tammar wallaby endometrium in gravid and nongravid uteri at term. Neutrophils and T cells were labeled with anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) and anti-CD3, respectively, and were counted manually. Automated cell counts were used to quantify macrophages stained with Perls' Prussian blue stain. The yolk sac, which represents the embryonic part of the placenta, was morphologically described by light microscopy. In the gravid endometrium, we found significantly more MPO-positive neutrophils and CD3+ T cells than in the nongravid endometrium, whereas macrophages were significantly more abundant in the non-gravid endometrium. Embryonic trophoblast giant cells showed fringed margins, vacuolated cytoplasm, and degenerating nuclei. We conclude that the inflammatory processes observed at the time of birth are likely to be a sterile inflammation triggered by the aging and deteriorating embryonic trophoblast, which might be a limiting factor for the short marsupial pregnancy. Our findings present a base model for understanding the evolution of maternal-fetal immune interactions and the induction of birth.</p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>During mammalian pregnancy, the mother's immune system could treat the embryo as foreign because it expresses antigens inherited from the father. In eutherian mammals, such as humans, which have longer pregnancies than marsupials, this immune response is suppressed until the onset of birth. Marsupials, such as the tammar wallaby, have a restricted period of embryo-maternal contact. We compared the amount of different immune cells in the pregnant and nonpregnant uteri of tammar wallabies at the time of birth. We found that neutrophils, which are part of the nonspecific immune system, were the predominant cell type in the uterus carrying the embryo. Together with the degeneration of placental cells that we observed, these findings suggest that marsupial birth is preceded by a nonspecific inflammatory response triggered by the aging placenta rather than an adverse specific reaction against the fetus. Our study contributes to the understanding of the evolution of the immune environment that supports live birth.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13663630/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149013502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Premature ovarian insufficiency and early menopause: understanding the aetiology, protecting long-term health and what to expect from future research.","authors":"Laura Cervini, Melanie C Davies","doi":"10.1530/RAF-26-0152","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-26-0152","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abstract: &lt;/strong&gt;Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and early menopause, defined as ovarian failure before the age of 40 years and menopause between the ages of 40 and 45 years, respectively, affect a considerably higher proportion of people than previously estimated, with a worldwide prevalence of approximately 3.7 and 12%, respectively. Their aetiology is multifactorial, encompassing genetic causes, such as Turner's syndrome and FMR1 premutation carrier status; autoimmune conditions; iatrogenic factors, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and pelvic surgery; and environmental and lifestyle influences, although a substantial proportion of cases remain idiopathic. POI and early menopause are associated with elevated risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and dementia, as well as considerable psychological morbidity, including depression, anxiety and fertility-related distress. Many women also experience genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), comprising vulvovaginal and lower urinary tract symptoms arising from hypo-oestrogenism, such as dryness, dyspareunia and recurrent urinary tract infections, alongside reduced libido, with important consequences for quality of life and sexual health. Prompt diagnosis of POI, requiring clinical suspicion alongside biochemical confirmation with elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) measurement, is important, as diagnostic delays can be associated with a greater bone mineral density loss. Hormonal therapy is the mainstay of management and should be continued until the average age of natural menopause. A comprehensive management approach should include lifestyle interventions and psychosocial support. Significant research gaps remain, including the identification of optimal hormonal regimens or validated biomarkers for early detection. Addressing these and other priorities is essential to improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for people affected by POI and early menopause.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lay summary: &lt;/strong&gt;Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) occurs when the ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40 years. Early menopause means menopause happens between the ages of 40 and 45 years. These conditions are more common than previously thought. In addition to causing menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, mood changes and sleep disturbances, these conditions can have serious long-term effects on heart health, bone strength, memory and mental well-being. They can also have a profound emotional impact, particularly on patients who had hoped to have children. Hormone therapy is the main treatment for these conditions and is usually continued until the average age of natural menopause. Care should also include lifestyle support and psychological support. More research is still needed to identify the best hormone therapy options and better ways to detect these conditions early. Addressing these gaps could improve long-term health and quality of lif","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149083482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of an overweight body condition on pregnancy, parturition, and physical activity in the bitch.","authors":"Samantha J McCarter, Julie T Cecere, Stephen R Werre, Megan Shepherd, Andrea Jones, Orsolya Balogh","doi":"10.1530/RAF-26-0093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1530/RAF-26-0093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Lay abstract: </strong>Excessive body fat is suspected to negatively affect reproductive success in dogs, similar to other species. Thus, we aimed to determine if overweight dogs had negative pregnancy outcomes. Six overweight and 10 lean female dogs were monitored through pregnancy until the first four weeks of lactation. Lean dogs had higher baseline activity levels at home than overweight dogs. During pregnancy, lean dogs had a gradual decline in their activity that stayed low throughout lactation. Overweight dogs maintained their baseline activity levels throughout gestation, but increased during lactation. No differences were found between the two groups in embryonic growth rate, duration of labor, placental vasculature, or selected blood biomarker concentrations. We noted a potential clinically relevant higher early pregnancy loss and slower labor progression until the birth of the first puppy in overweight bitches, although this was not statistically significant. Although a relatively small number of dogs were included, the results point toward potential negative effects of obesity on canine reproductive performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149083549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Testosterone Therapy for Cognition in Menopause: Systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Alexandra Faulkner, Roopal Desai, Nicky Keay, Shahara Aziz Ellahi, Spector Aimee","doi":"10.1530/RAF-26-0080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1530/RAF-26-0080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>Menopause is a stage of life that can affect thinking and memory, often colloquially called 'brain fog'. Brain fog, can affect daily life and relationships. Hormone treatments are often used to manage symptoms, but it is still not clear how well they work. Testosterone is sometimes prescribed for low sex drive, but its effects on thinking and memory are unclear. This study reviews the existing evidence. Five studies were identified. These studies looked at different areas of thinking and memory, including attention, planning, decision-making and learning. We found no clear evidence that testosterone impacts thinking and memory. However, there were only a few small studies, so the results need to be interpreted carefully. This research highlights a knowledge gap. More studies are needed on testosterone to guide effective treatment and support women to make informed decisions about their health.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149083472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surrogacy from a reproductive rights and justice perspective: a narrative review.","authors":"Margot Lherbet, Samir Hamamah","doi":"10.1530/RAF-25-0124","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-25-0124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Graphical abstract: </strong></p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Surrogacy is a form of assisted reproductive technology in which a woman carries a child on behalf of an individual or couple and relinquishes the child following birth. Since its emergence in its contemporary form in the late 1970s, surrogacy has been the subject of ongoing debate and controversy, shaped by developments in scientific research and social discourse. This work proposes a theoretical framework that directly engages with the ethical and practical paradoxes of surrogacy rather than bypassing them. The analysis is grounded in a comprehensive review of 86 scholarly articles drawn from international, cross-disciplinary literature. The aim of this research is to approach surrogacy through a non-binary, socially informed lens, placing surrogates themselves at the center of the inquiry. First, it clarifies the conceptual distinction between reproductive rights and reproductive justice, exploring their respective contributions to surrogacy debates on regulation without oversimplifying the issues or reducing them to binary frameworks. Second, it mobilizes these frameworks to diagnose how surrogates' autonomy, health, and agency are unevenly protected across national and transnational arrangements, focusing on different geographies to illustrate de diversity of surrogacy practices. Third, it critically examines institutional responses - particularly medical, legal, and associational forms of regulation - highlighting both their potential and their limitations in advancing reproductive justice for surrogates. By adopting a cross-disciplinary perspective, this work seeks to reorient the discussion toward the experiences of surrogates and to inform political decision-making concerning assisted reproductive technologies within the context of an expanding global reproductive market.</p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>Surrogacy is when a woman carries a child for someone else and gives the baby to them after birth. While this practice helps people become parents, it also raises complex ethical and social questions. This review looks at 86 studies from different countries and disciplines to better understand these issues. It proposes a new way to think about surrogacy, focusing on the rights and experiences of the women involved, especially surrogates and donors. The study shows that many women, especially in the Global South, face problems such as poor access to healthcare and limited information about the process. It also highlights how medical and legal systems often fail to protect them. By combining ideas from human rights and feminist movements, the review offers a tool to identify these problems and calls for stronger protections. It encourages global rules to ensure that surrogacy respects women's health, rights, and dignity, no matter where they live.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13482798/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148581968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}