Reproduction & fertility最新文献

{"title":"Chronic pelvic pain treatment understanding what matters: a social media survey.","authors":"Selina Johnson, Emma Evans, Dharani K Hapangama","doi":"10.1530/RAF-24-0038","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-24-0038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a debilitating condition that reduces quality of life (QoL). In the United Kingdom, there is currently no standardised treatment pathway for women suffering from CPP. Therefore, it is essential to understand individuals' concerns regarding CPP, their treatment experiences and what they seek from treatment. To do this, we conducted a two-month social media survey focused on the UK population to explore treatment experiences and identify the factors that people consider important to managing their condition. Of 1,279 respondents, women who completed ≥50% of the questions were included (n = 864; 68%). Results suggest that many women are living with moderate-intensity CPP and experience symptoms for 6 years (average) before receiving a diagnosis. Initially, most women see general practitioners and gynaecologists (90%), with varied care beyond these providers. Using an adapted STarT Back tool, 85% of respondents were classified as medium-high risk of poor outcomes based on physical, psychosocial, and psychological risk. Thematic analysis identified that people desire treatment validation/understanding, self-management, and support to manage pain and QoL. Notably, only 26% of respondents report satisfaction with their healthcare experience, suggesting that current treatment approaches do not address these themes. In conclusion, results suggest that treatment should focus on quality-of-life improvement to enhance CPP treatment outcomes and satisfaction. Findings endorse the need for improved and standardised treatment approaches that address patients' needs.</p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>CPP is persistent pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis for at least 6 months. It is common and affects approximately 1 in 6 women in the UK. To improve treatment, it is important to understand people's treatment experiences and treatment needs. We conducted a social media survey to understand how people with CPP experience treatment and what they would like from treatment. The survey was posted online for two months (May and June 2023) and received 897 responses. Responses suggested that people experience long waits before receiving help for their pain and that treatment journeys vary greatly. Overall, people reported low treatment satisfaction. People felt that effective treatment should improve pain and QoL. Themes of understanding their pain, knowing how to manage their pain and understanding treatments were identified as important. Clinicians should consider QoL and pain education as part of treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11795530/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143019416","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":"FERTILITY CARE IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES: Embryologists' practices of care in IVF-clinics in sub-Saharan Africa.","authors":"Trudie Gerrits, Andrea Whittaker, Lenore Manderson","doi":"10.1530/RAF-24-0025","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-24-0025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Despite the centrality of the role of embryologists in in vitro fertilization (IVF), there is relatively little literature on the nature of their work. In this article, we draw on results from a large ethnographic study on the emerging IVF industry in South Africa and reproductive travel in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where IVF clinics and embryologists are scarce. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 11 embryologists, who work(ed) in SSA, we illustrate how their care practices are produced through the interaction of people and things. We emphasize the importance of context in shaping their practices, including the shortage of embryologists, the need to set up 'first' clinics in their respective countries, the paucity of trained counsellors in clinics and the mobility of IVF staff. The embryologists we interviewed performed multiple tasks on top of their laboratory work, including entrepreneurial tasks, advocacy, training, development of regulations, mentoring and patient counselling. They enacted care in several ways, towards gametes and embryos, patients, clinics and the profession. These multiple tasks and care practices make for dynamic and fulfilling careers of the interviewed embryologists but also stretch their capacities. They also raise questions about their contribution to the scarcity of embryological work in SSA. If access to IVF is to be achieved in the SSA region, more embryologists need to be trained and retained.</p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>Embryologists play a central role in IVF. Yet, there is limited knowledge about the nature of their work. We examine the work of embryologists in SSA, where IVF clinics and embryologists are scarce. Based on qualitative interviews conducted with 12 embryologists, we illustrate the multiple tasks they perform on top of their laboratory work: entrepreneurial tasks, advocacy, training, development of regulations, mentoring and patient counselling. Context is important in shaping these practices. This includes the shortage of embryologists in the SSA region, the need to set up 'first' clinics in their respective countries, the lack of trained counsellors in clinics and the mobility of IVF staff. These multiple tasks, while professionally fulfilling, raise questions about their contribution to the scarcity of embryological work in SSA, which contributes to the limited access to IVF in this region.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11792113/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142690321","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":"Impact of prior levonorgestrel intrauterine device use at the time of embryo transfer.","authors":"Anna Vanderhoff, Andrea Lanes, Elizabeth Ginsburg","doi":"10.1530/RAF-24-0099","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-24-0099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Our objective is to investigate whether infertile women with a history of levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG IUD) use have impaired endometrial growth and pregnancy rates after embryo transfer. This is a retrospective cohort study at a single academic medical center of infertile women aged 18-44 with a history of LNG IUD use undergoing their first embryo transfer cycle between January 2019 and January 2021 compared to controls with a history of no prior birth control use (NONE) or prior oral contraceptive (OCP) use. The primary outcome is endometrial thickness prior to embryo transfer. Secondary outcomes are embryo transfer results, including implantation, miscarriage and live birth. Demographic, baseline and cycle characteristics were similar among the three groups. Women with a history of LNG IUD use had thinner endometrial stripes than women with a history of NONE (LNG IUD: 8.93 mm, NONE: 10.32 mm (aRR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.97)) but not when compared to women with a history of OCP use (OCP: 9.61 mm (aRR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.84-1.01)). Women with a history of LNG IUD use had slightly higher implantation rates than those with NONE history (LNG IUD: 43.37%, NONE: 24.17% (relative risk (RR): 1.79, 95% CI: 1.21-2.45)), though not when compared to prior OCP users (OCP: 38.72% (RR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.86-1.47)). The remainder of the embryo transfer outcomes were similar among the three groups. In conclusion, prior LNG IUD users have a reduced endometrial thickness at the time of embryo transfer but do not have worse pregnancy outcomes.</p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>LNG IUDs (brand names include Mirena, Liletta and Skyla) are some of the most widely used forms of birth control. While these devices are safe and are generally not believed to impact fertility, a few recent articles have suggested the possibility of a long-term impact of prior intrauterine device use on the uterine lining in some patients. As such, we sought to examine uterine lining growth and outcomes of assisted reproduction in an infertile patient population with a history of LNG IUD use compared to infertile women without a history of LNG IUD use. Ultimately, we found that women with a history of LNG IUD use had less uterine lining growth during assisted reproduction cycles, but that they did not have worse pregnancy outcomes when compared to women without a history of levonorgestrel device use.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11729790/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635483","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":"Optimizing equine sperm quality: an alternative to single layer centrifugation for sperm isolation.","authors":"Ashlee Jade Medica, Zamira Gibb, Robert John Aitken","doi":"10.1530/RAF-23-0081","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-23-0081","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Graphical abstract: </strong></p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong>In vitro semen purification techniques have been developed that seek to mimic the in vivo selection process in order to generate the highest possible chance of oocyte fertilization following artificial insemination. Numerous methods have been developed to isolate functional spermatozoa for artificial insemination, yet only one method, single-layer centrifugation using commercial preparations like EquiPure, has been widely employed. In this study, we have introduced a novel approach for isolating spermatozoa and compared their quality to those isolated using EquiPure. The AI port system (Memphasys, Ltd. in Sydney, Australia) features a disposable cartridge with an inoculation chamber for depositing extended semen and a harvest chamber for extracting isolated spermatozoa. These chambers are separated by a 5 µm polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) membrane, allowing highly motile spermatozoa to migrate from the inoculation chamber to the harvest chamber over a 20-minute period. This migration effectively leaves behind seminal plasma and other cell types, such as leukocytes. Comparative analyses between spermatozoa isolated with the AI port and EquiPure demonstrated that, across all measured sperm parameters, including yield, vitality, motility, morphology, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial superoxide generation, the AI port-isolated cells exhibited comparable or superior performance, particularly in terms of DNA fragmentation. In summary, the AI port system demonstrates the potential to efficiently isolate high-quality spermatozoa, possibly offering a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative that may enhance the success rates of artificial insemination in breeding programs.</p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>This study aimed to create a new method for refining stallion semen to increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy through artificial insemination. While there are existing techniques for isolating high-quality sperm, the most common involves a complicated process using a centrifuge, which spins the semen to separate it. This research introduces a new approach called the AI port system that uses a disposable cartridge with two separate chambers for putting in semen and getting out isolated sperm. A membrane between the chambers acts like a filter, letting highly motile sperm swim across, leaving behind unwanted substances like bacteria and blood cells. Compared to the centrifugation method, the AI port system effectively produces sperm with comparable or better quality in various aspects, including vitality, movement, shape, DNA integrity, and energy production. In summary, the AI port system is an easy-to-use alternative with the potential to improve the success of artificial insemination in horse breeding programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11558927/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142515803","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":"Improving access to sexual and reproductive health services among adolescent women in Zimbabwe.","authors":"M Mhlanga, A Mangombe, J J Karumazondo, T Yohannes","doi":"10.1530/RAF-24-0008","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-24-0008","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Unplanned pregnancies increased among adolescents in Zimbabwe, resulting in unsafe abortions, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced marriages. Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) has been scanty among pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers owing to negative social norms, stigma and discrimination. This project specifically targeted pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers through a differentiated and targeted care approach to improve uptake and sexual and reproductive health outcomes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Target-specific peer support groups for pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers were established in Epworth district of Zimbabwe. The Champions of Change, a peer-based approach, was used to facilitate comprehensive sexuality education. Mentors were adolescent mothers trained on how to use a tailor-made manual to facilitate sessions. Two health centers, namely Epworth Clinic and Overspill Clinic, were purposively selected to participate in this study. A total of 60 participants were recruited into this study, 30 from each clinic. Knowledge and attitude were measured using a semi-structured questionnaire administered before and after the intervention. A scorecard was used to assess friendliness and quality of service provision. A Chi-square test of association was used to determine the significance of the change in outcomes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;A significant improvement in knowledge of SRHR, attitudes, and healthcare-seeking behaviors was noted. There was a significant improvement in attitudes and friendliness in service provision. Access to services significantly increased with improvements in relationships and trust.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;A targeted and differentiated care approach increases the uptake of services and health outcomes among adolescent women by addressing their unique needs and circumstances.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lay summary: &lt;/strong&gt;Adolescent pregnancy and motherhood have significantly risen in Zimbabwe with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The condition of these adolescent women has been worsened by poor access to and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by this unique group, resulting in poor sexual health outcomes. Pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers are less likely to access sexual and reproductive health services due to heightened stigma and discrimination by peers, communities and service providers themselves. We adopted a peer-based approach to increase the agency of adolescent women and empower them through comprehensive sexuality education, engaging healthcare service providers, and improving parent-child communication. With our intervention, we noted a significant improvement in the proportion of pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers accessing services and reporting improvement in relationships with parents and healthcare providers. We encourage health providers to consider providi","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11558951/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142485113","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":"FERTILITY CARE IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES: Implementing fertility care: insights from a participatory workshop in The Gambia.","authors":"Anna Afferri, Susan Dierickx, Mustapha Bittaye, Musa Marena, Sainey M Ceesay, Haddy Bittaye, Allan A Pacey, And Julie Balen","doi":"10.1530/RAF-24-0029","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-24-0029","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;The Gambia, West Africa, has made recent progress on infertility, a component of sexual and reproductive health that is lagging behind others. Since 2016, there is favourable policy environment stemming from infertility research and partnership building with national stakeholders and local civil society organisations focussing on infertility. Here, we report outcomes from a participatory workshop on infertility policy implementation in The Gambia and provide insights on setting national priorities for fertility care in resource-limited settings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;We conducted a participatory workshop involving 29 participants from Gambia's public and private health sectors. Using selected participatory group work tools, stakeholders identified and prioritised key activities within the framework of five pre-defined areas of action, including (i) creating guidelines/regulations; (ii) recording/reporting data; (iii) building public-private partnerships; (iv) training health providers; and (v) raising awareness and health-seeking.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 17 prioritised activities were proposed across the five action areas, according to short-, medium-, and long-term timeframes. Three were further prioritised from the overall pool, through group consensus. A group model building activity helped to envision the complexity by elucidating links, loops, and connections between each activity and their expected outcomes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;The participatory workshop identified actionable interventions for fertility care in The Gambia, with stakeholders setting a clear path ahead. Despite challenges, the continued engagement of Gambian policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and activists in efforts to move beyond policy creation to its implementation is essential. Improving fertility care in The Gambia and other low- and middle-income countries is feasible with effective collaboration and financial support.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lay summary: &lt;/strong&gt;In The Gambia, a partnership of stakeholders from various domains, including research, grassroots activism, clinicians, and policymakers, contributed to an increased awareness of infertility. This, in turn, led to the inclusion of infertility in the national reproductive health strategic plan. An in-country participatory workshop involving participants from both public and private health sectors was held in October 2023 with the objective of identifying priorities for moving beyond planning to implementation, within the context of resource constraints. The top three identified priorities were: (i) training about infertility for health providers; (ii) harmonisation of data collection; and (iii) the development of clinical guidelines for infertility management. It is important for the Gambian Ministry of Health to implement these proposed locally relevant fertility care activities. Despite current and future challenges, having a clear v","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11558959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142335943","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":"MICROBIOME: The trials and errors of developing an experimental model to study the impact of maternal gut microbiome disruption on perinatal asphyxia.","authors":"Mara Ioana Ionescu, Ana Maria Catrina, Ioana Alexandra Dogaru, Didina Catalina Barbalata, Cristian Ciotei, Cerasela Haidoiu, Vladimir Suhaianu, Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru, Siobhain M O'Mahony, Ana-Maria Zagrean","doi":"10.1530/RAF-24-0050","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-24-0050","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Maternal gut microbiome impairment has garnered attention for its potential role in influencing neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring, especially in situations that increase brain vulnerability such as perinatal asphyxia (PA). Maternal microbiome and fetal brain interplay emerge as a critical link between maternal health and offspring neurodevelopment. This study aims to generate a model to assess the impact of maternal dysbiosis triggered by gestational antibiotic administration and PA on offspring neurodevelopment. Wistar rats were subjected to antibiotics in drinking water from the 11th gestational day until birth. On the 6th postnatal day, pups were subjected to PA/normoxia, resulting in four experimental groups: control-normoxia, antibiotics-normoxia, control-asphyxia, and antibiotics-asphyxia. Early-life behavioral tests were conducted between postnatal days 7 and 9. The initial antimicrobial cocktail (ampicillin, vancomycin, neomycin, clindamycin, amphotericin-B) led to an increased number of miscarriages, poor weight gain during pregnancy, reduced offspring weight, and changes in the maternal gut microbiome compared to control. Offspring presented impaired neurodevelopmental reflexes in both PA and antibiotic groups and increased hippocampal neuroinflammation. Due to these detrimental effects, a more pregnancy-safe antibiotic cocktail was used for a second experiment (ampicillin, vancomycin, neomycin, meropenem). This resulted in no miscarriages or pregnancy-weight loss but was still linked to gut microbiome disruption. PA impaired neurodevelopmental reflexes and increased neuroinflammation, effects amplified by antibiotic administration. These preliminary findings reveal the cumulative potential of maternal dysbiosis and PA on neurodevelopment impairment, emphasizing caution in gestational antimicrobial use. Further investigations should include offspring long-term follow-up and maternal behavior and integrate probiotics to counteract antibiotic effects.</p><p><strong>Graphical abstract: </strong></p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>This study investigates the impact of maternal gut microbiome disruptions caused by gestational antibiotic treatment and low oxygen exposure shortly after birth on the development of the rats' babies. We found that both antibiotic exposure and reduced oxygen levels led to changes in early behavior and increased inflammation of the nervous tissue in the baby rats. Although using a different, potentially safer antibiotic combination reduced pregnancy complications, it still changed the bacteria in the mother's gut and worsened early behavior. These findings show that antibiotics during pregnancy can affect the developing brain of baby rats and careful consideration should be used before prescribing them. Future research will explore longer-term effects and potential medicines.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11558923/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142396604","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":"The efficacy and functional consequences of interactions between human spermatozoa and seminal fluid extracellular vesicles.","authors":"Cottrell T Tamessar, Amanda L Anderson, Elizabeth G Bromfield, Natalie A Trigg, Shanmathi Parameswaran, Simone J Stanger, Judith Weidenhofer, Hui-Ming Zhang, Sarah A Robertson, David J Sharkey, Brett Nixon, John E Schjenken","doi":"10.1530/RAF-23-0088","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-23-0088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Seminal fluid extracellular vesicles (SFEVs) have previously been shown to interact with spermatozoa and influence their fertilisation capacity. Here, we sought to extend these studies by exploring the functional consequences of SFEV interactions with human spermatozoa. SFEVs were isolated from the seminal fluid of normozoospermic donors prior to assessing the kinetics of sperm-SFEV binding in vitro, as well as the effects of these interactions on sperm capacitation, acrosomal exocytosis, and motility profile. Biotin-labelled SFEV proteins were transferred primarily to the flagellum of spermatozoa within minutes of co-incubation, although additional foci of SFEV biotinylated proteins also labelled the mid-piece and head domain. Functional analyses of high-quality spermatozoa collected following liquefaction revealed that SFEVs did not influence sperm motility during incubation at pH 5, yet SFEVs induced subtle increases in total and progressive motility in sperm incubated with SFEVs at pH 7. Additional investigation of sperm motility kinematic parameters revealed that SFEVs significantly decreased beat cross frequency and increased distance straight line, linearity, straightness, straight line velocity, and wobble. SFEVs did not influence sperm capacitation status or the ability of sperm to undergo acrosomal exocytosis. Functional assessment of both high- and low-quality spermatozoa collected prior to liquefaction showed limited SFEV influence, with these vesicles inducing only subtle decreases in beat cross frequency in spermatozoa of both groups. These findings raise the prospect that, aside from subtle effects on sperm motility, the encapsulated SFEV cargo may be destined for physiological targets other than the male germline, notably the female reproductive tract.</p><p><strong>Lay summary: </strong>A male's influence over the biological processes of pregnancy extends beyond the provision of sperm. Molecular signals present in the ejaculate can influence the likelihood of pregnancy and healthy pregnancy progression, but the identity and function of these signals remain unclear. In this study, we wanted to understand if nano-sized particles present in the male ejaculate, called seminal fluid extracellular vesicles, can assist sperm in traversing the female reproductive tract to access the egg. To explore this, we isolated seminal fluid extracellular vesicles from human semen and incubated them with sperm. Our data showed that seminal fluid extracellular vesicles act to transfer molecular information to sperm, but this resulted in only subtle changes to the movement of sperm.</p><p><strong>Graphical abstract: </strong></p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11466262/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127870","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":"A low concentration of choline chloride alters the developmental program of the bovine preimplantation embryo.","authors":"McKenzie Lj Haimon, Eliab Estrada-Cortés, Thiago Fernandes Amaral, Jeremy Block, Surawich Jeensuk, Tatiane S Maia, Quinn A Hoorn, Masroor Sagheer, João H Bittar, Peter J Hansen","doi":"10.1530/RAF-24-0058","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-24-0058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Choline is a known developmental programming agent of the bovine preimplantation embryo. Culture of the embryo with 1.8 mmol/L choline, a concentration much higher than in blood, alters development to cause increased weaning weight and other changes during the postnatal period. It was hypothesized here that choline exerts similar effects on the developmental program of the embryo when added at concentrations similar to those in peripheral blood (i.e., 4 mol/L). Oocytes were collected via ovum pick up and embryos were produced in vitro. Embryos were cultured until day 7 after fertilization in medium with 4 mol/L choline chloride, or, as a vehicle control, with an additional 4 mol/L sodium chloride. Blastocysts were transferred into recipients and pregnancy was diagnosed at approximately 28 d of gestation. Subsequent calves (n=37 for vehicle and n=35 for choline) were weighed at birth and at weaning. Addition of choline to culture medium did not affect the proportion of embryos that became blastocysts or the proportion of transferred blastocysts that produced a pregnancy. Birth weight was unaffected by treatment but calves derived from choline-treated embryos were heavier at time of weaning and gained more per day from birth until weaning than calves derived from embryos treated with vehicle. Results demonstrate that choline can act on the preimplantation embryo at a physiologically-relevant concentration to alter postnatal phenotype. Observations are further evidence for the importance of the first days of embryonic development for the phenotype of the resulting calf.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11558960/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142373986","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":"The landscape of assisted reproductive technology access in India.","authors":"Prathima Tholeti, Shubhashree Uppangala, Guruprasad Kalthur, Satish Kumar Adiga","doi":"10.1530/RAF-24-0079","DOIUrl":"10.1530/RAF-24-0079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Historically, infertility has been stigmatized in the Indian society, primarily due to societal norms that equate marriage with procreation. In twentieth century, India focused primarily on over-fertility in its family planning programs, with little attention given to the complexities of infertility. The introduction of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in the late 1970s made a global revolution, including in India, offering hope to infertile couples. Despite a significant rise in ART clinics offering a wide range of treatment options in the recent years, challenges remain, particularly regarding the affordability. In India, ART is typically dominated by the private sector as government support remains limited. Efforts to standardize ART practices, including the establishment of the National ART & Surrogacy Registry and ART act aim to regulate, improve outcomes and curb unethical practice. Despite these advancements, the high cost of treatment cycles and lack of insurance coverage limit many couples' ability to undergo fertility treatment. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including policy reform, increased public awareness, and the development of affordable treatment options to ensure broader access to reproductive care across India.</p>","PeriodicalId":101312,"journal":{"name":"Reproduction & fertility","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11558918/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142485114","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}