Significance Of Fertility Research Articles

Thyroid cancer in women of reproductive age: Key issues for the clinical team.

Women who are fertile experience a significant burden from thyroid cancer. In reality, delaying childbirth is the current trend in maternity. Women who have thyroid cancer may later want to get pregnant after it has been treated, which presents a multidisciplinary issue for their doctors. A variety of specialists are frequently involved in the treatment of thyroid cancer. This review aims to address the key elements of the strategy and places special emphasis on the significance of fertility in women with thyroid cancer diagnosis and remission. We will cover topics including the role of thyroid hormones in pregnancy and fertility.

Ermentrude's consecration (866): queen‐making rites and biblical templates for Carolingian fertility

Ermentrude's consecration in 866 has long been interpreted as the quintessential example of queen‐making as fertility rite. More recent scholarship has illuminated how Carolingian queen‐making articulated richer definitions of queenship and reflected wider political roles of queens. This article re‐examines the significance of fertility at Ermentrude's consecration. Close analysis of the introductory address that survives alongside the liturgy for anointing and coronation shows that fertility was an unusually important theme at Ermentrude's consecration – but not simply the queen's fertility. By modelling royal fertility on biblical templates, the consecration communicated not only hopes of future children but also political messages about divine sanction of dynastic continuity and good kingship.

Is there a role for DAZL in human female fertility?

The RNA binding protein deleted in azoospermia-like (Dazl) is a key determinant of germ cell maturation and entry into meiosis in rodents and other animal species. Although the complex phenotype of Dazl deficiency in both sexes, with defects at multiple stages of germ cell development and during meiosis, demonstrates its obligate significance in fertility in animal models, its involvement in human fertility is less clear. As an RNA binding protein, identification of the in vivo mRNA targets of DAZL is necessary to understand its influence. Thus far, only a small number of Dazl targets have been identified, which typically have pivotal roles in germ cell development and meiotic progression. However, it is likely that there are a number of additional germ cell and meiosis-relevant transcripts whose translation is affected in the absence of Dazl. Efforts to identify these RNA targets have mainly been focused on spermatogenesis, and restricted to mouse. In women, prophase I occurs in fetal life and it is during this period that the ovarian follicle pool is established, thus factors that have a role in determining the quality and quantity of the ovarian reserve may have significant impact on reproductive outcomes later in adult life. Here, we suggest that DAZL may be one such factor, and there is a need for greater understanding of the role of DAZL in human oogenesis and its contribution to lifelong female fertility.

Spermatozeugmata structure and dissociation of the Australian flat oyster Ostera angasi: Implications for reproductive strategy.

Variation in reproductive strategy is one of the key factors contributing to recruitment success of molluscs in different habitats. Spermcasting is a unique mode in mollusc reproduction where males produce spermatozeugmata, a radially arrayed sperm cluster wrapped by gelatinous membrane. In this study, spermatozeugmata structure and their dissociation in the Australian flat oyster Ostrea angasi were investigated to elucidate the reproductive strategy in spermcasting molluscs. The histological observation indicated that spermatogonia gradually aggregated in the gonad follicle at the early gonad development stages and developed into spermatozeugmata and became tightly packed at the advanced stages. Even though mature male and female gametes could be found in a hermaphroditic individual, the animal may prevent self-fertilization by shedding different sex gametes at different time. The O. angasi sperm are similar in size and shape to broadcasting oysters, but have one additional mitochondrion. Variations in maintaining spermatozeugmata integrity and sperm motility between individuals depended on the level of masculinity or femineity. The durations of spermatozeugmata dissociation and sperm viability were longer in males than in hermaphrodites. The unique structure and capability for spermatozeugmata to maintain the functional integrity after spawning have adaptive significance for fertilization and gamete dispersal in this species.

Decision-making about fertility preservation-qualitative data on young cancer patients' attitudes and needs.

The aim of the study was to get deeper insight into the significance of fertility in cancer patients, their attitude towards fertility preservation (FP), decisional conflicts, and patient's needs in the decision-making process. Focus groups with 12 female cancer survivors were held and revealed that the significance of fertility was high and attitude towards FP positive. Religious and ethical reservations were not negligible. Standardized decision aids were considered helpful. More support is highly in demand and specific tools would be beneficial.

Lessons Learned: Feasibility of a Discussion Prompting Tool to Increase Fertility Risk Discussion Among Adolescent Oncology Families

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of distributing a prompting tool (stress egg) in order to increase discussions about fertility risk and preservation (FP) among female adolescent oncology patients, parents, and healthcare providers (HCP). 200 eggs were distributed to four pediatric oncology centers. Qualitative interviews were completed with healthcare staff (N=7) after 6 months of distribution to newly diagnosed female oncology patients ages 12-18. Interviews showed that the main barriers to distribution of the prompt were: forgetting to distribute the eggs; uncertainty about the significance of fertility; and uncertainty about fertility issues in general for female adolescent cancer patients. The scientific community must continually explore effective avenues of communication to ensure such information is received. The stress egg has potential to impact a cancer survivor’s outlook on future partnering, family life, and self-concept when used in conjunction with policy.

Women's reflections on fertility and motherhood after breast cancer and its treatment

Breast cancer and its treatment have complex ramifications for women of reproductive age, including reduced fertility. With the aim of increasing understanding of what it means to women to manage fertility and motherhood in the years after a diagnosis of breast cancer, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 women aged 26-45 years, living in Victoria, Australia, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer aged 25-41. Transcripts were analysed thematically and interpreted within narrative theory. Six themes linking breast cancer to fertility and motherhood were identified: diagnosis as a pivotal life event, robbed of time and choice, significance of fertility, being a mother, narrative justification, and life after breast cancer treatment. Women without children described a preoccupying sorrow about lost fertility. Women's accounts yielded evidence of narrative meaning-making, including justifying their decisions and actions in relation to survival, treatment and fertility, and coping with adversity by developing consoling plots. Breast cancer, fertility and reproductive health are inter-linked in diverse ways which have immediate and long-term consequences. Even if women are receiving optimum fertility management, it is evident that some women of reproductive age will need continuing post-cancer care to manage and ameliorate ramifications of diminished or lost fertility.

The Sperm Centrosome: Its Role and Significance in Nature and Human Assisted Reproduction

In humans and other non-rodent mammalian species, the sperm's centriole-centrosome complex is an essential component for successful fertilization and serves as template for all centrioles during subsequent cell divisions, embryo development, divisions of most adult somatic cells, as well as in primary cilia formation and functions. Dysfunctions of this complex can be causes for infertility, developmental disorders, and play a role in various adulthood diseases. While assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been able to overcome sperm motility dysfunctions by employing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), we currently do not yet have therapies to overcome dysfunctions of the centriole-centrosome complex although several lines of investigations have addressed the causes for centriole-centrosome dysfunctions and implications for sperm aster formation and union of the parental genomes. The present review highlights the importance of the centriole-centrosome complex and its significance for fertilization and embryo development.

Assessment and Significance of Fertility in Commercial Poultry Production

Assessment and Significance of Fertility in Commercial Poultry Production

Post-translational modifications in glycosylation status during epididymal passage and significance in fertility of a 33 kDa glycoprotein (MEF3) of rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

The present study reports data on post-translational modifications in the glycosylation status during epididymal passage and significance in fertility of a 33 kDa glycoprotein of rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), designated as MEF3 (monkey epididymal fluid protein 3). MEF3 exhibited strong affinity for N-linked alpha-D-mannose groups and O-linked N-Ac-galactosamine linkages in epididymal fluids and exhibited moderate affinity for N-Ac-glucosaminylated (wheat germ agglutinin), fucosylated (Tetragonolotus purpurea), and N-Ac-galactosamine (peanut agglutinin) residues on more mature corpus and caudal spermatozoa in a maturation-dependent manner on Western blots probed with specific biotinylated lectins. Polyclonal antiserum raised against affinity-purified MEF3 from caudal epididymal fluid (CEF) cross-reacted specifically with CEF and caudal sperm membrane of macaque and with Triton X-100 extract of ejaculated human spermatozoa, suggesting the existence of antigenically related components in both species. The tangled agglutination caused by anti-33 kDa serum of human spermatozoa, along with localization of MEF3 on entire sperm surface of epididymal and testicular sperm of monkey and human spermatozoa, suggest the significance of MEF3 in sperm function. The 100% inhibition of fertility of immunized female rabbits with this protein in vivo and inhibition of human sperm penetration in zona-free hamster eggs in vitro suggests the functional significance of MEF3 in fertility. Together, these results clearly indicate that MEF3 has potential significance as a target for antibodies that inhibit sperm function and fertility.

Discrepancy between sperm acrosin activity and sperm morphology: significance for fertilization in vitro

Background In routine semen analysis, discrepancies may occur between sperm acrosin activity test results and sperm acrosomal morphology. Methods Discrepant test results of sperm acrosin activity (spectrophotometric assay) vs. sperm morphology (strict criteria) in the initial diagnostic investigation of 107 infertile couples were evaluated with respect to fertilization rate (% oocytes with 2 pronuclei) further obtained in IVF treatment. Results Acrosin activity positively correlated with sperm morphology (% normal forms) ( r=0.537) and fertilization rate ( r=0.526). ROC curves for the prediction of ≥50% fertilization rate were comparable for acrosin activity and sperm morphology, with optimal cutoff values at 25 μIU/10 6 sperm and 10%, respectively. In multiple regression analysis, sperm acrosin activity ( P=0.002) predicted fertilization rate independently of sperm morphology ( P<0.001) and sperm vitality (eosin–nigrosin stain) ( P=0.03). Acrosin activities ≥25 μIU/10 6 sperm were observed in 36% of severe teratozoospermic samples (≤4% normal spermatozoa) associated with low fertilization rate. Twenty percent of the morphologically normal ejaculates showed a low acrosin activity (<25 μIU/10 6 sperm) and low hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST) scores (31.4±7.6%) and were associated with low fertilization rate. Conclusion The sperm acrosin assay can help to predict sperm fertilizing capacity in IVF independently of sperm morphology.

Partial characterization, sperm association and significance of N- and O-linked glycoproteins in epididymal fluid of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

The present study investigated regional modifications of glycosylation status, sperm association and functional significance of N- and O-linked glycoproteins in epididymal luminal fluid of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). The predominant glycoproteins of the epididymal luminal fluid that increase in the extent of glycosylation or unmasking of exposed epitopes in a region-specific, maturation-dependent manner, included those of 150, 116, 68, 64, 58 (N- and O-linked) and 170 kDa (O-linked). The higher expression of 40 (N-linked), 38 (N- and O-linked) and 60, 56 and 33 kDa (O-linked) glycoproteins in the proximal caput epididymal fluid was followed by alteration or reorganization of 60, 38 and 33 kDa (O-linked) glycoproteins in the distal segments of the epididymis. The association of epididymal fluid glycoproteins with maturing spermatozoa was identified by generating polyclonal antiserum against monkey caudal sperm membrane in female albino rabbits. The antiserum crossreacted strongly with 58 and 33 kDa epididymal fluid glycoproteins of monkeys and also reacted with 116, 68, 58, 56 and 33 kDa glycoproteins from Triton X-100 extracts of human spermatozoa, indicating the presence of antigenically related components in both species. The functional significance of epididymal fluid glycoproteins in sperm functions was investigated by raising antiserum against a heavily glycosylated 58 kDa glycoprotein (MEF1) of caudal epididymal fluid, which crossreacted with the Triton X-100 extracts of epididymal spermatozoa of monkey and ejaculated human spermatozoa on immunoblots. In an in vitro micro-sperm agglutination assay, anti-MEF1 serum agglutinated both rat caudal epididymal spermatozoa and human spermatozoa. MEF1 seemed to be involved in fertilization as demonstrated by inhibition of fertility (100%) in female albino rabbits and rats immunized with this protein. A sperm-agglutinating 58 kDa glycoprotein of rhesus monkey epididymis with functional significance in fertility was identified, thus indicating that it is a potential candidate for contraceptive vaccine development.

Fertility in Southern Africa: The Quiet Revolution

Over the past twenty to thirty years, a silent revolution has occurred, and is still occurring, in human fertility across the region of southern Africa. In a number of countries - most notably, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho - there is hard evidence of really significant declines in fertility. In these countries, the total fertility rate (TFR)' today is around three to four children, and in the first three countries this represents a decline of 40-50 per cent from its peak level.2 The starting point for these changes varies: in South Africa, the transition among the black population was probably under way by the 1960s, although the most significant shift probably came in the 1980s;3 by comparison in Botswana it was not evident until the 1980s. In contrast with many other demographic variables, where national data are often unavailable or have to be treated with caution (e.g. for migration or rates of urban growth), reasonably reliable data on fertility are generally accessible for most southern African countries, although the official South African data only became available in the 1990s and remain the subject of debate. The changing aspect of fertility in southern Africa largely informed our decision to hold the workshop that was the precursor to this special issue. The 'fertility transition' was evidently happening to a greater or lesser degree across the region, but it was also clear that the cultural 'value' (rather than just the 'economic' value) of children remained high. The workshop attempted to explore the articulation of these two factors in contemporary southern Africa and focused on addressing fertility in its social context rather than in purely technical demographic terms. In general, the interplay between fertility, the adoption of contraceptives, education, income and the usual range of socio-economic factors is taken as read by the contributors to this volume - these issues are well addressed in the, often highly quantitative, demographic journals. Similarly, the significance of fertility in traditional cultures is also largely assumed, and is well covered in the ethnographic literature. Contributors were encouraged instead to explore the underlying reasons for fertility-related decisions and outcomes in the region and, rather than focus on the general causes of the trend to lower fertility, to examine those factors that result in variations in the downward regional trend. We were led in this direction by the belief that a close study of these regional variations would be a more illuminating way of understanding the complex

The pregnant therapist and the eating-disordered woman: The challenge of fertility

Abstract The present study examined the reactions of 24 bulimic women to their therapist's pregnancy. Behavioral checklists, process notes, and one-year follow-up questionnaires revealed concerns about loss, sexuality, competition, abandonment, dependency, jealousy, and a desire for children. Few of these responses were offered spontaneously. Length of time in treatment along with diagnoses of borderline personality disorder were associated with intensified emotional and behavioral reactions. In addition, participants indicated that the event provided an opportunity to explore the demands on women to excel in their personal as well as professional worlds. The significance of fertility for the bulimic woman, along with recommendations for managing the myriad therapeutic and practical issues that arise when a therapist is pregnant, are also addressed.

Relevance of Parameters Related to Fertility and Reproduction in Toxicity Testing

Toxicity data of 37 compounds tested in both a subchronic study and one or more studies focused on reproduction were evaluated to obtain information on the significance of fertility and reproduction parameters in setting no-effect levels (NEL). It appeared that a) the test system aimed at reproduction and development was more sensitive than the subchronic study for 35% of the selected compounds and was equally sensitive for another 35%; b) for 65% of these compounds parameters related to reproduction and development were at least codecisive in determining the minimal-effect level (MEL); c) for 21% of all compounds, parameters related to reproduction were the most sensitive and therefore decisive for the MEL. It was concluded that reproduction in its broadest sense is a very sensitive tool in toxicity testing. The possibilities of either applying a simple screen of fertility and reproduction at an early stage of toxicity testing or incorporating fertility and reproduction parameters in the current subchronic study are discussed.

Behavior of the spermatozoon during sperm-blastomere fusion and its significance for fertilization (Saccoglossus kowalevskii: hemichordata).

Association of spermatozoa with blastomeres removed from the egg envelope was studied in order to investigate sperm membrane behavior under circumstances unlike those attending fertilization of normal envelope-enclosed eggs. Under the altered circumstances all parts of the surface of the sperm cell were afforded the opportunity of meeting blastomere plasma membrane. Nevertheless, in each case the spermatozoon first became activated, an acrosomal tubule formed, and it was this organelle alone which fused and established continuity with the blastomere plasma membrane. This behavior of the spermatozoon with respect to the denuded blastomere parallels the behavior of the sperm cell with respect to the envelope-enclosed egg at fertilization. Since the sperm cell behaves so similarly in two situations which are so different with respect to what the spermatozoon encounters, this behavior is considered to reflect the inherent nature of the spermatozoon, and analysis of this behavior in relation to a blastomere is considered to be valid also in relation to an egg during fertilization. It is concluded that membrane fusion, involving the acrosomal tubule of an activated spermatozoon, is the only means by which gametic union is established and that these are obligatory rather than fortuitous features of sperm-egg association in Saccoglossus. It is suggested that these features are probably obligatory also in other species which exhibit this pattern of sperm-egg association.