In a nutshell This review looked at the safety of using letrozole (Femara) to promote ovulation. It found that letrozole does not increase birth defects or miscarriage. It also found that letrozole led to higher birth rates than clomiphene citrate (Clomid). Some background Infertility is a growing issue. Not ovulating regularly, or releasing an egg,...
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In a nutshell These guidelines reviewed current best practices in treating male infertility. Some background Male infertility affects half of all couples with infertility. Low sperm count or quality are the most common signs of male infertility. Medical organizations offer guidelines on how to treat male infertility. Methods &...
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In a nutshell These guidelines reviewed appropriate testing for men in couples with infertility. Some background Male infertility contributes to half of all cases of infertility. Identifying the cause of infertility is the first step towards managing it. There is ongoing research on the best methods of diagnosing infertility in men. Professional...
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In a nutshell This study looked at the effect of using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) for couples where the woman was over 35 and the man had normal sperm quality. It found that standard IVF led to more births than ICSI. Some background IVF is an infertility treatment in which medications stimulate the...
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In a nutshell This study compared fertility medications for intrauterine insemination (IUI) for women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). It found that letrozole (Femara) and clomiphene citrate (Clomid) tablets gave similar results to injected gonadotropins (Gonal-F). Some background DOR is a condition in which few ovarian follicles (which...
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In a nutshell This study looked at priming for in vitro fertilization (IVF) using dienogest (Visanne), which can reduce symptoms of endometriosis. It found that patients with endometriosis can use dienogest during IVF treatment. Some background Endometriosis is a condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other places, such as on...
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In a nutshell This trial looked at whether alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) can improve varicocele repair outcomes. It found that this antioxidant may lead to more improvement in sperm quality. Some background Semen quality is an important part of male fertility. Sperm development requires a cooler environment. The scrotum provides the correct temperature away...
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In a nutshell This review looked at whether probiotics can improve fertility. It found that probiotics improve sperm quality, and it is not clear whether probiotics improve pregnancy rates following in vitro fertilization (IVF). Some background For every human cell in a person’s body, there are 10 microbial cells living on the skin, in the gut,...
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In a nutshell This review compared medication protocols for in vitro fertilization (IVF) for women with a poor ovarian response (POR). It found that delayed start antagonist (DSA) protocol may improve IVF outcomes for patients with POR. Some background The infertility treatment IVF is a method to collect oocytes (eggs), fertilize them artificially,...
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In a nutshell This study looked at how lifestyle factors before fertility treatment affect the results of in vitro fertilization (IVF). It found that moderate drinking prior to beginning IVF did not affect IVF outcomes. It also found that heavy smoking prior to IVF and high levels of exercise may reduce pregnancy rates. Some background Diet,...
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In a nutshell This review compared starting ovarian stimulation (OS) for egg collection at the conventional time early in the menstrual cycle, to starting it in the luteal phase, late in the cycle. It found that both timelines led to successful egg collection. Using two collections in one cycle may improve outcomes for patients with a poor response to...
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In a nutshell This study looked at using the anti-inflammatory progestin dienogest (Visanne) prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for patients with endometriosis with a previously failed IVF. It found that dienogest improved IVF outcomes in these women. Some background Endometriosis is a chronic illness in which cells from the lining of the uterus...
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