The continued debate regarding the stage at which the human embryo conceived in the laboratory should be placed in the mother, combined with recent developments in culture media formulations, have brought the role of the human blastocyst in ART back into the spotlight. ART and the Human Blastocyst presents the proceedings of the International Symposium on ART and the Human Blastocyst held from March 30- April 2, 2000 in Dana Point, California. This book brings to the forefront the main issues raised with the transfer of embryos at the blastocyst stage, including the reduction of high order multiple gestations and the role of the blastocyst culture and transfer in facilitating successful single embryo transfer. Sections include gamete quality and pregnancy outcome, physiology of the embryo, blastocyst development in culture, blastocyst transfer and fate, and implantation. More than 40 illustrations and 25 tables complement the text.

In this second volume, the Biennial Review of Infertility brings together the most up-to-date research and clinical information on male and female infertility, emerging assisted reproductive techniques, and controversial issues in reproductive medicine. This volume includes discussion of cutting-edge topics such as epigenetics, proteomics, and the role of the environment in fertility, as well as insightful evidence-based discussion of common clinical procedures. It is the cumulative effort of a preeminent panel of experts presenting each chapter in a clear and well-balanced manner. Created to provide an ongoing appraisal of current knowledge, the Biennial Review of Infertility stimulates communication amongst all those working to help couples resolve their infertility.

In this book, twenty-one researchers and clinicians review the study of the genetics of male infertility, the tools available in the laboratory and clinic, the current state of knowledge, and the future of research and translation into clinical diagnostics and treatments.

New tools discussed are discussed. This book therefore serves as a guide to evidence-based clinical applications, and a preview of future possibilities.

Don P. Wolf and Mary Zelinski-Wooten provide a comprehensive review of the procedures and techniques used in assisted reproduction, as well as in nuclear transfer for both the treatment of human infertility and the propagation of animals. Combining the details of clinical application with the physiological facts of reproduction, the authors treat subjects such as the in vitro maturation of oocytes, embryo culture, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and the process of nuclear transfer. Cutting-edge and wide-ranging, Assisted Fertilization and Nuclear Transfer in Mammals offers clinical ARTs practitioners, research scientists, those responsible for animal care, and students not only an informative historical perspective on the development of ARTs, but also updates on several of the more dynamic clinical areas, and a highly practical understanding of their applications.

In spite of the fact that almost eighty percent of all IVF cycles are unsuccessful, the dominant representations of the technology are of its success. Based on extensive interviews with women and couples who have undergone IVF unsuccessfully and who have since stopped treatment, and taking an overtly feminist approach, the book explores the ways in which IVF failure is experienced and accounted for. The book argues that IVF failure and the end of treatment have to be carefully managed over time in order to construct the self as 'normal' in the profoundly gendered context of reproductive normativity. Treatment failure is identified in the book not only as a central, but largely excluded, aspect of the experience of IVF, but also of a proliferating range of new, more controversial reproductive and genetic technologies.

Every year there are new and exciting developments in assisted human reproduction, but how much do we really know about the underlying causes of infertility? This volume explores recent progress in the understanding of the genetics of spermatogenesis and male infertility. Topics include fundamental advances and current problems in the development and function of the testis, an outline of clinical findings in male infertility and an overview of the role of the Y chromosome in male fertility. Comprehensive critiques of posttranscriptional control during spermatogenesis, mammalian meiotic sterility, and comparative genetics of human spermatogenesis from the perspective of yeast, "Drosophila" and mice provide a global overview of the field.

Give yourself the best-possible odds for getting pregnant and having a baby with this concise, expert, and encouraging companion as your guide. In the only general guide to infertility written by a medical doctor who specializes in the subject, Mark Trolice, MD—who is board-certified in both OB/GYN and REI (Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility)—shares the practical knowledge he has gained from working in infertility medicine for years, with many hundreds of patients, along with the warmth and wisdom he has acquired from getting to know prospective parents from all kind of backgrounds. The journey from infertility to fertility, from childlessness to a brand-new baby, can be long and arduous. It involves complicated medical diagnoses, a wide range of treatment options, a host of potential lifestyle changes, lots of emotional ups and downs, and—even with the best medical insurance—challenging financial decisions. Your doctors cannot decide everything for you, and that is why an authoritative and comprehensive book, written in clear and understandable language for the layperson, is essential. This is that book. The book opens with an exploration of all the possible causes of infertility, covering both couples who have never been pregnant and ones who have had recurrent losses of pregnancies. Unique among infertility guides, this volume gives roughly equal weight to male and female causes, which is important because about 40% of infertility cases are due to men's issues—and some couples need to address issues in both the prospective mother and prospective father. It covers endometriosis, fibroids, POS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), tubal factor, male factor, and other possible causes. Next it looks at your treatment options. Importantly, these are not just medical interventions, but they also include lifestyle changes you alone can make, involving sleep, diet, exercise, and other forms of self-care. Among medical options, IUI (Intrauterine Insemination),  IVF (In Vitro Fertilization), and various surgical procedures are covered in detail. Some couples are lucky to have a short journey to fertility. For others, the process takes years. With a gentle and sure hand, and non-judgmentally, Dr. Trolice guides you through the many decisions you need to make along the way, such as whether or not to continue treatments, whether to change practitioners or treatments, and whether it is a good idea to continue to spend money on procedures not covered by your insurance. He understands that these are emotionally weighty decisions that involve the future of your family, and he provides ample grounds for optimism and hope, empowering you as you take this journey.

Human beings have been producing more twins, triplets, and quadruplets than ever before, due to the expansion of medically assisted conception. This book analyzes the anticipatory regimes of making multiple babies. With archival documents, participant observation, in-depth interviews, and registry data, this book traces the global and local governance of the assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) used to tackle multiple pregnancy since the 1970s, highlighting the early promotion of single embryo transfer in Belgium and Japan and the making of the world's most lenient guidelines in Taiwan.

Drawing on diverse examples from literature, film, memoirs, and popular culture, Men, Masculinities, and Infertilities analyses cultural representations of male infertility. Going beyond the biomedical and sociological towards interdisciplinary cultural studies, this book studies depictions of men's infertility. It includes fictional representations alongside memoirs, newspaper articles, ethnographies and autoethnographies, and scientific reporting. Works under discussion range from twentieth-century novel Lady Chatterley's Lover to romantic comedy film Not Suitable For Children, and science fiction classic Mr Adam, as well as encompassing genres including blockbuster romance and memoir. Men, Masculinities, and Infertilities draws upon both sociological and popular culture research to trace how the discourse of cultural anxiety unfolds across disciplines. This engaging work will be of key interest to scholars of popular culture studies, gender and women's studies (including queer and sexuality studies), critical studies of men and masculinities, cultural studies, and literary studies. The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Among the vast literature on contemporary reproductive technologies, Prosthetic Bodies stands out in its effective combination of insights, methods, and theories from the history of medicine, constructivist science and technology studies, and feminist theory. The double focus on IVF and related techniques, and fetal treatment and surgery, enables the identification of debatable tendencies within today's reproductive medicine: the translation of ever more medical problems basically unrelated to women's own reproductive health - and, in the case of fetal diagnosis and treatment, sometimes formerly even unrelated to reproduction as such - into medical indications for invasive, often highly experimental interventions in women's bodies. The analyses show how, through the operations and workings of reproductive technologies themselves, as well as a variety of discursive mechanisms within scientific language, today's recasting of men's fertility problems and children's congenital anomalies as women's reproductive problems comes to appear inevitable. The book challenges the ability of traditional forms of medical ethics and law to adequately identify this incremental process. The careful analyses and arguments in Prosthetic Bodies will be relevant to students of science and technology, gender studies, philosophy, medical ethics, and law, and others interested in the cultural, ethical, and political ramifications of contemporary reproductive technologies.

Why are boxers actually better than briefs? How can hamsters help determine what's wrong with my sperm? My wife's already moody enough - why am I injecting her with even more hormones? Do I have to fill the whole cup at the fertility clinic? If you're a man going through fertility treatments with your significant other, these might be just a few of the questions you've faced. And, much to your dismay, you've realised the answers are a lot harder to find than you'd like. Until now. "How to Make Love to a Plastic Cup" is the man's guide to anything and everything related to infertility. But it's not just the same old boring nuts and bolts (no pun intended). Author Greg Wolfe, who went through four cycles of IVF on his journey to fatherhood, lays it all out with side-splitting humor. From understanding a woman's cycle, to 'porn etiquette' at the clinic, to detailed instructions on administering hormone shots, this book has everything a man needs to know to get the job done. For those men tired of searching the bookshelves for a volume that speaks to their experiences in the wild world of infertility (and for those women whose men don't quite get it), there's no need to look further. "How to Make Love to a Plastic Cup" covers the whole gamut of information for couples dealing with infertility in a fresh, engaging way any man can appreciate.

In the last forty years anthropologists have made major contributions to understanding the heterogeneity of reproductive trends and processes underlying them. Fertility transition, rather than the story of the triumphant spread of Western birth control rationality, reveals a diversity of reproductive means and ends continuing before, during, and after transition. This collection brings together anthropological case studies, placing them in a comparative framework of compositional demography and conjunctural action. The volume addresses major issues of inequality and distribution which shape population and social structures, and in which fertility trends and the formation and size of families are not decided solely or primarily by reproduction.

This book discusses the role of oxidative stress in human reproduction with a focus on men's health. The physiological roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in male fertility are the focus in this book. This topic is important because oxidative stress is a result of the imbalance between ROS and antioxidants in the body which may lead to sperm damage (DNA or count), deformity, and eventually, male infertility. Therefore, for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms related to male genotoxicity and its regulation in infertility, this book provides an up-to-date view on the impact of oxidative stress factors in male reproduction . The main aim of this book is to collect a series of research articles and reviews from a diverse group of scientists to share their research work on the role of ROS or oxidative stress in physiological and pathological states in relation to (in)fertility in the male. This book presents various state-of-the-art chapters of the recent progress in the field of cellular toxicology and clinical manifestations of various issues related to men's health and fertility. Topics include cell signaling, DNA damage and infertility, the pathophysiology of disease instigation and distribution, immune toxicity and prevention.

Written by world-leading fertility experts and edited by mums who have undertaken multiple cycles of IVF and know what it takes to succeed, this guide advises you on the entire IVF process and how to maximise your chances of success . All IVF topics are covered, from how to choose your fertility clinic, to understanding the stages of an IVF cycle, to how to prepare yourself physically and emotionally for the treatment. * Looks at how to optimise your nutrition and how to improve egg and sperm quality * Examines the growing trends of egg freezing and donor-assisted IVF * Shares real-life stories of a variety of IVF journeys and their inspiring outcomes * Includes key contributions from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK's independent regulator for fertility treatment and research IVF: All You Need to Know is an essential handbook for couples and individuals who are considering IVF, who want to find out what's involved, and who want to be as well prepared as they can be. It is also for those who may have already tried IVF, have experienced failed cycles and want to boost their chances of success next time around.

Embryoimplantationisaremarkableandcomplexprocess. Approachesde- velopedfromthefieldsofcellanddevelopmentalbiology,immunology, andmolecularbiologyhavegreatlyenhancedourabilitytostudythe sharedaswellasuniquefeaturesofembryo-uterineinteractions. Impres- siveandcriticalgroundworkhasbeenlaidbyalargeanddedicatedarray ofendocrinologists,reproductivebiologists,andanatomists. Thesestudies havesetthestagetoutilizesensitiveandsophisticatedtechniquestode- tectandmodulateproteinandgeneexpression. Justasthesymbiosisofmother andfetusiscriticalforthemaintenanceofpregnancy,soisthesynergyamong investigatorsfrommanydisciplines,bothinbasicandclinicalarenas,keyto unravelingthemysteriesofimplantationandplacentation. Alargegroupof contributorsinthisfieldhadtheopportunitytomeetanddiscussthestateof thisartwiththesupportofSeronoSymposiaUSA,Inc. Whileitisneverpos- sibletobringtogethereveryonewhohasplayedanimportantrole,itwas, nonetheless,bothexcitingandgratifyingtohavesomanycolleaguestogether forthisevent. Inthechaptersthatfollow,thehighlightsofthismeetingarepresented assummarizedbytheindividualpresentersofsevendifferentsessions. The topichasbeenconsideredfromthebroadsocialandethicalimplications ofmoderninvitrofertilizationandassistedreproductivetechnologiesto detailedmolecularcontrolsovereventsthatoccurduringembryonicdevel- opment,uterinepreparationforimplantation,andplacentalorganogenesis. Thesechaptersdemonstratethesignificantandrapidprogressbeingmade inthisfieldofbiologyandmedicine. Atthesametime,theyshowthat muchmoreneedstobedonetounderstandandfullyappreciatethispro- cess. Lessonslearnedfromthiseffortcanbeexpectedtocontinuetopro- videinsightsintoother,relatedfields. Ofthemanycontributorstoour understandingoftheprocessofimplantation,nonehavehadalargerim- pactthanourcolleague,AllenEnders. Dr. Endershasplayedaparamount roleindevelopingthebasicunderstandingofthecellbiologicalprocesses vii VIII Preface underlyingimplantationandplacentationinmanyspecies,includinghu- mans. Hecontinuestocontributeandguidethoughtintheseareas. The participantsofthissymposiumrecognizedDr. Enders'impressivecontribu- tionsbyholdingthiseventinhishonor. DANIELD. CARSON * Contents Preface vii Contributors xiii PartI. Development and Future ofHuman In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Implantation I. ImplantationintheHumanasViewedbyCanonLaw, CivilLaw,andNaturalReason 3 HOWARDW. JONES, JR. , RICHARDA. MCCORMICK, AND SUSAN L. CROCKIN 2. TheImpactofMaternalAgeandOvarianAge onImplantationEfficiency...12 STEVEN SPANDORFER AND ZEV ROSENWAKS Part II. CellularAspects ofImplantation 3. VascularInvasionDuringImplantationandPlacentation 23 ALLEN C. ENDERS AND THOMASN. BLANKENSHIP 4. OxygenRegulatesHumanCytotrophoblastProliferation, Differentiation,andInvasion:Implicationsfor EndovascularInvasioninNormalPregnancy andPreeclampsia 39 OLGA GENBACEV,YAN ZHOU, MICHAEL T. McMASTER, JOHNW. LUDLOW, CAROLINEH. DAMSKY, AND SUSAN1. FISHER 5. Embryo-MaternalInteractionsafterDiapause inaMarsupial 54 MARILYNB. RENFREE AND GEOFFREY SHAW IX x Contents 6. CellularInteractionsandtheCysteineProteinases intheProcessofMouseImplantation 67 BRUCE BABIARZ, SUZANNE AFONSO, ANDLINDA ROMAGNANO Part III. HormonalRegulation 7. NovelSteroid-RegulatedMarkersofImplantation 83 INDRANIC. BAGCHI 8. MolecularSignalinginImplantation 92 SANJOYK. DAS, BIBHASHC. PARIA, AND SUDHANSU K. DEY 9. IdentificationofProgesterone-RegulatedGenes intheUterus 107 CINDEER. FUNK, BERTW. O'MALLEY, AND FRANCESCO1. DEMAYO PartIV. MolecularMarkersofReceptivity 10. MucinsProvideaBarriertoEmbryoImplantation 123 MARYM. DESOUZA, GULNARA. SURVEYOR, XINHUI ZHOU, JoANNE JULIAN, ANDDANIELD. CARSON II. PotentialInvolvementofTrophinin,Bystin, andTastininEmbryoImplantation 132 MICHIKON. FUKUDA, DAITA NADANO,NAO SUZUKJ, AND JUN NAKAYAMA 12. OsteopontininHumanEndometrium: ARoleinEndometrialReceptivityand EmbryoImplantation? 141 CHRISTOS COUTIFARJS,AKINYINKA OMIGBODUN, PIOTR ZIOLKIEWICZ, AND JOHN HOYER PartV. TrophoblastFactors 13. TheRabbitasaModelforImplantation: InVivoandInVitroStudies 151 LORENH. HOFFMAN,D. RACHEL BREINAN, AND GARETHL. BLAEUER 14. RegulationofTrophoblastEndocrineFunction: ThePlacentaDoesItsOwnThingTranscriptionally...161 JEROMEF. STRAUSSIII ANDLEE-CHUANKAo Contents XI 15. TranscriptionFactorsRegulatingtheDifferentiation oftheTrophoblastCellLineage 167 IANC. SCOTTANDJAMESC.

If you had a dependable method for determining the healthiest and most viable conceptus from a cohort of growing preembryos, replacing more than a single one in order to achieve good pregnancy rates would be moot. Sometime in the not-so-distant future, this may be a reality. Taking a step towards that future, An Atlas of Human Blastocysts vividly illustrates the typical and atypical morphology of mammalian blastocysts. The atlas demonstrates that extended culture of blastocysts is now achieveable in the laboratory and points us toward the day when it will be possible to choose between a number of healthy hatched blastocysts.

This book delves deeply into modern surrogacy arrangements, responding to both practical and ethical critiques by offering a radically new model for surrogate motherhood. Current practice distinguishes between two models of surrogacy - the altruistic (unpaid) model and the commercial (paid) model, both of which present social, ethical, and conceptual challenges. This book proposes a novel arrangement for surrogate motherhood - the professional model. Inspired by professions, such as nursing, teaching, and social work, the professional model acknowledges the caring motives that surrogate mothers have while at the same time compensating them for their work. Walker and Van Zyl adopt an evidence-based approach to explain that the professional model enables trust between intended parents and surrogates, provides professional support at every stage of the relationship, affords legal protections against exploitation and commodification, and recognizes the rights and interests of all parties, including the intended baby. The model applies to both transnational and domestic surrogacy and will be of great interest to policy makers, social researchers, bioethicists, legal scholars, fertility professionals, clinicians, and graduate students in psychology, philosophy, medicine and ethics.

A potential crisis in human fertility is brewing. As societies become more affluent, they experience changes that have a dramatic impact on reproduction. As average family sizes fall, the selection pressure for high-fertility genes decreases; exacerbated by the IVF industry which allows infertility-linked genes to pass into the next generation. Male fertility rates are low, for many reasons including genetics and exposure to environmental toxins. So, a perfect storm of factors is contriving to drive fertility rates down at unprecedented rates. If we do not recognize the reality of our situation and react accordingly, an uncontrollable decline in population numbers is likely, which we'll be unable to reverse. This book will address, in a unique and multi-faceted way, how the consequences of modern life affects fertility, so that we can consider behavioural, social, medical and environmental changes which could reduce the severity of what is about to come.

Male Infertility: Problems and Solutions provides a summary of state of the art developments in male infertility for both new and experienced practitioners. Written in a clear, concise and readable style, this volume allows the reader to obtain rapid answers to this challenging medical issue. Special emphasis is placed on diagnostic and treatment algorithms. Topics covered include interpretation of semen analysis and advanced testing, endocrine and genetic evaluation, diagnosis of azoospermia as well as an up-to-date interpretation and analysis of the many new therapies available for the treatment of male factor infertility. Male Infertility: Problems and Solutions provides rapid acquisition of pertinent background and development of management plans through the use of concise discussion and treatment algorithms and thus will be of great value to general urologists, gynecologists, primary care providers and allied health providers who manage infertility in both men as well as women.

In the past, pregnancy after cancer was largely unheard of. Today, it is increasingly a possibility. Oncofertility has emerged as an interdisciplinary field bridging biomedical and social sciences, and examining issues regarding an individual 's fertility options, choice and goals in light of cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Written by leaders in this evolving field, the volume covers various aspects: medical, ethical and social.

The use of IVM in assisted reproductive technology continues to increase around the world. The major benefit of IVM is that significant numbers of oocytes can be collected from ovaries without recourse to ovarian stimulation. This reduces the costs, time, and risks associated with conventional IVF. Although initially limited to women with polycystic ovary syndrome who were at higher risk of problems following ovarian stimulation, IVM is increasingly used in women with normal ovulatory menstrual cycles. This authoritative text covers the current scientific knowledge of oocyte development and the understanding behind the techniques involved in the clinical application of IVM in assisted reproductive technologies. Short Contents