Assisted reproductive technology's archives

From the various studies in the past decade that looked at the genetic effects of assisted reproduction on offspring, it is apparent that the risk of unfavourable neonatal outcomes is realistic. Because ICSI has been performed for only 10 years, ongoing efforts in investigations are required to further define the extent of such risks in […]

While the finding of no increase in the rate of congenital malformation with assisted reproductive technology is reassuring, many researchers criticized the methodology, particularly the inadequacy of sample size and the lack of appropriate controls for valid comparison. One recent study designed to address the major methodological problems of previous research concluded that infants conceived […]

Studies designed to determine whether anomaly rates are increased in IVF and ICSI pregnancies are subject to similar pitfalls from confounding variables mentioned previously. More extensive neonatal examination following IVF and ICSI pregnancies compared with natural ones may be implemented. For instance, minor anomalies recorded in surveys of IVF and ICSI pregnancies may not be […]

Based on the results from various studies, the general consensus is that the chromosomal abnormality rate in ICSI pregnancies is increased compared with a control neonatal population, particularly with respect to sex chromosomes, but also structural de novo aberrations. The actual increase is generally no more than 1% over the baseline rate (Table 2). Several […]

The spontaneous abortion rate in IVF pregnancies not requiring ICSI is 18.1%. With ICSI, one study in the United States reported a spontaneous abortion rate of 17.5% in more than 6000 cycles. On the contrary, the rate of spontaneous pregnancy loss in the general population is only 10% to 12%. While a higher rate of […]

There are currently more than 1000 known mutations in the CFTR gene, the most common one being delta-F508 mutation, appearing in about 75% of people affected with cystic fibrosis in North America. Men with CBAVD should be screened for CFTR mutation, because 50% to 80% of them are carriers of at least one known CFTR […]

Obviously, existing genetic conditions of the parents can be transmitted to the offspring through assisted reproduction, as they would with natural conception, if feasible. Three genetic conditions of special relevance to male-factor infertility are microdeletion of the Y-chromosome, congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) and Klinefelter’s syndrome. The frequency of microdeletion of the […]