Background: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a four-stage procedure, ovarian stimulation and monitoring, oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer. Transvaginal ultrasound–guided follicle aspiration the most common method for retrieval in assisted reproductive technologies, it increasingly performed as an outside procedure. Objective: To compare between general Anesthesia Conscious Sedation according to...

Background: Oocyte in vitro maturation success rate is still low in compareision to oocyte in vivo maturation. Thus prediction and improvement of oocyte competency are two critical issues in assisted reproductive technology. New insights into oocyte-cumulus cell regulatory loop may assist our optimization of in vitro maturation technique. Maturation and developmental competency of cumulus oocyt...

BACKGROUND Infertility affects between 10 and 16% of couples worldwide. Twenty to 30% of cases of infertility are due to a male factor, 20-35% to a female factor, and 25-40% are due to both male and female factors. In ∼10-25% of cases, the precise underlying cause remains unclear. IVF or ICSI followed by embryo transfer can be very appropriate treatment options in cases of female tubal damage, ...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have a role in the modulation of gamete quality and gamete interaction. Generation of ROS is inherent in spermatozoa and contaminating leukocytes. ROS influence spermatozoa, oocytes, embryos and their environment. Oxidative stress (OS) mediates peroxidative damage to the sperm membrane and induces nuclear DNA damage. ROS can modulate the fertilizing capabilities of...

Relatively few countries have legislation addressing oocyte donation. Where such legislation does exist it is entirely in the context of broader legislation concerned with the regulation of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or assisted reproduction more generally. Within Western Europe only nine countries so far have passed Acts addressing assisted reproduction. These countries fall into two groups ...

Inhibiting oocyte aging is important not only for healthy reproduction but also for the success of assisted reproduction techniques. Although our previous studies showed that cumulus cells accelerated aging of mouse oocytes, the underlying mechanism is unknown. The objective of this paper was to study the effects of pyruvate and cumulus cells on mouse oocyte aging. Freshly ovulated mouse cumulu...

BACKGROUND Assisted reproductive technologies allow to utilize a limited number of fully grown oocytes despite the presence in the ovary of a large pool of meiotically incompetent gametes potentially able to produce live births. In vitro folliculogenesis could be useful to recruit these oocytes by promoting their growth and differentiation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In vitro folliculogen...

Fertilization in the female reproductive tract depends on intercellular signaling mechanisms that coordinate sperm presence with oocyte meiotic progression. To achieve this coordination in Caenorhabditis elegans, sperm release an extracellular signal, the major sperm protein (MSP), to induce oocyte meiotic maturation and ovulation. MSP binds to multiple receptors, including the VAB-1 Eph recept...