BACKGROUND Findings are presented of the second phase of a European longitudinal study of families created by assisted reproduction. The present investigation reports on data obtained during the child's transition to adolescence. METHODS A total of 102 IVF families, 94 donor insemination (DI) families, 102 adoptive families, and 102 families with a naturally conceived child were compared on s...

Background Despite considerable advances in reproductive technology, its application is like a double-edged sword, which is associated with numerous challenges. One of the most challenging issues for couples is disclosure of conception circumstances to the offspring. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the decisions of infertile couples undergoing assisted reproductive donation...

Both obesity and overweight are increasing worldwide and have detrimental influences on several human body functions including the reproductive health. In particular, obese women undergo perturbations of the 'hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis', and frequently suffer of menstrual dysfunction leading to anovulation and infertility. Besides the hormone disorders and subfertility that are common ...

Video games constitute a popular form of entertainment that allows millions of people to adopt virtual identities. In our research, we explored the idea that the appeal of games is due in part to their ability to provide players with novel experiences that let them "try on" ideal aspects of their selves that might not find expression in everyday life. We found that video games were most intrins...

BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies have examined the health of children born after assisted reproductive technology (ART), with contradictory results. In this article, we address the question 'Do singletons born after ART have a poorer cognitive developmental outcome at 3 years of age?' We assess the implications of using different comparison groups, and discuss appropriate analytical approache...

At some point during their reproductive lives, approximately one quarter of all couples experience a period of infertility lasting over one year, leading many to seek council from an infertility specialist.1 For those who need some form of intervention to assist with conception, there are a range of available treatment options, including lifestyle modification, medication, surgery, and a variet...

The developmental age of an embryo in the first trimester of pregnancy is generally determined by ultrasound scanning and/or by calculation from menstrual age. In the original studies, validation of the estimate of gestational age by ultrasound was not possible as the exact date of conception was unknown. Variation in growth rates of identically aged fetuses has previously been reported after a...

BACKGROUND To investigate the role of CD138 immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of chronic endometritis (CE) and the risk factors for assisted conception patients having CE complications. METHODS Ninety-three patients, with normal uterine shape confirmed by examination and who were planning to undergo assisted conception treatments, were selected as research subjects. Endometrial tissue was...

OBJECTIVE To study birth outcomes among live born infants conceived by women who used infertility treatment. DESIGN Population-based surveillance of women who recently delivered a live infant. SETTING The birth outcomes among infants whose mothers used assisted reproductive technology (ART) or ovulation stimulation medications alone were compared with the outcomes of infants conceived witho...

BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to determine whether preimplantation exposure of mouse embryos to ammonium resulted in abnormal fetal development and to evaluate similar risks to the outcome of human assisted conception. METHODS Mouse embryos cultured from the 1-cell stage were exposed to 0.3 mmol/l ammonium chloride for 3 days. Embryos cultured from the 2-cell stage were exposed to 0....