scholarly journals Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and its impact on assisted reproductive technologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
Vyshnavi A. Rao ◽  
Kamini A. Rao
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Poor Responders ◽  
Severe Respiratory Distress ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Severe Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Critical Health Care

Coronavirus diease-2019 (COVID-19), a global pandemic, has imposed a lot of challenges and potential risk to women who are planning a pregnancy and women who are pregnant in the COVID era. After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19, a global pandemic, pregnancies achieved through medically assisted reproduction/Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) services experienced a major hit as couples became even more anxious to embark on pregnancy, the obvious reasons being the vertical transmission to the fetus, and use of critical health-care support system if required. Although the effects of coronavirus in terms of pregnancies conceived through the above measures are not known, retrospective studies will be needed to assess the outcomes of pregnancies conceived either naturally or any of the above mentioned procedures. As a precautionary measure, many professional societies worldwide recommended a ban on fertility treatments 1 week after WHO declared this as a pandemic. All reproductive medicine societies had published guidelines regarding stopping of infertility services except for poor responders and oocyte/sperm cryopreservation procedures in cancer patients – undergoing chemotherapy/radiation as there could be a reduction in gamete numbers. The possible reasons being to avoid complications of ART, like virus-induced complications of pregnancy and vertical transmission to fetus in severe respiratory distress syndrome COVID-positive mothers. The measures required to be taken are physical social distancing and critical health-care accessibility services. It has caused a major blow with respect to economic and social framework of our societies.

scholarly journals Conceiving of Products and the Products of Conception: Reflections on Commodification, Consumption, ART, and Abortion

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jody Lyneé Madeira
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Money Markets ◽  
Patient Role ◽  
Care Relationship ◽  
Products Of Conception ◽  
Care Relationships

Thorny and difficult questions permeate the issue of commodification of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and abortion. Are ART and abortion services or medical treatment? Are those who seek them patients or consumers? How should we understand the complex relationship between money, markets, choice, and the care relationship?This paper rejects the dichotomy between patient and consumer roles and focuses instead on how attributes of each are meaningful to those seeking health care. Arguing that health care is already commodified, it suggests that both medicine and the market offer strategies for handling commodification. The important questions are how we understand these attributes and their role in care relationships, and which attributes we should encourage. The medical profession and patient role have long accommodated commodification, using fiduciary roles, flat fees and opaque pricing to distance payment and pricing from care provision.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in the Experience of Infertility Concerning Polish Couples: Preliminary Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (13) ◽  
pp. 2337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Nagórska ◽  
Anna Bartosiewicz ◽  
Bogdan Obrzut ◽  
Dorota Darmochwał-Kolarz
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Clinical Pregnancy ◽  
World Health ◽  
Independence Test ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Unprotected Sexual Intercourse ◽  
The World ◽  
Preliminary Research ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) determines infertility as a disease of the reproductive system defined clinically by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Estimates indicate that the problem of infertility in the world is continuing to grow. The aim of the study was to compare approaches to disease in partners of both sexes diagnosed with infertility. The study was conducted among 61 couples treated for infertility using an original questionnaire developed by the authors. The Chi square independence test was used for statistical analysis. Both men and women responded to the diagnosis of infertility with negative emotions. Regardless of sex, sadness and anxiety were the dominant feelings associated with the diagnosis of infertility. Women believed in the success of the treatment to a greater extent than men. Mainly women attempted to talk openly about the problem of infertility, while men were more restrained in this respect. Women accepted the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to a greater extent than men, but men would accept childlessness more often than women.

scholarly journals “Man Cannot Exist Alone”: The Challenge of Health Care to Honor the Role of Women in Society

2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-330
Author(s):  
Jonathan Scrafford
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Natural Family Planning ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Emotional Bonds ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Women's Role ◽  
Over Time

Women’s roles in society are changing. While most of those changes recognize and enhance the contributions of feminine ingenuity to human development, some threaten to isolate women physically, socially, and emotionally. Developments in reproductive health care, and the writings of Pope Saint John Paul II, offer lenses by which to evaluate the shifting landscape of women’s role in society. On the one hand, practices such as contraception, abortion, surrogacy, and assisted reproductive technologies over time will weaken the physical, social, and emotional bonds that procreation has held between man and woman, parents and children, and families and society. On the other hand, the expansion of different modes of natural family planning and pregnancy support centers offers to preserve those bonds. Summary: Women’s role in families, and therefore society, is invaluable. Several approaches to reproductive health offered by medicine may isolate women over time, and some evidences suggest we are already seeing that effect. Other approaches to women’s health may be able to preserve the physical, emotional, and social bonds that integrate women to the family, and therefore society.

Distinctions in Disclosure: Mandated Informed Consent in Abortion and ART

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-258
Author(s):  
Judith Daar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Informed Consent ◽  
Patient Autonomy ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Assisted Conception ◽  
Patient Protection ◽  
Disclosure Laws ◽  
Transparency And Disclosure ◽  
Required Disclosures

Transparency and disclosure in the health care realm occupy a vital link between the delivery of medical services and patient autonomy. In her article, “Disclosure Two Ways,” Erin Bernstein skillfully explores this link in the context of abortion and assisted conception services, keenly observing the rise in mandatory disclosure laws in both arenas. Her thesis, as I understand it, is that laws that require enhanced disclosure above traditional informed consent thresholds can be understood as neutral tools in the name of patient protection, even — or perhaps especially — when their effect is to persuade a patient to forego the requested treatment. She combats the critique that pre-abortion required disclosures are sui generis, arguing against their uniqueness by analyzing them alongside a swell of mandated disclosure laws in the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) context.

scholarly journals Aromatase Inhibitors for Ovulation Induction

2006 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 760-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert F. Casper ◽  
Mohamed F. M. Mitwally
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Aromatase Inhibitors ◽  
Ovulation Induction ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Clomiphene Citrate ◽  
Multiple Pregnancy ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Poor Responders

Abstract Context: For the last 40 yr, the first line of treatment for anovulation in infertile women has been clomiphene citrate (CC). CC is a safe, effective oral agent but is known to have relatively common antiestrogenic endometrial and cervical mucous side effects that could prevent pregnancy in the face of successful ovulation. In addition, there is a significant risk of multiple pregnancy with CC, compared with natural cycles. Because of these problems, we proposed the concept of aromatase inhibition as a new method of ovulation induction that could avoid many of the adverse effects of CC. The objective of this review was to describe the different physiological mechanisms of action for CC and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and compare studies of efficacy for both agents for ovulation induction. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted a systematic review of all the published studies, both controlled and noncontrolled, comparing CC and AI treatment, either alone or in combination with gonadotropins, for ovulation induction or augmentation, identified through the Entrez-PubMed search engine. Evidence Synthesis: Because of the recent acceptance of the concept of using AIs for ovulation induction, few controlled studies were identified, and the rest of the studies were pilot or preliminary comparisons. Based on these studies, it appears that AIs are as effective as CC in inducing ovulation, are devoid of any antiestrogenic side effects, result in lower serum estrogen concentrations, and are associated with good pregnancy rates with a lower incidence of multiple pregnancy than CC. When combined with gonadotropins for assisted reproductive technologies, AIs reduce the dose of FSH required for optimal follicle recruitment and improve the response to FSH in poor responders. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence suggests that AIs may replace CC in the future because of similar efficacy with a reduced side effect profile. Although worldwide experience with AIs for ovulation induction is increasing, at present, definitive studies in the form of randomized controlled trials comparing CC with AIs are lacking.

scholarly journals Chromosomal Heteromorphism with Reference to Cancer and Reproduction in Human: An Appraisal

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nidhi P. Shah ◽  
Parth S. Shah ◽  
Jeanny Dominic ◽  
Bhavini S. Shah ◽  
Sandip S. Shah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Nucleus ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Ambiguous Information ◽  
Y Chromosomes ◽  
Chromosomal Heteromorphism ◽  
Acrocentric Chromosomes ◽  
Polymorphic Variants

Background and Objectives: Human cell nucleus has, the genome consisting of euchromatin and heterochromatin. The euchromatin has gene-rich and actively functional. The heterochromatin has two components namely constitutive and facultative, where the former is highly polymorphic. It is related to numerous diseases like cancer and infertility which is now well known, though it was earlier thought to be inactive; hence the implication of these polymorphic variants of chromosomes is reviewed with respect to acrocentric and non- acrocentric types. Methodologies: The polymorphic variants can be detected by C, G, Q and R banding techniques. We usually follow G band preparation of karyotypes following World Health Organisation (WHO) manuals and their role in cancer and reproduction is reviewed. Review and Conclusion: It is emphasized that most of the p and q arms of 1, 9, 16, D and G groups and X, Y chromosomes exhibited polymorphism which are related to cancerous and infertile conditions in both sexes. Data on few non-acrocentric chromosomes like 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 18, 19 and 20 are not available. Our review however indicated that the evaluation of specific heteromorphic variants needs to be detected using specific probes for confirmation of anomaly to assist affected cases, though earlier data indicated ambiguous information with few cases analyzed regarding assisted reproductive technologies and malignancy condition. This appraisal thus would play a key role in human chromosomal heteromorphic abnormalities and recommend genetic tests and counseling ultimately made available to the affected cases.

scholarly journals Dilemma in the foreign lands during COVID-19: An outlook of expat health care professionals with a take on a social perspective

Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-782
Author(s):  
Namdeo Prabhu ◽  
Rakhi Issrani
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection a global pandemic due to the fast transmission of this disease worldwide. To prevent and slow the transmission of this contagious illness, the public health officials of many affected countries scrambled to introduce measures aimed at controlling its spread. As a result, unprecedented interventions/measures, including strict contact tracing, quarantine of entire towns/cities, closing of borders and travel restrictions, have been implemented by most of the affected countries including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to share health care professionals’ perspectives who are experiencing COVID19 firsthand in a foreign land. In addition, the role of the Saudi governance to combat the current situation is also discussed. DISCUSSION: Personal and previous experiences as related to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) by the authors has been compared to the current situation and how it affected our thoughts and management. A review of the evidence-based literature was conducted to investigate the demographics of the region; and to understand the awareness of the various tools that are available and how they were utilized in the present situation of pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Saudi Arabia has been challenged during the pandemic as are other countries.

scholarly journals Viral infection of spermatozoa. Part 1. Hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus (review)

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
E. E. Bragina
Keyword(s):  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Papilloma Virus ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Natural Conception

Intragametal viral infection of spermatozoa can cause true vertical transmission of viruses through germ cells. Currently, human papilloma-virus, including oncogenic risk strains, and hepatitis B virus, have been detected in spermatozoa. The possibility of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus has been proven.Intragametal infection of spermatozoa with viruses of human papillomavirus and hepatitis B virus leads to abnormalities in the development of the embryo and can cause spontaneous abortions both duringnatural conception and when using assisted reproductive technologies.The development of adequate methods for diagnosing an intragametal spermatozoa virus infection will make it possible to find out, at least in some patients, the cause of infertility and pregnancy abnormalities and apply appropriate antiviral therapy in preparation for natural conception or the use of assisted reproductive technologies.

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