The risk of contracting HIV during unprotected sexual intercourse is estimated to be between 0.5 and 1%. For serodiscordant couples (one partner is a carrier), trying for a child naturally can entail an elevated risk of transmission. In cases such as these, assisted reproduction techniques are an excellent choice for getting pregnant without the risk […]
When an oocyte is in an optimum state of maturation, ovulation takes place. This is known as day 0 of development (D0) and fertilisation by a competent spermatozoon must take place during this period.
When the oocyte is fertilised, it is then known as a zygote and
we are now on D1 of development. Certain characteristics and essential
structures need […]
Embryo fragmentation is a phenomenon that takes place in most embryos and its origin is not entirely clear. Some studies would seem to suggest that the fragments come from cell remains that have no nucleus or that they are the result of the decomposition of one or more cells from the embryo itself. The oocyte plays the most important role in fragmentation. Poor oocyte quality can lead to embryos that are highly fragmented. Embryo quality is determined by several characteristics such as the number of cells, their size or if the cell interior has an abnormality of any kind such as granularity or vacuolisation. However, one of the factors that has most impact on embryo quality is the extent of fragmentation. Based on the amount, in percentage, of space that it occupies, fragmentation is categorised into 4 types or degrees. […]
One of the main limitations of assisted reproduction techniques are its embryo implantation failure rates. The implantation rate is the embryo’s ability to implant in the mother’s uterus. In other words, not all embryos are able to give rise to a pregnancy. Some have a greater chance of doing so than others. If it were possible to select embryos with the greatest ability to implant, it would be possible to improve assisted reproduction technique success rates. […]
In vitro fertilisation treatment (IVF) techniques consist of fertilising oocytes with spermatozoa in a laboratory. They are held under conditions that are similar to their natural environment and, a few days later, the best embryo is selected and placed in the woman’s uterus where it remains until it implants. From this point on, monitoring procedures are the same as in any other spontaneous or natural pregnancy. […]
Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumour found in women and it is the main cause of death in women due to cancer in the world.
Over the last few years, there has been an increase in this pathology in younger women and, at the same time, treatment has taken breast cancer survival rates to almost 85%. These facts and a pronounced trend towards delaying motherhood has generated a group of women whose ability to reproduce has been negatively affected before they have had the chance to turn their dream of becoming a mother into a reality. […]
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) are viruses that are transmitted through blood and body fluids as well as through vertical transmission (from the mother to the foetus). As a result, couples wishing to get pregnant in which one partner is a carrier of a virus are faced with the question of whether or not it is possible to do so without the other partner getting infected. If the male partner has one of these viruses and his female partner does not (serodiscordant couples), assisted reproduction technology (ART) can be used in order to avoid transmission. […]
Women currently seek guidance on reproduction at a much older age than they did some years ago. As a result, amongst the women who undergo fertility treatment, there is a significant group of women of an advanced age and their prognosis is poorer. This is a huge challenge for reproduction specialists. […]
The term polycystic ovary syndrome is used to define an ultrasound diagnosis characterised by the presence of 12 or more follicles in each ovary (between 2 and 9 mm in diameter) and/or an incremented ovary volume (>10 ml). Findings such as these in ultrasounds in a single ovary are sufficient in order to be able to give a diagnosis. However, since taking oral contraceptives can change ovary morphology, this diagnostic criteria does not apply to women who take oral contraceptives.
From a practical point of view, when assisted reproduction technology (ART) is being used, detection of polycystic ovaries in isolation is useful for predicting the ovary’s response to stimulation using drugs and the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. […]
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus and, during its most advanced stage of infection, it leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Whilst there is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral treatments do exist that stop the symptoms from developing or delay them until later. As such, we come across increasing numbers of couples of childbearing age who wish to have children and in which one of the partners is a carrier of the virus. […]
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