First U.S. Uterus Transplant Planned Sep 3, 2008
But the planned operation, which Del Priore and his colleagues could attempt later this year, is stirring objections among some transplant experts, fertility specialists and medical ethicists. They question whether the procedure has been tested sufficiently on animals and whether the benefit of being able to carry a pregnancy outweighs the risks for the woman and fetus. (Yahoo News -- Women's Issues)
Perfumes linked to infertility Sep 3, 2008
Pregnant women are being told not to use perfumes or scented creams, after they were linked to cancer and infertility in unborn baby boys ... Infertility problems and testicular cancer have increased sharply in Britain in recent decades ... His study on rats, to be detailed in Edinburgh this week, has shown that blocking the hormones at this crucial stage damages fertility. (Metro)
New embryo test to screen for 6,000 diseases Sep 2, 2008
British fertility specialists have developed a powerful new way to test embryos for inherited diseases, offering hundreds of couples their first realistic chance of having healthy children ... The technique, called preimplantation genetic haplotyping, was pioneered by Ali al-Hellani, a Saudi Arabian fertility specialist in 2004, but has been developed further by Pamela Renwick at Guy's hospital genetics centre and Prof Braude, who runs a fertility centre at Kings College, London ... Stuart... (Yahoo News -- Biotechnology and Genetics)
Natural contraception 'effective' Sep 2, 2008
The symptothermal method (STM) assesses fertility levels during the monthly cycle by measuring body temperature, and observing cervical secretions ... Toni Belfield, of the Family Planning Association (FPA), said: "Natural family planning when taught properly and carried out correctly is a highly effective method of family planning. "Research has always shown that combining two or more fertility indicators is more effective than relying on a single fertility indicator. (Yahoo News -- Birth Control)
Breast MRI Helps Diagnose Christina Applegate's Breast Cancer Sep 2, 2008
"Everything flashes in front of them. Some that aren't even married think about will I ever get married? Many of them think, what about my fertility? So there's just a whole different set of issues for these women, and it's very scary for them and very emotional," said Edelman. Dr. Gorczyca believes regular self exams can also play a role in the early detection of breast cancer. (KLAS-TV.com, NV)
Prehistoric Funerary Precinct Excavated In Northern Israel: Grave Goods Include Phallic Figurines, Sea Shells Sep 2, 2008
While fertility symbols during this period are often associated with female imagery, at Kfar HaHoresh only phallic figurines have been found to date, including one placed as a foundation deposit in the wall of the precinct. Exotic minerals found at the site include malachite from south of the Dead Sea, obsidian (natural volcanic glass) from central Anatolia, and a votive axe on serpentine from either Cyprus or northern Syria. (Science Daily)
One flew over the Singur nest Sep 2, 2008
Another lie was the fertility of the soil- the government initially said the land was mostly mono-crop ... The question is why it was shown in the first place without assessing the ground reality and its fertility. (Sify.com, India)
Farmer: Germ-free food not always good for you Sep 2, 2008
But microbes are essential to soil fertility, and they are everywhere, including the human gut, he said. "We are sterile nuts in our culture today," he said. (Modesto Bee, CA)
HEALTH BLOG: Opening up the medicine chest Sep 2, 2008
If you're an obese man who hopes to become a dad, listen up: Obese men have a higher proportion of abnormal sperm than men who are at their ideal weight, Scottish researchers reported at a fertility meeting in Barcelona. Maybe it's because all that extra fat is heating up their testicles, according to this. (USA Today -- Money)
Risks and benefits of antipsychotics in children and adolescents Sep 2, 2008
A further concern with antipsychotic treatment in paediatric populations is the hyperprolactinemia caused by many of these antipsychotics and its long-term consequences (osteoporosis, infertility) ... We need short and long term safety data on issues such as cardiovascular, hormonal, and metabolic safety, sexual maturation, fertility, and growth changes induced by antipsychotics. (EurekAlert!)
Gene 'links food and fertility' Sep 1, 2008
Gene 'links food and fertility ... A genetic link controlling both appetite and fertility has been found by US researchers ... Both underweight and severely overweight women may have fertility problems, and the research at Salk Institute in California is suggesting that TORC1 may play a role in both. (BBC News)
Perfume 'risk to unborn babies' Sep 1, 2008
The first three months of pregnancy are vital to future fertility. Pregnant women have been told that using perfumes or scented creams may increase the risk of unborn boys developing infertility in later life ... The experiments confirmed that if the hormones are blocked, the animals suffered fertility problems. (BBC News -- Health)
Know the Symptoms of Polycystic Ova... Sep 1, 2008
Though it is most commonly associated with infertility, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) causes a variety of symptoms and health implications ... Irregular periods: The International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination (INCIID) defines this as periods in which the woman experiences 1) cycles that last more than 6 weeks 2) bleeding that is long-lasting 3) bleeding that is either unusually slight or unusually heavy 4) spotting frequently ... Trouble getting pregnant: Infertility is... (Suite101.com)
CongressNow: Candidate Could Face Conservative Backlash Sep 1, 2008
But McCain also angered some social conservatives by supporting legislation in 2007 that allows for research on stem cells created for fertility treatments but are not used. The Republican Party platform holds firm in strong opposition to abortion, stem cell research and gay marriage. (Roll Call)
Perfumes or Scented Creams May Harm Unborn Babies Sep 1, 2008
Using perfumes or scented body creams during pregnancy may put unborn boys at an increased risk of developing infertility in later life, a new research has suggested ... They found that chemicals in many cosmetics can damage the reproductive system of male fetuses that could lead to infertility or testicular cancer ... He further said if hormones, or androgens, including testosterone, don't work properly, it can cause future problems of male fertility, including undescended testicles, low sperm... (TheMedGuru)
Nigeria must move against maternal mortality, says UN Sep 1, 2008
The committee also noted the various contributory factors such as unsafe abortions and inadequate post-abortion care, early and child marriages, early pregnancies, high fertility rates and inadequate family planning services, the low rates of contraceptive usage leading to unwanted and unplanned pregnancies and the lack of sex education, especially in rural areas that have received little attention from government in the recent past. Also, the panel expressed concern about the lack of access by... (Guardian News, Nigeria)
New master switch found in the brain that regulates appetite and reproduction Sep 1, 2008
LA JOLLA, CA Body weight and fertility have long known to be related to each other women who are too thin, for example, can have trouble becoming pregnant ... Findings from the study, published ahead of print in the Aug. 31 online edition of Nature Medicine, suggest that variations in the gene that produces this master switch, known as TORC1, could contribute a genetic component to obesity and infertility, and might be regulated with a novel drug ... It is just as important as leptin, the... (EurekAlert!)
LETTERS: NCT, Aug. 30, 2008 Aug 31, 2008
HotJobs Local Search. Attention, Republicans. (North County Times)
Young Type-2 Diabetic Men Suffer Low Testosterone Levels, Study Shows Aug 31, 2008
" Results of the new study appear in the online edition of Diabetes Care and will be published in an upcoming edition of the journal. Anil Chandel, M.D., UB clinical assistant instructor and medical resident working with Dandona, is first author. The current study was conducted in 38 men with type 1 diabetes and 24 men with type 2 diabetes who were referred to the Diabetes-Endocrinology Clinic of Western New York at Millard Fillmore Hospital of Kaleida Health, where Dandona is chief of the... (Science Daily)
Deafness breakthrough as doctor grows Aug 31, 2008
Win luxury hampers plus Waitrose vouchers & guidebooks. Navigation - link to other main sections from here. (Times Online)
* Johnny Neihu's News Watch: Beijing 2008: slower, lower, weaker Aug 30, 2008
Instead of getting caught taking the latest designer, performance-boosting steroid, the poor schmuck was busted for popping a male fertility drug. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that anyone who hasnt got enough Grade A man juice to impregnate his woman shouldnt be in the team in the first place. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Tibolone Helpful during Treatment of Fibroids Aug 30, 2008
However, the drop in estrogen level can have deleterious effects on cognition and mood in premenopausal women, the study team notes in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility ... SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, July 2008. (MEDLINEplus)
Hot Stuff: Heated Car Seats Tied to Male Aug 29, 2008
Hot Stuff: Study Says Heated Car Seats May Harm Male Fertility ... A heated car seat may feel warm and toasty on a cold night, but it may also decrease a man's chances of becoming a father, according to a study published in the August issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility ... Study authors said male fertility is at its peak when the core body temperature is below 99 degrees Fahrenheit. (Fox News)
How to Choose the Right Pet Health Insurance Plan Aug 29, 2008
Common exclusions include pre-existing medical conditions, cosmetic and elective procedures, fertility and pregnancy. 5. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Home health testing kit sales top $773 million, but accuracy questioned Aug 29, 2008
Now you can diagnose your symptoms on the Internet, monitor ovulation cycles without ever stepping into a fertility clinic and buy an alcohol breath analyzer test at your neighborhood pharmacy. In just the last month, at least two new self-diagnostic products were on the market: CardioChek, a cholesterol test; and HairConfirm, which identifies traces of illegal and prescription drugs in hair follicles. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
JEFF EDELSTEIN COLUMN: Science smells like invisible exercise Aug 29, 2008
This, in turn, helps with fertility, the whole point of being a species in the first place. All I know is when I met Kelly, I usually smelled of beer, cigarettes and Stouffer's pizza. (The Trentonian, NJ)
Reasons for Female Genital Cutting Aug 28, 2008
Scholars have documented numerous themes (often interconnected) related to the meanings of FGC: tradition, control of female sexuality, enhanced fertility, purity (literal or symbolic), religion, marriageability, female gender identity, adult status, and ethnic identity ... The health problems are urine and menstrual blood retention, urinary tract and pelvic infections, infertility, dysmenorrhea, dermoid cysts, and neuroma. (Suite101.com)
Heavy Metal Link To Mutations, Low Growth And Fertility Among Crustaceans In Sydney Harbor Tributary Aug 28, 2008
28, 2008) Heavy metal pollutants are linked to genetic mutations, stunted growth and declining fertility among small crustaceans in the Parramatta River, the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, new research shows ... The new study found the mutations and lower growth and fertility persisted through several generations of M. plumulosa in controlled laboratory conditions, suggesting that genetic changes are causing permanent negative impacts ... "The lower fertility and growth rates among the... (Science Daily)
Emblem in danger Aug 28, 2008
" The cedar tree has inspired poets and artists in Lebanon for centuries - including the writer Kahlil Gibran, who is buried close to the Bcharre cedar reserve in northern Lebanon. Wahib Kayrouz, the curator of the Gibran museum, says the cedar is an important metaphor in Gibran's work. "The cedar is always the symbol for strength, power, fertility, continuity and the feeling that the human being is eternal," he said. The much loved cedars of Lebanon have been nominated as one of the New Seven... (BBC News -- Africa)
This Might Be Year For Fall-Harvested Alfalfa Aug 28, 2008
Research data continue to mount supporting the concept that timing of the fall cut matters little as long as other factors - variety, fertility, drainage - favor fall-cutting tolerance, he says. Farmer experience must agree, as I have noted more September cutting in my travels over the last several years, he adds. (Agri-View, WI)
Hot Seat Is A Gamble Aug 28, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008. Hot seat is a gamble for the gonads Posted: 28 August 2008 1153 hrs. (Channelnewsasia.com)
How Britain Will Dominate Europe Aug 28, 2008
These losses are the result of "a combination of economic differences and relative freedom of movement," as well as reduced fertility, says Kroehnert ... Eurostat researchers caution that their projections are a "what if" scenario and do not take into account future changes in immigration policy or fertility rates that could alter the outcome. (Time.com)
Fertility Treatments Increase Gene Mutations in Males Aug 28, 2008
The use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or another assisted fertility technique called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to conceive appears to increase the odds of Y-chromosome defects or "microdeletions" in male offspring, Chinese researchers report ... In an effort to isolate the impact of the fertility treatment, the researchers only studied infants whose parents had a normal genetic background ... ICSI is the main method used to overcome male infertility. (Newsmax)
Monsanto's bane: The evil pigweed Aug 28, 2008
" Or is South Korean dominance threatening the tour's popularity? A little more than a month ago, the Korean blog highlighted an article by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Jeffrey Slaton, suggesting that the Korean onslaught was spelling trouble for the tour. The LPGA needs a wake-up call. After watching a South Korean woman win for the third consecutive week on the LPGA Tour, something needs to change... ...Attendance wasn't good, and television ratings were awful. That alone should tell the... (Salon)
Miracle or medical failure? Aug 27, 2008
Egypt septuplets stir debate on fertility drugs - Pregnancy- msnbc ... Egypt septuplets stir debate on fertility drugs ... But debate persists about the ethics of fertility treatment in a nation where medical oversight is lax, incubators and neonatal respirators are rare, and many families face pressure to have a son. (MSNBC -- Health)
* Taiwanese baseball player suspended one year for doping Aug 27, 2008
Third baseman Chang Tai-shan (is) may not participate in the World Baseball Classic next March or other competitions until next August because of his use of a chemical that he claimed came from fertility drugs, the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) decided ... He apologized to the baseball federation at a hearing during the Olympics and said he had been using fertility drugs ... Taiwanese Olympic delegation leader Tsai Szu-chueh () earlier said that Chang had been taking... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Water scarcity is causing food shortages and environmental decline - so why is it ignored? Aug 27, 2008
Soil problems (erosion, salinization, and soil fertility losses) Water management problems Overhunting Overfishing Effects of introduced species on native species Population growth Increased per-capita impact of people. Human-caused climate change. (BBC News -- Science)
English-only golf Aug 27, 2008
The failure of women to join the nonagricultural labor force has profound social consequences: it leads to higher fertility rates, less education for girls, and less female influence within the family ... For this reason it is no longer desirable to permit the fertilizer industry to continue its single-minded quest of profit, if that quest is not consistent with the national welfare and interest in soil fertility ... Sawadogo's story was fascinating because using a decidely low-technology... (Salon)
'Roe' won't survive a GOP president Aug 26, 2008
He has said he would allow federal funds for embryonic cell research in narrow circumstances, on embryos slated for destruction in fertility clinics ... And those fertility clinics McCain speaks of would have to close, since it would not be OK -- not in the least -- to freeze all those petri-dish-souls who are not lucky enough to be implanted in a womb. (Anchorage Daily News)
Battle to be best hospital in country Aug 26, 2008
The Christie is also a finalist in the improving health award for a women's fertility project. Chief executive Caroline Shaw said: "Being short-listed is a fantastic stamp of approval for our hospital. We've achieved so much this year, particularly with developing our ambitious plans to take cancer services forward for our patients. "Our success in getting to this stage has been a real team effort. (Manchester Online)
No Prescription? Have Some of Mine Aug 26, 2008
Or older women who are no longer in the right age range but using fertility interventions to become pregnant ... I can understand how the term pre-pregnant is seen as an infantilizing term, HOWEVER, as a poster above stated, women do not have 100% control over their fertility or if a sexual encounter results in a pregnancy, even with the birth control pill, a condom, and plan B. If my mother hadn t told me that antibiotics lessened the effectiveness of birth control, I wouldn t have learned... (New York Times)
Diabetes may cut male fertility Aug 26, 2008
Diabetes damages a man's sperm and may reduce fertility, say UK researchers ... Defective sperm DNA is one cause of male infertility, pregnancy failure and miscarriage but the implications for sperm affected by diabetes is unknown ... Co-author Professor Sheena Lewis stressed it was not possible to say whether the DNA damage caused by diabetes would have the same effect on fertility as DNA damage caused by other factors such as smoking. (Yahoo News -- Diabetes)
Job burn-out 'ups diabetes risk' Aug 26, 2008
Lead researcher Dr Samule Melamed said: "Emotional burn-out may pose a risk to health. "Earlier studies have found it to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk, sleep disturbances, impaired fertility and musculoskeletal pain. "Our finding suggests that the potential damage to health may be greater than suspected and it may also include a risk of diabetes.". (Yahoo News -- Diabetes)
'Human-animal' embryo green light Aug 26, 2008
The only exception is to test the quality of sperm Canada - Legislation bans the creation of human-animal embryos US - Federal funds can only be used for research involving pre-existing embryos - such as those left over from fertility treatment - and there is a ban on hybrid embryos Elsewhere - Other countries do not specifically legislate on hybrid embryos ... At the moment, scientists have to rely on human eggs left over from fertility treatment, but they are in short supply and are not always... (Yahoo News -- Human Stem Cell Research)
When hippies ruled the Tennessee Valley Aug 26, 2008
" How the World Works' readers know that So it was fascinating to do a little digging and learn how exactly it came to be that fertilizer research would be considered a natural domain of expertise for the newly born TVA. According to Norman Wegner, a former TVA official and professor of government at City College of New York, writing in the journal "Land Economics" in 1949, the typically poor soils prevalent in the American Southeast led to an early regional interest in fertilizers, especially... (Salon)
Are Malthus's Predicted 1798 Food Shortages Coming True? (Extended version) Aug 25, 2008
Another factor undermining Malthus s argument, it would seem, is the demographic transition, according to which societies move from conditions of high fertility rates roughly offset by high mortality rates to conditions of low fertility rates together with low mortality rates. Malthus did not reckon with the advance of public health, family planning, and modern contraception, which together with urbanization and other trends, would result in a dramatic decline in fertility rates to low levels,... (Scientific American)
Natural contraception 'effective' Aug 25, 2008
The symptothermal method (STM) assesses fertility levels during the monthly cycle by measuring body temperature, and observing cervical secretions ... Toni Belfield, of the Family Planning Association (FPA), said: "Natural family planning when taught properly and carried out correctly is a highly effective method of family planning. "Research has always shown that combining two or more fertility indicators is more effective than relying on a single fertility indicator. (Yahoo News -- Birth Control)
First U.S. Uterus Transplant Planned Aug 25, 2008
But the planned operation, which Del Priore and his colleagues could attempt later this year, is stirring objections among some transplant experts, fertility specialists and medical ethicists. They question whether the procedure has been tested sufficiently on animals and whether the benefit of being able to carry a pregnancy outweighs the risks for the woman and fetus. (Yahoo News -- Women's Issues)
Obesity 'linked to birth defects' Aug 25, 2008
Obese women are more likely to have chronic diseases, fertility problems, miscarriages and complications during pregnancy. But the scientists who carried out this research say this is the strongest link so far between obesity at the time of conception and some birth defects. (Yahoo News -- Fertility & Pregnancy)
Couples to get more IVF treatment Aug 25, 2008
Couples in the East of England who have difficulty in conceiving are to be offered more fertility treatment cycles on the NHS, it has been announced. Childless couples who meet the recommended eligibility criteria are to be offered up to three treatments or cycles by primary care trusts (PCTs). (BBC News)
Africa fertility clinics offer hope to stigmatized Aug 24, 2008
But Apio and an increasing number of other middle class African women are seeking their social salvation in a service unheard of in Kampala until recently: fertility treatments ... The clinics offer an alternative to superstitious explanations of infertility and the dubious advice of traditional healers, whose cures include having women run naked in circles around a dead sparrow at night ... Fertility doctors are also bringing to light an uncomfortable truth about a condition almost always... (Boston Globe)
Teens' risky drinking linked to infertility Aug 24, 2008
The study did not consider what amount of alcohol consumption affected fertility ... Nick Martin, a professor at Queensland Institute of Medical Research who took part in the study, said the links between alcohol and fertility were not conclusive. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Infertile couples to be priority for NHS IVF treatment Aug 24, 2008
NHS trusts should give IVF a much higher importance when drawing up spending plans, by taking into account the effects of infertility on mental health and general wellbeing, the influential group will say today. The advice from the Expert Group on Commissioning NHS Infertility Provision, which was convened by health ministers this year, will put fresh pressure on the 95 per cent of primary care trusts (PCTs) that do not offer the three cycles of IVF recommended by the National Institute for... (Times Online)
Pioneering transplant may become available on NHS Aug 24, 2008
Pioneering face transplant may become available on NHS - Times Online. Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times. (Times Online)
New embryo test to screen for 6,000 diseases Aug 23, 2008
British fertility specialists have developed a powerful new way to test embryos for inherited diseases, offering hundreds of couples their first realistic chance of having healthy children ... The technique, called preimplantation genetic haplotyping, was pioneered by Ali al-Hellani, a Saudi Arabian fertility specialist in 2004, but has been developed further by Pamela Renwick at Guy's hospital genetics centre and Prof Braude, who runs a fertility centre at Kings College, London ... Stuart... (Yahoo News -- Biotechnology and Genetics)
SEXUAL FREEDOM RULES CALIFORNIA Aug 23, 2008
But the doctor was perfectly willing to help treat Guadalupe's infertility - restoring a natural function of the body - but had moral qualms about impregnating a woman without a husband ... When a doctor at a fertility clinic has the same moral qualms, the California court now says she's now an outlaw, an evil discriminator. (New York Post -- Opinions)
Does the Alexander Technique really cure back pain? Aug 23, 2008
Does the Alexander Technique really cure back pain. Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times. (Times Online)
Male infertility related to gum infections Aug 23, 2008
Dr. Oshrat Shonberger, director of the fertility clinic at the hospital, and Dr. Avigdor Klinger, a periodontic specialist at the school, reached this preliminary conclusion after studying 56 men, aged between 23 to 52, who came to the fertility lab for sperm analysis ... As of the fertility, normal sperm counts were found in 34 percent of them, low sperm counts in 52 percent, and absence of sperm in 14 percent ... The team concluded that the frequent occurrence of gum infections among men with... (Xinhuanet, China)
End to IVF postcode lottery Aug 23, 2008
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in the east of England have agreed a new policy that will offer more chances to childless couples, by raising the number of fertility treatment cycles that were previously offered within East Anglia ... Peter Greenwood, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and lead clinician for the Fertility Services Project Steering Group, said: Around one in seven couples could be affected by infertility ... Clare Brown, chief executive of Infertility Network UK, said: I... (East Anglian Daily Times)
Testosterone Unproven as Yet for Women's Sex Woes Aug 23, 2008
Shover, a professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the author of the article in the journal Fertility and Sterility, adds: "This area of research is being driven by the incredible profits that pharma companies are expecting, given that one in three women in the US will rate herself as having low sexual desire." ... SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, July 2008. (MEDLINEplus)
Sold! -- to the man in Lycra Aug 23, 2008
Sawadogo's story was fascinating because using a decidely low-technology technique for increasing soil fertility -- zai holes -- he managed to bring forests back to what had been horribly degraded land ... Terra preta is the ultimate kill-two-birds-with-one-stone killer agricultural app: We may be able to take carbon, bury it in the ground, and increase both soil fertility and the earth's carbon dioxide sequestration capabilities. (Salon)
The 'F' Bomb Aug 22, 2008
This was seen as a sign of a female s fertility. During the Renaissance, voluptuous, full-figured women were the envy, especially if they had soft rolls of flesh. (Fox News)
Fertility Wisdom Aug 22, 2008
A Review of Angela C. Wus Book On Infertility ... Her work with Western medicine fertility experts has allowed Wu to bridge the gap between an ancient form of healing and modern medicine an integration that is slowly being adopted by Acupuncturists in the United States ... Seasonal diets, raw foods, the energies of various foods and what makes food fertility-friendly are explored in this chapter. (Suite101.com)
Stop smoking adviser Harry Singer pocketed Aug 22, 2008
Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times. Navigation - link to other main sections from here. (Times Online)
Bush plan would blunt state birth control law Aug 22, 2008
"Pregnancy is not a disease to be treated by abortion, and neither is fertility," she said. "To be coerced to treat it as if it were a condition that is pathological is unjust.". (San Francisco Chronicle)
