Benefits of 'three-parent babies' will likely outweigh the risks, experts claim
The medical benefits of creating so-called “three-parent” babies are likely to outweigh any risks, according to two senior science advisers who have defended their recommendation to proceed with caution on the controversial in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique. (Source: The Independent - Science)
Source: The Independent - Science - November 21, 2014 Category: Science Tags: Science Source Type: news
Fertility treatments give birth to dilemma for parents
Unexpectedly tricky ethical decisions arise over unused frozen sperm, eggs and embryosBrenda Loblein never wanted to be in this position. She didn’t want to be faced with a decision about what to do with an extra embryo – a potential child – sitting on ice in a sterilised storage facility.Loblein was 35 when she walked down the aisle for the second time, and she was already a mother to three children from her first marriage. But the meteorological satellite operator knew that she wanted a child with her new husband, and in vitro fertilisation was necessary.A 2005 study found that of 58 couples with leftover embryos, ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - November 18, 2014 Category: Science Authors: Ellen McCarthy for the Washington Post Tags: Embryos IVF Fertility problems Biology Medical research Science Health Society Source Type: news
Exclusive: The three-parent baby trap - is new IVF technique safe?
Plans to allow the creation of so-called “three-parent” in vitro fertilisation (IVF) babies as early as next year are premature because of unresolved safety concerns about the future health of the children, a senior science adviser has warned. (Source: The Independent - Science)
Source: The Independent - Science - November 16, 2014 Category: Science Tags: Science Source Type: news
Stem cells used to improve low vision
Conclusion
These phase one/two studies have shown human embryonic stem cells can be developed into retinal cells in the laboratory and successfully transplanted into the eye, causing clinically significant visual improvements.
The technique does come with the usual potential surgical complications, but other major side effects were not found.
Limitations of the study include the small size, but this is normal in early trials whose primary aim is to determine safety.
Larger studies will be required to determine the optimal dose and the most appropriate candidates for the technique, as it was detrimental in one person and...
Source: NHS News Feed - October 15, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Genetics/stem cells Older people Source Type: news
OPINION: On Reproductive Rights, Progress with Concerns
Contraceptives on sale at a store in Sanaa, Yemen. Credit: Rebecca Murray/IPSBy Joseph ChamieNEW YORK, Oct 1 2014 (IPS)For most of human history, reproductive rights essentially meant men and women accepting the number, timing and spacing of their children, as well as possible childlessness. All this changed radically in the second half of the 20th century with the introduction of new medical technologies aimed at both preventing and assisting human reproduction.Those technologies ushered in historic changes in reproductive rights and behaviour that continue to reverberate around the world, giving rise to increasingly comp...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - October 1, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Joseph Chamie Tags: Development & Aid Gender Global Headlines Health Human Rights IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse LGBTQ Population Poverty & MDGs Religion Women's Health Abortion cloning Contraception ectogenesis Family Planning In Vitro Ferti Source Type: news
Nigeria: After Five Agonising Years - How I Became the Mother of 'Test Tube Baby'- Francesca Onwudijo
[Vanguard]COUPLES often face hard decisions when experiencing infertility and harder choices when going through fertility treatments, and yet if they are successful, they face many other decisions as well. Thirty six years ago, on July 25, 1978, Lesley and John Brown faced such decisions prior to successfully undergoing a complicated and at that time, relatively unknown assisted reproductive procedure known as In Vitro Fertilisation, IVF. (Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth)
Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth - September 29, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: news
Nigeria: From Stigma to Success
[This Day]When Mrs. Franca Onwudinjo first read about in vitro fertilisation (IVF) several years ago, she had no misgivings about it. (Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth)
Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth - September 15, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: news
Could IVF bring about an early menopause?
ACTRESS Alex Kingston fears the intensive in vitro fertilisation treatments she underwent in her 30s brought on early menopause (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Source: Daily Express - Health - August 12, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Government is misleading public over 'genetically modified babies', scientists claim
The Government is being dishonest in redefining genetic modification in order to minimise opposition to a new in vitro fertilisation technique, scientists claim (Source: Telegraph Health)
Source: Telegraph Health - July 28, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Exclusive: Scientists accuse government of dishonesty over GM babies in its regulation of new IVF technique
The Government has been accused of misleading the public over the introduction of a new in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique that some experts believe will result in the birth of “genetically modified babies”. (Source: The Independent - Science)
Source: The Independent - Science - July 28, 2014 Category: Science Tags: Science Source Type: news
Exclusive: Government accused of dishonesty over GM babies in its regulation of new IVF technique
The Government has been accused of misleading the public over the introduction of a new in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique that some experts believe will result in the birth of “genetically modified babies”. (Source: The Independent - Science)
Source: The Independent - Science - July 27, 2014 Category: Science Tags: Science Source Type: news
Could new potential treatment mean safer IVF?
Conclusion
This study provided a “proof of concept” that the naturally occurring hormone kisspeptin-54 can be used to stimulate egg maturation in women requiring IVF. The modified IVF – which is hoped to be safer than standard IVF – led to 12 healthy babies being born from 10 mums. Out of the 53 women undergoing a single IVF treatment, this gave a 19% success rate.
Researchers hoped that using kisspeptin-54 could lead to a safer version of IVF by reducing the risk of OHSS. Although theoretically plausible, this study was much too small to prove that the new technique was safer; much larger trials will be require...
Source: NHS News Feed - July 21, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pregnancy/child Medication Source Type: news
Conservatives and Nationalists At Centre Stage in Poland
Polish conservatives protesting against a reading of Golgota Picnic in Warsaw. Credit: Maciej Konieczny/Courtesy of Krytyka PolitycznaBy Claudia CiobanuWAESAW, Jul 8 2014 (IPS) A mix of conservative Catholicism and nationalism has become the predominant view in Polish public debate, with some worrying effects.
These were the values around which the opposition to communism led by trade union Solidarity built itself up in the 1980s but, after the fall of communism, opinion makers in the media and politicians continued to depict them as part and parcel of being Polish.
Observers note that the Polish Catholic Church has also g...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - July 8, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Claudia Ciobanu Tags: Active Citizens Civil Society Democracy Editors' Choice Europe Featured Gender Gender Identity Headlines Human Rights LGBTQ Religion TerraViva United Nations Women's Health Abortion Agnieszka Graff Catholic Church Catholi Source Type: news
Nigeria: My Faith Kept Me Going Till I Had My Baby
[This Day]Christie Omolara Irure made history recently. She became the oldest woman in the country to have a baby via in vitro fertilisation, IVF, at 59. It has been a long journey towards motherhood having been married since December 1983. But with Catholic faith, she kept going and finally, she made it: carrying her own baby. She spoke to Azuka Ogujiuba and Adedayo Showemimo on her excitement, the trauma of childlessness, the emotional support from her husband and her belief that for every barren woman, there is a (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - June 23, 2014 Category: African Health Source Type: news
Tanzania: Surrogacy Gains Ground in Dar
[Daily News]TANZANIAN women with obstetric problems which have stopped them from having children can thank their lucky stars because using an In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) procedure of surrogacy is now available in the country. (Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth)
Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth - March 3, 2014 Category: OBGYN Source Type: news
