Alicia Y. Christy, MD, MHSCR, FACOG and Richard Burney, MD, MSc
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 311-312 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1683914 Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents | Full text (Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - April 18, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Segars, James H. Tags: Introduction Source Type: research
Legal Issues in Gamete and Embryo Cryopreservation: An Overview
This article provides an overview of existing and developing law surrounding IVF embryos and those who handle them. It discusses what law and legal theories of liability may apply to embryology labs, and gamete and embryo banks in the context of embryo loss, abandonment, shipping and implantation. It explores how often intertwined theories of law have been applied to this unique field, including contract, informed consent, health, tort and Constitutional law. Recent so-called “Personhood” initiatives are reviewed for their impact on ART practice. The article also explores how legal principles related to patient choice,...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - April 3, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Crockin, Susan L. Gottschalk, Kathryn C. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Safe Storage of Gametes and Embryos: No Time for Complacency
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 289-298 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678596Recent serious untoward incidents in the field of assisted reproduction have once again highlighted the need for vigilance and in particular improved risk management in relation to the cryopreservation of gametes and embryos. Despite increasing levels of regulation and the requirement to adhere to total quality management practices, catastrophic incidents such as the death of an employee or the loss of a freezer full of patient embryos or sperm continue to occur sufficiently frequently for the industry to be concerned and highlight the need to make practices con...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - April 3, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tomlinson, Mathew James Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Reproductive Tissue Storage: Quality Control and Management/Inventory Software
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 280-288 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676851The recent failure of two liquid nitrogen storage tanks at two separate facilities in the United States has highlighted the need to reexamine our approach to how reproductive laboratories handle the storage of tissue. If we wish to truly understand how we can increase the security and safety of stored reproductive tissue, we really need to understand how often these events (tank failure) occur and what are the ultimate causes of these failures. Are there design flaws in the storage tanks or are these really failures in protocols and following protocols? Unfortun...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - April 3, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Pomeroy, Kimball O. Marcon, Mark Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Life Interrupted: The Nature and Consequences of Cryostasis
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 273-279 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676850Cryopreservation and associated cryostorage has become a well-established technique in both basic and clinical science. When the potentially lethal consequences of freezing itself are ameliorated, existence at cryogenic temperatures seems to be a form of true viable stasis that can persist for long periods of time. Natural cryopreservation and revival after long-term periods in cryostasis is reality in many species. While some evidence exists for imperfections in artificial cryopreservation protocols and storage, these protocols are for the most part successful ...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - April 3, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Malter, Henry Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Human Reproductive Cell Cryopreservation, Storage, Handling, and Transport: Risks and Risk Management
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 265-272 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676849Millions of human oocytes and embryos are stored in thousands of locations across the globe. This inventory continues to grow as cryopreservation becomes more successful and more widely applied. The results of studies assessing pregnancy and neonatal outcomes following frozen embryo transfer (FET) have been encouraging, showing lower incidences of small for gestational age neonates and preterm birth compared with fresh transfers. However, many of these studies have also shown that the odds of large for gestational age births and macrosomia are higher after FET. ...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - April 3, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Alikani, Mina Parmegiani, Lodovico Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Perspectives in Gamete and Embryo Cryopreservation
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 253-264 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1677463Cryopreserved gametes and embryos are a major feature of human-assisted reproduction and patient care services, accounting for an increasing number of births worldwide. Since the first success obtained using frozen human spermatozoa, cryopreservation technology has been successfully extended to include oocytes and embryos, in a variety of both medical and nonmedical indications. Over the years, the available procedures have become widely implemented and the increasing evidence of its efficacy has contributed to acceptance of the technology. Nevertheless, a gold ...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - April 3, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Rienzi, Laura Francesca Iussig, Benedetta Dovere, Lisa Fabozzi, Gemma Cimadomo, Danilo Ubaldi, Filippo Maria Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Gamete and Embryo Storage
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 251-252 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678597 Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents | Full text (Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - April 3, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Cohen, Jacques Tags: Preface Source Type: research
Jacques Cohen, PhD
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 249-250 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678595 Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents | Full text (Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - April 3, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Segars, James H. Tags: Introduction Source Type: research
Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the Placenta: Clinical, Morphological, and Molecular Outcomes
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 240-248 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676640As the biological bridge between mother and fetus, the placenta is not only important for the health of the mother and fetus during pregnancy but it also impacts the lifelong health of the fetus. Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) involve procedures and exposures that are not characteristic of in vivo reproduction. Moreover, ART procedures occur when the gametes and embryos are undergoing extensive epigenetic reprogramming. Thus, the oxidative, thermal, and mechanical stress that ART procedures introduce can impact the biological processes of placental gr...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - March 12, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Riesche, Laren Bartolomei, Marisa S. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Sperm Epigenetics and Its Impact on Male Fertility, Pregnancy Loss, and Somatic Health of Future Offsprings
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 233-239 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1677047Sperm epigenetic programming is tailored to meet the need of this specialized cell, which include its interaction with the oocyte during fertilization and early embryo development. The unique nature of the sperm epigenome has resulted in multiple studies investigating how perturbations in epigenetics might impact male fertility and early embryo development. In addition, sperm epigenetics appear to be altered by specific environmental exposures, which could provide a link for investigating the role of these triggers in somatic health of off springs produced. This...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - March 12, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Ibrahim, Yetunde Hotaling, Jim Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Assisted Reproductive Technology and Epigenetics
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 221-232 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1675780Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is responsible for 1.7% of births in the United States annually. Despite a large number of studies promoting the efficacy and safety of these practices, there have been reports of imprinting disorders occurring at higher frequencies in children born through ART. Driven by findings in animal studies, it has been postulated that various ART procedures employed at critical points in embryonic development may predispose the genomic imprinting process to errors. Alterations in DNA methylation patterns at imprinting control cente...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - March 12, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: DeAngelis, Anthony M. Martini, Anne E. Owen, Carter M. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Embryo Culture Conditions and the Epigenome
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 211-220 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1675777Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) lead to an increased risk for pregnancy complications, congenital abnormalities, and specific imprinting disorders. Epigenetic dysfunction is thought to be one common mechanism which may be affecting these outcomes. The timing of multiple ART interventions overlaps with developmental time periods that are particularly vulnerable to epigenetic change. In vitro embryo culture is known to impact blastocyst development, in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates, as well as neonatal outcomes. Embryo culture, in contrast to o...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - March 12, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Mani, Sneha Mainigi, Monica Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Transitioning from Infertility-Based (ART 1.0) to Elective (ART 2.0) Use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the DOHaD Hypothesis: Do We Need to Change Consenting?
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 204-210 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1677526The use of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) has increased significantly in recent years. While this is partially due to improved access for infertile patients, another contribution to the growth of ART utilization is represented by individuals without infertility, who electively chose to freeze their gametes and embryos for future use, before ever attempting conception spontaneously. Overall, the safety of ART for parents and children is well described and the risks are modest. However, while long-term health consequences for offspring as postulated by ...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - March 12, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Rinaudo, Paolo Adeleye, Amanda Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Assisted Reproductive Technology and Origins of Disease: The Clinical Realities and Implications
Semin Reprod Med 2018; 36: 195-203 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1677048The majority of offspring born following assisted reproductive technology (ART) achieve equivalent development milestones and demonstrate comparable health as spontaneously conceived children. Yet, multiple studies have suggested offspring conceived with ART have slightly increased risk of metabolic derangements, cardiovascular disease, and malignancy. However, the associations observed in these studies often inadequately control for a variety of confounding variables, such as multiple gestation, premature birth, and low birth weight. Furthermore, many studies f...
Source: Seminars in Reproductive Medicine - March 12, 2019 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Morin, Scott J. Seli, Emre Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
