Researchers Link Erectile Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease

Men with erectile dysfunction are more likely to have cardiovascular disease, according to preliminary findings from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).

"Our study suggests that erectile dysfunction, particularly in young men, may be an early warning sign of heart disease and stroke," says Dr. Steven Grover, MUHC director of clinical epidemiology and lead investigator for the study.

Dr. Grover and his colleagues studied more than 4,000 men, comparing the risk of erectile dysfunction for patients with and without cardiovascular disease. They found that there was a strong association between cardiovascular disease risk factors – diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol and erectile dysfunction.

The study suggests that men who have erectile dysfunction and no symptoms of cardiovascular disease may be at an increased risk for developing the disease. “Accordingly, a complete diagnostic evaluation of erectile dysfunction should include screening for cardiovascular risk factors,” says Dr. Grover. (5-27-03)

Season of Birth, Ethnicity May Affect Birth Weight and Infant Growth

The May issue of the Journal of Nutrition published a study that found significant differences among babies of different U.S. ethnic groups in terms of their birth weights, weight gains in the first four months and the season in which they were born.

"To our knowledge, this is the first description of seasonal variation in infant weight gain in a western society," says Dr. Nicolas Stettler, M.D., co-author of the study and a pediatric nutritionist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. "Previous studies have focused on birth weight or on infant growth in low-income countries where food intake is directly linked to agriculture and the seasons."

The study’s findings could be important because it is thought that patterns of weight gain in early infancy may predict obesity, diabetes and other cardiovascular problems as adolescents or adults. Previous research by this same study’s author showed that rapid early infant weight gain increase the risk of being overweight at 7 years old by as much as 25 percent.

Researchers from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and two other institutes in Great Britain studied a multiethnic group of some 24,000 infants that were born full-term at 12 different sites in the United States between 1959 and 1965. They found that black infants born in the summer and fall had lower birth weights than those born in the winter and spring. They also found that the weight gain during the first four months of life for black and Puerto Rican infants born in the fall was much lower than those born in spring and summer. However, there was no difference reported in the weights and weight gains of white infants.

"A possible reason for the variation between ethnic groups could be related to health care access," says Dr. Stettler. "Higher levels of prenatal and infant care among whites during this era may have evened out seasonal differences in that group. This study further emphasizes the importance of appropriate prenatal and postnatal care for all infants." (5-13-03)

Continuous Exposure to Traffic Pollution Damages Sperm

A surprising new study has found that something as common as traffic pollution can damage the quality of sperm in young and middle-aged men.

Researchers from the University of Naples analyzed the semen quality of 85 male tollgate attendants in Italy and 85 controls.

Although they found that sperm counts and serum levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone) and testosterone were within the normal range in both groups, all other sperm parameters were below World Health Organization levels in the tollgate workers. The tollgate workers had significantly lower total sperm motility (movement), including forward progression, and significantly lower levels in other tests of sperm kinetics and function.

A range of analyses by the research team identified nitrogen oxides and lead as the most likely culprits damaging the sperm. There was an inverse correlation between sperm count and circulating blood lead levels, and other sperm parameters were inversely correlated with the marker for nitrogen oxide levels – methaemoglobin (Mhb).

The research showed that while circulating blood lead levels were not as high in the tollgate workers as had been found in studies of workers in smelting plants, the intermediate but continuous exposure to lead among the tollgate workers impaired sperm, and the impaired function patterns correlating to MHb levels suggested that the nitrogen oxides were also causing damage.

The study appeared in a recent issue of the journal Human Reproduction. (5-06-03)

Study of Sheep Finds Undernourishment of Mother Leads to Preterm Birth

Even modest restrictions in maternal nutrition around the time of conception can lead to premature births and long-term adverse health effects for offspring, according to new research.

In a study of sheep, researchers divided them into two groups: one which was fully nourished prior to mating and during the entire gestational period and one which was underfed and maternal body weights were reduced 60 days prior to mating and for an additional 30 days after conception.

The researchers found that even after nutrition was returned to normal, fetuses of undernourished ewes had accelerated maturation of their adrenal glands, prompting their premature delivery by about one week, on average. In some cases, the ewes delivered as much as 15 to 20 days early.

The researchers were surprised to find, however, that the undernourishment of ewes did not create growth restrictions in the offspring. Lambs delivered early by underfed mothers were the appropriate weight and size for their gestational development, although naturally smaller than full-term lambs.

While preterm birth is a problem throughout the world, the researchers note that the incidence of preterm birth in affluent Western societies has increased over the past decade and remains the No. 1 cause of perinatal illness and death. They suggests the problem may have to do with women who diet prior to pregnancy for fear they'll be unable to shed the excess weight afterward.

"Women need to think about proper diet and food intake before they even know they're pregnant, because proper nutrition after pregnancy may not compensate for the lack of it beforehand. Even a modest restriction around the time of conception could have far-reaching consequences," says Dr. John Challis, professor of medicine and physiology at the University of Toronto and one of the study authors. (4-29-03)

Study Finds Infertility Causes Stress in Men, Leading to Sexual Dysfunction

It's a given that infertility is stressful, but you more often hear about the woman's stress. But what about the man?

In a study appearing in the April issue of Fertility and Sterility, researchers studied more than 400 men undergoing infertility treament to determine if abnormal results of their laboratory work-up affected them psychologically and had a negative impact on their sexual performance.

The study involved men who had failed to impregnate their wives after trying for at least a year of unprotected intercourse. The men underwent a semen analysis, which involved collected their initial semen samples by masturbation in a private room near the laboratory. The patients were informed of their abnormal semen analysis results and were scheduled for a second semen analysis two weeks later.

When the time came for their second test, 11 percent (46) of the men were unable to collect a sample by masturbating. These patients were scheduled for subsequent attempts at two- to three-day intervals and were given the options of collecting the samples at home by masturbation or by interrupted intercourse and delivering the samples to the lab within one hour. They were also re-evaluated for sexual function with questions modified to provide information on erection and orgasm during masturbation as well as sexual intercourse.

After two to four failed attempts, the patients were offered the option of vibratory stimulation to assist them in collecting the sample; this option was successful for nine of the 46. All 46 of the patients in this group reported experiencing severe anxiety during attempts to masturbate and during sexual contact with their partners.

The researchers noted that semen analysis results were significantly poorer for the men who experienced sexual dysfunction, and they speculate that, in these cases, erectile dysfunction is a psychological effect triggered by knowledge of the abnormal semen analysis.

“For men, the evaluation for infertility can be embarrassing, intimidating, and then if results are poor, very depressing,” says Susan Benoff, Ph.D., president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, an ASRM affiliate. (4-22-03)

Study Finds Use of Infertility Drugs Not Generally Associated With Breast Cancer

A large study coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found no connection between the incidence of breast cancer and the use of drugs to treat infertility.

More than 4500 women with primary invasive breast cancer were surveyed along with more than 4600 randomly selected, cancer-free women.

The researchers calculated the odds of developing breast cancer for those who had taken drugs to help them get pregnant and, overall, they found that women who had used infertility drugs had the same risk of breast cancer as women who had never used such medication.

There was, however, an exception. Compared to women who had never used any infertility medication, women who had used human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) for six or more months or cycles had a two to three times greater relative risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers, however, say that the hMG result should be viewed with caution, as the number of women surveyed who reported using infertility drugs was rather small, and data on infertility medications was self-reported, not confirmed by reference to medical records.

The study appears in the April issue of Fertility and Sterility. (4-15-03)

Study Finds Children Conceived Via ICSI at No Greater Risk for Congenital Defects

A new study in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that children conceived using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) had no greater incidence of congenital defects than children conceived naturally.

Two hundred and sixty-six ICSI babies and 259 naturally-conceived children, all ranging in age from 13 to 18 months, took part in the study.

The researchers found that neurodevelopmental scores for both groups were similar, that rates of congenital defects were similar for ICSI children and naturally-conceived children, and that ICSI children whose fathers had severe sperm defects showed no extra problems.

The similar, but relatively high, rates of congenital defects observed in this study – for both ICSI and naturally-conceived children – contrast with other recent studies based on data from birth registries, note the authors. They suggest the issue be addressed more fully, ideally using data from a national registry. (4-8-03)

Rare Birth Defects May Be More Likely in Children Born Via IVF

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center say that a group of rare urological defects, including bladder development outside the body, may be more common in children conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF). The researchers caution, however, that the findings are preliminary and should not necessarily dissuade couples from considering the procedure.

Information collected on 78 children with cloacal-bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex treated at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center from 1998 to 2001 shows these birth defects are approximately seven times more widespread in IVF children.

Exstrophy-epispadias complex, which is comprised of defects of the bladder, pelvic bones, urethra and genitals, occurs in approximately four out of every 100,000 live births. Applying this incidence data to the 112,127 children who were born through IVF from 1997 to 2000, researchers determined that approximately five affected children would be expected among the entire U.S. IVF population during this four-year span.

The most common defect of the exstrophy-epispadias complex is bladder exstrophy, a condition in which the bladder is exposed, inside out, and protrudes through the abdominal wall. In addition, the skin on the lower abdomen does not form properly, the pelvic bones are widely spaced and there may be genital abnormalities.

Exstrophy-epispadias is four to six times more likely in boys than girls. Researchers believe these birth defects are caused by failed development of the urogenital system during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The findings are reported in the April issue of the Journal of Urology. (4-01-03)

CDC Activates Emergency Operations in Response to New Pneumonia-like Illness

In response to reports of increasing numbers of cases of an atypical pneumonia that the World Health Organization (WHO) has called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its emergency operations center on Friday, March 14.

As of March 19, WHO has received reports of 264 patients from 11 countries with suspected and probable SARS. Areas with reported local transmission include Hong Kong and Guangdong province, China; Hanoi, Vietnam and Singapore. More limited transmission has been reported in Taipei, Taiwan and Toronto, Canada. Eleven cases have been reported in the United States. The initial cases reported in Singapore, Taiwan and Toronto were among people who all had traveled to China.

Among patients reported worldwide as of March 19, the disease has been characterized by rapid onset of high fever, myalgia, chills, rigor and sore throat, followed by shortness of breath, cough and radiographic evidence of pneumonia. Of the 264 suspected and probable cases reported by WHO, nine (3 percent) people have died.

CDC has been working with the World Health Organization (WHO) since late February to investigate and confirm outbreaks of this severe form of pneumonia in Vietnam, Hong Kong and parts of China.

"The emergence of two clusters of this illness on the North American continent indicates the potential for travelers who have been in the affected areas of Southeast Asia to have been exposed to this serious syndrome," says Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, CDC director. "The World Health Organization has been leading a global effort, in which CDC is participating, to understand the cause of this illness and how to prevent its spread. We do know that it may progress rapidly and can be fatal. Therefore, we are instituting measures aimed at identifying potential cases among travelers returning to the United States and protecting the people with whom they may come into contact."

The WHO issued a global alert about the outbreak on March 12, cautioning that the severe respiratory illness may spread to hospital staff. (3-25-03)

Common Industrial Chemical Linked to Male Infertility

A chemical widely used in industry and present in ground water supplies has been found in the semen of infertile men, reports a new study out of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

In the study, seminal fluid from mechanics who had been exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) in the workplace – and who had previously been diagnosed with infertility – was analyzed for TCE and its by-products (metabolites). Researchers found that all the semen samples contained TCE and metabolites.

TCE is a volatile chemical used extensively in the automotive and metal industries as a de-greasing agent. It is also found in adhesives, lubricants, paints, varnishes, paint strippers, pesticides, spot removers and rug cleaning fluids and has been detected in both underground and surface water sources.

Already linked to liver, kidney and lung damage, TCE has not until now been linked to reproductive disorders. The National Toxicology Program in the United States has estimated that 3.5 million workers are exposed to the chemical. The current occupational exposure limit for TCE is 50 ppm (parts per million), but researchers say that is difficult to enforce.

"Taken together, the results of our studies in mice and in humans support the premise that TCE is metabolized in the human reproductive tract and can adversely affect the normal development of sperm," says Dr. Poh-Gek Forkert, author of the study. "These results have serious implications for potential toxicities from chemicals that may lead to the reported decline in semen quality in humans."

The study appears in the March issue of Drug Metabolism and Disposition. (3-25-03)

Researchers Link Spontaneous Abortion and Heart Disease

For the first time, a specific link has been found between spontaneous abortion and the risk of heart disease in later life, according to researchers in this week’s British Medical Journal.

The team analzsed national data on births in Scotland during 1981-5 and deaths or hospital admissions due to ischaemic heart disease (IHD) during 1981-99.

They found that women with a history of spontaneous loss of early pregnancy were at increased risk of IHD. By contrast, there was no association between therapeutic abortion and subsequent risk of IHD.

According to the study authors, this is the first study to show a specific association between spontaneous abortion and maternal risk of IHD. However, they say, further studies are required to corroborate these findings and confirm that the association is independent of smoking and other factors, such as maternal disease (for example, diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome). (3-18-03)

Majority of Women With Ovarian Tumors Can Still Conceive

A new study in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology has good news for women who have suffered ovarian tumors – researchers found that most were able to conceive and have children after undergoing fertility-preserving surgery followed by chemotherapy.

Yale researchers studied more than 85 women with malignant germ cells tumors of the ovary. Sixty-four of the women had undergone conservative, fertility-preserving surgery of the ovary (removing the affected ovary but preserving the other ovary and uterus), followed by combination chemotherapy. Thirty-eight of these 64 women had attempted to conceive, and more than 75 percent achieved at least one pregnancy.

Girls who had not yet started menstruation when they were treated for malignant tumors were even less likely than older girls to experience subsequent menstrual dysfunction, found the researchers. (3-11-03)

A Twist in the Tail: Leeds Researchers Show How Sperm Wriggle

Scientists at the University of Leeds have discovered what causes sperm to wriggle and swim, a finding they say could have far-reaching potential for advances in infertility treatment.

In a recent issue of Nature, the researchers explain that the key lies in a protein called dynein, also found in lungs, the nervous system and elsewhere in the human body.

“Dynein molecules are attached to tiny tubes within the sperm tail, and as the molecules change shape, they make the tubes slide back and forth causing the sperm’s tail to wriggle," says Project Leader Dr. Peter Knight. "We call these proteins molecular motors, as they work very much like engines, using fuel which the body creates from the food we eat to power movement.”

As well as making sperm wriggle, dynein also powers the cilia which push eggs along the Fallopian tubes towards the womb. The hard-working protein also helps clear the lungs of airborne debris and transports chemicals within our nervous system. (3-4-03)

Heat Helps Guide Sperm to Egg

Much like guided missiles that sense the heat of a plane's engine, sperm are guided to the fertilization site by temperature, reports a Weizmann Institute study published in the current issue of Nature Medicine.

The site where the egg lies is slightly warmer than the place where the sperm make a pause in their journey through the female genital tract. Sperm cells are apparently guided by this temperature difference in their navigation. Such a temperature-driven mechanism was previously known to exist in microorganisms and worms, but the Weizmann study for the first time has provided evidence for its existence in mammals.

According to team leader Professor Michael Eisenbach of the Institute's Biological Chemistry Department, in the future, it may be possible to make use of temperature guidance to improve in vitro fertilization. (2-25-03)

Researchers Find First Conclusive Evidence That Lead is Linked to Male Infertility

In a recent issue of the journal Human Reproduction, researchers say that lead could be a factor in some cases of unexplained male infertility.

Researchers studied the metal ion levels and sperm function in semen from the partners of 140 consecutive women undergoing their first in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.

They found that lead levels in seminal plasma varied over a wide range, and there was a significant association between high lead levels and low fertilization rates, with changes in lead levels accounting for a fifth of the variance in fertilization rates.

"From our tests on lead in the seminal plasma of the participants and control experiments on nine fertile donors, we have evidence that higher lead levels interfere both with the ability of the sperm to bind to the egg and with its ability to fertilize the egg," says Dr. Susan Benoff, director of the Fertility Research Laboratories at the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Research Institute in Manhasset, New York and principal investigator in the study.

She said the findings of high seminal lead levels among the 140 men in the study were unexpected, as lifestyle questionnaires showed that none was engaged in occupations likely to produce exposure to metal ions. High lead levels in up to 29 of the IVF patients were associated with smoking and/or alcohol consumption, but high levels in patients who did not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol were unexplained.

One possibility was lack of exercise (blood lead levels increase with decreased physical activity). Another possibility was a low calcium or high lactose or fat diet, which can enhance lead accumulation. Genetic variation in response to lead exposure may also be a factor, as the study revealed some instances of normal fertilization rates despite high lead levels and reduced fertilization rates despite low lead levels.

As a result of the study, Dr. Benoff is urging doctors to measure lead in seminal plasma when evaluating men from couples with unexplained infertility. She also believes there is a case for health and safety authorities to continue re-evaluating environmental exposure limits. (2-18-03)

Sperm Slow Down With Age

With each passing year, semen quality in adult men declines, suggesting that age plays a greater role in male fertility rates than previously thought, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Researchers studied sperm samples from nearly 100 men ages 22 to 80. They found that while age had an effect on semen volume, the more significant impact was on sperm motility – its liveliness and direction of movement – which researchers found decreased by 0.7 percent per year. That means the chance of sperm motility being clinically abnormal is 25 percent at age 22, 40 percent by age 30, 60 percent by age 40 and 85 percent by age 60.

"Simply put, sperm slow down with age," says study co-author Andrew Wyrobek, head of the Health Effects Genetics Division at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. "In addition, age impacts progressive motility, which is the ability of sperm to move forward with a clear goal in mind. Sperm that swim around in circles may get trapped in the female mucosa, while sperm that moves in a linear direction will have a greater chance of colliding with the egg."

Unlike the female biological clock – which reflects a marked decline in fertility in a woman's mid-30s – the male clock proceeds gradually, the researchers found.

The authors said that changes in semen quality with age may be due to various physiological factors, including age-related narrowing and sclerosis of the testicular tube, degeneration of germ cells and normal changes in the prostate, or to increased probability of exposure to disease or environmental agents. (2-11-03)

March of Dimes Launches New Fight Against Prematurity

Washington, D.C. – Citing the dramatic rise in the number of babies born prematurely in this country, the March of Dimes today launched a $75 million, five-year national campaign. The campaign’s goals will be to increase awareness of the growing problem and decrease the rate of premature birth. In 2001, more than 476,000 babies, or nearly 12 percent of live births, were born too soon – before 37 completed weeks – in the U.S.

“The annual rate of babies born prematurely has risen 27 percent since 1981, and this rate is unacceptably high,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, March of Dimes president. “Many of these babies come into the world with serious health problems. Those who survive may suffer life-long consequences, from cerebral palsy and mental retardation to blindness.”

Prematurity has also been identified as the leading cause of neonatal death (within the first month of life) in the U.S.

Dr. Howse notes that most Americans today are unaware of the magnitude of this health problem. In a recent March of Dimes national survey of 1,967 adults, only 35 percent of respondents identified prematurity as “very serious” or “extremely serious.” In the same survey, more than 50 percent believed the rate of preterm birth is declining or about the same.

The results of this survey are published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The results of a similar survey of 605 pregnant women appears in this month’s issue of Contemporary OB/GYN.

“Prematurity is a common and serious problem,” says campaign honorary chair Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. “Women and their doctors need to address the known risks. Although African-American women are more likely to experience a premature birth, these births cut across all socio-economic and cultural barriers. These babies come from every community.”

Dr. Sullivan also notes that prematurity imposes financial burdens on insurers, businesses and families. In 2000, hospital charges for 23,000 prematurity-related infant stays totaled $1.2 billion. The average charge was $58,000 per baby, compared to $4,300 for a typical newborn stay. ¹

The net cost of health care for treatment of preterm newborns covered by employer health plans has been estimated at $4.7 billion – equivalent to approximately two percent of corporate after-tax profits.² On January 30th the March of Dimes will release data showing the national hospital bill for premature births.

The March of Dimes goals are to increase public awareness of the problem of prematurity from 35 to 60 percent, and to decrease the rate of preterm birth by at least 15 percent, to no more than 10.1 percent. The 2001 rate is 11.9 percent.

If the rate in 2001 had been 10.1 percent, an estimated 73,000 babies would have been spared a premature birth.

The March of Dimes campaign will invest $75 million over the next five years and will raise new funds to support research into the causes and treatment of prematurity, says Dr. Howse. The campaign will also advocate for an increase of $10 million annually in federally funded research into the causes of prematurity.

Our history, our track record and our mission to improve infant health uniquely qualify the March of Dimes to call the question,” says Dr. Howse. “But this will be a tough campaign – more difficult than finding the vaccine for polio, and folic acid education. We can’t do this alone, we need the support of the American public, health professionals, the corporate community, and federal and state government officials.

“We need to educate women about preterm labor, work with medical personnel to support risk detection, invest more federal and private research dollars and expand access to health care in order to find out why this is happening to our mothers and babies. For thousands of families every year, the answers can’t come soon enough.”

Partnering with the March of Dimes in this effort are the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).

Also joining the campaign are corporate sponsors CIGNA, FedEx and the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute. Media sponsors include Meredith Publishing’s American Baby Group and Working Mother Media.

In addition, more than 25 professional, consumer and government organizations across the U.S. will assist in communicating the March of Dimes educational messages.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com, its Spanish language Web site at www.nacersano.org, or call 1-888-MODIMES. (1-30-03)

¹ Derived from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2000, a component of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. The diagnosis code includes short gestation and low birthweight

² Chollet J, Newman JF, Sumner AT. The Corporate Cost of Poor Birth Outcomes. Center for Risk Management and Insurance Research, Georgia State University, 1992.

Scientists Link ART to Genetic Disorder

A study published in the Journal of Medical Genetics Evidence has found that assisted reproduction techniques (ART) may carry a risk of genetic ‘imprinting disorders’ in the resulting babies.

To determine the risk of genetic disruption, researchers from the University of Birmingham and the West Midlands Genetics Service examined the birth histories of 149 babies with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome causes overgrowth, abdominal wall defects, low blood sugar, kidney abnormalities and an increased risk of tumors.

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome results from errors in genes which undergo genomic imprinting, a process whereby certain genes act differently according to whether they are inherited from the mother or the father. Ones from the father tend to encourage the baby to grow bigger, while those from the mother tend to keep growth in check. Most genes are not subject to imprinting, but the ones that are tend to be involved in fetal development.

Researchers found that children with the syndrome were four times more likely than the general population to have been conceived by assisted reproduction techniques, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic injection (ICI).

The authors note that another type of imprinting disorder, Angleman syndrome, has also recently been linked to assisted reproduction techniques and suggest that as the use of these techniques becomes more widespread, it will become increasingly important to monitor subsequent births for genetic problems. (2-04-03)

Study Suggests Link Between IVF and Eye Cancer

A new study in a recent issue of The Lancet suggests that children conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be more likely to develop retinoblastoma, a malignant tumor of the retina.

Dutch investigators diagnosed retinoblastoma in five children conceived via IVF within 15 months of each other. Based on this information, they calculated that children conceived by IVF could be between five and seven times more likely to develop childhood retinoblastoma.

The retinoblastomas were treated successfully in all five children who have since remained free of the disease.

Retinoblastoma is rare, occurring in around one in 17,000 births in the Netherlands and other Western countries.

Authors of an accompanying commentary stress that it is too early to conclude that there is a true association until larger studies can confirm the findings. (1-28-03)

Scientists Discover What Makes Human Embryo Attach to Uterus

Researchers say that they have identified the first molecular step that allows a week-old human embryo to attach to the uterus, a finding that is expected to provide a new tool to diagnose and treat infertility and early pregnancy loss.

The researchers found convincing evidence that a molecular sticking process stops the embryo’s journey along the uterine wall and starts attaching it to the wall – the first stage of implantation. Failure of the embryo to implant causes about three-fourths of lost pregnancies.

The team found that about six days after fertilization, molecules on the embryo’s surface interact with molecules on the mother’s uterine wall to create the sticky environment – the same combination of molecules known to stop the movement of disease-fighting leukocytes migrating through blood vessels and allow them to attach to the blood vessel walls in areas of inflammation.

“It’s like a tennis ball rolling across a surface covered in syrup,” says Susan Fisher, Ph.D., University of California-San Francisco professor of stomatology, anatomy and pharmaceutical chemistry and senior author of the report, which appears in SCIENCE. “The embryo’s journey along the uterine wall is arrested by the sticky interaction.”

Human embryo implantation is poorly understood, and the causes of many implantation-related disorders are not known. Discovering the molecular basis of the first step in implantation may prove useful to treat infertility and provide insights into common pregnancy problems, Fisher says.

The research may also contribute to understanding pre-eclampsia, the most common cause of maternal death in the industrialized world, she says. In this condition, which occurs in nearly one in 10 first pregnancies, the placenta does not attach adequately to the uterine wall, starving the fetus of oxygen and threatening the mother’s life. (1-21-03)

Breast Cancer Prevention Drug May Also Help Breast Cancer Survivors Conceive

You've probably heard of Tamoxifen because of its ability to reduce the risk of breast cancer in some women, but scientists say they have a potential new use for the drug – helping breast cancer patients have babies through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

In a study appearing in the journal Human Reproduction, researchers found that using Tamoxifen to stimulate the ovaries boosted the number of eggs they could retrieve from 12 breast cancer survivors. Every patient had one or more embryos either for freezing for later attempts at pregnancy or for immediate transfer.

One patient went on to deliver twins. Another patient conceived on her second attempt, but then later miscarried.

Chemotherapy causes ovarian failure in many patients – nearly as many as four out of five women. Even those who remain fertile or don't have chemotherapy face the problem of needing a recurrence-free period of perhaps two to five years before trying to conceive, bringing them up against the barrier of infertility due to aging and diminishing ovarian reserves.

"These women can try natural cycle IVF without ovarian stimulation, but typically, no more than a single embryo can be achieved for immediate use or freezing. So, we need to find a safe way of increasing the number of embryos to give these women a better chance of having a baby," says Kutluk Oktay, assistant professor of reproductive medicine and obstetrics and gynecology at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Tamoxifen was developed in the UK in 1966 as a contraceptive, but found to stimulate ovarian follicle growth and became used in Europe as an ovarian stimulant. (A related compound, Clomiphene, is usually used in the USA). It wasn't until 1976 that Tamoxifen's suppressive, anti-estrogenic effect on breast cancer was discovered. Since then it has become the world's most successful anti-cancer drug, saving the lives of thousands of breast cancer patients every year worldwide.

"It would be especially fitting if a drug that has saved so many women's lives should also turn out to be a means of preserving their fertility," says Oktay. (1-21-03)

Report Offers Latest Numbers on Assisted Reproductive Technology

According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 35,000 babies were born as a result of assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures in 2000, with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) the most common infertility treatment.

The CDC's sixth annual ART report summarizes national trends and provides information on success rates from more than 380 fertility clinics around the country.

Overall, about one in four ART cycles resulted in the birth of a baby for women who used their own (fresh) eggs. This is a slight increase in the success rate from the previous year.

The report also found that the age of the woman is one of the most important factors in determining whether she will have a live birth by using her own eggs. Overall, a third of the ART procedures started in 2000 among women younger than 35 resulted in live births. This percentage decreased to 27 percent among women aged 35 to 37, 18 percent among women aged 38 to 40, 10 percent among women 41 to 42 and 4 percent among women older than 42.

Thirty-five percent of all ART deliveries were multiple births, compared with less than 3 percent for the general population. This is because multiple embryos are often transferred to increase the likelihood of a live pregnancy. Multiple births are associated with greater risk, both to the babies – including prematurity, low birthweight, neonatal death and lifelong disability – and to the mothers, including Cesarean section and hemorrhage.

The full report is available on the Web at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/drh/art.htm. (1-14-03)

Chemical in Most Fragrances May Be Harmful to Sperm

A new study suggests that phthalates – chemicals commonly used in fragrances and other grooming products – are damaging to the sperm in adult men at current levels of exposure.

The study, posted recently on the Environmental Health Perspectives Web site and conducted by Harvard researchers, examined more than 160 men and measured phthalate levels in their urine.

Researchers found that phthalates were associated with DNA damage in sperm.

"The correlation found in this study is extremely troubling and deserves urgent follow up," says Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network. "The last thing you want is DNA damage to sperm, which can lead to infertility and may also be linked to miscarriages, and birth defects, infertility and cancer in offspring."

The new study comes amid controversy over recent regulatory actions on phthalates and product tests that found the chemicals in most top-selling beauty products tested. (12-24-02)

New Research Alters Conventional Wisdom on Timing of Intercourse to Conceive

OK, so you've studied your cycles, you're charting your temperatures and you're monitoring your cervical mucous to determine exactly the right moment to time intercourse. But a new study may change your thinking as to when is the best time to have sex to get pregnant.

Researchers from The University of Utah studied data on the timing of intercourse relative to the estimated day a woman ovulates. They found that a woman is most likely to become pregnant one to two days prior to ovulation rather than on the actual day of ovulation, as popularly believed.

In addition to identifying when a woman is most fertile, the researchers also analyzed the latest methods used to predict imminent ovulation. They concluded that either a commercial fertility monitor or techniques that chart fertility based on changes in vaginal discharge were most effective in determining the optimal window of fertility. Traditional methods such as monitoring basal body temperature and using menstrual calendar calculations are not clinically based nor as reliable in determining the period of time before ovulation, say researchers.

The study appears in the December issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology. (12-24-02)

Rubella Vaccination Safe for Women Up to One Month Before Pregnancy, According to New Guidelines

OB/GYNs are now being advised that it is safe for women to receive their rubella vaccination up to one month before becoming pregnant instead of the previous three-month wait period, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Rubella, also known as German measles, is an infectious viral disease that if acquired during pregnancy can cause blindness, heart defects, deafness and other birth defects in the newborn. The risk to the fetus depends on the stage of pregnancy at the time the woman is infected. If infection occurs during the first month of pregnancy, the fetus has a 50 percent chance of being affected. The risk drops to 10 percent by the third month.

Rubella immunization is typically given along with the mumps and measles vaccines. Ideally, women who are not immunized or haven't already had rubella should be vaccinated before they become pregnant or immediately postpartum before they leave the hospital.

If the vaccine is inadvertently given early in pregnancy, the risk to the fetus is very low and is not reason enough to terminate the pregnancy, says ACOG. According to the new opinion, rubella vaccination is also believed to be safe for women who are breastfeeding.

Although the overall incidence of rubella infection has decreased in the United States over the past decade, there have been cluster outbreaks of the disease, especially among people born outside of the United States. Most Americans born after 1969 have been vaccinated against rubella and approximately 75 to 80 percent retain immunity to the disease. But because of the high risk of birth defects, pregnant women are routinely screened for antibodies to the virus. (12-17-02)

Unchecked Diabetes During Early Pregnancy Can Cause Severe Complications, Infant Death

Poorly-controlled diabetes during early pregnancy can harm your unborn baby, according to new research in a recent issue of the British Medical Journal.

Researchers studied more than 150 pregnancy women with type 1 diabetes during their first pregnancy and found that women with poorly-controlled blood glucose levels were four times as likely to suffer spontaneous abortion, major congenital malformation (potentially life threatening or associated with serious long term disability), stillbirth or infant death.

“Our findings suggest that good glycaemic control around the time of conception is necessary to optimize outcome of pregnancy in diabetic women," say the researchers. "Diabetic women and their carers need to be advised of the risks and encouraged to optimize glycaemic control before and during pregnancy.” (12-10-02)

New Technique May Treat Infertility Due to Blocked Cervix

A new, less-invasive technique has successfully treated a woman for infertility due to a blocked cervix.

The technique, intraperitoneal insemination, injects sperm through the vagina directly into the pelvic cavity where eggs are released. The researchers who successfully used the technique say it is less invasive and cheaper than alternative infertility treatments, which involve the harvesting of a woman's eggs

In couples with healthy semen, standard fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination are usually the most appropriate. However, these treatments cannot be used if a narrow or obstructed cervix blocks the path to the uterus. Such women are usually offered either corrective surgery to remove the blockage or invasive fertility treatments. The researchers suggest that women who have no blockages in their fallopian tubes could receive intraperitoneal insemination.

The case study was published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. (12-10-02)

Massage-type Therapy Showing Success in Treating Infertility

Could a form of massage help reverse your infertility? The developer of a new method called the Wurn Technique® says it can.

Preliminary studies of women who were treated with the technique found that 50 percent became pregnant. The therapy, which uses no drugs or surgery, appears to decrease the adhesions, scar tissue and spasms which cause almost half of all female infertility, according to developer Belinda Wurn.

Wurn says successful patients were diagnosed infertile due to adhesions, endometriosis, miscarriage, blocked fallopian tubes and unknown causes. "One patient came to us with four years of infertility, failed surgery to open her tubes and failed in vitro fertilization. She became pregnant after a one-week session of the therapy," she says. "Another had an FSH level of 28, considered much too high to initiate a natural pregnancy. She was thought to be an impossible case, but she is now pregnant after a week of therapy alone."

The technique is a soft tissue physical and massage therapy that involves applying a gentle, specific stretch for a sustained period of time to tightened areas of the body’s soft tissues until the tension releases.

For more information, log on to www.clearpassage.com. (12-03-02)

New Book Offers Humorous Take on Infertility

Here's a sentiment most women trying to achieve pregnancy will share – infertility sucks!

That's also the title of a humorous new book by Beverly Barna, who struggled in vain for five years to achieve a viable pregnancy.

Barna wrote Infertility Sucks! Keeping It All Together When Sperm and Egg Stubbornly Remain Apart to offer infertile women something they desperately need – a good laugh and to help women cope with the disappointment and frustration of infertility.

"I started writing to make myself feel better and wound up with a book," says Barna, who calls herself an infertility survivor. "Can you imagine telling someone who has cancer to 'just relax?' Yet that's the kind of 'advice' infertile women get constantly."

Barna, who adopted her daughter in China last year, added that the isolation infertile women experience may be exacerbated because their compatriots so often move on to new phases of their lives, either overcoming infertility or deciding to go forward in other directions.

Infertility Sucks! is available at www.infertilitysucks-thebook.com. (12-03-02)

Scientists Link IVF With Rare Syndrome

Scientists from Johns Hopkins and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a link between in vitro fertilization (IVF) and a rare syndrome which causes birth defects.

After studying data about patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), which is characterized by excessive tissue growth, researchers found that IVF-initiated conception was six times more common than in the general population.

However, say the researchers, children born with BWS would likely represent only a tiny fraction of babies conceived via IVF if the findings are confirmed. The results should stimulate further investigation, not change parents' decisions, they say.

BWS occurs in about 1 in 15,000 births overall. Currently, IVF is not thought to result in birth defects at a higher rate than natural conception, according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.

The findings will appear in the January issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics. (11-26-02)

Success of Assisted Reproductive Technology Greatly Improved Since 80s

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has made great strides in the past 20 years, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine studied registry reports from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) from 1985 through 1999.

Success rates, measured in terms of deliveries, have steadily increased over that time. Delivery rates for in vitro fertilization (IVF), for instance, have tripled, from around 10 percent to 30 percent. Donor egg delivery rates have doubled from their first reporting, increasing from about 20 percent to more than 40 percent. Embryo cryopreservation rates have improved as well with deliveries resulting from frozen embryo transfers doubling from slightly over 10 percent to more than 20 percent.

"Twenty years ago, if patients’ infertility couldn’t be helped by tubal surgery, superovulation or artificial insemination, they were out of options," says Dr. Robert Brzyski, president of SART. "Many of the causes of infertility we now help patients overcome had not even been recognized at that time.

"But two decades of basic and clinical research progressing in tandem have given us a greater understanding of the earliest stages of human development and the ability to help far more people."

The study appears in the November issue of Fertility and Sterility. (11-26-02)

Donor Eggs Not as Successful in Achieving Pregnancy in Older Women

Does an older woman have as good a chance of having a baby using donor eggs as a younger one?

A new study says that the answer is yes, up until a woman reaches her late 40s.

In a study appearing in the November issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility, researchers analyzed more than 17,000 assisted reproductive technology cycles utilizing fresh donor eggs and frozen embryos resulting from donor eggs in women ages 25 to 54.

They saw no differences in the infant delivery rate for recipients up to the age of 45. However, for women in their late 40s, reduced rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and delivery were observed. These effects became even more notable for women in their 50s.

“Donor eggs have proven to be a very effective therapy for infertility, enabling many patients who otherwise would not be able to achieve a pregnancy to have a child," says Dr. Sandra Carson, president of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. "For our older patient population, we need to work now on identifying the factors that are negatively affecting their chances of becoming pregnant.” (11-19-02)

Technique Helps Women With Recurrent Miscarriages Conceive

A new study of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a technique which involves screening potential embryos for abnormalities before using them in in-vitro fertilization (IVF), finds that it is helpful for women who experience recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

Dr. Lawrence Werlin, medical director of Coastal Fertility Medical Center in California, and several physicians studied the effect of PGD on more than 50 women who had either experienced RPL, were of advanced maternal age or who had experienced more than two failed IVF cycles.

They found that it was most effective with the RPL group, nearly two-thirds of whom became pregnant, compared with just more than a third in the RPL group who did not have PGD.

The results were less dramatic for the women of advanced maternal age. More than 40 percent of the women who had PGD achieved pregnancy in that group compared with a quarter of the women who did not receive PGD.

The failed cycle group fared the worst with two from the PGD group and none of the control group becoming pregnant. (11-12-02)

Race Not a Factor in IVF Success

Several studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine suggest that the success of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is not related to race.

One study compared more than 100 black and white women and found no difference in the success rate of live births. Another compared more than 1000 black, white, Asian and Hispanic women and again found no significant difference in the success rate.

Researchers did find that black patients were more likely to be obese and had a higher prevalence of uterine fibroids, putting them at greater risk of complications of pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and preterm birth. (11-05-02)

Expanding the Connection Between Endometriosis and Infertility

Does endometriosis actually cause infertility?

While there is a known link between the two, researchers have not been able to answer that question. In a letter published recently in The Lancet, researchers provide preliminary evidence that it may.

In a small study, the researchers found that the peritoneal fluid (the fluid which surrounds the fallopian tubes) of women with endometriosis reduced by about a quarter the beat frequency of the tiny hairs in the fallopian tubes which help the movement of the egg toward sperm.

Researchers still need to determine if such a decrease affects fertility. (10-29-02)

Folic Acid May Reduce Risk of Miscarriage

More promising information about the benefits of folic acid. A new study in Sweden has found that women who have low blood levels of the vitamin folate are more likely to have early miscarriages than are pregnant women who have adequate folate levels.

The study, appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, compared the folate levels of more than 450 women who had an early miscarriage (between 6 and 12 weeks gestation) to more than 900 women who were 6 to 12 weeks pregnant.

The researchers also found that women with high folate levels are no more likely to have early miscarriages than are women with moderate, but adequate, folate levels. (10-29-02)

Children Conceived With Medical Assistance Develop Normally

New studies show that children conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) develop just as normally as those conceived without medical assistance.

One study compared 3-year-olds, some conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) and some via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and found that only 13 percent of the ICSI children and 11 percent of the IVF children would be considered “at-risk.” The researchers concluded that the children are developing “without significant delays in the cognitive abilities, socio-emotional development and motor skills.”

Another study compared 5-year-old children born through IVF and ICSI to those conceived without medical assistance and found no difference in behavior or development among the children.

Researchers presented the studies at a recent meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, founded in 1944, is an organization of more than 9,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology. (10-29-02)

Assisted Reproductive Technology Helping More People Than Ever

More than 170,000 babies have been born since 1985 after being conceived using Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), according to new information presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in October.

The new report also found that the number of clinics performing ART has increased from 30 in 1985 to 370 in 1999, and the success rate of ART procedures has also doubled in that time period.

The ASRM, founded in 1944, is an organization of more than 9,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology. (10-22-02)

Prior Use of the Pill May Increase Chances of Getting Pregnant

Good news for pill takers trying to conceive! A new study shows that women who take the oral contraceptive pill for a lengthy period could find it easier to get pregnant once they stop than those who never used the pill.

There has been concern over the last 20 years that taking the pill may reduce fertility. Other studies have reported temporary delays for women who have tried to get pregnant after taking oral contraceptives when compared to those using other methods of contraception.

The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, investigated more than 8000 planned pregnancies amongst women in the UK.

Researchers found that three-quarters of women who had taken the pill for more than five years conceived within six months, compared with 70 percent who had never used it. Of those who conceived within 12 months of stopping the pill, nearly 90 percent had taken it for more than five years compared to 85 percent who had never used it. (10-15-02)

New Rule to Expand Health Care Coverage for Babies, Mothers

Low-income mothers may now have more access to state- and federal-funded health insurance for prenatal care and childbirth.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson recently issued a new regulation allowing states to use the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide health coverage for prenatal care and delivery to mothers and their unborn children.

"Prenatal care is one of the most important investments that we can make to ensure the long-term good health of our children and their mothers," says Secretary Thompson. "This is a common-sense, compassionate measure to make sure that all children born in this country come into the world as healthy as possible. It's another way to secure a safety net of care for our children and their mothers."

The change means that states can expand SCHIP eligibility to cover unborn children without requesting and obtaining a waiver from HHS, allowing a faster path to providing such coverage.

In addition, the new regulation also gives all low-income immigrants access to important prenatal care for their babies. (10-08-02)

New Treatment for Fibroids Eliminates Hospital Stay

Researchers say they have found a new way to treat women with uterine fibroids without using general anesthetic or requiring a hospital stay.

In the journal Human Reproduction, researchers in England say a new treatment which uses a laser guided by magnetic resonance imaging has so far been successful in treating the fibroids. The technique uses local anesthesia and allows women to be treated as outpatients.

Around a quarter of women have fibroids – benign fibrous tumours – in their wombs. Many have no symptoms but others suffer heavy or prolonged periods and pain and sometimes face reproductive problems including infertility or miscarriage. In the United States, around 400,000 hysterectomies are performed annually for fibroids.

The new treatment has particular potential for women wishing to preserve their fertility, say researchers. “At present we mostly treated women who have completed their families but wished to avoid hysterectomy, but we’re confident that this is a treatment that we will also be able to offer women who wish to preserve their fertility,” says Dr. Wady Gedroyc, one of the study authors. (10-08-02)

Get the Facts on the Flu Vaccine

It's that time of year again – flu season! And this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging parents to vaccinate their 6- to 23-month-old children because they are at substantially increased risk for flu-related hospitalizations.

The CDC is also encouraging household contacts and outside-the-home caretakers of children 0 to 23 months old to be vaccinated when feasible, as well as pregnant women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season, as they are also at an increased risk for flu complications.

If you're breastfeeding, don't worry. The flu vaccine does not affect the safety of breastfeeding mothers or their infants, nor does it adversely affect the immune response, says the CDC.

When should you get your shot? For children less than 9 years old who are getting their first flu shot, they should be immunized in October, as they need a booster dose one month after the initial dose. Persons at high risk, such as pregnant women, should also aim to get their vaccination in October or earlier if possible. Other healthy persons should be vaccinated in November.

Flu vaccines have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use among children younger than 6 months.

The influenza vaccine is the most effective way to protect against influenza disease and its many complications, according to the CDC. For more information, log on to the CDC's Flu Season Web page. (10-01-02)

Learn About Lupus

October is Lupus Awareness Month, and the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) is urging women and physicians to learn more about this puzzling disease, which mostly affects women.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system turns against the body and harms healthy cells and tissues. Lupus, which is also considered a rheumatic (arthritic) disease, can affect many parts of the body including the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart or brain. Some of the most common symptoms include extreme fatigue, painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever, skin rashes and kidney problems.

According to the ALR, the incidence of lupus has tripled over the past four decades, and more people than ever are dying from lupus.

“Although lupus can be fatal, symptoms can be controlled, and most lupus patients lead active lives," says Dr. John H. Klippel, ALR’s scientific director. "But preventing complications requires early detection and diagnosis.”

For the latest information on lupus, call (800) 867-1743 or visit www.lupusresearch.org. (10-01-02)

Endometriosis Sufferers Likely to Have Other Conditions

Women who have endometriosis don't just have to deal with the symptoms of the disease, reports a new study, they are also much more likely to suffer from a number of additional distressing or disabling conditions including autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Researchers of the study, which appears in the European journal Human Reproduction, conducted a survey of more than 3,500 members of the Endometriosis Association, all of whom had endometriosis.

Some of the findings include:

• Twenty percent had more than one other disease.
• Up to 31 percent of those with co-existing diseases had also been diagnosed with either fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, and some of these additionally had other autoimmune or endocrine diseases.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome was more than 100 times more common than in the female U.S. population generally.
• Hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid gland) was seven times more common.
• Fibromyalgia was twice as common.
• The autoimmune inflammatory diseases – systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's Syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis – and also multiple sclerosis, occurred more frequently.
• Two-thirds reported that relatives also had either diagnosed or suspected endometriosis, confirming research that suggested there was a familial tendency.
• Rates of allergic and atopic conditions such as asthma and eczema were higher.

Endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows in other parts of the abdominal cavity, attaching itself to organs and frequently causing pain, inflammation, bleeding and reproductive problems. It affects an estimated 8 to 10 percent of women of reproductive age.(10-01-02)

Insulin Resistance Linked to Recurrent Miscarriage

University of Tennessee researchers say they have found a link between repeated miscarriages and insulin resistance.

Researchers decided to look into the possible connection since it is known that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – which causes symptoms including anovulation, androgen excess and insulin resistance – have an increased frequency of miscarriage.