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(sz) Embryos that are selected out as abnormal can undergo chromosomal modifications, a scientist will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today. (June, 19th – ed.)
Ms Tsvia Frumkin, from the Racine IVF unit, LIS Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Tel Aviv, Israel, will tell the conference that her team’s findings meant that the results of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) for chromosomal abnormalities were not always reliable and should be interpreted with caution.
PGS is offered to women with recurrent IVF failures as well as repeated miscarriages. It is based on the concept that the entire chromosomal constitution of an embryo can be represented by a single cell, which is removed from the embryo. If one biopsied cell is found to be abnormal, there is a 90% chance that the rest of the embryo is also abnormal or mosaic, where two or more cells with different chromosomal constitution exist in a single embryo.
Ms Frumkin analysed 8 cell embryos at day 3 of development using the FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) technique. Two cells from each embryo were analysed, and between 5 and 9 chromosomes were investigated. The abnormal embryos were re-analysed on day 5, using the same method. “By comparing FISH results of day 5 embryos to the abnormal results of the same embryos on day 3, we could elucidate the origin of the chromosomal aberrations and follow different chromosomal modifications as they occurred during preimplantation period. The timing is significant because embryos used in IVF are normally transferred at between 3 and 5 days old”, says Ms Frumkin. more…

From: » News-Medical.Net«

(cz) A small British run alternative health clinic in Southern Spain has achieved a considerable level of success in helping women become pregnant, both when using IVF and without, which fits in with other research into the phenomenon world wide.
A team from Soroka University, Israel, found that in a control group, 28% of women who were hypnotised became pregnant, compared with 14% of those who were not. The study of 185 women was presented to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Berlin. http://www.eliteclinics.com/IVF.html
The Chinese had noticed several thousand years ago that women who had difficulty conceiving often had an underlying emotional issue preventing conception. Modern studies have now confirmed that psychological and emotional blocks can create infertility issues. There may be subconscious fears around pregnancy, labour, childbirth, hospitals, medical treatments, motherhood, loss of independence or individuality, questions about their husband’s ability to be a good father, unresolved dysfunctional patterns from a woman’s own childhood, or even the fear that a new baby might be a threat to the relationship with her spouse.
Hypnotherapy can be a highly effective mind-body technique, often helping individuals identify and process subconscious blocks that may be interfering with conception. In a relaxed, therapeutic environment, the hypnotherapist and the individual work together to bring about positive attitudes and beliefs regarding childbirth and motherhood. more…

From: »PRblog« (press release)

(sz) Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) to discuss matter at symposium this week
Six years ago when Suzette Jackson and her husband, Aaron decided they would try to conceive through in vitro fertilisation, if they could have chosen certain characteristics for their twin babies they would have flatly refused. For them, it was more than enough that Suzette had conceived, let alone given birth to two healthy babies. This was an easy decision for the Aarons.
But for some parents, the decision is not as simple. For example, in 2004, when scientists took the decision to create five healthy babies to provide stem cells for siblings with serious non-heritable conditions, there was a great public outcry. Many condemned the move as being “unlawful” and “unethical”.
The babies were created using a technique called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD, which involved testing the embryos for a tissue type match for the ailing siblings.
Indeed, since the upsurge of advance reproductive technologies, doctors are now closer to creating these customised babies, popularly referred to as “designer babies”, which are essentially free of genetic disorders such as sickle cell and Down Syndrome. What is more, is that the PGD technology gives parents the option of choosing the sex of their baby. more…

From: »The Jamaica Observer«

(wz) Varolab, the leading German company for high-quality IVF-equipment will be joining »MEFS2007«.
The congress and fair of the »Middle East Fertility Society« will held at the Susesi Hotel in Antalya (Turkey) from October, 31st to November, 3rd., 2007.
The »MEFS General Program Committee« invites interested parties to participate in the scientific programme through the submission of abstracts, which it will consider for presentation. Abstracts must be submitted through the electronic online Abstract Submitter (at the website) or via email.
Varolab products feature a high level of technical convenience, uncomplicated user guidance, ideal compatibility and first-class workmanship. Varolab is well known for reliability and safety in installation and commissioning. Beyond this, the name Varolab stands for fast delivery and excellent professional support.
Varolab offers their worldwide customers a wide range of modular-design system solutions for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Thus their claim is »system solutions for reproductive medicine«.

Direct link to »MEFS2007«

(sz) In vitro fertilization is considered one of the greatest inventions of our time, but it also attracts extreme and emotional viewpoints.
Those viewpoints will be addressed later this month at Malaspina University-College (British Colombia – ed.) during a three-day international conference on new reproductive and genetic technologies called Nobody’s Child, Everybody’s Children.
Scientists, professors, health-care workers and students will gather to express opinions on the controversial subject and the direction it is heading.
Since the birth of Louise Brown in 1978, the first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization, there have been an estimated three million people born from a variety of new reproductive and genetic technologies. more…

Direct link to congress: [Klick]

From: »Nanaimo News Bulletin «

(wz) Since the birth of the world’s first successful “test-tube” baby in Great Britain, many advances were achieved in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology. The need for a forum bringing together clinicians, scientists, and embryologists became inevitable and the World Congress on In Vitro Fertilization was created.

For the past 25 years, this Congress has become a major event in the calendar of physicians and scientists in the field of reproductive health. It is our aim to continue with organizing this Congress and we are pleased to announce that the 14th World Congress on IVF will be jointly held with the 3rd World Congress on IVM, in Montreal, Canada, from September 15 to 19, 2007. more…

From the introduction:

We are delighted to invite you to participate in the First World Congress on Natural Cycle IVF to be held at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London on 15th and 16th December 2006.
This new Society, we believe, is much needed, because not only are we entering an era of single embryo transfer, but also we are increasingly aware of the need to put the welfare of the woman right at the top of the agenda when it comes to assisted reproduction.
more…