Restructuring healthcare services, routines and procedures on reproductive medicine based on respect for differences.

Although the term homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases and trans identities from mental disorders, these classifications promote the pathologizing of homosexuality. The direct consequence is discrimination, which adds to the difficulty in carrying out accurate information related to the LGBT population and makes it very difficult to organize public policies suited to their needs. An important issue is related to the limited access of that population to assisted reproduction techniques, when compared to traditional families.

Post-thaw dilution of Rhamdia quelen sperm improves the reproductive success.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of a post-thaw dilution of Rhamdia quelen sperm in 1.1% NaCl (325 mOsm kg; pH 7.6; 24 °C) solution on the quality and reproductive capacity.

Effect of feeder free poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds on morphology, proliferation, and pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells.

The aim of the study has been to evaluate the morphology, proliferation, and pluripotency maintenance of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) cultivated on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds. The scaffolds were hydrolyzed with NaOH (treated) and nonhydrolyzed (untreated). Morphological and mechanical characterization of the scaffolds was performed.

Spermatogonial stem cells as a therapeutic alternative for fertility preservation of prepubertal boys.

Spermatogonial stem cells, which exist in the testicles since birth, are progenitors cells of male gametes. These cells are critical for the process of spermatogenesis, and not able to produce mature sperm cells before puberty due to their dependency of hormonal stimuli. This characteristic of the reproductive system limits the preservation of fertility only to males who are able to produce an ejaculate.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of semen processing techniques to remove bovine viral diarrhea virus from experimentally contaminated semen samples.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of three semen processing techniques, Percoll gradient centrifugation, Swim-up and a combination of Swim-up and Percoll gradient centrifugation, to reduce the viral load of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in experimentally infected semen samples. The evaluation was performed using two approaches: first, searching for the presence of virus in the processed samples (via virus titration and RT-PCR) and second, ascertaining the possible interference on in vitro embryo production. The sperm count and DNA integrity (Comet assay) of the processed samples were analyzed (Experiment 1).

Evaluation of semen parameters in semen donors in a ten-year period in the city of São Paulo.

Objective: To evaluate sperm concentration, morphology and motility of Brazilian semen donors from 1992 to 2003, in the city of São Paulo.

Methods: Retrospective study analyzing 182 donor semen samples from 1992 to 2003. The first and the second donated sample were analyzed for each donor.

Testicular histopathological diagnosis as a predictive factor for retrieving spermatozoa for ICSI in non-obstructive azoospermic patients.

Objective: Histological testicular pattern has a predictive role in the possibility of finding spermatozoa for ICSI in cases of non-obstructive azoospermia because some individuals could show residual spermatogenic sites in the testis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sperm retrieval rate in each of the histopathological groups (hypospermatogenesis--Hypo, spermatogenic maturation arrest--MA, Sertoli cell only--SCO and testicular hyalinization) in patients assisted in our clinic.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study from March 1997 to October 2002.

Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) in men with obstructive azoospermia.

Objectives: Assessing the efficiency of repeated percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) in men with obstructive azoospermia, and also the possibility of cryopreservation of remaining material for future use in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Method: Retrospective study, in which 79 procedures of PESA were assessed in 58 patients (mean age = 45 years), whose partners had mean age of 34 years. Vasectomy was the most frequent cause of obstructive azoospermia (n = 46).

Finasteride-associated male infertility.

Finasteride is a potent and specific inhibitor of the 5alpha-reductase enzyme in men. Clinical studies have shown that finasteride 1mg/day is effective for promoting hair growth in men with male pattern hair loss. However, there is a concern about the use of finasteride, especially in young fertile patients, because of its action on testosterone metabolism.

Sperm tail flexibility test: a simple test for selecting viable spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection from semen samples without motile spermatozoa.

Purpose: The objective was to describe the results of the injection of immotile spermatozoa with flexible tails when only immotile spermatozoa are present in the semen sample.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the procedure results for 10 couples who participated in our intracytoplasmic sperm injection program. The sperm tail was considered flexible when it moved up and down independently of the head movement, and it was considered inflexible when the movement occurred together (tail plus head).