The Influence of Follicular Fluid Metals on Assisted Reproduction Outcome.

Infertility has become more common, with an increased exposure to toxic compounds including heavy metals (HM). Follicular fluid (FF) surrounds the developing oocyte in the ovary and can be analysed to assess metal content. The levels of twenty-two metals were measured in the FF of ninety-three females in a reproduction unit, and their influence on assisted reproduction technique (ART), were examined.

Influence of Seminal Metals on Assisted Reproduction Outcome.

Increased levels of metal ions in human seminal fluid have a significant correlation with male fertility. Few publications explain the effect of metals in semen and their influence on assisted reproductive treatments. Semen parameters and the levels of twenty-two metals were measured in the seminal fluid of 102 men attended in a Reproductive Unit.

Associations of Semen Quality with Seminal Non-essential Heavy Metals in Males from the Canary Islands.

Semen quality and levels of non-essential metals such as strontium (Sr), aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and vanadium (V) were measured. Metals were determined by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry) in semen samples from 102 men who were recruited in a Reproduction Unit in the Canary Islands. The presence of each metal was as follows: Sr: 56.

Human zygote morphological indicators of higher rate of arrest at the first cleavage stage.

A little studied aspect of developmental arrest (DA) in ART is zygote arrest (ZA). Etiologically, blockage at the first cleavage stage includes molecular and chromosomal anomalies, some of which manifest morphologically. Given considerations on embryo culture, transfer and cryopreservation, optimal zygote selection is very important.

Pregnancy with frozen-thawed and fresh testicular biopsy after motile and immotile sperm microinjection, using the mechanical touch technique to assess viability.

Background: There are few reports of pregnancy using immotile sperm, and none using a purely mechanical assessment of viability.

Methods: In this pilot study, we retrospectively analysed 66 cycles in 61 patients with determinant male factor, recording rates of fertilization, implantation, normal pregnancy and take-home babies achieved with ICSI. Sperm selection was based on morphologically normal appearance under the inverted microscope.