Assisted reproductive technologies in Africa: The African Network and Registry for ART, 2020.

Research Question: What were the utilization, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Africa during 2020?

Design: Cross-sectional, cycle-based and retrospective summary data were collected from voluntarily participating ART centres.

Results: During 2020, 37,063 ART procedures were reported by 67 centres in 15 countries. Autologous fresh transfers were predominant at 65.

Current global status of male reproductive health.

Background: The widespread interest in male reproductive health (MRH), fueled by emerging evidence, such as the global decline in sperm counts, has intensified concerns about the status of MRH. Consequently, there is a pressing requirement for a strategic, systematic approach to identifying critical questions, collecting pertinent information, and utilizing these data to develop evidence-based strategies. The methods for addressing these questions and the pathways toward their answers will inevitably vary based on the variations in cultural, geopolitical, and health-related contexts.

A critical systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors for fertility problems in a globalized world.

Globally, fertility awareness efforts include well-established risk factors for fertility problems. Risks disproportionately affecting women in the Global South, however, are neglected. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses of relevant risk factors to examine the association between risk factors and fertility problems.

Pattern and determinants of contraceptive use among the muslim women in Wajir and Lamu counties in Kenya: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Improving access to family planning (FP) is associated with positive health benefits that includes averting nearly a third of all maternal deaths and 10% of childhood deaths. Kenya has made great strides in improving access to family planning services. However, amid this considerable progress, regional variation has been noted which begs the need for a clearer understanding of the the patterns and determinants that drive these inconsistencies.

Assisted reproductive technologies in Africa: The African Network and Registry for ART, 2018 and 2019.

Research Question: What were the utilization, practices and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Africa in 2018 and 2019?

Design: Cycle-based data (CBD) and retrospective summary data were collected cross-sectionally from voluntarily participating ART centres.

Results: During 2018, 43,958 ART procedures were reported by 67 centres in 16 countries, increasing to 45,185 procedures reported by 70 centres in 18 countries in 2019. Autologous fresh procedures predominated at 70%, whereas autologous frozen embryo transfers (FET) increased from 21.

Sunni Islamic perspectives on lab-grown sperm and eggs derived from stem cells - in vitro gametogenesis (IVG).

An exciting development in the field of assisted reproductive technologies is Gametogenesis (IVG) that enables production of functional gametes from stem cells in the laboratory. Currently, development of this technology is still at an early stage and has demonstrated to work only in rodents. Upon critically examining the ethical dimensions of various possible IVG applications in human fertility treatment from a Islamic perspective, together with benefit-harm () assessment; it is concluded that utilization of IVG, once its efficacy and safety are guaranteed, could be permissible by strictly adhering to Islamic ethical principles related to marriage, biological/genetic relatedness, sexual intercourse, and moral status of the embryo/fetus versus that of the gamete.

The impact of religion and culture on medically assisted reproduction in the Middle East and Europe.

Infertility is a medico-socio-cultural problem associated with gender-based suffering. Infertility treatment, including assisted reproductive technology (ART), is a human right. Culture and religion were among the stumbling blocks to early acceptance of ART, particularly in the Middle East and to a lesser extent in Europe.

Muslim men's perceptions and attitudes on family planning: a qualitative study in Wajir and Lamu counties in Kenya.

In patriarchal societies like Kenya, understanding men's perceptions and attitudes on family planning is critical given their decision-making roles that affect uptake of contraception. Yet, most programmes mainly target women as primary users of contraceptive methods since they bear the burden of pregnancy. However, women-focused approaches tend to overlook gender power dynamics within relationships, with men wielding excessive power that determines contraception use or non-use.

The effect of early administration of rectal progesterone in IVF/ICSI twin pregnancies on the preterm birth rate: a randomized trial.

Background: The rate of multiple pregnancies in IVF/ICSI ranges from 20 to 30%. The incidence of preterm birth in multiple pregnancies is as high as 60% and is even higher in pregnancies conceived after IVF & ICSI. The effect of progesterone on prevention of preterm birth in twins is controversial.

"Children are a blessing from God" - a qualitative study exploring the socio-cultural factors influencing contraceptive use in two Muslim communities in Kenya.

Background: Family planning (FP) is one of the high impact public health interventions with huge potential to enhance the health and wellbeing of women and children. Yet, despite the steady progress made towards expanding access to family planning, major disparities across different regions exist in Kenya. This study explored the socio cultural factors influencing FP use among two Muslim communities in Kenya.

Ethical issues in infertility.

Infertility is a global medico-socio-cultural problem with gender-based suffering particularly in developing countries. Conventional methods of treatment for infertility do not usually raise ethical concerns. However, assisted reproductive technology (ART) has initiated considerable ethical debate, disagreement, and controversy.

Does intrauterine injection of low-molecular-weight heparin improve the clinical pregnancy rate in intracytoplasmic sperm injection?

Objective: Heparin can modulate proteins, and influence processes involved in implantation and trophoblastic development. This study aimed to assess the improvement of clinical pregnancy and implantation rates after local intrauterine injection of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Methods: A randomised case/control design was followed in women scheduled for ICSI.

What is it to practise good medical ethics? A Muslim's perspective.

Good medical ethics should aim at ensuring that all human beings enjoy the highest attainable standard of health. With the development of medical technology and health services, it became necessary to expand the four basic principles of medical ethics and link them to human rights. Despite the claim of the universality of those ethical principles, their perception and application in healthcare services are inevitably influenced by the religious background of the societies in which those services are provided.

GnRH agonist plus vaginal progesterone for luteal phase support in ICSI cycles: a randomized study.

In this prospective randomized study, the effect of daily gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in the luteal phase on IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes was assessed. Women (n = 446) were counselled for IVF-ICSI, and randomized on the day of embryo transfer to group 1 (daily 0.1 mg subcutaneous GnRHa until day of beta-HCG) (n = 224) and group 2 (stopped GnRHa on day of HCG injection) (n = 222).

Phase IV, open-label, randomized study of low-dose recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone protocols for ovulation induction.

Background: This Phase IV, open-label, multicentre, randomized study (MEnTOR) compared two low-dose recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) protocols for ovulation induction.

Methods: This study was conducted in six Middle Eastern countries between March 2009 and March 2011. Eligible women (18-37 years), with World Health Organization Group II anovulatory infertility, were randomized to receive r-hFSH (starting daily dose: 75 IU) as a chronic low-dose (CLD) (37.

Impact of antimüllerian hormone assays on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization: a prospective controlled study.

Objective: To assess the value of routine antimüllerian hormone (AMH) assays in patients considered high risk for cancellation.

Design: Prospective controlled study.

Setting: A private IVF center, Cairo, Egypt.

The changing prevalence of infertility.

Infertility is a major, multifaceted issue worldwide whose prevalence is increasing in both high- and low-income countries. The reasons are numerous, and may differ among world regions, but lifestyle and nutritional factors, epidemic infections, and sexually transmitted diseases are major determinants in most latitudes. Three other reasons may explain the increasing incidence of infertility.

Ethical issues in human reproduction: Islamic perspectives.

Sexual and reproductive rights of women are essential components of human rights. They should never be transferred, renounced or denied for any reason based on race, religion, origin, political opinion or economic conditions. Women have the right to the highest attainable standard of health care for all aspects of their reproductive and sexual health (RSH).

Introduction: optimal in vitro fertilization in 2020: the global perspective.

This Views and Reviews series concerning future developments in in vitro fertilization will highlight various aspects of in vitro fertilization from the global perspective.

Number of embryos for transfer following in vitro fertilisation or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection.

Background: Multiple embryo transfer during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) increases multiple pregnancy rates causing maternal and perinatal morbidity. Single embryo transfer is now being seriously considered as a means of minimising the risk of multiple pregnancy. However, this needs to be balanced against the risk of jeopardising the overall live birth rate.