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Sep 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-2818.jfb-23-4605
S. Aljaied YasserCorresponding author
Background Immunological abnormalities are currently under scrutiny to potentially unravel the etiology of frustrating cases of unexplained female infertility (UFI). Objectives To explore the prevalence of immunological abnormalities in the levels of total immunoglobulins and complements in the cases of UFI. Methods Females with a history of UFI were included in this cross sectional study. They were consulted at the clinical immunology clinic at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH). Their demographics, clinical features, total immunoglobulins and complements tests results were collected and analyzed for any relationship. Results One hundred and twenty-one cases of UFI with an average age of 34 ± 5.6 (range from 23 to 49 years old) were studied. Secondary infertility was predominant in 99 cases (81.8%). An overall prevalence of at least one abnormal level of total immunoglobulins or complements was found in 65 cases (55.1%). The predominant immunological abnormalities were elevated levels of immunoglobulins (hypergammaglobulinemia) in 51 cases (43.2%), high IgG in 26 cases (22%), high IgA in 14 cases (11.9%), and high IgM in 11 cases (9.3%). This was followed by elevated levels of complements (hypercomplementemia) in C4 in nine cases (8.5%). A significant association was found between high C4 group and some parameters of infertility, including primary infertility (p = 0.005), no pregnancy (p = 0.001), no abortion (p = 0.047), in comparison to normal C4 group. Moreover, a statistically significant association was found between high IgA group and abortion in comparison to normal IgA group (p = 0.054). Conclusion At least one abnormal level of total immunoglobulins or complements was detected in more than half of the UFI cases. The commonest abnormalities were hypergammaglobulinemia (IgG, IgM, IgA) and hypercomplementenemia (C4), which showed a potential association with some infertility parameters. These findings may encourage the screening of general immunological tests to explore promising new immunopathology in UFI.
Apr 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2994-6743.ijstd-25-5899
W. Ruddock MarkCorresponding author
Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise globally, with >1 million new cases reported daily in 2020. In England, newly diagnosed STIs increased by 23.8% in 2022 compared to 2021. Many infections remain asymptomatic yet contribute to infertility, pregnancy complications, and neonatal morbidity. While routine screening often focuses on Chlamydia trachomatis, broader detection is limited by laboratory turnaround times and restricted test panels. Methods We analysed 6003 home-collected urine and/or swab samples submitted for sexual health screening in the UK. Samples were tested in the laboratory for 10 bacterial and viral pathogens. A total of 5859 urine and 1627 swab samples were processed, with paired samples assessed for diagnostic agreement. Results The most common infections detected in urine were Ureaplasma urealyticum (12.1%), Mycoplasma hominis (8.6%), and Chlamydia trachomatis (2.4%). Swabs showed similar prevalence, with Ureaplasma urealyticum (11.6%) most frequent, followed by Mycoplasma hominis (10.4%) and HSV-2 (4.4%). Paired urine–swab samples demonstrated strong agreement, though swabs improved HSV detection. Conclusions Ureaplasma urealyticum was the most prevalent STI detected, yet only Chlamydia trachomatis is routinely screened in England. Comprehensive laboratory testing of home-collected samples could reduce the hidden burden of STIs, infertility, pregnancy complications, and neonatal infections, while offering confidential and accessible diagnostics.
Aug 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2471-2140.jaa-21-3910
Izadi MortezaCorresponding author
Ozone CRC BMSU Tehran, Iran.
Oxidative stress is implicated in male infertility and significantly higher reactive oxygen Species (ROS) are detected in 25% of infertile males. We showed that Ozone oxygen therapy (O2/O3) induces protective effects for oxidative stress factors and its consequences on isolated mitochondria obtained sperm which may provide insight into the role of Ozone oxygen in human infertility. The present study was carried out to further characterize and compare protective effect of Ozone oxygen on isolated mitochondria obtained from sperm. Semen was collected from human normal donors. We gained human sperm mitochondria by differential centrifugation and isolated mitochondria incubated with different concentrations (5µg/ml, 30 µg/ml, 80 µg/ml) of O2/O3. O2/O3 prevent significant decrease in reactive oxygen species formation and mitochondrial membrane potential collapse on isolated Human sperm mitochondria. Ozone oxygen therapy induced increase in ATP concentration on isolated mitochondria. Our findings showed that O2/O3 prevent toxicity in sperm, effect on mitochondrial respiratory chain and avoid to cytochrome c release and apoptosis signaling.
Jul 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-2818.jfb-20-3559
Adetona AdesojiCorresponding author
Nigeria
Background Male Infertility accounts for 30-40% of all cases of infertility and its evaluation requires a good history, thorough physical examination, and several investigations to include testicular biopsy which might be used to further categorize infertile males for proper management and prognostication. This study aims to determine the predominant histopathological patterns of testicular biopsies in infertile males and to compare the findings with previous studies. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study of 225 selected cases of testicular biopsies reviewed for the evaluation of male infertility in the Pathology department, of a tertiary hospital, Southwest, Nigeria, between 1987 and 2012. Relevant clinical and histopathological information was extracted from the departmental records. All histologic cases were reviewed, and a classification based on histological patterns of spermatogenesis was utilized to group the cases into normal findings, hypo spermatogenesis, maturation arrest, Sertoli cell-only syndrome, peritubular hyalinization/ tubular fibrosis and mixed patterns. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at a 5% level of significance. Results Among the 225 cases reviewed with a mean age of 37.7 years (SD - 8.61), 82.7% had primary infertility of which 92.9% were azoospermic, while 7.1% had oligospermia. The histological patterns included 34.2% of Hypospermatogenesis, 32% of Peritubular hyalinization/ tubular fibrosis, 14.2% had maturation arrest and Sertoli cell-only syndrome was found in 6.7% of cases, only 0.9% had normal histologic pattern while the mixed histologic pattern was seen in 12% of cases. Conclusion The commonest morphological pattern was Hypospermatogenesis, which is similar to some of the previous local and international studies. A high percentage of peritubular fibrosis was noted with few tubules containing scanty late spermatids or spermatozoa when proper sampling and evaluation were made. Multiple patterns within a biopsy were seen with careful review, especially in non-obstructive azoospermic cases. This is significant in male infertility patient management in our environment because it suggests greater chances of successful sperm extraction for Assisted Reproduction Technique in such patients.
Mar 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-4372.jesr-20-3593
Hernández Víctor Manuel VargasCorresponding author
Female Health Clinic, Mexico
Background Women play an important role in the work setting. This leads them to put off their motherhood, sometimes preventing them from getting pregnant. Delaying pregnancy face women with low ovarian response, such as in Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) or Ovarian Aging (OA). There is no current treatment, although there is evidence of improving ovarian function by inyecting mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Materials and Methods Prospective, observational study of 17 women who attended Pronatal Clinic from 2019 to 2020. Each patient was registered in Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) and was enrolled in ovarian treatment with an autologous adipose tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cell (AD-MSCs) protocol. Three groups were assembled: 1) Control: AMH >1.2 ng/mL, without AD-MSCs, 2) POI/OA: female infertility due to POI/OA with AMH <1.2 ng/mL and 3) Amenorrhea: female infertility due to POI/OA with amenorrhea and AMH <1.2 ng/mL. Variables: Age, weight, height, serum AMH, endometrial thickness, follicular size and number on day 2 and 11 of the menstrual cycle, oocyte number, number of blastocysts and pregnancy rate. Results Between month 2 and 5, after AD-MSCs inyection, POI/OA group showed an increase in follicle number (2 to 9) and size (13.5 to 15.5 mm) on day 11 of the menstrual cycle, which resulted in a higher number of MII oocytes (2.6 to 4.2), and an increase in number of blastocysts (0 to 3) and endometrial thickness (8.6 to 9.4). Regarding the Amenorrhea group, a reboot in menstrual cycle was observed, although no further development of blastocyst was found. Conclusion The AD-MSCs inyection directly in the ovary allowed an increase in number of blastocysts and improved pregnancy rates in POI/OA patients.
Jul 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-6694.jbbs-20-3466
John AkighirCorresponding author
Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi P.M.B. 2373 (970001) Nigeria
Background and Objective The use of medicinal plants in industrialized societies for extraction and development of many drugs and other chemotherapeutics and traditionally for herbal remedies has increased in recent times. Plant–based medicine is essential in health care services with about 80% global population relying on it because of its cheap source and availability. Jatropha tanjorensis is one such plant used by males and females of childbearing age for treatment of reproductive problems such as infertility. Literature on isolation and characterization of the secondary metabolites in this plant may not be common. Against this backdrop, this research work was carried out to isolate, characterize and determine the effects of J. tanjorensis on the gonadal hormones of male wistar rats. Materials and Methods The secondary metabolites were isolated, characterized, and identified using nuclear magnetic resonance. The experiment was conducted using 25 male wistar rats weighing between 180-200 g randomized into 5 groups, 3 controls and 2 treatment groups of 5 rats each. The treatment groups received 25 mg/kg body weight of phytol and lupeol orally by gastric lavage for 14 days. The animals were anaesthetized and blood samples collected for hormonal assay. Result The experimental data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0, while the post hoc test assessed using Duncan Multiple Range Test at p ≥ 0.05. There was a significant decrease (p ˂ 0.05) in the levels of FSH, LH and TST in the treatment groups when compared to the control groups. The motility and sperm count decrease significantly (p ˂ 0.05) when treatment groups were compared to the control animals. The secondary metabolites, phytol and lupeol present in the leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis were responsible for the decrease in some of the gonadal hormones studied.
Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-18-2459
Jana SnehasisCorresponding author
Trivedi Science Research Laboratory Pvt. Ltd.,Bhopal, India
The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of Consciousness Energy Healing based DMEM medium on the level of alkaline phosphatase enzyme (ALP) activity in Ishikawa cells. The test item, DMEM medium was divided into two parts. One part of the test item received Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment by a renowned Biofield Energy Healer, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi and was labeled as the Biofield Energy Treated DMEM, while the other part did not receive any treatment, and defined as the untreated DMEM group. The cell viability using MTT assay of the Biofield Energy Treated DMEM group was observed as 108%, which indicated that the test item was safe and non-toxic. The estrogenic potential using ALP level showed a significantly increase by 73.21% in the Biofield Energy Treated DMEM group as compared to the untreated DMEM group. Overall, the experimental data suggested that the Biofield Energy Treated DMEM has significantly improved ALP level, which play a vital role for the promotion and maintenance of estrogen level. Based on the study outcomes, it is concluded that Biofield Energy Healing Treatment showed a significant improved ALP level, which can be used in various estrogenic disorders such as hypophosphatasia, osteoporosis, severe anemia, malnutrition, hypothyroidism, magnesium deficiency, heart surgery, aplastic anemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, enteritis in children, Wilson’s disease, pernicious anemia, bacterial infection and intrauterine infection is a leading cause of pelvic inflammatory disease, subfertility, infertility, endometritis, early pregnancy loss, fetal defects, and preterm birth.
Sep 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-18-2315
Jana SnehasisCorresponding author
Trivedi Science Research Laboratory Pvt. Ltd.,Bhopal, India
Selenium is an essential micronutrient required for healthy metabolism, as well as prevention, and treatment of selenium deficiency diseases. The experiment aimed to evaluate the influence of the Trivedi Effect®-Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment on the physicochemical and thermal properties of selenium using modern analytical techniques. The selenium sample was divided into two parts, one part of the test sample was called the control sample, while the second part of the test sample received the Biofield Treatment remotely by a renowned Biofield Energy Healer, Gopal Nayak, and was called the treated sample. The particle size values were significantly decreased by 37.69% (d10), 14.36% (d50), 4.31% (d90), and 11.58% D(43), hence, the specific surface area was significantly increased by 33.64% in the treated sample compared to the control sample. The PXRD peak intensities and crystallite sizes were significantly altered ranging from 5.23% to 100% and 75% to 111.7%, respectively; whereas 7.81% significantly decreased the average crystallite size in the treated sample than the control sample. The latent heat of fusion of the treated sample was significantly increased by 12.37% compared with the control sample.The results suggested that the Trivedi Effect® might generate a new polymorphic form of selenium which would offer better solubility, bioavailability and be thermally more stable compared with the control sample. The Biofield Treated selenium would be more useful to design novel nutraceutical/pharmaceutical formulations and might offer an enhanced therapeutic response against cardiovascular disease, cancer, neuromuscular disorders, diabetes, stress, aging, male infertility, viral diseases, degenerative ailments, etc.
Sep 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-2818.jfb-18-2298
E. Meyer AnneCorresponding author
Faculty of the Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214
The currently reported study employed the curiously named (but simple) quantitative, nondestructive technique of Multiple Attenuated Internal Reflection InfraRed (MAIR-IR) spectroscopy to assess daily variations of both saliva and vaginal secretions from a panel of consenting volunteers. The project goal was to determine whether the protein-to-carbohydrate (starch) ratio, determined by MAIR-IR analysis of salivary and vaginal secretions is an objective measure of the co-variation of mucinous secretions with daily menstrual cycle. Overall, the spectral data were found to provide valid signatures of vaginal mucus chemical changes that also correlated with cyclic periods of presumed fertility, such periods exhibiting repeat times of 14-16 days and 27-29 days in the thoroughly analyzed records. At mid-cycle, associated with ovulatory events, the protein-to-carbohydrate ratio of vaginal mucin maximizes. Higher carbohydrate ratios are associated with stiffer cervical mucus plug formation, which usually prevents infection, spontaneous abortion, and pre-term birth, but may also be responsible for infertility. Mucin relaxation compounds, such as the FDA-approved oral rinse, delmopinol, may induce fertility in such cases.
Jul 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-15-806
AbdullGaffar BadrCorresponding author
Pathology section, Rashid hospital.
Background and Objectives: The prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology in morbidly obese women using ThinPrep® liquid-based Pap Test™ and HPV DNA Test™ is unknown. We aimed to investigate whether women with morbid obesity have a higher frequency of abnormal Pap smears compared with nonobese women, and to explore the rate of Pap smear screening in morbidly obese women. Design and Setting: We conducted a retrospective study over five years in two general government hospitals in Dubai. Patients and Methods: We screened ThinPrep slides and HPV DNA of morbidly obese women and nonobese women. The age, ethnicity, demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds of the two groups were matched. We studied hypertension (HTN), diabetes (DM), infertility, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), connective tissue disease (CTD), immunosuppression and oral contraceptive pills (OCP) as potential risk cofactors. Results: Only 90 (29%) out of 310 morbidly obese women had had Pap tests. They showed more prevalence (P<0.05) of ASC-US, high-risk HPV DNA and LSIL 16 positive (18%) (95% CI: 7.0, and of endometrial AGCs {4 positive (4.5%) (95% CI: 0.3-13.5)} than the nonobese women (n=8175), {279 positive (3%) (95% CI: 3.0-3.8} , and {2 positive (0.024%) (CI:0.01-0.09)}. There were no endocervical AGCs, HSIL or squamous cancer in morbidly obese women. DM, HTN, OCPs, CTD and STD were more common in morbidly obese women having abnormal Pap smears. Conclusions: Low-grade squamous abnormalities, high-risk HPV, and endometrial AGCs are more frequent in morbidly obese women than in nonobese women. Women with morbid obesity have a low rate of cervical screening. This, among other factors, could increase the risk of these women to abnormal cervical cytology. This vulnerable group should benefit from more frequent cervical cytology screening. Appropriate clinical and educational measures should be implemented to encourage compliance to Pap smears. Weight reduction might help.