The House is not in session this week, providing lawmakers a timeout after last week’s tumultuous Democratic sit-in. But senators will be in town, and they have a fight of their own coming over a spending package to address the Zika public health threat.
Author: ASRM News and Research
The Strange Story of a Fertility Drug Made With the Pope’s Blessing and Gallons of Nun Urine
Piero Donini, a scientist working in the late 1940s for the Italian pharmaceutical company that would later be known as Serono, was the first to extract and purify FSH and LH, the hormones that stimulate ovulation. The hormones are found in women’s urine, which is why pregnancy tests can be conducted on urine samples. After experimenting with urine from pregnant women, Donini discovered the highest levels of the hormone actually were in post-menopausal women. After menopause, when ovaries stop producing eggs, FHS and LS shoot up as the body tries to stimulate their production.
Bill Covering In Vitro Fertilization for Injured Veterans Clears the House
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed an appropriations bill that includes a provision to pay for assisted reproductive technology for veterans who suffered injuries that prevent them from having a child naturally.
Broker Accused of Stealing from Clients Trying to Have Babies Through Surrogacy
The founder of a San Diego-based business has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he stole more than $2 million from infertile clients who sought his help in finding surrogacy services.
When Parents Use Egg Donors, Telling Kids Early May be Best
When children learn at an early age that their parents used an egg donor, the disclosure process is easier than when the kids don’t hear the facts until they’re older, a recent study suggests.
Why Do We Inherit Mitochondrial DNA Only From Our Mothers?
Our mitochondrial DNA accounts for a small portion of our total DNA. It contains just 37 of the 20,000 to 25,000 protein-coding genes in our body. But it is notably distinct from DNA in the nucleus. Unlike nuclear DNA, which comes from both parents, mitochondrial DNA comes only from the mother. Nobody fully understands why or how fathers’ mitochondrial DNA gets wiped from cells. An international team of scientists recently studied mitochondria in the sperm of a roundworm called C. elegans to find answers.
Fertility Treatment Not Tied to Twin Birth Defects
Twins born after fertility treatments may be susceptible to different — and fewer — birth defects than other twins, new research suggests. The study confirms that twins have a higher risk of birth defects than singletons, but it questions the notion that fertility treatments contribute to those abnormalities.
Bioethics in China: No Wild East
The first and only published papers to describe genome modification in human embryos have come from Chinese laboratories. For some, this is another signal of China’s successful transformation from a closed society focused on farming and the manufacturing of commodities to a world leader in innovation. For others, these studies are the latest in a list of feats reported over the past decade that reflect the country’s lax regulation or cultural indifference to fundamental ethical tensions.
Endometriosis Might Be Determined By Blood Test, Study Shows
Pennsylvania State University researchers have revealed that lipid metabolism, a parameter easily measured with a blood test, is different in mice models of endometriosis. The finding may ultimately lead to a new diagnosing tool for endometriosis patients.
Service Members Need More Access to Reproductive Medicine
Just three weeks ago, on Memorial Day, we honored our service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Soon we will celebrate our National Day of Independence. Americans will take time to enjoy their families on this federal holiday.