London (IANS): A novel method, developed by scientists for testing the health of a sperm before it is used in IVF, boosts chances of conception.
University of Edinburgh researchers have created a way of tagging individual sperm quality, so that only healthy ones are used in fertilising an egg as part of IVF treatment.
IVF or in-vitro fertilisation is the basic assisted reproduction technique, in which the man's sperm and the woman's egg are combined in a lab and after fertilisation, the resulting embryo is then transferred to the woman's uterus.
The sperm are captured in two highly focussed beams of laser light. Trapped in 'optical tweezers', an individual sperm's DNA properties are identified by the pattern of the vibrations they emit in a process known as Raman spectroscopy.
This process is being used for the first time to evaluate DNA damage in sperm.
Existing methods to test sperm DNA quality cut off cells in half and tag them with fluorescent dye, which ends up rendering the sperm useless. This new process leaves them unharmed. So if it is found to have good DNA quality, it can still be used in IVF treatment.
Elfick, the project head, said: "In natural conception, the fittest and healthiest sperm are positively selected by the arduous journey they make to the egg.
What our technology does is to replace natural selection with a DNA based 'quality score'. But this is not about designer babies. We can only tell if the sperm is strong and healthy not if it will produce a baby with blue eyes," he said.
The research is currently in a pre-clinical phase, and if successful could be available to patients in the next five to 10 years, said a release of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which had funded the project.
SOURCE: hindu.com
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
IVF twins joys for couple who spent £32,000
AFTER nine years spending £32,000 on fertility treatment, Jayne Day and Stephen Jenkinson never thought they'd have their own baby.
But a final chance at IVF with savings originally earmarked for a house extension, led them to not one little bundle of joy, but two.
On Saturday, the proud parents of 15-week-old twins Harry and Archie were among dozens of other couples celebrating successful treatment at Newcastle's private hospital St Jude's.
The couple went for treatment at the hospital's other base, in Wolverhampton, after six failed IVF attempts at another hospital.
When the clinic opened in Newcastle 15 months ago, they moved their treatment there.
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Jayne, who has four children from a previous relationship, said it felt amazing to fall pregnant again.
The 35-year-old, from Stockfield Road, Meir, said: "I started treatment in January this year after trying for a baby for nine years.
"I'd got birth children, but Stephen hadn't so that didn't stop us wanting one together.
"I'd had a miscarriage and two ectopic pregnancies that meant I lost my fallopian tubes.
"I fell pregnant in February and couldn't believe it when I found out I was having twins."
Stephen, aged 42, said: "After everything we have been through, having twins is amazing."
Joining the couple, who are also foster parents, at the party was Jo Hope with her husband Rob, and their 22-month-old daughter.
Little Ellie was born after the couple spent three years trying for a baby and started treatment in April 2006.
Jo, aged 29, from Tarragon Drive, Meir Park, said: "We had given up hope before we came here.
"It was a stressful and upsetting time because everyone around us was having children and we weren't.
"When we came here all our prayers were answered.
"Now it is lovely to come back and see all the other couples and their babies."
Rob, also aged 29, added: "I don't cry very often, but I was over the moon when I found out the treatment had worked."
More than 120 babies have been delivered this year after successful treatment at the hospital in Sandy Lane.
Its medical director Jude Adghe said the party, also held as a Christmas celebration, aimed to help both new and former patients.
He said: "We thought a party would be a really good way to get all the patients together so that they can share their experiences.
"There are also patients who haven't been lucky enough to have kids yet who may want to ask questions and interact with couples who have been through the system."
Newcastle Mayor John Cooper was also invited to have a look around the hospital and greet guests.
He added: "It has been great to see the children and the hospital
SOURCE:THISISSTAFFORDSHIRE.CO.UK
But a final chance at IVF with savings originally earmarked for a house extension, led them to not one little bundle of joy, but two.
On Saturday, the proud parents of 15-week-old twins Harry and Archie were among dozens of other couples celebrating successful treatment at Newcastle's private hospital St Jude's.
The couple went for treatment at the hospital's other base, in Wolverhampton, after six failed IVF attempts at another hospital.
When the clinic opened in Newcastle 15 months ago, they moved their treatment there.
TIN.adverts.addToArray('article-detail-impact-tile', 'AAMSZ=452x118');
Jayne, who has four children from a previous relationship, said it felt amazing to fall pregnant again.
The 35-year-old, from Stockfield Road, Meir, said: "I started treatment in January this year after trying for a baby for nine years.
"I'd got birth children, but Stephen hadn't so that didn't stop us wanting one together.
"I'd had a miscarriage and two ectopic pregnancies that meant I lost my fallopian tubes.
"I fell pregnant in February and couldn't believe it when I found out I was having twins."
Stephen, aged 42, said: "After everything we have been through, having twins is amazing."
Joining the couple, who are also foster parents, at the party was Jo Hope with her husband Rob, and their 22-month-old daughter.
Little Ellie was born after the couple spent three years trying for a baby and started treatment in April 2006.
Jo, aged 29, from Tarragon Drive, Meir Park, said: "We had given up hope before we came here.
"It was a stressful and upsetting time because everyone around us was having children and we weren't.
"When we came here all our prayers were answered.
"Now it is lovely to come back and see all the other couples and their babies."
Rob, also aged 29, added: "I don't cry very often, but I was over the moon when I found out the treatment had worked."
More than 120 babies have been delivered this year after successful treatment at the hospital in Sandy Lane.
Its medical director Jude Adghe said the party, also held as a Christmas celebration, aimed to help both new and former patients.
He said: "We thought a party would be a really good way to get all the patients together so that they can share their experiences.
"There are also patients who haven't been lucky enough to have kids yet who may want to ask questions and interact with couples who have been through the system."
Newcastle Mayor John Cooper was also invited to have a look around the hospital and greet guests.
He added: "It has been great to see the children and the hospital
SOURCE:THISISSTAFFORDSHIRE.CO.UK
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