Seminars in reproductive medicine
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Semin. Reprod. Med. · Jan 2015
Unmet need for family planning: past achievements and remaining challenges.
Globally, the percentage of married fecund women with unmet need-who use no contraceptive method despite wishing to avoid childbearing for two years or more-fell from 22% in 1970 to 12% in 2010. Substantial health, economic and environmental, and demographic benefits have resulted from this change. ⋯ However, unmet need remains high in sub-Saharan Africa, at 25%, because of insufficient knowledge of methods, social opposition, and fear of health effects. In addition to obvious factors such as political commitment and adequate funding, success in this region will require improvement in continuation of use and the range of available methods.
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Superovulation (SO)/Intrauterine insemination (IUI) has been used as a treatment approach for endometriosis-associated infertility. The existing medical literature regarding SO in endometriosis patients is composed of heterogeneous studies that differ in terms of study design, SO protocols, the addition of IUI, and comparison groups. ⋯ Therefore, SO/IUI is a reasonable early fertility treatment option for women with endometriosis who desire a short trial of potentially more cost-effective treatment options prior to pursuing an IVF cycle and those for whom IVF is not a feasible or desirable option. It appears that gonadotropins are most effective for SO in this patient population even though more head-to-head comparisons are needed.
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The androgen insensitivity syndromes (AIS) fall within the generic category of 46,XY DSD (disorder of sex development) and present as phenotypes associated with complete or partial resistance to the action of androgens. Three categories are recognized: complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS), mild androgen insensitivity syndrome (MAIS). The androgen receptor (AR) is encoded by an 8 exon gene on the X chromosome long arm. ⋯ The risk of gonadal germ cell tumor is low during childhood and adolescence but increases in later adulthood. Expert psychological counseling is mandatory to manage the disconnect between chromosomal, gonadal and phenotypic sex and to choreograph the evolving process of disclosure from late childhood through to maturity. It is implicit that management in AIS requires a multidisciplinary team and engagement with patient advocacy groups.
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Millions of children have been born worldwide through assisted reproductive technology (ART), and access is increasing yearly. Our current knowledge and understanding of the long-term risks and/or benefits to the children conceived is incomplete. Investigations of the health, disease, cognitive, developmental, and behavioral outcomes are often confounded by other factors, including multiple gestations, prematurity, and low birthweight. ⋯ Evidence in the male infants conceived with the aid of intracytoplasmic sperm injection suggests an increased risk of reproductive tract anomalies such as hypospadias. Outcome data on health of children born after cryopreservation of cleavage stage embryos are reassuring. Measuring long-term outcomes is the first step to improving and optimizing health in the offspring conceived with medical and technological assistance.