The proportion of in vitro fertilization (IVF) multiple births was lower in the eight states that provide insurance coverage for couples seeking IVF treatment, primarily due to fewer embryos transferred per cycle, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in an abstract presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, October 17-21. IVF remains an expensive treatment option for those with infertility, and many cannot afford it.

The doctor who performed the in vitro fertilization procedure that led to the birth of octuplets to a California woman in January has been expelled from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the nation's main professional organization for fertility specialists, USA Today reports.

Many fertility clinic Web sites do not fully disclose the risks associated with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, a procedure offered in conjunction with in vitro fertilization that can screen embryos for 5,000 genetic disorders and indicate the sex of the embryo, according to a study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility,

The New York Times this week published a series of articles examining issues related to infertility treatments and premature infants.

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have identified the role of a gene in regulating molecular signals involved with ovarian follicle development, which may one day help shed light on some of the causes of fertility issues in humans. The steps involved with conception and pregnancy are delicate and complex - particularly the process of folliculogenesis.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers have discovered a gene involved with the production of sperm that may contribute to male infertility and lead to new approaches to male contraception. One in six couples trying to conceive a baby is affected by infertility, according to the American Fertility Association - and in about half of these cases, a male factor is present. Sperm defects are often found to be the main cause or a contributing cause.

Canada should extend universal health coverage to fund in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, writes Dr. Renda Bouzayen, Division Head, Reproductive Endocrine and Infertility, Dalhousie University in an editorial http://www.cmaj.ca/press/cmaj091344.pdf with the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) editorial writing team.

Endometrin(R) (progesterone) Vaginal Inserts, 100 mg showed clear advantages over Crinone* (progesterone gel) for progesterone supplementation, according to the results of a new pharmacokinetic (PK) study. Progesterone is necessary to increase endometrial receptivity for implantation of an embryo and to support early pregnancy.

Fertility rates are on the rise in wealthy countries after a nearly 30-year slump in childbearing numbers, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature, Bloomberg/Boston Globe reports.

UroToday.com - Microdissection testicular sperm extraction is a procedure used to extract sperm from patients with irreversible non-obstructive azospermia. Sperm extracted are then used for in vitro fertilization (IVF). While this technique has improved the sperm retrieval rate compared to other biopsy techniques, sperm are still often not retrieved. The purpose of our research was to develop a technique for identifying small foci of sperm for retrieval for use in IVF.