American spouses gave their 6 frozen embryos to one childless couple

The husband and wife from the USA who became happy parents at once of two couple of twins in the last years don’t plan to have more children for obvious reasons in the nearest future. The remained embryos received after IVF procedure they decided to give away to one childless couple.

Thanks to the  extracorporal fertilization procedure the spouses  Angel and Jeff Watts a few years ago could feel twice the pleasure of paternity and motherhood – now they raise two couple of twins.

At once some embryos received after the IVF procedure remained unused and all this time 6 germs were stored in the liquid nitrogen in one of the reproductive clinics in the state of Tennessee.

It is known, that germs in the age of several days can be stored in the frozen state for many years – however Angel and Jeff , raising already 4 children decided to transfer them to those people who need them much more.

With the help of Facebook network they found the most suitable candidates for such an unusual gift. 27 years old Rayn and Richard Galloway became these happy parents.

“It is the real stroke of luck. I with my husband tried to conceive the child for 4 unsuccessfully years, and recently the doctors informed us that both of us have serious problems with health interfering to do it”, – Rayn Galloway tells.

Two married couples came to the consent on the fact that after the children’s birth their biological parents Angel and Jeff will be able to see kids from time to time. It won’t be difficult  as Ryan and Richard live in only several kilometers from a family Watts – the place of residence played also an important role for their victory in this “competition”

Statistically, 1,5% of American children born by means of IVF procedure

In 2013 more then 1,5% of American children were born with the help of IVF procedure. Such data are contained in the report of Community’s help to reproductive technologies of the USA.

Every year the number of children born after IVF increases constantly in the USA. So, in 2013 already 1,5% of all kids were born after IVF procedure and the number of twins and triplets considerably decreased.  In 2013 approximately 174 962 of IVF attempts were setup , which led to the birth of 63 286 children, as it is informed in the report.  According to forecasts of experts, the percentage of similar children will grow gradually, and will soon compare with the number of traditional conception.

These indicators (realization of IVF and productivity) show insignificant growth in comparison with similar data of 2012. Almost all these children were conceived by means of IVF procedure and less than 1% were born thanks to the technology of transfer of gametes into uterine tube or transfer of zygotes into uterine tube, which are more invasive, than IVF procedure.

The greatest success of in vitro fertilization is observed in young women before 35. In this age group, women use their own eggs, that lead to 40% of successful conceptions. In case when women used their frozen eggs the level of success reached 44%. However with woman’s age increment the coefficient of success has been decreasing. So, in age group from 38 to 40 it fell to 35%, in women from 41 to 42 to 31%, and in women after 43 year’s old to 21%.

The impact of the music on embryo’s development during IVF

Quite unusual concert took place in Barcelona. In the IVF clinic over Institut Marques the singer Antonio Orosko played the guitar for embryos. At the same time approximately 380 listeners in incubators enjoyed the performance of Spanish musician.

Orosko agreed to participate in this unusual project For the researches of the IVF clinic. The doctors here study the impact of the music on the embryo’s development during IVF procedure for already some years.

According to data published 2 years ago, the music influences positively the embryo’s development. The vibrations and sounds reproduced when playing the musical instruments can increase the formation of embryos, received by means of IVF procedure.  In particular, it’s established that the development is accelerated by 5%, herewith heightens its quality that increases the probability of pregnancy after the transfer of embryos into the uterus.

It is known the IVF procedure to be very delicate and less than 50% of women can expect  its success from the first attempt. That’s why any factor which has the minimum positive impact on the embryos received in such a way is taken into consideration by experts. The head of the center reported, that he and his colleagues try to create good conditions and comfort for embryos, the maximum approximate to natural for harmonious formation of new life.

According to statistics of WHO, the number of women suffering from infertility composes nowadays more than 2% of all the female population of the planet. More and more infertile couples consider IVF procedure as the only way to resolve  their problem.

Acupuncture increases the success of IVF

This study analyzed data from more than 4 million patients who undergo the procedure of in vitro fertilization clinics in the US, where as an additional therapy they were assigned to receive acupuncture.

He told reporters the head of a group of scientists, Eric Mangeymer Medical Center of the University of Maryland, USA, “According to our observations, for fertility clinics, where the standard rate of successful pregnancy is above average, and this – 32% or more, that is, literally speaking , one shot of the three, acupuncture as a method of adjunctive therapy will not bring however whatsoever noticeable improvement in the number of successful fertilization. But at the same clinic where artificial insemination is performed less efficiently, acupuncture can be very useful additional measure. Over able to establish a certain connection: the lower basic level of successful fertilization in the hospital, the more it increases the acupuncture. ”

The results show that in the group of patients who underwent acupuncture, pregnancy rate was significantly higher (39%) than among patients, which was not carried out acupuncture (26%). At the same time carried out in 2 days after the transfer procedure not only did not improve pregnancy rates, but also reduce the positive effect of acupuncture carried out on the day of embryo transfer.

However, the researchers did not surprise anyone, because, according to statistics, that acupuncture is most commonly prescribed additional therapy in vitro fertilization in the United States. But scientists have already announced that they will carry out further research to ascertain how useful it can be for the acupuncture clinics less successful in terms of safety and cost.

The scientists recommend to freeze the sperm in the age of 18

The scientists established that men’s sperm with age obtains the properties, because of which increases the probability of appearing of different anomalies in future posterity caused by genetic defects.

It is known that with age increases the risk of development of autism, schizophrenia and other psychological disorders  in successors.  The British scientists from the University Abertay suggested to create a free sperm’s storage where young men who already reached 18 years could hand over the sperm. Today this service is paid in Great Britain: so, the storage of sperm in private institution will cost 200 pounds sterling (about 315 dollars).

“Thanks to various researches, conducted in recent years, became evident the fact that early paternity favorably effects the health of posterity. Thus, if men have an opportunity to freeze the sperm in the age of 18, it will be possible to avoid genetic mutations” – doctor Kevin tells.

However, the idea of Smith and his colleagues from the University of Abertay has not been supported by other scientists who reminded that  the risks of possible diseases in children of fathers at mature age are insignificant small and the spermatozoa being frozen for a long time possess a smaller ability to fertilization.

Woman who went through menopause at 20 has baby 15 years later: And she only found out she was pregnant 12 days before birth!

• Allison Noyce was told she could not have children after early menopause
• The 36-year-old was afraid she had cancer when she felt lump in stomach
• Instead, medics told her she was pregnant and she gave birth 12 days later
• Mrs Noyce and husband were overcome with 'sheer joy' at Sophie's arrival 
• Doctors have no idea why the fitness instructor suddenly conceived
• Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 

After going through the menopause aged 20, Allison Noyce was told she could never have children naturally.

So when she went to the doctor with stomach pains 15 years later, she was astonished to learn that she was pregnant – and the baby was due within days.

The 36-year-old was afraid she had cancer when she felt pain and found a lump in her stomach.

Instead, medics told her she was eight months pregnant, and just 12 days later she gave birth to daughter Sophie, who weighed 6lb 4oz.

Mrs Noyce said: ‘Sophie is truly a miracle. We simply couldn’t believe it when doctors said I was not only pregnant – but so close to delivery.’

The fitness instructor became alarmed when she felt unusually tired after one 40-mile bike ride.

She said: ‘Around the same time I noticed pains in my tummy, and over the past few weeks, I had thought I could feel a lump. Terrified, I booked an appointment with my GP.’ Her doctor believed the lump was ‘probably a large cyst’ and quickly sent Mrs Noyce to hospital for tests.

She was sure pregnancy was not a possibility because at the age of 30, after marrying her husband Richard, she had gone back to the doctor’s to double check that she would never conceive naturally. 

She recalled: ‘Richard and I were worried it was something serious. So we were overcome with emotion when the woman doing an ultrasound said I was eight months pregnant. Relief that it wasn’t cancer and sheer joy that we were having a baby.

‘We were also in shock – when a midwife arrived to discuss birthing arrangements I thought I was dreaming.

‘In hindsight I’d had other signs, but put morning sickness down to a virus and tiredness down to being busy.’

Scientists find possible cause for IVF implantation failure

Researchers have identified a biological process that may cause the failure of embryos to attach to the uterus wall after IVF, raising the possibility of future treatments.

Recent studies have found that microRNA (miRNA) levels are altered in the endometrium of women with repeated implantation failure. But how these molecules might affect the attachment of the embryo was previously unknown.

Scientists at the University of Manchester's Institute of Human Development have found that they may do so by inhibiting another molecule - insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGFR1) - that was not previously known to have a role in the attachment process.

The researchers grew human endometrial cells in the lab and tested how well mouse embryos could attach to this model of the uterus wall. They found that miRNA-145 can modulate the levels of IGF1R in the uterus and that both increasing levels of miRNA-145 and decreasing levels of IGF1R resulted in lower rates of implantation.

'Our study suggests that the presence of IGFR1 is required for the embryo to stick to the uterus,' said lead author Professor John Aplin.

In 2010 around 32 percent of fresh IVF cycles resulted in a live birth for women aged under 35 using their own eggs, and a major cause of failed cycles is implantation failure. The researchers hope that treatments that suppress miRNA-145 could increase the probability of embryos attaching to the uterus wall and developing to a full-term pregnancy.

More research will be needed to confirm that these findings hold true in the human uterus. However, the study authors are optimistic that this research could be translated into treatment for women who have experienced repeated implantation failure.

Professor Alpin said: 'This is one of the hardest groups of women to treat in fertility science and rates are still very low across the board. Repeated IVF cycles are stressful and can be expensive too.'

'Greater understanding of the mechanisms which control success or failure can lead directly to treatments to make IVF cycles more efficient so that infertile couples can start their families.'

The study was published in the Journal of Cell Science.