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Query: UMLS:C0021359 (infertility)
 26,075 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Various minerals (copper, cobalt, selenium, manganese, iodine, zinc, and iron) can influence reproductive performance of ruminants. Reproductive failure may be induced by deficiencies of single or combined trace elements and by imbalances. This review is focused on maladjustments of trace elements leading to impaired breeding performance. Opinion is diverse as to the existence of various reproductive disturbances from either a severe copper depletion or a marginal dietary copper deficiency. Field experience suggests that administration of cobalt to ruminants on cobalt-deficient diets improves their impaired breeding performance. Selenium infertility in ewes is more prevalent in some areas and in some seasons, but the actual cause of this malady and the continuing role of additional factors are unknown. Manganese is necessary for normal fertility in ruminants, and feeding low-manganese rations depresses conception rates. Lack of iodine impairs thyroid activity and also ovarian function. Reproductive failure in the female and in spermatogenesis are manifestations of zinc deficiency. Despite forages rich in iron, low availability in certain instances could affect adversely ruminant reproduction. Knowledge of biochemical dysfunctions from trace element deficiencies is essential to determine the role which trace elements play in fertility of ruminant animals.
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PMID:Trace element deficiencies and fertility in ruminants: a review. 38 29

The apparent effect of ascorbic acid therapy for nonspecific spermagglutination on semen levels of ascorbic acid as well as macro- and micrometals was determined in 20 men (ages 25 to 38). Pretreatment diagnosis was based on infertility and relatively low ratings in sperm density, motility, motility index, and semen volume, and were associated with large numbers of abnormal sperm, sperm precursors, and leukocytes. The pretreatment levels of ascorbic acid, sodium, iron, potassium, zinc, manganese, lead, magnesium, and copper were measured in each patient's semen and compared with levels following 60 days of dietary vitamin C supplementation (1.0 gm/day). Analysis of the vitamin C preparation prescribed revealed that each subject was given an impure ascorbic acid medication to supplement a normal diet. Therefore, the significant increases in levels of ascorbic acid and metals in semen following therapy could not be attributed to ascorbic acid alone, nor, similarly, the improved physical parameters of each subject's semen following therapy; no apparent spermagglutination and restored fertility may be due to the interaction of ascorbic acid with cations found in semen.
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PMID:Apparent effect of ascorbic acid medication on semen metal levels. 48 35

Some essential trace elements were estimated in endometrium of regularly menstruating fertile women and in women with infertility due to cervical factors. The distribution of the trace elements zinc, copper, iron, selenium and manganese at any particular phase of cycle remains more or less semilier between control (i.e. fertile) and infertile (primary and secondary) subjects.
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PMID:Trace elements in the endometrium of infertile women. 259 27

The elemental status of seminal plasma collected from four populations subdivided on the basis of sperm counts is presented. Elemental analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma-source mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, rubidium, selenium, vanadium, and zinc. The majority of elements reflected no statistically significant differences among the four groups. The role of trace elements in infertility may be more directly related to sperm and whole semen than seminal plasma levels.
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PMID:The role of trace elements in male infertility. 275 79

Female patients with beta-thalassaemia major usually suffer from hypogonadotropic hypogonadism associated with amenorrhea, anovulation and infertility, attributed to the deposition of haemosiderin in the pituitary gland as well as in the ovaries. Pregnancies are rare and, with few exceptions, occur mainly in patients with beta-thalassaemia intermedia. Our study presents histopathological evidence that deposition of haemosiderin occurs in the endometrial glandular epithelium of 3 patients with beta-thalassaemia major. This deposition is mainly evident in the apical part of these cells above the nuclei, and should be taken into consideration as a contributing factor to the infertility in these patients by altering endometrial receptivity for implantation. In 2 patients who received effective iron chelating treatment with desferrioxamine the endometrial haemosiderin deposits either disappeared (patient C.R.), or were significantly reduced (patient G.L.).
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PMID:Endometrial glandular haemosiderosis in homozygous beta-thalassaemia. 275 23

Fourteen men with a mean duration of infertility greater than 3 years who had significant sperm immobilizing or sperm-agglutinating antibodies were studied. All patients had greater than 20% IgG or IgA immunobinding to sperm in their seminal plasma and 7 had immunobinding levels of greater than 50%. Sperm from these men were less able to penetrate an overlaying buffer layer than sperm from a fertile control. Addition of immunobeads to the specimen was of little use, because few motile sperm could swim into the overlaying buffer; retained immunobeads were noted in the buffer layer of 18-hour capacitated specimens. Magnetic isolation of antibody-coated sperm from antibody-free sperm avoids potential damage to fragile sperm through centrifugation. Viable spermatozoa were isolated from magnetite-complexed spermatozoa, but the motility of the isolated spermatozoa deteriorated rapidly during the subsequent capacitation period. Passage of diluted ejaculate through a column of dextran beads for antisperm antibody processing (ASAP) was associated with superior sperm quality and fertilizing potential. The use of ASAP resulted in good sperm velocity and linearity and improved sperm function, as measured with the hamster egg penetration test. Sperm from men with immunologically mediated infertility can be processed through the ASAP and used for artificial insemination of their partners or in an in vitro fertilization program.
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PMID:In vitro immune absorption of antisperm antibodies with immunobead-rise, immunomagnetic, and immunocolumn separation techniques. 354 66

The aetiology of copper deficiency in grazing ruminants has been clarified by a number of recent discoveries: the low availability of copper in lush grazed pasture compared with conserved forage; the inhibitory effects on absorption of small increases in herbage molybdenum and sulphur and the antagonism from iron ingested in soil; and the wide genetic variation in copper absorption between different breeds of sheep. The economic importance of copper deficiency has been emphasised by the discovery of unsuspected causes of loss: increased susceptibility to infection and growth retardation in lambs and infertility in cattle. The diagnosis of functional copper deficiency has been improved by the addition of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase to the assays of copper status.
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PMID:Copper deficiency in ruminants; recent developments. 381 Nov 58

The new generation of oral contraceptives (OCs) contains less than 50 mcg of estrogen compared to previous levels of 100-150 mcg, and as a result have fewer undesirable side effects. In addition, it appears that the newer OCs decrease the susceptibility to many diseases. For example, the pill decreases by 40% the risk that a woman under 55 years of age will develop ovarian cancer. The risk of endometrial cancer is reduced by 50% in OC users. The pill also significantly lowers the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease--a condition that is involved in almost 20% of all gynecologic problems and is a leading cause of infertility. OC use reduces the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Further, by decreasing menstrual blood flow, the pill protects against iron-deficiency anemia. The pill is claimed to decrease premenstrual tension, menstrual cramps, and even acne. It has a protective effect against ovarian cysts and benign breast cancer. Finally, there is the possibility that OCs protect against the development of rheumatoid arthritis and duodenal ulcers.
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PMID:Oral contraceptives come of age. 385 23

A review of the immunological implications in reproductive physiology is presented. Although attempts have been made to ascribe the antigenicity of semen to individual components, it has not been possible to isolate the human semen antigen responsible for infertility. In monkeys total ejaculates and seminal plasma have shown higher antigenicity than washed spermatozoa. In bulls some evidence of such antigens have been found in the seminal plasma. They are iron-binding proteins resembling lactoferrin. Most investigators have found no evidence for any participation of the ABO blood group antigens in cases of sterility. On the surface of human spermatozoa histo-incompatibility antigens have been detected. Transplantation antigens may be related to sterility. However, an immulogic tolerance of the maternal organism exists against the genetically foreign fetal tissue. Autoimmune spermagglutinating antibodies have been detected in the sera and in the seminal plasma of males with sterility. An obstruction of the seminal pathways may facilitate the production of such antibodies against retained sperm. Isoimmunity in females against seminal components has been shown in cases of sterility; however, fertile women have also been shown to have such conditions. In a group of infertile women spermagglutination activity was detected in 7.5% of cases. In another series of 46 cases with primary unexplained infertility agglutinating antibodies were found in 17.4%. Other investigators have also reported higher rates than the authors. The sperm immobilization test seems to be more sensitive than the agglutination test. No sera were found positive with both tests. With immunofluorescent techniques humoral sperm antibodies have been found to be the IgM and IgG fractions. Each acts on a different part of the spermatozoa. The only promising therapy against humoral sperm antibodies is avoidance of sperm contact over a long period of time. Reported results have been conflicting. Cortisone did not improve the result. Desensitization or immunosuppresive efforts are of uncertain value.
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PMID:Sperm antibody production in female sterility. 436 60

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) is a common cause of abnormal uterine bleeding and its diagnosis depends upon excluding organic lesions of the reproductive tract. The workup of the patient requires a complete medical history, physical examination, studies for ovulation, and genital tissue sampling. Whereas DUB is a physiologic normal phenomenon in the early and late years of the reproductive cycle, it is a pathologic entity at other times and can result from mild emotional or physical diseases in the patient. Management requires periodic progesterone replacement, increased iron intake, and therapy for any disease that is detected. Generally, oral contraceptives are not indicated, and hysterectomy is rarely needed. If infertility is also a complaint, specific ovulation induction therapy may also be needed. Control of the bleeding abnormality is the expected therapeutic response, and failure to achieve this suggests that a specific genital organic lesion has been overlooked.
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PMID:Abnormal bleeding. 635 29


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