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

We examined the long-term impact of advanced testis cancer and its curative therapies on emotional states and outlook on life, employment, intimate relationships, and sexual function. The sample consisted of 74 nonseminomatous and seminomatous tumor patients who had completed treatment two to ten years ago. The majority of men felt that surviving the debilitating treatment(s) was both an accomplishment and worthwhile trade-off. Neither the rate of unemployment (7%) nor divorce (10%) was remarkable. The most critical outcome was in the area of sexual functioning. One fourth to one half of the men reported some type of sexual impairment. Multiple regression results indicate that ejaculatory dysfunction, a side effect of the retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, is significantly associated with distress about both infertility and sexual impairment. Men with sexual impairment report more psychological symptoms, strained intimate relationships, and negative changes in other areas of life functioning. These data, while not definitive, suggest that there are delayed effects and that the subgroup of men, who are least likely to disclose these problems to physicians, are at greater risk for the deleterious outcomes.
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PMID:Curative testis cancer therapy: psychosocial sequelae. 404 May 51

Many chemotherapeutic agents have been shown to cause variable degrees of gonadal dysfunction in both sexes and in all age groups. The severity of the dysfunction depends on the total drug dose and the age at time of therapy. In general, cytotoxic agents produce gonadal dysfunction in men while they produce premature gonadal failure in women. Men develop azoospermia and compensated Leydig-cell function; women sustain ovarian damage causing impaired fertility in the short term and early ovarian failure later. This dysfunction is associated with sexual and emotional difficulties in many patients. In order to discover these problems the physician must sympathetically ask patients and families about their sexual and emotional health. Endocrine and psychologic evaluation help the physician identify the problem. Appropriate counseling and hormone replacement therapy may ameliorate most symptoms and help the patient emotionally adjust to illness and infertility. Prevention of gonadal damage during cytotoxic therapy may be possible in the future. For those young people who retain fertility after cytotoxic therapy, prognosis should be taken into account when counseling about parenthood is given. There is no evidence of genetic abnormalities in the offspring of people previously treated with chemotherapy or irradiation.
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PMID:Effect of cytotoxic therapy on sexuality and gonadal function. 617 28

Religious and medical practices are steeped in the traditions of West African culture vis-a-vis childbirth. It is customary for delivery to occur with the woman squatting on the ground surrounded by sisters and female relatives, some of whom function as midwives. Midwives get paid only if delivery is successful. A stool is also often used in childbirth. The name given to a child in the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria has to refer to the circumstances of the individual's birth. The contact with the earth (as in the squatting position) has religious overtones--it indicates the fecundity of the earth, and the mother's contact with it. Infertility is considered the greatest tragedy in traditional African society. In Senegal, a childless woman pays a fertile one a certain sum in return for bearing her a child who would be raised as her own (this tradition is not unlike surrogate motherhood in Western countries). Men are never present at birth; however, in urban settings this practice is changing. The burial of the placenta and umbilical cord is thought to restore the woman's fertility and help heal her womb. This practice was even recorded in 19th century Sweden harkening back to heathen times. In Ghana, an infertile woman urinates on the ground where the placenta is buried in the belief that her fertility will be restored. The birth of twins is regarded as a great blessing, and as a sign of fertility; however, the inability of the mother to breast-feed both twins may result in the death of the weaker child. The harmony of nature, animals, and human beings is paramount in traditional West Africa religion and life, and undoubtedly Western culture could learn from some of these beliefs.
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PMID:[West African childbirth traditions]. 655 64

To explore possible relationships between genital tract infections, sperm antibodies, and infertility, seminal fluid from 100 men was analyzed. Sperm antibodies, measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were detected in 14 of 29 men (48%) with culture-positive asymptomatic infections, 8 of 17 men (47%) with a history of prostatitis or urethritis, 11 of 33 men (33%) with either a varicocele or an abnormal semen analysis, and only 1 of 21 men (5%) with no infection and a normal semen analysis. The incidence of sperm antibodies in the men with infections or urethritis or prostatitis was significantly higher than in the control subjects (P less than 0.005). The sperm antibody isotype in men with infections was mainly IgA, although IgG or IgM were also sometimes present. Of the men with asymptomatic infections, urethritis or prostatitis, significantly (P less than 0.025) more men without sperm antibodies (12 of 24, 50%) were fertile than were those with sperm antibodies (3 of 22, 13%). Men with genital tract infections have a high incidence of antibodies, reactive with spermatozoa, which is associated with reduced fertility.
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PMID:Relationship between genital tract infections, sperm antibodies in seminal fluid, and infertility. 665

This study was undertaken to describe the most common symptoms experienced during pregnancy by couples with a history of infertility and to compare them with symptoms of expectant couples without a history of reproductive problems. The Symptomatology Inventory, a 42-item checklist of common pregnancy symptoms, was used. The 10 most frequent symptoms reported and their rank order were very similar for the women from both groups. Men from the two groups frequently reported similar symptoms, but differed on their rank order. This research provides evidence that in terms of pregnancy symptoms infertile and fertile couples are more alike than they are different.
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PMID:Comparison of pregnancy symptoms of infertile and fertile couples. 763 7

The relationship between an undetected, asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection, the concentration of gamma delta and alpha b T cells in semen and sperm autoimmunity was examined in 48 male partners of couples with unexplained infertility. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to C. trachomatis were detected in seminal fluids from 14 (29.2%) of the men. Only four of these were positive for circulating anti-chlamydial IgA, suggesting that the stimulus for antibody production was within the genital tract. In contrast, four men were positive for anti-chlamydial IgG in their semen; all were also seropositive for anti-chlamydial IgG. T lymphocytes bearing the alpha beta and gamma delta antigen receptors were present in every semen sample. Men with seminal anti-chlamydial IgA, however, had significantly (P = 0.035) elevated semen gamma delta T cell concentrations (median 3100 cells/ml) than did men lacking this antibody (median 1400 cells/ml); concentrations of alpha beta T cells were comparable in both groups. Genital tract sperm autoimmunity, as shown by antibodies bound to motile ejaculated spermatozoa, was detected in 13 (27.1%) men. The presence of these antibodies was associated with elevated concentrations of both gamma delta (median 4200 versus 700 cells/ml) and alpha beta (median 5000 versus 850 cells/ml) T cells (P = 0.0002 and 0.0001 respectively). Men with antisperm antibodies only in their serum had seminal T cell concentrations comparable with men testing negative for antisperm antibodies. Anti-chlamydial IgA was identified in semen from four of 10 men with IgA bound to their spermatozoa and in none of the men with only spermatozoa-bound IgG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Autoimmunity to spermatozoa, asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection and gamma delta T lymphocytes in seminal fluid from the male partners of couples with unexplained infertility. 765 43

Men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) have been regarded as presenting a mild form of cystic fibrosis (CF). In this article, we report a case of male-factor infertility, in which both partners are carriers of the delta F508 mutation and the male partner has CBAVD. Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) was performed to obtain spermatozoa; intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was carried out on the oocytes since the motility of the spermatozoa was severely impaired; and embryo biopsy and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were carried out for preimplantation diagnosis of the CF delta F508 mutation. Single-blastomere analysis was performed and indicated that two embryos were affected (homozygous delta F508) and three embryos were carriers. After transfer of the latter three embryos, a singleton pregnancy was established. At amniocentesis, the delta F508 carrier status of the fetus with a 46, XY karyotype was confirmed. A healthy boy was born and the presence of vasa deferentia, bilaterally, was confirmed. The CF sweat test was also normal. Successful fertilization can be obtained by combination of MESA and ICSI in patients with CBAVD. Preimplantation diagnosis of CF is indicated. Pregnancy and birth of normal children can ensue in such patients.
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PMID:Birth after preimplantation diagnosis of the cystic fibrosis delta F508 mutation by polymerase chain reaction in human embryos resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection with epididymal sperm. 766 71

Men with a background of unilateral torsion of testis (t.t.) show a greater percentage of infertility and changes in the spermiogram. Currently, the cause of contralateral testicle affectation remains unknown. With the aim of verify whether these changes are secondary to an immunological mechanism, the authors conducted experimental work in 3 groups of male rats, inducing a right t.t. over 24 hours, followed by detorsion and preservation of contorted testicle. Immunological response is determined through direct and indirect immunofluorescence reactions, including a brief description of the technique used. Positive reactions were obtained in both the spermatozoa's head and flagellum, more frequently in animals killed at 30 days and gradually decreasing in those killed at 60 and 90 days. The authors compare their results to other experimental works, and recommend to perform orchiectomy because of the damaging effect of the contorted testicle over the contralateral one.
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PMID:[Immunologic response to testicular torsion. Experimental study on rats]. 803 58

From March 1991 to February 1992, a psychological interview survey was performed among 652 women and 425 of their husbands who came to the Female Infertility Clinic in PUMC Hospital to seek consultation and treatment for their infertility. The results showed that more than 80 percent of the couples had been tolerating various psychological stresses caused by infertility. Disapproval was the most common feeling. The couples' emotion was influenced by each other. Emotional scores of husbands and wives were significantly positive correlated (P < 0.001). However, men are more capable to cope with this problem than women. Men's attitude to infertility is more positive and optimistic than women. There is no significant difference between women and men in their attitude to the treatment and forecasting of prognosis. Cultural background is a major factor associated with psychological stresses of infertile couples. Infertility has more severe impact on people living in rural areas as well as ones with lower level education. Infertility also affected couple's sexual and marital relationships. The relationship between women and their parents in-laws became worse among 8.6 percent of infertile women. About one-third of female participants thought the examination and the treatment for infertility also developed some emotional stresses and psychological burdens. Infertility may create various psychological stresses and influence the effect of treatment. Therefore, the management of infertility should not only include physical treatment but also understanding, sympathy and support, all above should not be neglected.
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PMID:[Psychological aspects of infertile couples in China]. 808 49

While AIDS seizes the headlines, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) create devastation of their own. In women STDs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, causing lifelong pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy, which can kill. Children are born with blinding eye infections. Men are left infertile. People die of advanced stages of syphilis. Furthermore, STDs multiply the transmissibility of HIV, the AIDS virus, as much as ninefold.
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PMID:Population reports. Controlling sexually transmitted diseases. 823 82


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