Human Reproduction Update

BACKGROUND: Rising maternal ages and age-related fertility decline are a global challenge for modern reproductive medicine. Clinicians and researchers pay specific attention to ovarian ageing and hormonal insufficiency in this regard. Howev…

BACKGROUND: Air pollution is both a sensory blight and a threat to human health. Inhaled environmental pollutants can be naturally occurring or human-made, and include traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), ozone, particulate matter (PM) and…

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis remains a poorly understood disease, despite its high prevalence and debilitating symptoms. The overlap in symptoms and the increased risk of multiple other traits in women with endometriosis is becoming increasing…

BACKGROUND: The number of frozen embryo transfers (FET) has increased dramatically over the past decade. Based on current evidence, there is no difference in pregnancy rates when natural cycle FET (NC-FET) is compared to artificial cycle FE…

BACKGROUND: During the human menstrual cycle and pregnancy, the endometrium undergoes a series of dynamic remodeling processes to adapt to physiological changes. Insufficient endometrial remodeling, characterized by inadequate endometrial p…

BACKGROUND: Estrogens regulate disparate female physiological processes, thus ensuring reproduction. Altered estrogen levels and signaling have been associated with increased risks of pregnancy failure and complications, including hypertens…

BACKGROUND: Several GnRH antagonist protocols are currently used during COS in the context of ART treatments; however, questions remain regarding whether these protocols are comparable in terms of efficacy and safety. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONA…

BACKGROUND: Female patients undergoing anticancer treatment are at elevated risk of adverse ovarian outcomes including infertility and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), which is associated with short- and long-term health risks. Anti-M…

BACKGROUND: The key oncogene B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) drives malignant progression by promoting proliferation, overriding DNA damage checkpoints and blocking cell terminal differentiation. However, its functions in the placenta and the endo…

BACKGROUND: To provide the optimal milieu for implantation and fetal development, the female reproductive system must orchestrate uterine dynamics with the appropriate hormones produced by the ovaries. Mature oocytes may be fertilized in th…

BACKGROUND: Uterine leiomyomas, also known as uterine fibroids or myomas, are the most common benign gynecological tumors and are found in women of reproductive and postmenopausal age. There is an exceptionally high prevalence of this tumor…

BACKGROUND: Human endometrium remains a poorly understood tissue of the female reproductive tract. The superficial endometrial functionalis, the site of embryo implantation, is repeatedly shed with menstruation, and the stem cell-rich deepe…

BACKGROUND: Uterine natural killer cells (uNK) are the most abundant lymphocytes found in the decidua during implantation and in first trimester pregnancy. They are important for early placental development, especially trophoblast invasion …

BACKGROUND: Advanced maternal age is associated with decreased oocyte quantity and quality as well as uterine and placental dysfunctions. These changes lead to infertility, pregnancy complications and birth defects in the offspring. As the …

The pathways of gametogenesis encompass elaborate cellular specialization accompanied by precise partitioning of the genome content in order to produce fully matured spermatozoa and oocytes. Transcription factors are an important class of m…

BACKGROUND: Adenomyosis, characterized by the presence of islands of endometrial tissue surrounded by hypertrophic smooth muscle cells within the myometrium, is one of the most challenging uterine disorders in terms of diagnosis and managem…

BackgroundMild ovarian stimulation has emerged as an alternative to conventional IVF with the advantages of being more patient-friendly and less expensive. Inadequate data on pregnancy outcomes and concerns about the cycle cancellation rate…

BACKGROUND: Nanotechnology involves the engineering of structures on a molecular level. Nanomedicine and nano-delivery systems have been designed to deliver therapeutic agents to a target site or organ in a controlled manner, maximizing eff…

BACKGROUND: Patients with endometriosis often experience infertility and have poor IVF outcomes, with low fertilization and pregnancy rates. Although many theories have tried to explain the mechanisms underlying infertility in these patient…

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing regulation, exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remains a serious public health concern due to their accumulation in the environment and ability to biomagnify up the food chain. POPs are associate…

BACKGROUND: Stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) is a widely expressed glycoprotein hormone involved in a diverse spectrum of physiological and pathophysiological processes including angiogenesis, mineral homeostasis, cell proliferation, inflammation an…

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a chronic, burdensome condition that is historically understudied. Consequently, there is a lack of understanding of the etiology of the disease and its associated symptoms, including infertility and chronic pel…

BACKGROUND: Neurotrophins of the nerve growth factor family are soluble polypeptides that are best known for their role in nerve growth, survival and differentiation in the central nervous system. A growing body of literature shows that neu…

BACKGROUND: The placenta is the active interface between mother and foetus, bearing the molecular marks of rapid development and exposures in utero. The placenta is routinely discarded at delivery, providing a valuable resource to explore m…

BACKGROUND: Adenomyosis is a benign uterine disorder where endometrial glands and stroma are pathologically demonstrated within the uterine myometrium. The pathogenesis involves sex steroid hormone abnormalities, inflammation, fibrosis and …