HFEA reports on IVF access during the COVID-19 pandemic
NHS-funded IFV cycles were slower to resume on average than privately-funded treatments after the mandatory closure of all UK clinics due to the COVID-19 pandemic...
News
Pre-made stem cells to treat aggressive brain cancer
A new form of stem cell-based therapy has been developed and tested in mice for the treatment of glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer...
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1997. Depicts the gyri of the Thinker's brain as a maze of choices in biomedical ethics (based on Auguste Rodin's 'The Thinker').
HFEA considers proposing donor anonymity law changes
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is considering ways gamete donor anonymity laws could be changed, as the advent of straight-to-consumer genetic testing has 'thrown into question' the assumption of anonymity...
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
Men with infertility could have double the risk of breast cancer
Male breast cancer accounts for around one percent of breast cancer cases in the UK and a new study suggests that men with infertility are twice as likely to develop it...
Insight into mitochondrial dysfunction in ageing
A mechanism which controls mitochondrial production and activity has been identified, and could help explain mitochondrial functional decline with age…
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
Sperm epigenetics linked to likelihood of pregnancy
A new method for determining the 'biological age' of sperm may be a useful predictor of pregnancy success...
Image by Sílvia Ferreira, Cristina Lopo and Eileen Gentleman via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a single human stem cell embedded within a porous hydrogel matrix (false colour).
Process for developing organoid models of the cervix published
Details of how to develop three-dimensional organoid models of the cervix have been published...
Reviews
Image by Bill Sanderson via the Wellcome Collection, © Wellcome Trust Ltd 1990. Depicts Laocoön and his family (from Greek and Roman mythology) entwined in coils of DNA.
Theatre Review: The Fever Syndrome
It will never cease to amaze me how many fertility-related plays there are in London...
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts equipment used for embryo biopsy.
Documentary Review: Freezing Fertility
Freezing fertility' is a documentary by the Dutch broadcaster VPRO, which delves into the opinions and policies on egg cell freezing around the world...
Comment
The changing landscape of egg donation in Europe: findings from the UK, Belgium and Spain
by Professor Nicky Hudson
The EDNA study which looked at the social, political, economic and moral constitution of egg donation in Europe, ended recently, after 4.5 years of research...
Heads up — BioNews is changing
by Sarah Norcross
We are delighted to announce that we are in the final stages of PET's website redevelopment project...
A new plea to the HFEA chair for mandatory fertility counselling
by Anthony Ryb
Counsellors hold thousands of stories and support any and everyone we meet with compassion to help guide them through the process, pain, suffering, uncertainty and whatever outcomes arises...