A UK surrogate who changed her mind about handing over a baby to a couple has been allowed to keep the child, the High Court has ruled....
A recent review paper has emphasised the need for improved provision of fertility information, especially regarding age-associated risks, as the trend for women having children later in life continues....
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) has published a position paper on intrafamilial medically assisted reproduction (IMAR) concluding that the practice is 'morally acceptable' in some circumstances...
An audit of 122 NHS sites across the UK by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has found that screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is very patchy. The report suggests that around 120,000 people have the condition in the UK, but that 85 percent are unaware they have it, which equates to about 100,000 people....
China committed US$300 million to the world's first database of all genetic variations linked to human disease this month...
Deaths related to IVF treatment should be better reported to stop them increasing, say the authors of a British Medical Journal (BMJ) editorial. The editorial argues IVF may be riskier than unassisted pregnancy or abortion, although deaths related to IVF remain rare...
An international team of scientists has discovered that people with celiac disease and Crohn's disease share a number of common genetic loci. The researchers carried out a combined meta-analysis of genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from two large studies, one on each condition, and identified four 'risk loci' in common...
Scientists from the University of East Anglia have discovered a gene that appears to play an important role in the spread of cancer...
A US judge has recommended that Dr Michael Kamrava, a Beverly Hills fertility doctor responsible for providing IVF to 'Octomum' Ms Nadya Suleman, should be allowed to continue practising as a doctor....
Israeli researchers have shown a correlation between successful IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and 'medical clowning'. In a small-scale study a 'medical clown' was used to entertain women immediately following embryo implantation. A rise in the pregnancy rate was observed in the women subjected to medical clowning compared to controls...
When the invitation to this event dropped into my inbox, I immediately replied 'yes please'. This academic workshop of around 30 participants covered the legislative and policymaking process, and subsequent impact of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act 2008...
Stay up-to-date on all the latest developments in the fields of human fertility and genomics. And be the first to hear about upcoming events and other announcements.
Comment
No 'brownie points' for ill-conceived Donation Review
by Professor Eric Blyth and 4 others
While the HFEA's motivation in undertaking this review is understandable, we consider that there are significant problems with the public consultation. First, there are a number of technical problems with the presentation: the consultation appears to be unavailable to anyone without access to the Internet; the background information provided by the HFEA, ostensibly to enlighten respondents...
Regulators and embryologists aren't buddies
by Dr John Gillott
The presentation of a public consensus and common purpose between regulator and scientists needs critical scrutiny. In reality, some of the claims made to support this consensus are vigorously contested...