Friday Findings 10/4

I decided I would go ahead and make a button. What do you think? I made it while Josh was asleep so couldn't get his seal of approval first. Now on to the news! I found one article about a diet for endometriosis, but it pretty much said "eat more vegetables and protein, eat less sugar and saturated fat" which is basically what's suggested for everyone, isn't it? So I don't see the point in posting it.

Infertile woman treated with new ovary-stimulating technique, IVA, gives birth

In Vitro Activation (IVA) is a new technique developed for women with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency. They can "switch on" dormant follicles by blocking a protein called PTEN, which allows them to produce mature eggs. 27 women diagnosed with the condition were selected for a study, in which their ovaries were removed for a closer look. It was found 13 of them had these dormant follicles, and after blocking the protein small bits of their ovaries were transplanted back near their fallopian tubes. Eight of them experienced follicle growth and five of them developed mature eggs. One of them has given birth to a healthy baby, another is currently pregnant, two are still waiting for their embryo transfer, and one failed to establish a successful pregnancy. More information about this amazing advancement here.

Fertility breakthrough could aid millions
Research has discovered that, "Normal fertility in humans depends on the key cellular location of signalling between a protein named kisspeptin, and its receptor, Gpr54". This signalling can act as a "master controller of reproduction". Using medications to turn this on or off could increase fertility or act as a new contraceptive. Funnily enough kisspeptin was named after Hershey's Kisses by researchers in Pennsylvania before they knew of it's important role in fertility. Read the full article here.

For some infertility patients, twins are the best outcome

In this article Dr. Norbert Gleicher compares the risks and benefits of transferring two embryos instead of one. He says single embryo transfers have been suggested because many doctors see a twin pregnancy as an adverse outcome. However he says when a twin pregnancy is compared to two consecutive singleton pregnancies the risks are pretty much the same. Those needing IVF but desiring two children may find a twin pregnancy more desirable (and cheaper!) than two singleton pregnancies conceived through IVF. Transferring two embryos could be the optimal decision since it does not come with more risks than two singleton pregnancies but has a higher success rate than a single embryo transfer. A more detailed explanation of his thoughts can be found here.