Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Year:2010 | Volume:10 | Issue:4 (41)|Papers Count:11

Introduction: Ancestral beliefs have tied onion consumption and its medicinal properties to increases in sexual desire. The present study tries to put this old belief to test. Therefore, this study has explored the effects of oral consumption of onion extract on the reproductive activity and testicular structure of adult male mice.Materials & Methods: In this study, twenty-four 40-day old male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received daily doses of onion (Allium cepa) extract (1ml/100gr/B.W.) for 10 days. The controls received the same volume of normal saline. At the end of the study, all the animals were anesthetized and scarified by cervical dislocation and their testes were harvested for histological study. For statistical analysis, t-tests were used to compare the means of the two groups while the significance level was set at p<0.05.Results: The mean internal diameter of seminiferous tubules showed a significant increase in the experimental (56.32±1.42mm, p<0.005) relative to the control group (31.27±3.16), whereas their mean external diameters did not show any significant difference. In addition, proliferation of spermatogonial cells and spermatocytes I and II increased significantly in the experimental group (264±14.11, p<0.0005).Conclusion: It seems that administration of onion extract affects both structure and proliferation of cells in tubules and enhances spermatogenesis in the murine.

Introduction: Male infertility is one of the most challenging problems in andrology. The common cause of male infertility is related to disorders in sperm production and its improvement is synonymous with better treatment outcomes. Although, the etiology of infertility is not clear in most cases but different treatment options have been suggested to increase sperm count and motility. L-carnitine, which is found in different food items and it is derived from lysine and methionine, is a substance essential for the oxidation of long-chain fatty acids in the mitochondria and protection of cell membranes from damages caused by free oxygen radicals. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of L-carnitine in improving sperm quality in infertile men.Materials and Methods: This double blind randomized cross-over, clinical trial was conducted on 30 infertile men attending Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital’s Infertility Clinic during 2005- 2006. Subjects that had at least two abnormal spermograms, based on WHO criteria, with a two-week interval during four weeks and their gonadotropins, testosterone an prolactin concentrations were within normal range were recruited for the study. The exclusion criteria were composed of individuals with medical conditions other than infertility such as grade 3 or 4 varicocele, testicular atrophy, ejaculatory disorders, use of any medications in the past two months prior to the study, azoospermia, endocrinological disorders, ICSI candidacy for severe spermogram abnormalities or other causes of infertility. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups of A and B. Group A and B received L-carnitine and placebo 2g/day for 8 weeks respectively. After a washout period of 8 weeks, the two groups, changed place and received placebo and L-carnitine (2g/day×8w). Sperm analyses were done in four stages: Before and after the first intervention, at the end of washout period and after the second intervention.Results: There were significant improvements in mean sperm concentration and progressive sperm motility upon two months of L-carnitine intake (p<0.05) but no significant changes were found in sperm volume or morphology. The aforementioned changes retracted to the primary status after two months. No changes were seen following the intake of placebos in the cases.Conclusion: L-carnitine intake effectively improved the mean sperm count and progressive sperm motility. However, confirmation of these results warrants more thorough clinical trials.

Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea refers to painful cramps during menstruation with no organic origin. Regarding the high prevalence of dysmenorrhea and its adverse effects on the quality of life of sufferers and the evidence on sedative and antispasmodic properties of Valerian officinalis on smooth muscles, this double-blind clinical trial was conducted to determine the effects of the herb on the severity of dysmenorrheal symptoms in Zanjan Islamic Azad University students during 2009.Materials & Methods: The subjects included 100 students who were matched for dysmenorrheal severity, age, menarche onset, body mass index (BMI), duration, interval and amount of bleeding as well as occupation and educational achievements of their parents. The subjects were randomly divided into experimental (49 subjects) and control (51 subjects) groups. The experimental group took 255mg capsules of the herb, three times a day for three days at the onset of menses while the controls similarly took placebo (capsules containing starch). Pain severity was evaluated by a visual analogue scale (0 to 10cm) and systemic manifestations by a multidimensional verbal scale before and during two consecutive menstrual cycles. The severity and duration of symptoms were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Results: There were no significant differences in pain severity between the two groups before the intervention. However, pain severity was reduced in both groups after the intervention (p<0.001) with significantly more relieving results in the experimental group (p<0.05). In addition, the total scores for systemic manifestations associated with dysmenorrhea, insignificantly decreased in both groups, except occurrence of syncope (p<0.05).Conclusion: Valeriana officinalis decreased dysmenorrheal symptoms, which it might be attributed to its antispasmodic effects. Further studies are warranted for the use of Valerian officinalis in decreasing dysmenorrheal symptoms.

Introduction: Preeclampsia is one of the three main causes of death in pregnant women. The medical condition is identified by hypertension and proteinuria with serious effects on the health of mother and the fetus. There seems to be no precise methods to diagnose preeclampsia at its onset. This study was done to evaluate the simultaneous measurement of some variables thought to be responsible in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia for predicting or screening those at risk.Materials and Methods: In this study, 466 primiparas were selected randomly among the bulk of pregnant women who attended Maryam Hospital for prenatal care in Tehran, Iran during 2007-2008. The subjects had no history of chronic health conditions and regularly took Iron supplements. The predictive variables included age, job, education, income, number of previous marriages, BMI during the first trimester of pregnancy, age at the time of recruitment for the study, changes in hematocrit concentration at the beginning and the 24th to 28th weeks of pregnancy, blood pressure and roll-over test during 28th to 32nd week of gestation but the onset of preeclampsia was considered as a dependent variable. For analyzing the overall effects of the mentioned variables on prediction of the disease, multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed and ROC curves were used for determining a suitable cut-off point for determining the sensitivity and specificity of the model.Results: The prevalence of preeclampsia was 6.4% (95% CI: 4.2-8.6). Variables such as positive roll-over test, fulfillment of university education, marriage more than once, high blood pressure during the 24th-28th weeks of gestation, being a housekeeper, satisfaction with income, positive roll over test at a late stage of gestation and increase in BMI raised the risk of preeclampsia 8.61, 7.98, 2.65, 1.84, 1.56, 1.28, 1.21 and 1.11 times respectively. The proposed logistic regression model had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 76% regarding the inclusion of all the mentioned variables.Conclusion: Regarding the serious complications and negative effects of preeclampsia on both the mother and the fetus and the high sensitivity of this logistic regression model and imposition of no costs on the person for the measurement of the variables, this model seems to be suitable for the screening of preeclampsia.

Introduction: Marital satisfaction is correlated with mental health, general happiness, professional achievements and successful social interactions. It seems that sexual satisfaction is one of the necessities for a healthy and sustainable marital relationship. Some studies have revealed that sexual dissatisfaction is the underlying cause of nearly 80% of marital conflicts, while, some other studies have suggested infertility as one of the key factors affecting sexual satisfaction. This study was undertaken to compare marital and sexual satisfaction in fertile and infertile women.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study carried out during 2007, one hundred fertile women attending the family planning units of Mashad Urban Health Centers, and one hundred infertile women, attending Montaserieh Infertility Center were chosen by quota sampling. The participants were 22-45 years old and had no extramarital relationships. The fertile women used a contraceptive method but the infertile ones had been unable to conceive a child after a year of regular and unprotected intercourse.  The subjects who were willing to participate in the study were asked to complete two sexual satisfaction and general health questionnaires (GHQ28).Results: There were no significant statistical differences between the fertile or the infertile women regarding the demographic data and the general health status of the participants. Sexual satisfaction was not significantly different between the fertile and infertile groups and both showed average degrees of sexual satisfaction (59.66±12.23 and 61.65±11.62, respectively; p=0.24).Conclusion: Average sexual satisfaction was noted in both fertile and infertile individuals, which depicts the inadequate sexual knowledge of the subjects and insufficient provision of pre- and post-marriage consultations. Holding educational sessions and providing consultations on subjects related to sexual satisfaction is suggested to increase the feeling in couples.

Introduction: Anxiety increases blood cortisol and prolactin concentrations which may lead to infertility, but in contrast lower anxiety levels may help natural fertility. However, there is not much evidence that lower anxiety levels may lead to higher success rates in Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) among infertile women. This study aimed to determine the association between infertile women’s anxiety and ART success rates.Materials & Methods: This cohort study was done on 180 infertile women who enrolled as candidates for ART. The cases were recruited in their last visit before starting the treatment cycle by quota sampling in two select infertility treatment centers in Tehran, Iran. The individuals’ anxiety was assessed by using State and Trait Anxiety Inventories. They were allocated to high and low anxiety groups according to the achieved scores of 20-49 and 50-80, respectively. A positive pregnancy test was considered the criterion for treatment success.Results: The individuals’ state and trait anxiety scores were 47.33±10.6 and 43.89±9.8, respectively. Nineteen (10.6%) out of 180 women became pregnant. Pregnancy rates in the group with high and low levels of state anxiety were 11.1% and 10.1% and in groups with high and low levels of trait anxiety they were 14.5% and 9%, respectively. Pregnancy rates between high and low state or trait anxieties were not significantly different (p>0.05).Conclusion: There were no relationship between infertile women’s state and trait anxiety status with assisted reproductive technology outcomes. The results of this study can ensure infertile women that their anxiety would not affect their treatment success rates, although counseling and reducing infertile women’s anxiety are necessary to improve their quality of life.

Introduction: In most cultures, fertility has a great social value and parenting aones own biological child is considered the most basic motive in the process of human life. On the other hand, infertility could lead to a destructive emotional experience. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 80 million people in the world live with infertility. Infertility has a negative influence on the lives of both genders and predisposes them to emotional and psychological burdens. Physical, mental and economic challenges may affect young couples during infertility treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the in-depth life experience of infertile couples.Materials and Methods: This qualitative, phenomenological study was conducted on 11 purposively selected couples attending the outpatient department of Reproductive Health Research Center at Taleqani Hospital on August-December 2008. The interviews were carried out to explore life experiences of the infertile couples who were under infertility treatment process. The data were generated from taped interviews and the researchers' observational field notes. The data were analyzed according to the procedure outlined by Colaizzi.Results: Interviews were categorized by examining the participants' interview transcripts and identifying significant statements and meanings. Themes emerging from the statements were identified, and cross-case comparisons were made to confirm or modify them. Six key themes followed by eleven sub-themes emerged from the data. The results showed that infertility, affects emotional and sexual relationships of infertile couples. The couples’ relationship with family members and relatives is affected when they realize about their problem. Sometimes the infertile couples resort to unusual and non-medical treatment options when their expectations form the medical team are not met.Conclusion: Thematically, infertility could deeply affect infertile couples' entire life. More widespread use of midwifery and psychological counseling services at infertility treatment centers seem to be of help to infertile couples and their relatives.

"Rights" constitute one of the most fundamental and significant concepts within the scope of law and bioethics. The theory of rights relies on two key concepts of "dignity" and "moral agency" of human beings. In other words, rights become important whenever human dignity and the individuals moral agency are at risk. Rights are composed of secured claims that override other normative claims on one hand, and they are instrumentalistic, individualistic, minimalistic and morally indifferent entities on the other hand. On this basis, rights are resorted in order to serve values and principles of justice and in case they are met, a limited and, of course, minimal part of the territory of justice is covered.This paper tries to explore and discuss the theory of rights and lay bare the point that elements of philosophy of rights are integratively connected.