Clinical Trial begins for male contraceptive gel that can be rubbed onto chest, shoulder

A contraceptive gel made up of synthetic versions of the sex hormones progesterone and testosterone is being tested as an alternative to a contraceptive pill for men in a clinical trial. The progesterone stops sperm production in the testes, which lowers natural testosterone, so it’s added to the gel as well.

 The gel reduces sperm count when absorbed through the skin.
 Men rub it into their chest and shoulders as an easy alternative to a contraceptive pill. Men, right now have a very limited choice for contraception — using condoms or having a vasectomy. The latter one does not make for a good option if you want kids in the future. The clinical trial being conducted in Edinburgh and Manchester in the UK involves 450 couples who are required to use the gel as the main form of contraception for 12 months. Men participants apply a daily hormone-based gel to their chest, shoulders and upper arms as a prerequisite and condition of clinical trial. James Owers and Diana Bardsley, a couple in their 20s who are involved in the trial, spoke to the BBC about their experience so far.

 “I squeeze a 50p-piece-size out of the dispenser — the dispenser is a bit like one of those posh toothpaste tubes. It’s got the consistency of hand sanitizer,” said Owers.
 “I rub it into my shoulder and pectoral area and that dries in three to four seconds. I do that to the other shoulder and then I get dressed and go about my day as normal.” He added he’s been using it since February and has experienced very few side effects so far — a bit of acne on his back and about 1kg of weight gain.

 It takes 12 weeks of using the gel for a man’s sperm count to go all the way down, and another 12 weeks for it to go back up again. If effective, it could be significantly even more reliable than the female contraceptive pill, which can be ineffective if you miss just one day.
 “But if I was to miss taking this for an entire week, I would still be clinically infertile, so the risk here is quite different from the pill,” Owers said.

 As reported by INSIDER, the female contraceptive pill can have side effects like nausea, headaches, and breast tenderness, and inserting contraceptive implants can be painful. Also, some women cannot use hormonal birth control for health reasons.

 Similarly, clinical trials of male birth control pills have also had problems with side effects, including liver damage. Cheryl Fitzgerald, a consultant gynaecologist at Saint Mary’s Hospital, and leader of the study said she believed the contraceptive gel trial is an important step towards men controlling their fertility in a safe and simple way.

 Use of contraception is a common practice adopted by humans since decades to prevent pregnancy, beginning with the withdrawal method to a variety of techniques, medications, and devices. However technological advancement in contraception has conventionally focused on the woman as there are various alternatives available in the market such as many kinds of hormonal, barrier, intrauterine device and emergency contraceptive methods leaving men with only two main options: either using condoms or undergoing a vasectomy.

Comparing Intra-vaginal Culture of Embryos to In-vitro Culture of Embryos With Minimal Stimulation

Description

 SUMMARY

    The purpose of this study is to evaluate implantation rate with intra-vaginal culture with the INVOcell device versus traditional IVF while using minimal stimulation protocols

OFFICIAL TITLE
      Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Intra-vaginal Culture of Embryos Using INVOcell Device to In-vitro Culture of Embryos Using Minimal Stimulation Protocols

 DETAILS

    This is a Phase IV, single center randomized controlled trial evaluating intra-vaginal culture using INVOcell versus traditional IVF using oral stimulation or minimal gonadotropin stimulation protocols. The pilot aims to includes 40 women who will be randomized to either the intra-vaginal culture group (N=20) using INVOcell or to the traditional IVF group (N=20). 

Primary aim is implantation rate, which is defined by number gestational sacs seen on early pregnancy ultrasound divided by number of embryos transferred.

Secondary aims are:

 Embryo quality, which is measured by the Gardner grading system.

 Fertilization rate, which is defined by the total number of fertilized oocytes divided by total number of mature oocytes retrieved. This comparison will take place on day-3, as that is when the IVC embryos will be assessed.

Clinical pregnancy rate, which is defined by the number of fetal poles with heartbeat seen on ultrasound divided by the number of embryos transferred.

 Live birth rate, which is defined by the number of living babies delivered divided by the number of transfers

Ovulation Induction

Infertility is a painful journey to go through. But sometimes it can only be a temporary issue. One which can be resolved with proper treatment and support. Sometimes women’s bodies find it difficult to ovulate, or ovulate on an irregular basis. There are various reasons as to why this happens- stress, being over-weight, excessive exercise, hormonal imbalance, or problems with your reproductive system, to name a few. This is where Ovulation Induction comes in the picture.

 In this article, we will discussing about what Ovulation Induction is? How it works? And how do one cope with it?

Midlife Women Transitioning to Menopause Have a Higher Risk of Metabolic Syndrome, Which Predisposes to Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes

  What is Ovulation Induction?

Ovulation Induction is a medical treatment recommended for women who cannot ovulate by themselves. It basically stimulates the ovaries to produce an egg, which is later fertilized by a male’s sperm. Consult your physician and once you have ensured that you are having an ovulation problem, Ovulation Induction will help you restore your fertility- in other words, it will help you start ovulating again.


Multidisciplinary Treatment of Obesity Prior to in Vitro Fertilization: Impact on Global Reproductive Outcomes (PRO-FIV Study)

 How it works?

 Ovulation Induction involves taking fertility drugs in the form of tablets or injections. Only a small dosage may be needed to develop the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) which is will help the ovulation. The medications are to be taken at the beginning of your menstrual cycle and you will be monitored throughout with blood tests and ultrasounds. This will help determine when you are ovulating and provide you with the best time for conception. The doctor will ensure that your treatment is personalized according to your body’s needs.

Chronic Endometritis and IVF

 How do you cope with the process?

For your assurance, the success rate of modern fertility treatments is very high. But it takes patience and a calm mind to make sure you and your partner achieve your goal. If you are undergoing any stress then talk to your partner, know that they are with you. Distract yourself as much as you can. Plan a vacation and relax and let the good news come to you.

 Ovulation Induction has helped greatly in improving the chances of ovulation. However, there are various other treatments that you can opt for according to your needs. Talk to your physician and find the best solution for yourself. If you wish to know more about the process, you can read our eBooklet that gives you an in-depth account regarding Ovulation Induction

Conversion of in Vitro Fertilization Cycles to Intrauterine Inseminations in Patients With a Poor Ovarian Response to Stimulation

In Vitro Fertilization Impact on Metabolic Parameters

Transvaginal vs Transabdominal Ultrasound Guided Embryo Transfer

Comparison of Two Embryo Transfer Catheters in Patients Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer