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PubMed1994

Moderate drinking: no impact on female fecundity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of moderate alcohol intake on probability of conception. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Normal healthy women enrolled in an artificial donor insemination program. PATIENTS: Women starting artificial donor insemination for the very first time were selected. INTERVENTIONS: Alcohol exposure was measured through a self-administered questionnaire at intake of study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A first positive pregnancy test as indicative for conception. RESULTS: Women with moderate alcohol intake had a slightly higher, though not significant, probability of conception compared with nondrinkers (Hazard Ratio 1.20; 95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.60). CONCLUSION: Moderate alcohol intake has no negative impact on female fecundity.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Correlation of fecundability and serum estradiol after danazol treatment in patients with advanced endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between pregnancy incidence and the level of serum E2 during danazol therapy. DESIGN: Danazol was given by 200 mg four times daily for 3 months. Serum E2 level was checked after completing the therapy, but before stopping medication. Patients then were advised to conceive at the appropriate time over a 6-month period. SETTING: Reproductive and Endocrine Laboratory of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan. PATIENTS: Infertile women with invasive endometriosis receiving conservative surgery and danazol treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Serum E2 is checked before medication and at the end of danazol therapy, but before stopping medication. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Whether pregnancy is related to the change of serum E2 caused by danazol therapy. RESULTS: There were 24 pregnancies in 38 patients with invasive endometriosis after treatment. Pregnant patients had significantly lower serum E2 levels as compared with the nonpregnant patients. CONCLUSIONS: After conservative surgery for invasive endometriosis associated with infertility, the therapeutic period of danazol treatment could be shortened to 3 months. Because there is significant correlation of fecundability and serum E2 after danazol medication, serum E2 could be a guideline for predicting pregnancy or for prolonging or changing of treatment after danazol therapy.

Danazol↗
PubMed1997

Relation between endometrial wavelike activity and fecundability in spontaneous cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether endometrial activity is related to the occurrence of pregnancy in spontaneous menstrual cycles. DESIGN: Prospective observational ultrasound evaluation of endometrial activity during fertility screening cycles. SETTING: University hospital-based infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Fifty-nine fertility screening cycles (ultrasound monitoring of follicle growth and ovulation, postcoital test, semen analysis, midluteal P, Chlamydia antibody determination, and tubal patency testing) were performed in 47 couples complaining of infertility. In 33 couples (37 cycles), no fertility impairing factors were found. Endometrial activity was analyzed in these cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Ultrasound examination was performed transvaginally throughout the cycle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Endometrial activity, wave pattern, pregnancy. RESULTS(S): Nine women conceived within the cycle studied. Conception cycles showed less-activity compared with nonconception cycles. Endometrial wavelike activity increased throughout the follicular phase and decreased after ovulation in conception and nonconception cycles. CONCLUSION(S): Endometrial activity is related to fecundability in a spontaneous cycle.

Anovulation↗
PubMed1997

Basal estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone predict fecundity in women of advanced reproductive age undergoing ovulation induction therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value of single basal E2 and FSH levels as predictors of fecundity in women of advanced reproductive age who are undergoing ovulation induction with IUI therapy. DESIGN: Prospective, observational. SETTING: Fertility service of university medical center. PATIENT(S): Infertile couples in which the female partner was > or = 38 years old. INTERVENTION(S): Single assessment of basal E2 and FSH levels and ovulation induction with IUI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cumulative and clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates. RESULT(S): All live births occurred in patients with a basal E2 < or = 80 pg/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 3.671), a basal FSH < or = 13 mIU/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 1.00), and a chronological age < or = 42 years. In women 38 to 42 years of age, 10.3% had elevated basal E2 (> 80 pg/mL) in combination with normal basal FSH (< or = 13 mIU/mL), and no live births occurred in these couples. The cumulative live birth rate after four treatment cycles in women 38 to 42 years of age with both normal basal E2 (< or = 80 pg/mL) and FSH levels (< or = 13 mIU/mL) was 43.9%. CONCLUSION(S): Basal E2 improves the ability to predict fertility potential compared with basal FSH and chronological age alone. Basal E2, in combination with basal FSH and chronological age, has useful prognostic value in prospectively counseling patients of advanced reproductive age who are considering ovulation induction and IUI therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Changes in gametogenesis and fecundity of acroporid corals that were exposed to elevated nitrogen and phosphorus during the ENCORE experiment.

Colonies of two scleractinian reef coral species, Acropora longicyathus and Acropora aspera were transplanted into patch reefs at One Tree Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia as part of the ENCORE experiment. These corals and colonies of A. aspera which were naturally present in the patch reefs were exposed to four treatments over two years: controls with normal seawater, elevated levels of nitrogen only, phosphorus only, or nitrogen plus phosphorus. These corals were sampled and used to determine whether gametogenic cycles and fecundity were affected by nutrient enrichment. Acropora longicyathus had a single annual gametogenic cycle. Corals exposed to elevated nitrogen produced significantly smaller and fewer eggs and contained less testes material than those which were not exposed to nitrogen. Exposure to elevated phosphorus only resulted in corals producing more but smaller eggs, and more testes material. Egg numbers of colonies from other treatments decreased as the gametogenic cycles continued, but those of the phosphorus colonies showed almost no reduction in egg numbers between the early and late stages of the gametogenic cycles. These results have important management implications for coral reefs as they demonstrate that small increases in concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus can have severe effects on reproductive activity in these species of scleractinian corals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Sterility and fecundability estimation.

The percentage of steriles and the fecundability of non-steriles among a given population can be estimated by a probabilistic model from observations made on delays to first conception. The maximum likelihood method of estimation that was used takes into account all available information, though some of these observations may be incomplete due to a variable follow-up amongst the couples. The model is illustrated with data provided by a prospective study.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Estimation of the fecund life span of Wuchereria bancrofti in an endemic area.

A stochastic approach appropriate for general use in endemic communities was applied to estimate the average yearly instantaneous rate of loss of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia from infected individuals, and gain by uninfected individuals, from longitudinal data. This method was shown to give similar results (i.e., the rate of loss was independent of age, while the rate of gain differed significantly between age classes) to a previously used method based on transmision interruption, provided that the intersurvey interval was > 5 years. The method was used to estimate the fecund life span of W. bancrofti in an endemic area at 5 years. The results suggest that the life span is at the lower end of previous estimates.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating anodic antigen levels in two areas endemic for schistosomiasis mansoni indicate differences in worm fecundity.

Serum levels of the adult schistosome circulating anodic antigen (CAA) were compared in 2 populations, both living in an area with extremely high transmission levels of Schistosoma mansoni. In one focus (Maniema, eastern Zaire) transmission has been established for several decades, while in the other focus (Ndombo, northern Senegal) transmission started only recently. While parasite egg counts in the 2 populations were virtually similar, including analogous age-related distributions, serum levels of CAA were approximately 5 times higher in the chronically exposed community. This difference in antigen level was most pronounced in adolescents and adults. As the level of CAA is assumed to be a direct reflection of worm burden, these findings suggest higher parasite fecundity in the recently exposed community. It is not very likely that these observations could be explained solely by differences in clearance mechanisms caused by a variation in experience of infection. The relationship between circulating antigen levels and egg counts was consistent for all age groups in the Maniema population, while in the Ndombo population only children showed a pattern similar to that in the chronically exposed community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Artificial selection of rams for sexual performance and its effect on the sexual behavior and fecundity of male and female progeny.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a single generation of artificial selection for sexual performance in rams on the sexual behavior and fecundity of their male and female progeny. Ninety-two ram lambs born to sires selected for either high or low sexual performance were evaluated for their sexual behaviors at approximately 8 months of age when individually exposed to four estrous ewes for 30min in four weekly serving capacity tests. Number of mounts and successful matings (ejaculations) were recorded. Fourteen of the 17 high-performing ram lambs identified were sired by high-performing sires, whereas 22 of 37 low-performing ram lambs were sired by low-performing sires (P<0.01). Sons of high-performing sires exhibited more ejaculations (P<0.04) and more mounts without ejaculation (P<0.02) than sons of low-performing sires. The two groups of ram lambs did not differ in mating efficiency (ratio of ejaculations to total mounts). Daughters of high-performing rams (N=79) exhibited their first behavioral estrus approximately 8 days earlier than daughters (N=61) of low-performing sires (P<0.005). Ovulation rates for the two groups of ewe lambs did not differ (P=0.55). It was concluded that there was sufficient genetic variation in the population of sheep studied to obtain a significant response to selection for ram sexual performance in both male and female offspring in a single generation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

DNA vaccination with asparaginyl endopeptidase (Sm32) from the parasite Schistosoma mansoni: anti-fecundity effect induced in mice.

DNA-based vaccine technology was used to induce an immune response in mice against a schistosome cysteine proteinase, asparaginyl endopeptidase (Sm32). The cDNA coding for Sm32 was cloned in a mammalian expression vector under control of the CMV promoter/enhancer and expressed for the first time in transfected mammalian cells as well as in mice immunized with the Sm32-encoding DNA construct. These mice developed antibodies which recognized the native protein not only in homogenates of Schistosoma mansoni worms but also in the gut on cryostat sections of the parasites. This DNA vaccine led to an anti-fecundity effect: female worms of a challenge infection produced 37% less eggs than those growing in naïve mice. The results suggest that Sm32 may be a candidate antigen for the generation of an anti-pathology vaccine against schistosomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Establishment and fecundity of Ostertagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in lambs fed lotus (Lotus pedunculatus) or perennial ryegrass.

Forty four 12-14 week old Polled Dorset ram lambs, raised helminth free from birth, were used to investigate the effects of condensed tannins (CT) in lotus (Lotus pedunculatus) on lamb growth and gastrointestinal nematode establishment and fecundity. Condensed tannins bind to proteins in the rumen and increase the flow of protein to the intestines. Lambs were allocated to either a ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or lotus diet fed ad libitum, with or without twice daily drenching of polyethylene glycol (PEG) which binds with and deactivates the CT. One week after allocation to the diets, each lamb was infected per os with 10,000 Ostertagia circumcincta and 10,000 Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae and slaughtered 28 or 29 days later. Lambs fed lotus had lower faecal egg counts (P < 0.0001) and lower O. circumcincta burdens (P < 0.001), fewer female O. circumcincta (P < 0.0001) and higher faecal dry matter (P < 0.001) than lambs fed ryegrass, but numbers of T. colubriformis nematodes were not affected. This trial did not ascribe beneficial effects of L. pedunculatus to CT per se and the use of PEG does not seem appropriate to studies of parasitology.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Pre-ovulatory follicular characteristics and ovulation rates in different breed crosses, carriers or non-carriers of the Booroola or Cambridge fecundity gene.

Terminal follicular dynamics and ovulation rates (OR) were compared in different local breeds after introducing fecundity genes of different origin. Crossbred ewes which were carriers (F+) or non-carriers (++) of Booroola (BFec) or Cambridge genes (CFec) were included: CambridgexCambridge (CC), CambridgexSuffolk (CS), CambridgexTexel (CT), BooroolaxTexel (BT) and BooroolaxGerman Mutton Merino (BGM). The numbers of small (diameter 2-3.5 mm), medium (diameter >3.5-5.0 mm) and large (diameter >5.0 mm) growing follicles, the maximum diameter before ovulation and the regression and artesia rates of ovarian follicles >/=2 mm in diameter were studied laparoscopically and repeatedly during the last 5 days of an induced oestrous cycle. The ORs were determined one cycle before and two cycles after the repeated laparoscopy. BFec and CFec significantly enhanced the OR of all crossbreeds. Carriers of BFec or CFec did not have significantly different ORs due to any crossbreeding effect. The same observation was made for non-carriers of both Fec gene types. Whatever the crossbreed, the number of small, medium and large growing follicles were similar between carriers and non-carriers in spite of a higher number of ovulating follicles in carriers of both Fec gene types. The diameter of ovulatory follicles did not differ among crossbreds, or between carriers and non-carriers except in the BT (5.2+/-0.2 vs. 6.5+/-0.8 mm, respectively) and CC (6.6+/-0.2 vs. 5.6+/-0.3 mm) ewes.The higher OR in the presence of the Booroola gene was associated with a low atresia rate of large follicles in all crossbreeds (BT: 52+/-8% (F+) vs. 61+/-7% (++); BGM: 51+/-6% vs. 75+/-5%). The high OR of the carriers of the CFec gene seemed to be associated with a lower number of large growing follicles with a lower (P<0.05) atresia rate as compared with Booroola crossbreeds. In conclusion, follicular features were similar between purebred Cambridge and its crossbred CS and CT. In ewes carrying the BFec or CFec gene, the reduction in follicular atresia seemed to be one of the main follicular features implicated in the higher OR.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Schistosoma mansoni: effect of recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha on fecundity and [14C]-tyrosine uptake in females maintained in vitro.

It has been reported that recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (rTNF alpha) stimulates egg-laying in Schistosoma mansoni females. Because tyrosine requirement is increased in female undergoing sexual maturation in preparation for oogenesis and tyrosine is a major component of eggshell protein, we wanted to determine whether females treated with rTNF alpha would also incorporate more tyrosine. Adult females were first treated with 10, 20 or 40 ng/ml rTNF alpha for 1, 3 or 6 hr in RPMI 1640 containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). Another two groups of females were each exposed either to males or to male excretory-secretory (ES) products for 1 hr. They were then exposed to 20 microCi/ml-1 [14C]-tyrosine for 1 hr in RPMI 1640 containing 10% FCS. All females were incubated individually unless indicated otherwise. Females incorporated more tyrosine after exposure to males or their ES products. They incorporated significantly more tyrosine when treated with rTNF alpha for 1 hr; the increased uptake correlated with increasing amounts of rTNF alpha used. Although after a 3-hr treatment with 10 ng/ml rTNF alpha females incorporated slightly more tyrosine than controls, increasing amounts of rTNF alpha had an adverse effect. Females treated with rTNF alpha for 6 hr incorporated less tyrosine than controls and those treated for 1 hr. SDS-PAGE and fluorography did not reveal any differences in polypeptide profiles of untreated and rTNF alpha-treated females. These unexpected results led us to study the effect of rTNF alpha on fecundity in females. Contrary to the published report, we observed a sharp decline in egg-laying in females when exposed to increasing concentrations of rTNF alpha in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Presenting and long-term clinical implications and fecundity in females with obstructing vaginal malformations.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate presenting and long-term clinical consequences in females with obstructing vaginal anomalies. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: A university hospital in southern Finland. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six females with obstructing vaginal malformations. The conditions were classified into transverse vaginal obstruction (transverse septum or imperforate hymen) and longitudinal vaginal obstruction (longitudinal vaginal septum). INTERVENTIOS: 13 out of 16 women with transverse vaginal obstruction underwent incision of the imperforate hymen and three underwent excision of a complete transverse vaginal septum. Ten patients with obstructing hemivagina had incision of the longitudinal vaginal septum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presenting symptoms and delay in diagnosis, outcome of primary surgical treatment, possible late complaints associated with obstruction, fecundity, perinatal outcome, and presence of other anomalies were studied. The mean followup period in the transverse and longitudinal obstruction group respectively was 13 years (range 1-29) and 16 years (range 1-44). RESULTS: Transverse vaginal obstructions were diagnosed within less than a month from the primary symptoms, while the diagnosis of longitudinal obstruction was delayed for an average of 27 months. Two out of three females with transverse vaginal septum underwent re-operation for vaginal constriction and three out of 10 with longitudinal vaginal septum had re-excision of the septum. All females with longitudinal obstruction had uterine and renal malformations as opposed to those with transverse vaginal obstruction. In the transverse vaginal obstruction group, two out of the six females who had their renal status assessed had double ureters. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (19% in the transverse and 40% in the longitudinal obstruction group), dyspareunia (30% and 0%) and dysmenorrhea (19% and 20%) were the most common complaints during the followup. No endometriosis was found in the group that underwent a subsequent laparotomy or laparoscopy (18/26). Female infertility was not found in those 14 females who were attempting to conceive. Twenty-five (89%) out of 28 pregnancies ended in delivery, the live birth rate being 82% in the longitudinal and 94% in the transverse obstruction group. CONCLUSION: Accurate diagnosis together with adequate treatment may reduce the need for re-operations in cases with obstructing vaginal malformations. No specific gynecologic long-term clinical symptoms were identified in obstructing vaginal anomalies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Fertility, fecundity and twinning: a comparison of the trends in births and twinning in Australia from 1854 to 1982.

The trends in births and in twinning in Australia are compared from 1854 to 1982. Until about 1930 the twinning rate increased as births fell. The two rates then became concordant. The relationship of fecundity to twinning is discussed. Comparison with other countries is made. The period embraces the demographic transition when changing contraceptive practices would have had a variable effect on twinning.

Australia↗
PubMed1990

Establishment, development and fecundity of Taenia crassiceps in the intestine of prednisolone-treated Mongolian gerbils and inbred mice.

Worm establishment, development and fecundity of Taenia crassiceps in the intestine of prednisolone (PTBA)-treated, 15- and 4-week-old Mongolian gerbils and 9-week-old inbred mice of 4 strains (AKR/J, BALB/cAn, B10D2/oSn and C57BL/KsJ) were investigated following oral administration of metacestodes. Gerbils were divided into 5 groups of 4 animals each according to the host age and commencement day of PTBA-treatment (day -13, -7 or 0 relative to infection). Worm recovery from the intestine on day 35 postinfection was not affected by host age, but fewer worms were recovered the earlier the commencement of PTBA-treatment. Worm size, determined by wet weight, total length and proglottis number, correlated inversely with worm burden, suggesting they were affected by the crowding effect. Proglottides were released normally in the faeces but were markedly depressed in all groups except for that of young gerbils. Furthermore, egg production and its development in gravid proglottides were markedly depressed in all groups. In PTBA-treated mice of 4 strains, sexually mature but not gravid worms were recovered from all mice of the AKR/J strain on days 20-32 postinfection, but none or few worms from the intestine of the others. PTBA-treatment did not inhibit all protective host defence mechanism(s) in the unnatural or alternative rodent definitive host of T. crassiceps.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Studies on infectivity, longevity and fecundity of Ancylostoma ceylanicum in golden hamsters.

Ancylostoma ceylanicum is a new introduction as an experimental hookworm model. Information on the biology of this parasite in its laboratory host--the golden hamster, is meagre. Its infectivity, longevity and fecundity were studied to obtain relevant information especially on vulnerable points in the maintenance and continuation of the infection. 100% infectivity was obtained with an inoculum of 60 larvae per animal. Maximum numbers of parasites were harboured from day 15 to day 18 after infection and thereafter gradually declined. Approximately 10% of the worms were still present at the end of the third month of infection. The in vitro release of eggs in a 24-hour period by one female nematode peaked from day 25 to day 39, a second rise occurred in day 70 after infection.

Ancylostoma↗
PubMed1990

Praziquantel treatment of Biomphalaria glabrata infected with Schistosoma mansoni--influence on snail fecundity.

Praziquantel, administered over a 72 h period in the food of mature Biomphalaria glabrata harbouring 7-week-old Schistosoma mansoni infections, dramatically reduced the numbers of cercariae shed. Doses of 20-30 micrograms/g body weight (including shell weight) reduced shedding by 85-95% over 5 weeks before recovery was evident. Suppression of cercarial shedding in these infections was accompanied by the temporary recovery of the snail reproductive regression due to S. mansoni infection. Snail fecundity was subsequently re-suppressed 2 weeks prior to recovery of the parasite as evidenced by a resumption of cercarial shedding. Praziquantel destroyed mature and developing cercariae within the daughter sporocysts but had no apparent effect on daughter sporocysts; this may account for the eventual resumption of cercarial production. Reproductive failure of the snail is apparently related to the latter stages of cercarial development specifically. Reproductive recovery did not occur when snails were infected as juveniles or when mature-infected snails harboured 12.5 week i.e. older infections: drug treatment temporarily inhibited cercarial production but no snails produced eggs.

Animals↗