IFFS - additional comment on press releases from ASRM fertility conference‏

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has issued press releases from their ongoing conference in Baltimore. The International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) is issuing the following comments, which may be used in any press coverage of this work. These comments are embargoed to match the embargo on the original press releases.

(1)   Press release, “The Quebec experience..”

Professor Richard Kennedy (Coventry, UK), President Elect of the International Federation of Fertility Societies, said:

“This is good work. The most important single complication of assisted reproduction is multiple births, and multiple births tend to risk complications for mother and children. This work shows how a publicly funded model, working in tandem with strict guidelines on single embryo transfer (SET) can produce a win-win situation, in terms of access, success and better overall outcomes”.

(2)   Press release, “Health Outcomes for Fertile and Sub-Fertile Mothers and Their Offspring

Professor Richard Kennedy (Coventry, UK), President Elect of the International Federation of Fertility Societies, said:

“This work provides additional reassurance that the observed slight increase in birth defects following Assisted Reproduction seems to be a result of the underlying infertility problem, and not the as a result of the treatment”.

(3)   Press release, “Adult Stem Cells Restore Function to ovaries damaged by Chemotherapy”

Dr Edgar Mocanu (Dublin), Treasurer of the International Federation of Fertility Societies, said:

“Millions of women receive chemotherapy treatment yearly.  While cancer survival rates have increased dramatically, to date no effective method of preventing infertility after chemotherapy.

This first experimental study in mice, using human stem cells, holds great promise and proof in human models is eagerly awaited.  The potential applications include treatment of premature ovarian failure, restoration of hormonal and reproductive function after sterilising chemotherapy.  It could also open new avenues for the treatment of menopause induced health issues.

While controlled trials must confirm short and long term safety this proof of principle holds significant promise for women of all ages”.

New techniques “ will probably revolutionise the success of IVF”

Assisted Reproduction – including IVF - is on the verge of a step-change in success rates. This is the message given by Professor Samir Hamamah (Montpellier, France), addressing the World Congress of Fertility and Sterility in Munich. Professor Hamamah used the occasion of his talk to show how pulling together the strands of emerging analysis techniques known as ‘-omics’ will change the way clinics are able to evaluate and select eggs and embryos, so giving the real potential to significantly increase viability of embryos and the success of IVF.
Professor Hamamah explains that the general change will come with the adoption of techniques to micro-measure what cells are doing at any one time. This will allow us to build up a profile of what makes a successful cell, and how best to return it to the womb, so that we can identify of which cells go on to produce viable embryos. This means measuring the expression level of mRNAs (transcriptomics), the production of protein levels (through proteomics) and the metabolites the cells produce (via metabolomics).
In normal cell functioning, the genes (DNA) produce RNA, which then goes on to make cell components such as proteins. The ability to detect this RNA shows which genes are active at any one stage of egg or cell environment or embryo development. Knowledge of this gene activity can then be used to select which eggs or embryos will be more likely to lead to a successful pregnancy. This is done through transcriptomics. As RNA is produced by the genes, it is "amplified" (by producing enough copies to be able to be detected), and then it binds to specific areas on microarray chips – small chips which may contain sample sequences of many thousands of genes. This can be measured by a specialised microarray reader, which will tell the clinician which genes are active at which time. This technique has identified several differentially expressed genes with roles in (for example) cell division and chromosomal movement.
Proteomics describes the changes in all proteins expressed and translated from genes. Recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS) have led to the development of methods sensitive enough to allow the examination of proteins which are secreted by single oocytes and embryos, and which are present in the local external cell environment.
Metabolomics is a high sensitivity screening technology using Raman and near infra-red (NIR) spectroscopy, to look at all the metabolites which are secreted in the local environment of a cell or organ. These techniques allow the clinician to characterize the egg, embryo, and even the lining of the womb, to optimise the conditions for embryo development.
Professor Hamamah said:
"Currently, one of the problems in IVF is that we have to evaluate such things as egg or embryo quality largely by looking at it through a microscope. This is useful to an extent, but it’s a bit like judging a book by its cover – you don’t really know what happens inside the cell.
The application of these techniques will allow us to find out exactly which processes go on in the cell or developing embryo, and when these processes take place. It will help us select viable embryos and maximize the chance of successful pregnancy by applying similar processes to the endometrium, so we will know the best time for implantation in the womb. We will also be able to reduce and eliminate many of the risks of multiple pregnancies resulting from IVF treatment, and accurately evaluate the viability of embryos before returning them to the womb.
These techniques are non-invasive, and once adopted they will allow us to maximise the success of IVF treatment options. Each technique is powerful in itself, but the combination of these techniques will probably revolutionise the success of IVF".

20th World Congress on Fertility and Sterilty in Munich

The World Congress on Fertility and Sterility takes place every 3 years. It is the most important international congress in this fast moving field. The congress will take place in Munich, Germany, from 12-16 September, 2010, just a few days before the start of the famous Oktoberfest.
The congress programme includes talks by international experts on a range of subjects which will be of press interest, including:
· Contraception
· Ethical controversies in reproduction
· Menopause and Andropause
· Simplified IVF for developing countries
· Assisted reproduction and increasing age
· STDs and lifestyle factors and ART
· In addition, the congress will see the launch of the IFFS’s triennial review of fertility legislation.

**Programme details are available at: http://www.iffs2010.com/scientific-program.html

The World Congress is organised under the auspices of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS). After Munich, the next World Congress will be a joint meeting with the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and will take place in Boston in 2013.

International fertility clinicians comment on reports linking assisted reproduction with increased risk of congenital malformations.

Press reports yesterday commented on the work of Viot et al*, presented at the European Society for Human Genetics conference. This works indicates an increased risk of congenital malformation posed by the use of Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART).

The International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), which is the main international body representing national societies working in the fields of fertility and contraception, is issuing the following statement.

“Assisted conception has been responsible for the birth of several million healthy babies born worldwide and is generally a safe process for both mother and baby. There have been previously reported data indicating a small but definite increase in IVF conceptions born with a congenital abnormality. It is unknown if this increase is a consequence of the ART procedures, or of the infertility which is being treated, or both.The IFFS supports continued worldwide surveillance into the outcomes of assisted conception in order to improve our understanding of these concerns. Clinicians are generally aware of this slight risk of congenital abnormalities. The IFFS fully supports clear and comprehensive information being provided to patients to enable them to make informed decisions about treatment”.