Category Archives: Embryology

Embryology

UW Bothell Graduate Certificate Programs Make a Difference in the Lives of Women in Engineering – All Together – Society of Women Engineers

Jennifer Kolar had more than 20 years of engineering experience but wanted to enhance her skills; Kelsey Stemm was looking to make a career pivot from human embryology to software engineering. Jennifers desire to add to her toolset and Kelseys career change led them in the same direction: graduate certificates at the UW Bothell School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.

The Graduate Certificate in Electrical Engineering Foundations provided Jennifer (GCEEF 20) with the updated industry knowledge to thrive at work.

My engineering background was pretty rusty, said Jennifer, the vice president of engineering at Monsoon Solutions, a printed circuit board design engineering services and consulting company in Bellevue. I wanted to refresh my knowledge, learn the tools, and get myself reacquainted with the more hands-on, technical side.

Kelsey (GCSDD 16) found the Graduate Certificate in Software Design & Development, which helped her jump-start her career shift to software engineering.

I chose UW Bothell because it was more than just a boot camp, Kelsey said. I had the support of a college and the coursework was more rigorous. It really hit me how important this program could be to make this transition. For me, it was the best possible way to learn the things I needed to learn.

As women in engineering and science, both Jennifer and Kelsey are used to encountering challenges.

Jennifer was one of five female engineering students in a class of 500 during her undergraduate studies in the 90s. She recalls a pregnant classmate who was told she didnt belong in school by an instructor and also remembers being refused office hours.

After entering the software engineering field, Kelsey dealt with the typical doubts and bouts of impostors syndrome that come with any career change. But after years in the health care field, where women are in the majority, she also struggled with her confidence when she was the only woman in the room.

Through the graduate certificate program and the Society of Women Engineers, Kelsey met a community of learners and mentors that she relies on and values years later.

Everyone was so supportive, Kelsey said.It didnt matter where you came from or what you were doing. Its been really great to have people who I can depend on, who I still know and talk to, to this day.

Jennifer also found a strong support system in the electrical engineering graduate certificate program. She credits classroom discussions and teamwork with classmates helped her build upon her knowledge. Since completing the program, Jennifer has expanded her role and is enjoying being much more hands-on with engineering design challenges.

It gave me a lot more confidence to be able to challenge or support the other engineers as well as our customers, she said. It also refreshed my foundational knowledge, so I could more easily answer my own questions and know what questions to ask. Im happy that I did it.

The graduate certificate helped Kelsey land an internship with Tango Card right out of school. That internship turned into a full-time job, and that experience helped Kelsey get hired at Microsoft, where shes been for two years.

I can say that UW Bothell is the reason I got the job 100 percent, Kelsey said. Between the networking and the rigor of the coursework, its an incredible program, and I dont think you can do much better.

Learn more about UW Bothells Graduate Certificate in Software Design & Development or Graduate Certificate in Electrical Engineering Foundations. Register for an information session or sign up for our email list on the program websites. You can also follow them on Facebook for the latest updates.

SWE Blog provides up-to-date information and news about the Society and how our members are making a difference every day. Youll find stories about SWE members, engineering, technology, and other STEM-related topics.

Visit link:
UW Bothell Graduate Certificate Programs Make a Difference in the Lives of Women in Engineering - All Together - Society of Women Engineers

Embryology

I Chose To Be A Solo Mum Aged 31 – GLAMOUR UK

Sitting across from my GP in his surgery in my small hometown of Cullompton in Devon, I asked him what my options were as a single, heterosexual 31-year-old woman wanting to become a mother on my own. He looked at me blankly and said, Ive never had anyone ask that before; Ill have to speak to the local fertility clinics and get back to you. That was two years ago, and last week I celebrated my son Phineas first birthday.

Im part of a growing number of women in the UK some even in their twenties who are becoming solo mothers by choice, mainly through the use of donor sperm. (Latest figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority reveal that the number of treatment cycles where women use their own eggs with donor sperm went up by 50% between 2015 2018.) Like myself, for a lot of these women this is not a last resort or a back-up plan because weve left it too late, but a conscious and conscientious decision to take control of our fertility, not be hindered by our biological clock or settle for the wrong partner because weve run out of time. Were financially independent with a strong support network and enough love in our lives to ensure our children get the best possible start in life.

Ive always wanted to be a mum and by the time I was 24, I realised that I never saw myself with a partner I would want to have a baby with. Yes, it was quite young to think that, but I just hadnt met that person who I clicked with. I tried to date with little success, and I just kept coming back to the fact I was happy on my own.

I knew nothing about the process of becoming a solo mum. I was living in London at the time working as a nanny, and one day while on the tube, I saw an advert for the London Womens Clinic alongside information about the sperm donor clinics they use. It was then I realised I could do it on my own.

When I told people about my plans, it was seen by some as an unusual or unexpected. A few friends were worried about me being on my own, so for a while I did try to continue dating, but it was half-hearted. Sometimes I would feel guilty that my mum would not get to be part of my wedding, but the whole fairytale wedding was never something I wanted and I have always been fiercely independent. I also realised that if I took the time factor out and decided to have a child on my own at a younger age, I had the rest of my life to meet someone for the right reasons and not feel pressured into finding the father of my child.

Once I was sure of my decision, my closest friends and family were nothing but supportive. I was 28 by then and had saved all the necessary funds around 5,000 in total for tests, sperm and treatment. Before I went ahead I was chatting to my younger brother and he offered some advice that influenced my final decision. He advised that I wait until I was 30 and had my own home, so that people would be less likely to judge me about having plenty of time and would see I was serious. So, I moved back to Devon to be near my family, bought my first home, gave up my job in child care and started working in sales and marketing at my family freight forwarding business.

Then, shortly after I turned 31, I made that initial appointment with my GP. I wanted to enquire whether I could receive any NHS funding, because I know couples who are struggling to conceive are assisted, as are same-sex couples, but at present it is extremely rare to receive funding as a single woman on the NHS.

After a few tests with my GP and an initial consultation at the fertility clinic I was offered the choice of IUI or IVF and we agreed IUI was the way for me because I was young I didnt have any fertility issues.

I bought two straws of sperm from the European Sperm and I found choosing my donor much like using a dating website, and while I was never really enthusiastic about the likes of Tinder, I found this really exciting. You get a lot of information on the donor; their favourite food, hobby, education history and even a recording of their voice and a written letter for any future child conceived. I knew I wanted to prioritise the child resembling me. I was also keen to know the donors genetic history and had access to their family information; careers, medical history and what their relatives died from and at what age. I was extremely lucky and conceived first time.

Sometimes I feel a little sad that I am raising Phineas without a father, especially as my own dad, who died when I was 23, was amazing and very involved. But theres no guarantee that the person you have a child with will be a great father. I think it is more important that you have multiple people in your life to help you and I have a very loving family my mum lives 10 minutes down the road and I also have relatives nearby. The hardest thing about being a solo parent is the financial aspect. However, I think that the cost of conceiving using a donor means women who go into it alone often put a lot more thought into having a baby and the financial implications, not just with conception, but also with the childs future and childcare. Today we live in a world with so many more options and I believe its important to make the most of them to ensure you lead a happy and fulfilling life and that is what I have with my son; he is the biggest gift and I couldnt imagine my life without him.

As told to Emily Maddick

GLAMOUR's AW20 bi-annual print edition starring Alicia Keys is on newsstands now.

Go here to read the rest:
I Chose To Be A Solo Mum Aged 31 - GLAMOUR UK

Embryology

Assisted Reproductive Technology Market 2020 Growth Opportunities and Growth Rate With COVID-19 Impact Study – The Cloud Tribune

Reproduction segment is currently blooming. The major factor responsible for its growth are improved access to fertility clinics and fertilization technologyadvancements. Different organizations have come forward to encourage people to avail reproductive assistance services. Angels of Hope Foundation, BabyQuest Foundation and Pay-it-Forward Foundation are some of the organizations in US that offer grants to make fertility treatment affordable as it is cost-intensive which discourages the general public. Reproductive outcomes from such services have been positive. This increases the adoption rate of assistive reproductive technologies like IVF and IUI. Technologies have significantly increased the number of treatments that are available for infertility.

Modern lifestyle induces productivity issues

In many economies across the globe, same sex marriages are made legal. Such marriages are eyed as prominent revenue source for the global assistive reproductive technology market. Latest Fact.MR report forecasts that the revenue of assistive reproductive technology will increase by 6.3% by the end of 2020.

Request for Sample Report with Statistical Info @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=4393

Modern lifestyle has induced stress in people. This adversely effects the reproductive capacity in men and women, compelling them to divert towards assistive reproductive technologies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) give the data that 82% ART cycle induced pregnancies are based on use of fresh non-donor eggs. The major factor driving this rate is the desire to have a child with eggs form one person. Fresh non-donor eggs are trending as the medium for using assistive technology. It is primarily used by women below the age of 35. Major factors like late family planning and increase in prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer cause infertility issues. Medical freezing is getting recommended by medical professionals for women to reduce the risks of infertility.

Employers offer perks and incentives to employees

Major employers are addressing infertility issues in their employees. They have come up with perks and incentives to encourage employees to store eggs so that they do not undergo infertility issues in future. These factors are expected to surge the demand for frozen non-donor procedures. Assistive reproductive technology is used to treat infertility using many treatment cycles, which makes the treatment very expensive. Fertility clinics have identified the scope of opportunities in treatment of productivity issues. They have introduced one stop solutions that include diagnostic as well as the treatment. Major stake holders are investing towards development of embryology labs that are used to ensure safe and efficient gamete handling. Medical professionals are preferring fertility clinics of treatment as these spaces offer quality service and are laced with advanced technologies. Fact.MR report predicts that fertility clinics can generate US$16.8Bn revenue by the end of the year 2020.

Request to Browse Report Customization @https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=4393

Different attitude is adopted towards assisted reproductive technology in different regions. This happens because such technologies get different implementation in terms of reimbursement facilities, patient outcomes and cost in different regions. Fact.MR report highlights the fact the 53% of the Netherlands population ops for quality reproductive treatments and chooses to even go abroad for it. Cross-border reproductive care is highly popular in European countries.

About Fact.MR

Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; thats why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.

Media Release:https://www.factmr.com/media-release/1196/assisted-reproductive-technology-demand

Here is the original post:
Assisted Reproductive Technology Market 2020 Growth Opportunities and Growth Rate With COVID-19 Impact Study - The Cloud Tribune

Embryology

Sperm donation: terms and conditions apply – BioNews

9 November 2020

A few weeks ago, it was reported that a sperm donor had sued CARE fertility after discovering that his sperm had been used in the treatment of same-sex couples, even though he had specified in advance that he did not want this to happen (see BioNews 1066). Following a 'four-year legal battle', CARE apparently settled his case for a 'five-figure sum'.

Whether or not a donor should be able to place conditions upon the use of their gametes is a complicated question. Some instances of conditional gamete donation are widely accepted. For example, known donation is generally conditional upon the donor's gametes being used in the treatment of one named individual, and not for the treatment of anyone else.

We would not normally think that there is anything wrong in specifying that you are willing to help a lesbian friend conceive, but that you do not wish to become a sperm donor for multiple unknown recipients. When potential sperm donors use 'introduction' websites in order to make contact with potential recipients, they can choose who does and who does not have the opportunity to conceive with their sperm.

Is positively choosing to donate to a particular person different from choosing not to donate to other people because of their particular and protected characteristics. Many people will think that there is a difference, but why?

When we choose to donate to a friend or relative, we are not discriminating against someone else on the basis of their characteristics, we are just offering to help someone we care about. Even though a person's prejudices may inform their choice of friends, most of us are comfortable with giving preferential treatment to friends and relatives because we do this all the time.

When we choose to donate to strangers, a preference for one type of stranger over another will generally be grounded in discriminatory assumptions, which are therefore more visible than the discriminatory preferences which may underpin someone's choice of friends. As a result, there is a widespread belief that the donation of bodily material to strangers should be a freely given gift, which is not contingent upon the recipient conforming to the donor's specifications.

For example, there was an infamous organ donation case 22 years ago in which the deceased's family agreed to the donation of his organs, but only if they went to white recipients. The organs were accepted, on the grounds that the people who would have received his organs in the absence of this condition (one of whom was likely to die within 24 hours without a transplant) happened to be white, so the condition made no difference in practice. But following an investigation, the Department of Health concluded that the organs should not have been accepted, and that in the future, organs should be refused if families seek to place conditions upon their use.

This absolute rejection of conditional cadaveric donation was modified ten years later when a different sort of case emerged, in which a woman died suddenly, shortly after expressing an interest in becoming a living kidney donor for her mother. She was on the organ donor register, and because no conditions could be placed on her organs' use, her kidneys were donated to strangers rather than to her mother. Following this case, 'requested allocation' became possible, where the deceased wished to donate to a specific relative or friend, provided that there is no one on the waiting list in desperately urgent clinical need for the organ.

It is interesting that the rejection of conditional cadaveric donation unless it is to a relative or friend co-exists not just with the acceptance of conditional living donation, but with the reality that most living donation is conditional. Most living kidney donors are willing to donate their kidney only to a specific relative or friend with kidney failure. Non-directed living donation is possible but unusual, and extra safeguards are in place in order to ensure that no money has changed hands in exchange for the donation.

Of course, gamete donation is different from cadaveric organ donation, not least because in the case of the racist condition, there was an identifiable person who would have died if the organs had been rejected. Refusing to accept gametes with discriminatory conditions attached to them may lead to less choice for recipients, or to delays in their treatment, but it will not result in their immediate death.

Under the Equality Act 2010, healthcare providers must not discriminate against patients on the grounds of their protected characteristics, and the Code of Practice from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority spells out that 'patients should not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religious belief or age'.

This is normally assumed to apply to clinics making decisions to offer, or not offer treatment services, rather than to donors. But if, as a result of accepting gametes with discriminatory conditions, same-sex couples were offered a worse standard of care than other patients, this could amount to discrimination. Certainly, in order to avoid being sued by another angry conditional donor, clinics would be well advised to refuse to accept gametes where the donor wants to specify in advance the sexual orientation of potential recipients.

It is, however, worth acknowledging that potential donors who wish to impose discriminatory conditions upon the use of their sperm will be able to do so if they opt to become an informal donor, who 'meets' potential recipients on an introduction website, and who has no obligation to donate to anyone who expresses an interest in receiving their sperm. Is this yet another implication of the mixed economy of sperm donation, where strictly regulated donation in licensed clinics co-exists with almost completely unregulated informal donation?

More here:
Sperm donation: terms and conditions apply - BioNews

Embryology

From The Extension: School enrichment a focus of 4-H – Daily Commercial

Dallas Meringolo| For the Daily Commercial

The Florida 4-H youth development program offers a variety of school enrichment programs. 4-H is a non-formal, educational youth development program offered to youth ages 5-18. All 4-H programs such as clubs, residential campingand school enrichment focus on active involvement and quality experiences, which are provided by 4-H staff and volunteers. School enrichment is an essential program area that served over 6,000 students during 2019-20.

School enrichment through 4-H is an opportunity for teachers to provide fun, hands-on activities that reinforce what is being taught in the classroom. These programs are designed to supplement existing lesson plans without putting extra stress on teachers without any cost to the schools. Lake County 4-H provides 4-H Public Speaking, Embryology, Bees are the Buzz, and Water Conservation.

4-H Public Speaking:This program is designed for students in 4th-6th grade. This contest helps Lake County youth learn and practice writing and delivering a speech. This program helps build the students' self-esteem and allows them to develop and practice their communication skills. Youth who do well in the classroom advance to the school competition, and the student who wins the school competition moves on to the county level competition.

Embryology:This program is designed for students in kindergarten up to 8th grade. 4-H Embryology teaches students about the science of life. In this program, students can increase scientific processes, life sciences, teamwork, keeping records, planning, and organizing. Teachers are provided an incubator, fertilized eggs, brooder, and curriculum to help students develop an understanding of biology concepts through direct experience with living things, life cycles, and habitats.

Bees are the Buzz:This program is designed for students in kindergarten to 6th grade to teach youth the importance of honeybees and native bees. Teachers are provided resources to help teach about pollination, beekeeper careers, and bee's connection to agriculture. Activities include a multi-sensory honey-tasting activity, creating native bee houses, pollination in a bag, and a buzz boy STEM challenge.

Water Conservation:This program is designed for students in 4th-8th grade to teach students about the watershed's role and ways to conserve water. Teachers are provided a watershed demonstration kit and curriculum. This interactive experience teaches students to observe and make connections about the importance of watersheds and the factors that affect water quality.

More: 4-H empowers young people

More: Keeping fit and being mindful during a global pandemic

Youth involved in a school enrichment program are able to experience the benefits of 4-H within their classroom. Programs offered by Lake County 4-H are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in securing a school enrichment program at your school, please contact the Lake County 4-H office. Lake County 4-H Extension Agent Dallas Meringolo can discuss school enrichment options that can be used in your school.

Dallas Meringolo is the 4-H/youth development agent of the UF/IFAS Lake County Extension Office. Email her at hendersond@ufl.edu.

Extension programs are open to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion, or national origin.

Continue reading here:
From The Extension: School enrichment a focus of 4-H - Daily Commercial

Embryology

The Sperm Bank market to grow vertically in the next decade – TechnoWeekly

Sperm bank is a specialized organization, that collects and stores the sperms collected from human sperm donors for the provision to women who need such sperm to have a pregnancy. Sperm bank also known as cryobank or semen bank, and sperms donated in the bank are known as donor sperm, whereas the process of sperm insertion is known as artificial insemination. It is notable that the pregnancy achieved by using sperms in the sperm bank is similar to natural pregnancy, achieved by sexual intercourse.

The major mechanism involved in the operation of sperm bank underlies the provision of sperms, donated by sperm donors, to the needy women, who, due to various reasons, such as, physiological problems, widow, age and others, are not able to achieve pregnancy. Sperm bank forms the formal contract with sperm donors, usually for the period of 6-24 months, during which he has to produce sperms and donate to the bank. Usually, monetary compensation will be offered to sperm donors. Although, a donor can donate his sperms for more than two years, but, due to laws and regulations of various countries and a potential threat of consanguinity, a contract is made for maximum two years only. A donor produces his sperms in a specialized room, called mens production room. From this, the semen fluid is washed, in order to extract the sperms from other materials present in the semen. In case of frozen storage, a cryoprotectant semen extender is added in the sample. Usually, around 20 vials can be extracted from one sample of semen, collected from a sperm donor. These vials are stored in cryogenically preserved condition, in the liquid nitrogen (N2) tanks. Usually, sperms are stored for the period of around 6 months. However, it can be stored for a longer period of time.

To remain ahead of your competitors, request for a sample[emailprotected]

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/5330

The services offered by sperm bank includes provision of sperms, donors selection, guiding recipient for selection of donor, sex selection of baby, and sales of sperms. Although, sperm banks play a major role in the women who are not able to achieve pregnancy, due to some controversial issues, such as, use of sperms by lesbian couples and others, government healthcare bodies of various countries imposed strict regulations on the sperm bank. In the U.S., sperm banks are regulated by FDA, and treated as Human Cell or Human Tissue or Human Cell and Tissue (HCT/Ps), in the European Union, it is been regulated by EU Tissue Directive, whereas, in the U.K., it is regulated by Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority.

To receive extensive list of important regions, Request Methodology here @

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/5330

The global market for sperm banks is expected to increase in steady manner in the forecast period, due to market growth propellers, such as, increased prevalence of women miscarriage, technological innovations in the sperm storage industry, and growing awareness towards this type of pregnancy. Increased miscarriage rate is one of the major drivers that fuels market growth. According to the study report published by HopeXchange, out of 4.4 million pregnancies carried every year in the U.S., around 1 million pregnancies result into miscarriage. Similarly, due to growing concerns towards such pregnancy that achieved without sexual intercourse is also an important market growth propeller. On the other hand, various governmental regulations, negative mindset towards sperm banks and donor, high cost associated with the operating of sperm bank and limited spread across the various regions of the world are some of the major hurdles in the market growth.

Major players operating in the market includes Cryos International Sperm Bank, FairFax Cryobank, Androcryos, New England Cryogenic Center, Inc. and others.

You Can Request for TOC Here @https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/5330

Explore Extensive Coverage of PMR`s

Life Sciences & Transformational HealthLandscape

About us:

Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics andmarket research methodologyto help businesses achieve optimal performance.

To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.

Our client success stories feature a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups. PMRs collaborative environment is committed to building industry-specific solutions by transforming data from multiple streams into a strategic asset.

Contact us:

Naved BegPersistence Market ResearchAddress 305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007 United StatesU.S. Ph. +1-646-568-7751USA-Canada Toll-free +1 800-961-0353Sales[emailprotected]Websitehttps://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

Read the original:
The Sperm Bank market to grow vertically in the next decade - TechnoWeekly

Embryology

It’s time to remove the ten-year limit on social egg freezing – BioNews

26 October 2020

According toUK law (theHuman Fertilisation and Embryology Act1990, as amended2008; henceforth 'the Act'), human eggs can only be frozen for a maximum of ten years for social reasons. However, if a woman has medical reasons (eg, being at risk of premature infertility), then they can extend the freezing of their eggs for as long as 55 years. While there are good reasons to challenge the basis of the regulatory dichotomy between 'medical' and 'social' reasons for egg freezing, I'm going to leave this aside for another discussion and ask instead if this ten-year social egg freezing limit should be maintained by regulators. This is a particularly timely question because it is something the UK government is currently reviewing.

A recent Briefing Note on 'Egg Freezing in the UK', by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, has highlighted the ethical complexities surrounding egg freezing. The Briefing Note emphasised the importance of reviewing the time limit on frozen eggs, especially considering there is an increasing interest and use of egg freezing in the UK. The Council accurately points out that '[t]here appear to be few arguments against increasing this limit.' In this article, I aim to provide three reasons why it is time to remove the ten-year limit on social egg freezing. These reasons are drawn from my own research; however, they also reinforce and expand upon the points made in the Briefing Note itself.

Why is there a ten-year limit?

The ten-year limit on social egg freezing was a recommendation from the Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilisation and Embryology, also known as the Warnock Committee. According to the recent 2020 consultation document published by the UK Department of Health and Social Care on 'gamete (egg, sperm and embryo) storage limits', in 1984 the Warnock Committee recommended the ten-year limit in response to the following concerns: a) 'it would be unreasonable and impractical to expect those responsible for storage to maintain all eggs and sperm stored indefinitely'; b) 'the risk of the use of frozen embryos was unknown'; and c) 'the legal and ethical complications that might arise over disposal of the embryos where the couple died, divorced or otherwise separated'.

No explanation is given for the period of ten years. Nevertheless, the ten-year limit made its way into the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (that was subsequently passed) and we still have it today as part of the Act. While this restrictive ten-year limit may have helped to allay some concerns about egg freezing at the time it was introduced, it has nevertheless created a new set of problems.

Why we should remove the ten-year limit

I want to highlight three important arguments for removing the current limit, although there are many more.

First, egg freezing is expensive and physically demanding. However, there is nothing morally significant or medically special about the timespan of 'ten years' when it comes to freezing eggs. Perhaps this point is best highlighted by the fact that if a woman has appropriate medical reasons, the government will allow her to freeze her eggs for up to an additional 45 years. It is unethical to maintain this arbitrary time limit that creates a harmful asymmetry between the treatment of women who freeze their eggs for social reasons versus medical reasons.

This arbitrary ten-year limit also demonstrates a serious disregard for individuals' reproductive projects and everything that has been invested in them. The ten-year limit amounts to a major restriction on the reproductive liberty of individuals and the burden should rest on regulators to provide compelling reasons for retaining this limit, if they wish to do so (as part of the UK government's current review of the law). So far, no compelling reasons have been provided for retaining this specific restriction. Removing the ten-year limit on egg freezing is an important part of the reproductive medicine industry (including both clinics and regulators) treating women with dignity and respect.

Second, the ten-year limit is a blunt legal tool that papers over the many decisions clinics and patients have to make when deciding the fate of frozen eggs. As mentioned above, one of the reasons for the ten-year limit is that it creates an administratively convenient cut-off point in time to help clinics avoid having to negotiate tricky situations involving the disposal of eggs (eg, if a client dies or simply falls out of touch with the clinic). The fear is that without a ten-year limit on freezing the clinic could be stuck with the frozen eggs indefinitely.

I do not want to diminish the seriousness that such problems may create for clinics. I also recognise that some individuals with frozen eggs may also prefer having the ten-year limit because it takes the decision out of their hands if they no longer want to use the eggs but can't bring themselves to request their destruction. However, the UK needs better legal provisions to more specifically and appropriately address the practical concerns of clinics. Clinics also need to be providing appropriate counselling and support to their customers so that they feel informed and empowered to make decisions about the fate of their frozen eggs. This would be preferable to leaving some customers to rely on a provision in the law that takes this decision out of their hands after ten years.

Third, it is entirely possible that a woman may freeze her eggs and then remain uncertain about whether she wishes to use them to have children. In some instances, women may be approaching the ten-year mark but may wish to keep their eggs frozen so that they can continue thinking about donating them to help others have children or donating them to research. Donating eggs is a big decision, and one that might change over time. For example, someone who freezes their eggs at 23 years old may change their views considerably after ten or 15 years.

It is possible that if given more time (beyond ten years) more people might donate their frozen eggs later. However, the ten-year limit extinguishes this possibility. The fact of the matter is that in the absence of any compelling reasons otherwise, women with frozen eggs should be free to make decisions about how and when to use their eggs. It is unethical to maintain an arbitrary and unforgiving ten-year limit that restricts the time that individuals have to exercise such important aspects of their reproductive liberty.

These are only a few of the reasons why the UK government should abandon the ten-year limit for social egg freezing. It is crucial that the UK government recognises this need, for change and follows through by amending the Act.

PET's #ExtendTheLimit petition at http://www.change.org/extendthelimit calls on the UK Government to extend the ten-year storage limit for eggs frozen for non-medical (social) reasons.

The petition has amassed more than 1200 signatures to date. Help the petition reach 1500 signatures by reading, signing and sharing it.

Read the original post:
It's time to remove the ten-year limit on social egg freezing - BioNews

Embryology

Malawi First Lady Joins Merck Foundation First Ladies Summit via Videoconference to Discuss Healthcare Capacity and COVID-19 Response in Africa -…

(Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India &Lilongwe, Malawi Business Wire India Merck Foundation appoints Malawi First Lady as the Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother to empower infertile women Merck Foundation in partnership with Malawi First Lady and Minister of Health to provide speciality training to Malawian doctors in various fields such as; Oncology, Diabetes, Fertility, Embryology, Respiratory Care, Acute Medicines, Sexual and Reproductive Medicines to transform public healthcare sector in Malawi. Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany announced their long-term partnership with The First Lady of Malawi, during their first Video Conference Summit of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI). The MFFLI VC Summit was attended by 13 African First Ladies to discuss their joint efforts to build healthcare capacity and strengthen the response to COVID-19 in the country and Africa at large. Appreciating the programs of Merck Foundation, H.E. Mrs. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of Malawi emphasized, I am very happy to be appointed as Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother. I will be fully supporting this campaign as The First Lady of Malawi, as a woman, this cause is very close to my heart. I will work in collaboration with our ministries to sensitize our communities, particularly in rural areas to better understand infertility hence to break the stigma around infertile women and to empower them through access to information, education, health, and change of mindset. Moreover, I am looking forward to building healthcare capacity in the country, through the programs of Merck Foundation, as it will contribute to the social and economic development of Malawi.Dr. RashaKelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President, Merck More Than a Mother expressed, We are very happy to partner with The First Lady of Malawi, and underscore our long term commitment to build healthcare capacity, empower girls in education and break the stigma of infertility in Malawi. We are also very proud to appoint The First Lady of Malawi as the Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother. We are going to work very closely with her and the Government of Malawi to make history together by providing training for the First Specialists in many fields such as; Fertility, Sexual and Reproductive Medicines, Oncology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Respiratory and Acute Medicines with the aim to improve access to quality and equitable health care in the country. Merck Foundation will continue their important program Educating Linda together with Malawi First Lady to sponsor the education of 20 best performing girls in their secondary schools till they graduate. I truly believe that Education is Power and educating girls is empowering them to make their own decisions, stand up for their rights, and help them to access economic opportunities, added Dr. RashaKelej, One of 100 Most Influential Africans (2019, 2020). Merck Foundation will enroll the selected Malawian doctors by the First Lady office and Ministry of Health to their various training programs for the next 10 years. Moreover, Merck Foundation also celebrated three winners from Malawi for their Stay at Home Media Recognition Awards from Southern African Countries to raise awareness about COVID 19 in the country. About Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit MFFLI Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany conducted their first Video Conference Summit of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) to define and follow up on different joint programs that aims to advance public healthcare sector capacity and strengthen the response to COVID 19 in their countries. The MFFLI VC Summit 2020 was hosted by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG and the Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees and Dr. RashaKelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President, Merck More Than a Mother and One of 100 Most Influential African (2019 & 2020) and attended by 13 African First Ladies, who are Ambassadors of Merck More than a Mother; H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of Zimbabwe; H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia; H.E. FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of Sierra Leone; H.E. ASSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU, The First Lady of Niger; H.E. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia; H.E. ISAURA FERRO NYUSI, The First Lady of Mozambique; H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of Malawi; H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana; H. E. FATOUMATTA BAHBARROW, The First Lady of The Gambia; H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central African Republic; H.E. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, The First Lady of Burundi; H.E. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana; H.E. ANA DIAS LOURENO, The First Lady of Angola. The MFFLI VC Summit, special edition aims to share experiences, discuss challenges, and define solutions to further strengthen healthcare capacity to better respond to this global pandemic in Africa. Download the Merck Foundation App nowhttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.merck.foundation&hl=en Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard Facebook: Merck FoundationTwitter: @MerckfoundationYouTube: MerckFoundationInstagram: Merck FoundationFlickr: Merck FoundationWebsite: http://www.merck-foundation.com About Merck Foundation The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit http://www.merck-foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Flickr. To View the Video Click on the Link Below: H.E. Mrs. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of Malawi speaking during MFFLI VC Summit PWRPWR

Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: PTI

Originally posted here:
Malawi First Lady Joins Merck Foundation First Ladies Summit via Videoconference to Discuss Healthcare Capacity and COVID-19 Response in Africa -...

Embryology

Sperm Donor Sues Over Use Of His Sperm With LGBTQ And Single Parents – Above the Law

The United States receives considerable criticism over its lack of regulations when it comes to assisted reproductive technology, especially sperm donation. Asa small break from reflecting on our own flaws, today we focus on a peculiarcaserevealing that other countries, too, have issues.

Donating For Discounts

Neil Gaskell and his wife endured 14 years of trying to conceive before finding success with IVF in Australia. When the British couple moved back to the United Kingdom, they sought out additional fertility treatments, hoping to conceive a second child. Gaskells sperm must have caught the attention of someone at their IVF clinic because, after a first failed round of IVF, Gaskell was approached by the clinic to become a sperm donor and told his sperm had superman strength. In exchange, the clinic would reduce the fees for the couples next round of IVF to 1,200 from 3,500.

Wait. What?! In the United States, most donors are paid $50 to $100 per donation. By contrast, Gaskell was offered a discount of 2,300 throw in the exchange rate, and youre at about $3,000. Ironically, it is illegal to pay sperm donors in the United Kingdom more than their expenses. However, clinics are permitted to offer discounts on treatment in exchange for donations. Im not sure I understand the policy underpinnings of this system. If we are worried about money being coercive, offering discounts to couples in the especially vulnerable position of needing fertility treatment would seem even more coercive than the American system advertising to college kids who are looking to upgrade their ramen for a few nights. Maybe U.K. sperm clinics are desperate for good product?

But that isnt even one of the legal issue in this case.

Not For Same-Sex Couples

Gaskell agreed to donate in exchange for the discount. However, when donating, he specifically noted that he required that his donations not be given to same-sex couples. Gaskell made the clinic staff write that down. And he later explained that he also did not want his sperm going to single women, but didnt think he had to explicitly state that, since the clinic described his sperm as going to families (which, to him, evidently did not include single women).

Apparently, the clinic did not say something like oh you know what, we actually have all the sperm we need now so never mind. Instead, they didnt object. This was not an illegal requirement, after all, at that moment. However, a mere few months later, the Equality Act came into law inEngland, which prohibited discrimination against same-sex couples.

How Many Families?

Gaskell recounted how the clinic assured him that his donation would be used for only two or three families. And, anyway, the regulations prevented the donations from being used with more than 10 families. Spoiler alert: the clinic was really trying to really get its moneys worth from Gaskell.

Moreover, as frequently happens in these cases, the donors wishes were not exactly followed. An official audit of the clinic by the UKs fertility regulator the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority revealed that Gaskells sperm had helped three same-sex couples have five children, and three single women have four children. An additional four children were conceived with Gaskells sperm by heterosexual couples, resulting in a total of 13 children.

The clinic disclosed the findings to Gaskell. And Gaskell sued.

Not A Bigot

Gaskell has publicly explained his strenuous objections to his sperm being used to help same-sex couples, and that his lawsuit is not an indicator that he is homophobic or a bigot. He asserts that such accusations couldnt be further from the truth. (Oh?) He says: This wasnt about discriminating against same-sex couples but you cant argue with biology. It takes a man and a woman to create a child, and its my view that if children are being born with my sperm, they must have a mother and a father. After a four-year legal battle, the clinic recently settled with Gaskell, with Gaskell walking away with a five-figure out-of-court settlement.

(Non-)Informed Consent

I spoke with U.S. assisted reproductive technology legal expert Catherine Tucker on the case for perspective. She was more sympathetic to Gaskells cause. What we have here is the intersection of two important medico-legal concepts informed consent and nondiscrimination. Informed consent simply means that a patient knows what he or she is getting into when agreeing to donate a body part, whether it be sperm, eggs, blood, a uterus, or something else, and the patient voluntarily chooses to participate. A key component of informed consent, Tucker explained, is understanding what your bodily donation will be used for whether that be research, education/training, or for another patient. So here we have a situation where informed consent and nondiscrimination concepts conflict. And informed consent trumps nondiscrimination every time. With proper informed consent, this patient could have chosen not to participate in this arrangement.

I am hopeful that improvements in technology and, like, people will lead to less and less of these cases. Or, if nothing else, maybe the fear that all errors will be caught as a result of prolific home DNA testing will act as a strong-enough deterrent for strict self-regulation. In the meantime, lets hope that all of Gaskells kids have a better outlook on parenting than he does.

Ellen Trachman is the Managing Attorney ofTrachman Law Center, LLC, a Denver-based law firm specializing in assisted reproductive technology law, and co-host of the podcastI Want To Put A Baby In You. You can reach her atbabies@abovethelaw.com.

Read the rest here:
Sperm Donor Sues Over Use Of His Sperm With LGBTQ And Single Parents - Above the Law

Embryology

The Sperm Bank market to be under the gambit of growth curve in the next decade – Eurowire

on of sperms, donated by sperm donors, to the needy women, who, due to various reasons, such as, physiological problems, widow, age and others, are not able to achieve pregnancy. Sperm bank forms the formal contract with sperm donors, usually for the period of 6-24 months, during which he has to produce sperms and donate to the bank. Usually, monetary compensation will be offered to sperm donors. Although, a donor can donate his sperms for more than two years, but, due to laws and regulations of various countries and a potential threat of consanguinity, a contract is made for maximum two years only. A donor produces his sperms in a specialized room, called mens production room. From this, the semen fluid is washed, in order to extract the sperms from other materials present in the semen. In case of frozen storage, a cryoprotectant semen extender is added in the sample. Usually, around 20 vials can be extracted from one sample of semen, collected from a sperm donor. These vials are stored in cryogenically preserved condition, in the liquid nitrogen (N2) tanks. Usually, sperms are stored for the period of around 6 months. However, it can be stored for a longer period of time.

To remain ahead of your competitors, request for a sample[emailprotected]

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/5330

The services offered by sperm bank includes provision of sperms, donors selection, guiding recipient for selection of donor, sex selection of baby, and sales of sperms. Although, sperm banks play a major role in the women who are not able to achieve pregnancy, due to some controversial issues, such as, use of sperms by lesbian couples and others, government healthcare bodies of various countries imposed strict regulations on the sperm bank. In the U.S., sperm banks are regulated by FDA, and treated as Human Cell or Human Tissue or Human Cell and Tissue (HCT/Ps), in the European Union, it is been regulated by EU Tissue Directive, whereas, in the U.K., it is regulated by Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority.

To receive extensive list of important regions, Request Methodology here @

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/5330

The global market for sperm banks is expected to increase in steady manner in the forecast period, due to market growth propellers, such as, increased prevalence of women miscarriage, technological innovations in the sperm storage industry, and growing awareness towards this type of pregnancy. Increased miscarriage rate is one of the major drivers that fuels market growth. According to the study report published by HopeXchange, out of 4.4 million pregnancies carried every year in the U.S., around 1 million pregnancies result into miscarriage. Similarly, due to growing concerns towards such pregnancy that achieved without sexual intercourse is also an important market growth propeller. On the other hand, various governmental regulations, negative mindset towards sperm banks and donor, high cost associated with the operating of sperm bank and limited spread across the various regions of the world are some of the major hurdles in the market growth.

Major players operating in the market includes Cryos International Sperm Bank, FairFax Cryobank, Androcryos, New England Cryogenic Center, Inc. and others.

You Can Request for TOC Here @https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/5330

Explore Extensive Coverage of PMR`s

Life Sciences & Transformational HealthLandscape

About us:

Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics andmarket research methodologyto help businesses achieve optimal performance.

To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.

Our client success stories feature a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups. PMRs collaborative environment is committed to building industry-specific solutions by transforming data from multiple streams into a strategic asset.

Contact us:

Naved BegPersistence Market ResearchAddress 305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007 United StatesU.S. Ph. +1-646-568-7751USA-Canada Toll-free +1 800-961-0353Sales[emailprotected]Websitehttps://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

More here:
The Sperm Bank market to be under the gambit of growth curve in the next decade - Eurowire