News and Events :: CHR
Announcements of medical presentations, lectures and symposia involving CHR staff , and other events of interest related to the Center for Human Reproduction.
May 6, 2013
Oral contraceptive use may reduce IVF pregnancy chances
According to a newly published study by the CHR researchers, oral contraceptive use prior to ovarian stimulation--which is quite routine in many IVF centers--may negatively affect oocyte yields. Dr. Barad, who is the lead author of the study, cautions that treating physicians may need to rethink their approach to preparatory steps of IVF cycles.
February 28, 2013
FertilityAuthority.com interviews Dr. Gleicher about CHR's recent publication
Dr. Gleicher discussed the CHR's new finding that suggests diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) may be an opposite condition of PCOS, involving low androgen levels wtih scant follicle development.
February 11, 2013
Human Reproduction picks Dr. Gleicher's piece for "Editor's Highlight"
Human Reproduction, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's official academic publication, featured Dr. Gleicher's article on single embryo transfer in its new editor's "Editor's Highlight" in its February issue.
January 30, 2013
Dr. Barad featured on Unify.com about antral follicle count and ovarian function
Dr. Barad wrote a post on Unify.com about using antral follicle counts to determine a patient's ovarian function.
November 19, 2012
Review of literature by CHR researchers yields no evidence that PGS improves IVF pregnancy rates
Despite technical improvements in recent years, there is no evidence in the literature that PGS improves IVF pregnancy rates; in older women and women with premature ovarian aging (POA), PGS may even lower pregnancy chances.
November 15, 2012
New CHR research confirms G-CSF's positive effects on thin endometrium
G-CSF appears to help build healthy endometrium for embryo transfer. 21 patients with treatment-resistant thin endometrium successfully expanded their endometrium to over 7mm, and reached embryo transfer stage in their IVF cycles.
September 12, 2012
A CHR paper has implication on breast cancer screening
A CHR paper reporting on startling relationship between BRCA1/2 mutations and low FMR1 genotypes has potential implication on cost-effective cancer screening for more women.
August 20, 2012
CHR initiates a testosterone clinical trial
A new clinical trial aims to determine whether direct tesosterone supplementation may improve ovarian reserve parameters for women who do not respond to DHEA supplementation.
June 11, 2012
CHR paper wins prestigious Austrian prize
A recent CHR paper reporting on reasonable IVF success rates in women with extremely low AMH levels won the prestigious Hugo Husslein Prize in Austria. Many women in the study attempted pregnancy after 40 with diminished ovarian reserve. Dr. Weghofer, lead author of the study, comments.
June 4, 2012
CHR doubles pregnancy rates for women over 44
CHR's 2011 clinical pregnancy rates improved in most age groups, but the most significant was the doubling of pregnancy rates for women above age 44, up to 49. Significantly exceeding the national average for (even younger) women above 42, women over 44 at CHR had 10.3% ongoing clinical pregnancy rates in 2011.
May 10, 2012
Research collaboration with University of Rochester
With the aim of understanding the underlying mechanism of DHEA effects on female fertility, CHR starts a DHEA fertility research collaboration with University of Rochester. The two institutions with complementary expertise in animal model (University of Rochester) and humans in clinical setting (CHR) hope to elucidate the working of androgens in normal female fertility.
April 4, 2012
CHR publication reveals "mini IVF" is not necessarily cheaper
A new CHR publication compared patients in low-intensity IVF cycles (like "mini IVF" and "natural IVF") to those undergoing traditional IVF and found that patients in LI-IVF cycles faced lower pregnancy chances without the much-touted cost savings.
March 19, 2012
A new FMR1 sub-genotype associated with better oocyte yields in women over 40
A sub-genotype of FMR1 gene preserves a woman's ability to produce eggs well into the 40s, even when her FSH and AMH levels indicate very low ovarian reserve. Women over 40 with this sub-genotype may have better IVF pregnancy chances than those with other FMR1 genotypes.
March 17, 2012
Quebec newspaper Le Devoir interviewed Dr. Gleicher on single embryo transfer
Dr. Gleicher weighed in on the negative side of Quebec's mandatory single embryo transfer (SET) policy, regardless of patients' individual circumstances. As CHR researchers predicted, the mandatory SET policy reduced the region's IVF pregnancy rates down to 29%.
March 9, 2012
Investigating What Might Be Behind Unexplained Infertility
FertilityAuthority.com interviewed Dr. Gleicher on what might be behind the pseudo-diagnosis of "unexplained infertility" and what tests might reveal the real issues.
March 7, 2012
Fertility Tips for Young Women with Infertility
Young infertility patients should seek timely ovarian reserve testing, in order to rule out undiagnosed diminished ovarian reserve. Dr. Gleicher offers expert tips on avoiding delays in fertility treatment.
February 29, 2012
Women over 40 Should Not Delay Treatment
Dr. Gleicher offers expert tips on avoiding delays in fertility treatment, especially for women trying to get pregnant after age 40.
February 6, 2012
EU's IVF Success Rates Level Off
While U.S. IVF success rates are still rising, those in Europe seem to have plateaued. Dr. Gleicher points out the fundamental difference in socio-medical philosophy may be behind this contrast.
January 22, 2012
Dr. Gleicher on Channel 11
On Dr. Steve Show on Channel 11, Dr. Gleicher provided expert commentary on gender selection, utilizing IVF and PGD.
January 9, 2012
Dr. Gleicher speaks about gender selection on FertilityAuthority.com
Dr. Gleicher was interviewed as an expert on gender selection, for medical and non-medical reasons.
December 20, 2011
CHR receives 2nd patent on DHEA supplementation
The second U.S. patent concerns the use of DHEA to decrease chromosomal abnormalities in embryos.
November 7, 2011
Low-cost alternative to standard donor egg program
CHR introduces Eco Donor Egg Program, a low cost frozen donor egg program at a total cycle cost of $14,950, including medications.
October 19, 2011
More older mothers having children; US unprepared
Dr. Gleicher warns that the rapidly growing trend of more older mothers having children is leaving the US government, the medical profession and the academia unprepared for its consequences.
October 10, 2011
Is a woman ever too old to try to have a child?
This question appears to have become the topic of discussion in the media in the recent months. As the leading infertility center with special expertise in helping older women conceive CHR doesn't think it's the right question. The more important question is how we can change the social fabric to accommodate this growing trend and to encourage women to have children even in later life.
August 22, 2011
Androgens (male hormones) are crucial to female fertility, suggests new CHR publication
Combining the most up-to-date animal data with human data, CHR's fertility experts were able to elucidate the possible synergistic effects of certain androgens (like testosterone and DHEA) and FSH, in the early stages of follicle development. This may lead to a longer-term therapeutic intervention in oocyte maturation for IVF.
August 15, 2011
Slate interviews Dr. Gleicher on single embryo transfer (SET)
Dr. Gleicher explained to the popular online magazine that single embryo transfer is often contrary to what infertility patients want: SET reduces pregnancy rates, can lengthen the time it takes to get pregnant, and increases the cost of a "take-home" baby. The 2011 Canadian study that precipitated the Slate article revealed that the pregnancy rates plummeted from 42% to 32% when Quebec legislation required SET in all but a handful of exceptions.
July 26, 2011
Dr. Gleicher responds to Holly Finn's eloquent and sincere account of failed IVF attempts
Published in the Wall Street Journal, Ms. Finn's account of her ultimately failed attempts to have children through IVF is eloquent and highly personal. Dr. Gleicher responds from the perspective of an infertility expert, who advises women daily on age-related fertility issues, and who, on some days, inevitably faces the sadness and disappointment of patients after IVF failures.
July 15, 2011
Dr. Gleicher has been invited to the 2nd International Congress on Cardiac Problems in Pregnancy, to be held in May 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The congress addresses the issues and developments in the cardiac issues in pregnancy. If you are interested in attending, please go to the CPP website.
July 12, 2011
Failures of IVF have roots in maternal genetics related to autoimmunity, according to New York IVF center
Research at the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR) suggests that implantation failures of embryos often have the root cause in the maternal genetics, which reject embryos. In a normal pregnancy, embryos, which are similar to organ transplant, are tolerated; however, in implantation failure cases, maternal immunity attacks the embryos, preventing them from implanting in the uterus.
June 14, 2011
Premature ovarian failure / premature menopause diagnosis misleading to many fertility patients, say New York fertility experts
Too many fertility patients are told they have premature ovarian failure (POF) when they only have premature ovarian aging (POA). A New York fertility center points out that with POA, women can often get pregnant without donor eggs, while women with premature ovarian failure (premature menopause) usually need egg donation.
"IVF success rates best at 15 eggs retrieved" is an oversimplification, warns a leading New York City IVF center
IVF success rates do not primarily depend on the number of eggs retrieved; rather, IVF success rates depend on the patient's ovarian reserve, which is reflected in the number of eggs retrieved.
Egg donor compensation in the spotlight of a Sherman Antitrust Act lawsuit: CHR's Medical Director weighs in
Dr. Norbert Gleicher points out that egg donors are paid for their time and effort, not for their eggs. As such, ASRM guidelines on compensation for time and effort cannot be considered "price-fixing," as alleged in the lawsuit.
Egg donation remains controversial, despite increase in demand
Egg donation remains out of reach for many infertility patients in much of Europe. Center for Human Reproduction, a fertility center in New York City with a large and diverse database of egg donors, is seeing a marked increase in demand for egg donors from European patients.
Greatly improved endometrium in IVF, using cytokine already approved by FDA for other indications
During in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, treatment with a medication called granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) significantly improves inadequate endometrium (lining of the uterus), according to a report published electronically on February 15 in Fertility and Sterility, the official journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). The reported case series also suggests that G-CSF treatment may, in general, improve IVF pregnancy chances.
Researchers warn against premature dismissal of autoimmune causes in miscarriages
New research suggests that when a woman miscarries, her autoimmunity (immunity against herself) may be the culprit, even if there are signs of genetic abnormalities in miscarried embryos.
First genetic test predictive of pregnancy chances with IVF
Investigators from New York City based Center for Human Reproduction (CHR) report a first genetic test that can predict pregnancy chances with in vitro fertilization (IVF). In a paper just published in the online medical journal PLoS One, they report that different sub-types (called genotypes) of the so-called FMR1 gene (also called fragile X mental retardation gene) are statistically associated with distinctly different chances to conceive with IVF.
New Infertility Research Explains How DHEA Treatment Improves Embryo Quality
New research at New York fertility clinic Center for Human Reproduction demonstrates the mechanisms by which DHEA supplementation in women benefits egg and embryo quality.
Further Revelations in Suleman Octuplets Case Proves "No Need for Further Legislative Actions" for IVF treatment
The media is abuzz another inglorious development in the Suleman Octuplets case: According to reports from Boston Globe and others, the California state attorney said yesterday that Nadya Suleman's now-infamous fertility doctor, Michael Kamrava, MD, transferred twelve embryos in the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle that resulted in the birth of octuplets in January of 2009.
Slow FDA decision affects Gender Selection in the U.S.
As FDA's approval of MicrosortTM remains pending, couples looking to select the gender of their children are stuck with only one reliable option: IVF combined with preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). Although PGS is more accurate than MicrosortTM, this technique can be a source of moral and religious discomfort for some. Because IVF + PGS requires that embryos be created before the determination of gender, patients are faced with a tough decision when deciding the fate of embryos that turn out to be not of the desired gender. MicrosortTM bypassed this dilemma by performing gender selection by sperm sorting, before the creation of embryos. Until FDA approves its routine clinical usage, however, patients' only option is IVF + PGS.
Tel Aviv University fertility research confirms New York Center's DHEA findings
Tel Aviv University's recent findings on the supplementation of DHEA to improve fertility in women with diminished ovarian reserve further confirms Center For Human Reproduction's ongoing research on this treatment.
Dr. Gleicher Discusses the Utility of FMR1 Gene as a Fertility Test on CANADA AM
In a live interview with CANADA AM, Dr. Gleicher explained the recent discovery at CHR that different numbers of CGG repeats on the FMR1 gene may correlate to different patterns of female reproductive aging. By testing for the FMR1 gene status, we may be able to determine which young woman is at a higher risk for developing premature ovarian aging (POA) later in life.
Dr. Gleicher Op-Ed published in The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal published Dr. Gleicher's opinion-editorial submission entitled, " 'Expert Panels' Won't Improve Health Care", which generated a response from The Huffington Post, and a subsequent reply from Dr. Gleicher.
Press Release - Bias for Sons in Some Asians?
The New York Times reported that “experts expressed surprise to see evidence in United States Census data that the preference for sons among Asian-Americans has been so significantly carried over to this country.” CHR, however, already reported this finding.
Press Release announcing new CHR paper: "Patients are entitled to maximal IVF pregnancy rates"
In a "Commentary" published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online, Drs. Gleicher, Barad, and Oktay argue that IVF patients are entitled to maximal in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy rates but don't always get them.
Read the RBMOnline commentary.
January 29, 2009
Dr.Gleicher calls octuplet birth "bad medicine"
In an interview with CNN, Dr. Gleicher offered an infertility expert's opinion on the eight babies born to an as yet unidentified couple on Jan. 26. CHR's Medical Director warned, "The media should not make this into a heroic case. This is very bad medicine...The more premature the babies are born, the greater risks they have of dying or facing significant lifelong problems." Dr. Gleicher pointed out that medical guidelines limit the number of embryos implanted at the same time to two or three at most.
Additional coverage:
Report from Serono Symposium
Norbert Gleicher, MD was a featured speaker at the New Frontiers in Fertility conference in Lisbon, Portugal, organized by the Serono Symposia International Foundation. Dr. Gleicher's presentation was entitled, "Can we affect follicular recruitment?" Photo
Dr. Gleicher discusses DHEA on The Early Show
Dr. Norbert Gleicher and Dr. David Barad are interviewed on The Early Show on CBS as part of a series entitled, Medical Miracles. Dr. Gleicher recalls how the team at CHR realized the potential for DHEA, and reviews the progress of this promising fertility treatment.
July 7, 2008
Dr. Gleicher's novel ideas on twinning associated with IVF
treatments unleash substantial media response in U.K.
In a presentation at the 2008 ESHRE fertility conference, Dr. Norbert Gleicher asserted that the risk assessment of twin pregnancy associated with IVF treatments is overstated and that a twin pregnancy may even be in the best interest of certain infertility patients. The lecture created quite a stir in the United Kingdom, (see related CHR press release). In addition, the links below provide a sampling of the media coverage:
- Fertility experts criticises new twin research
- IVF twins risk 'over-estimated'
- Having twins 'no more dangerous than two single births'
- IVF twins not as risky as thought, say doctors
- Doctors clash over IVF twins danger
January 2008
A World Apart: IVF in Europe and the USA
The January 2008 issue of Focus on Reproduction examines the differences between IVF procedures and outcomes on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Dr. Gleicher, who understands both worlds, is extensively quoted.
Last updated: November 19, 2012
