Introduction Infertility is re garded as a health problem that affects approximately every 6th couple in the Western countries. When natural conception is impossible and the underlying problem untreatable, medical intervention can reproduce the steps necessary for fertilization and early embryo development. These interventions are known as assisted reproductive techniques (ART).1 The first known technique of assisted reproduction was introduced at the end of the 18th century when artificial insemination with the husband's semen was tried. A century later, use of donor sperm came into being. The second half of the 20th century saw two major technological advances in medically assisted procreation, namely, gamete freezing and in vitro fertilization (IVF). The first child conceived with frozen-thawed sperm was born in 1953, and the first IVF baby in 1978. The problem of male infertility was not overlooked either, and in 1992, fertilization by intracytoplasmic sperm injection was developed to surmount many causes…
Introduction Hyperprolactinemia is the most common endocrine disorder of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. It refers to the consistent presence of abnormally high levels of prolactin in the blood after ruling out the physiological causes of prolactin hypersecretion. Normal levels are less than 580 mIU/L for women, and less than 450 mIU/L for men.1 Prolactin is a 198-amino acid protein (23-kD) produced in the lactotroph cells of the anterior pituitary gland. It is mainly concerned with breast development during pregnancy and induction of lactation. It is secreted in a pulsatile manner, and increases with sleep, stress, pregnancy and chest wall stimulation or trauma.2 Prolactin secretion Prolactin secretion is regulated by the predominantly tonic inhibitory effect of the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus secretes a prolactin-release-inhibiting factor (PIF) and a prolactin-releasing factor (PRF). The main PIF is dopamine, although non-catecholamine PIFs may also be involved. Additionally, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as well as other unidentified PIFs…
ROLE OF Macro- and MICRONUTRIENTS IN PREGNANCY Introduction Pregnancy is a period when the metabolic demands of a woman increase with changes in her physiology and requirements of a growing fetus.1 Adequate maternal micronutrient status is especially critical during pregnancy and lactation. It is important to recognize that the status of the mother, right from the periconceptional period and throughout pregnancy and lactation represents a continuum, and that these three stages should not be considered separately. Moreover, the micronutrient status of the fetus and later the infant depends on adequate maternal status during pregnancy and lactation. It should also be recognized that multiple micronutrient deficiencies are likely to coexist when diets are inadequate. Some of these can contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes and infant development.2 During pregnancy, inadequate stores or intake of micronutrients can compromise the mother’s health by causing anemia, hypertension, complications of labor and even death. These deficiencies…
