Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) widely known as COVID-19 was first reported in late December 2019, in China. Since then this novel coronavirus has spread throughout the world. Our return to normal life will not take long, for we are in a phase where the COVID-19 curve is stabilizing. ART services must return to operation, since infertility is also a disease and treatment has to start. Before resuming ART treatments, it is very important to consider local and national regulations. Change is mandatory, to set us back to successful ART treatment without compromising on quality, and to minimize the spread of COVID-19 among staff and patients; and for this we need to take measured and vigilant steps.

AIM: The objectives were to find the incidence and topography of the occipital emissary foramina in skulls of South Indian Region. MATERIAL and METHODS: In the present study, 78 dried adult human skulls were examined. They were analyzed for the gross incidence and position of the occipital emissary foramen. The observations were made in the squamous part of the occipital bone from the posterior margin of the foramen magnum to the external occipital protuberance. RESULTS: From our observations, the occipital emissary foramen was present in 11 (14.1%) skulls. Left sided foramen was observed in 5 cases (6.4%), right-sided foramen in 4 (5.1%) and the median foramen was seen in 2 (2.6%) of the cases. CONCLUSION: The occipital emissary vein is present in a small percentage (14.1%) of cases. It was also demonstrated that its location is variable as to left, right or midline. Its location was closer to the foramen magnum than to the external occipital protuberance in all the specimens. The morphology of this subject is important to the neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons. The knowledge is of importance in suboccipital craniotomies as this foramen transmits the occipital emissary vein and will keep awareness among the surgeons to avoid the excessive bleeding.

Objective To determine whether weight loss in obese men improves seminal parameters. Design Prospective interventional study. Setting Infertility clinic and weight loss centers. Patient All men attending infertility center and weight loss programmes from April 2012 to May 2015 (n = 105). Intervention Diet counseling and exercise. Main Outcome Measure Collected reproductive parameters included semen analysis (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, progressive and non-progressive motility) data. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all patients with comparisons to reproductive parameters before and after weight loss by using paired-t test and Chi-square tests. Result The mean BMI was significantly higher before weight loss (33.2) than after weight loss (30.4) in obese men. The weight loss had significant positive correlation with percentage of progressive sperm motility (p = < 0.001) and static percentage (p = < 0.001). Weight loss had non-significant correlation with semen volume (p = 0.083), concentration (p = 0.418) and non progressive motile sperm (p = 0.361). Conclusion In one of the largest cohorts of male fertility and obesity, semen parameters demonstrated mild but significant relationships with BMI and semen parameters, possibly contributing to subfertility in this population. How to cite this article Jaffar M, Ashraf M. Does Weight Loss improve Fertility with respect to Semen Parameters—Results from a Large Cohort Study. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2017;8(1): 12-17.

Objective:To determine whether weight loss in obese men improves reproductive hormones. Design: Prospective interventional study. Setting: Infertility clinic and weight loss centers. Patients: All obese men attending infertility center from April 2012 to May 2015 (n = 105). Intervention(s): Diet counseling and exercise. Materials and methods: Obese men aged 25-40 years (mean age = 32.5 ± 7.5) with BMI more than 25 kg/m 2 were recruited for the study. The subjects underwent a weight loss intervention and were followed up for 1-year post intervention. Their semen parameters were checked before and after weight loss. Main outcome measures: Collected reproductive parameters included testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) serum hormonal values. A paired t test was done to evaluate differences across the before and after groups. Chi-square/Fisher exact test was used to find the significance of study parameters on a categorical scale between two or more groups. Results: The mean BMI was significantly higher before weight loss (33.2) than after weight loss (30.4) in obese men. The weight loss increased the T to 35.40 ± 20.51 ng/mL compared with 27.16 ± 20.71 ng/mL, and SHBG to 23.72 ± 9.01 µg/dL compared with 19.18 ± 10.44 µg/dL, whereas FSH and LH were nonsignificant. Conclusion: The study showed that a high BMI at the baseline was associated with low values of serum T and SHBG. FSH and LH were considerably low in morbidly obese men before weight loss. Weight loss was associated with an increase in serum T and SHBG. FSH and LH were not statistically significant after weight loss except in morbidly obese men who showed clear aromatization influence. The hormonal profile among obese men evaluated in this study was characterized by abnormalities in the sex hormones, and weight loss improved some of the hormone levels; however, they were not normalized.

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Background: Since the first report of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), widely known as COVID-19, in late December 2019, it has spread worldwide. The eventual return of new normal has started to happen in most countries where the COVID-19 curve has flattened, and Assisted reproduction technology (ART) services are eventually resuming. Well-organized ART (embryology/andrology) laboratories safeguard the wellbeing of all staff, patients, and their gametes/embryos. Main body: A well-organized pandemic management plan must be implemented in anticipation of possible subsequent COVID-19 waves. Apart from local and national guidelines, some mandatory changes need to be taken into considerations that will allow us to overcome the fear of this deadly pandemic, work smoothly and stop any possible transmission without comprising the quality control for successful treatment. These mandatory changes include conserving different supplies, reducing manpower needs, and various protective measures for non-clinical and clinical staff, patients, and gametes/embryos. Conclusion: The current pandemic of COVID-19 suggests a well-organized action-oriented emergency plan to assure the wellbeing of all stakeholders.

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