Top 10 priorities for future infertility research: an international consensus development study

Duffy, James M.N.; Adamson, G. David; Benson, E. A.; Bhattacharya, Siladitya; Bofill, M.; Brian, Kate; Collura, B.; Curtis, Cate; Evers, J.L.H.; Farquharson, Roy G.; Fincham, Anita; Franik, Sebastian; Giudice, Linda C.; Glanville, Elizabeth; Hickey, Martha; Horne, Andrew; Hull, M. Louise; Johnson, Neil; Jordan, Vanessa; Khalaf, Yacoub; Knijnenburg, J.M.L.; Legro, Richard S.; Lensen, Sarah; Mackenzie, James; Mavrelos, D.; Mol, Ben Willem J.; Morbeck, Dean E.; Nagels, Helen E; Ng, Ernest Hung-Yu; Niederberger, Craig S.; Otter, A.S.; Puşcaşiu, Lucian; Jonge, Christopher J. De; Sadler, Lynn; Sarris, Ippokratis; Showell, Marian; Stewart, Joshua; Strandell, Annika; Strawbridge, C.; Vail, Andy; Wely, Madelon van; Vercoe, M.; Vuong, Nguyen Lam; Wang, A.Y.; Wang, R.; Wilkinson, Jack; Wong, KHF; Wong, Tze Yoong; Farquhar, Cynthia; AlAhwany, H; Balaban, Ofra; Beebeejaun, Yusuf; Boivin, Jacky; Bosteels, Jan; D’Angelo, Arianna; Dann, Leona F.; Jonge, Christopher J. De; Mez, Elyce du; Ferriani, Rui Alberto; Gerval, Marie-Odile; Gingel, Lynda J.; Greenblatt, Ellen; Hartshorne, Geraldine M.; Helliwell, Charlie; Helliwell, Charlotte; Hughes, Lynda J.; Jo, Junyoung; Jovanović, Jelena; Kiesel, L.; Kietpeerakool, Chumnan; Kostova, Elena; Küçük, Tansu; Lawrence, Robyn L.; Lee, Nicole; Lindemann, Katy E.; Loto, Olabisi M.; Lutjen, P.; MacKinven, Michelle; Mascarenhas, Mariano; McLaughlin, Helen; Mills, David J.; Mourad, Selma; Nguyen, Linh K.; Norman, Robert J.; Olic, Maja; Overfield, Kristine L.; Parker-Harris, Maria; Ramos, David G.; Rendulic, Aleksandra; Repping, Sjoerd; Rizzo, Roberta; Salacone, Paola; Saunders, Catherine; Sengupta, Rinku; Sfontouris, Ioannis A.; Silverman, Natalie R.; Torrance, Helen L.; Uphoff, Eleonora; Wakeman, Sarah A.; Wischmann, Tewes; Woodward, Bryan; Youssef, Mohamed

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.11.014

Cited by 42 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Internationally, work is being undertaken to improve the awareness, diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis 8 – 11 . A global consortium of investigators in endometriosis recently published its recommendations for research priorities and highlights the challenges of developing a non-invasive screening tool to facilitate and improve diagnosis 9 , 12 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Machine learning algorithms as new screening approach for patients with endometriosis

Bendifallah

Puchar

Suisse³

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Endometriosis—a systemic and chronic condition occurring in women of childbearing age—is a highly enigmatic disease with unresolved questions. While multiple biomarkers, genomic analysis, questionnaires, and imaging techniques have been advocated as screening and triage tests for endometriosis to replace diagnostic laparoscopy, none have been implemented routinely in clinical practice. We investigated the use of machine learning algorithms (MLA) in the diagnosis and screening of endometriosis based on 16 key clinical and patient-based symptom features. The sensitivity, specificity, F1-score and AUCs of the MLA to diagnose endometriosis in the training and validation sets varied from 0.82 to 1, 0–0.8, 0–0.88, 0.5–0.89, and from 0.91 to 0.95, 0.66–0.92, 0.77–0.92, respectively. Our data suggest that MLA could be a promising screening test for general practitioners, gynecologists, and other front-line health care providers. Introducing MLA in this setting represents a paradigm change in clinical practice as it could replace diagnostic laparoscopy. Furthermore, this patient-based screening tool empowers patients with endometriosis to self-identify potential symptoms and initiate dialogue with physicians about diagnosis and treatment, and hence contribute to shared decision making.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Machine learning algorithms as new screening approach for patients with endometriosis

Bendifallah

Puchar

Suisse³

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…Fertility disorders affect 8–12% of reproductive age couples worldwide. Infertility diagnosis and treatment methods carry numerous drawbacks [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. For example, it is reported, that infertility has a strong negative effect on the quality of life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Epigenetic and Molecular Factors in Endometrium of Females with Infertility

et al. 2022

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Infertility is one of the most rapidly increasing global health concerns of the 21st century. Embryo quality and endometrial thickness and receptivity are the main factors for successful embryo implantation and pregnancy development. Nevertheless, until now, there has been a lack of understanding about the regulation of human endometrium function and its structure. This raises the demand for more research of the human endometrium in these fields. In our study, we analyzed the genetic and epigenetic changes of endometrial tissue’s samples isolated from females admitted for treatment due to male infertility and females diagnosed with reproductive pathologies, who are preparing for assisted reproductive technologies procedures. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction method, we demonstrated that endometrium of females with reproductive pathology has significantly upregulated decidualization related genes HAND2, MUC1, CSF2, increased expression of angiogenesis related gene PDGFA, and increases of overall immune response and inflammation-related genes expression with significant changes of RELA and CXCL10 genes expression. Females with reproductive pathology have altered endometrium epigenetic regulation since expression of miRNAs—specifically, miRNA-34a, miRNA-223, and miRNA-125b—is lower in endometrium of females with reproductive pathology. Our findings suggest that the potential changes in genetic and epigenetic profile of endometrium from females with reproductive pathology could enrich the knowledge in the field of core biological knowledge and treatment of reproductive impairments.

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“…Research into the effectiveness of public health interventions to reduce infertility has been highlighted as one of the top ten priorities in infertility research ( Duffy et al , 2021 ). We are learning through a growing body of research that men wish to receive fertility information, but, in future research, we need to explore in more detail when, by whom, and what format at particular life stages (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do young men want to receive information about fertility? Young men’s attitudes towards a fertility campaign targeting men in Copenhagen, Denmark

Berthelsen

Gamby

Christensen

et al. 2021

Human Reproduction Open

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STUDY QUESTION What are young men’s attitudes towards the Danish fertility campaign ‘How’s your sperm?’ and how do they want to receive fertility information in the future? SUMMARY ANSWER The young men found that the campaign had limited impact because it was not relevant to their current life situation and they believed general fertility awareness should be a mandatory part of education, while more targeted information would be helpful through web-based venues when it was more relevant to their lives (e.g. when ready to have children). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY It is estimated that 16–26% of the Danish population who want children will experience infertility at some point in their lives. In Denmark, 25% of young healthy men have decreased sperm quality, and 20% of 50-year-old men are childless. Men play an important role in the fertility decision-making of couples, thus, it is important to target men and ensure that they have sufficient fertility knowledge. However, fertility awareness is limited among men and there have been few fertility awareness initiatives targeting men. In October 2018, the Municipality of Copenhagen launched the campaign ‘How’s your sperm?’ as a tool to increase fertility knowledge among men. To identify potential barriers for the effect of fertility campaigns targeting men, evaluations of such campaigns are needed. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This study was a cross-sectional, qualitative study of six focus groups including a total of 27 currently childless young men from the Capital Region of Copenhagen, Denmark. Data collection took place between April and October 2019. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The interviewed young men were currently childless and were all residents in the Capital Region of Copenhagen. They were between 23 and 32 years old with an average age of 26 years, and almost all were university students or had a university degree. The focus group discussions were audiotaped, anonymized and transcribed in full. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Overall, the campaign had limited influence on the young men because they believed the campaign was not relevant to their current life situation. Furthermore, the young men were confused about the aim and message of the campaign, as they thought it encouraged them to have their sperm quality tested. The young men also criticized the campaign for making a link between sperm quality and masculinity. They recognized the importance of knowledge about reproductive health but they wanted access to accurate information about fertility and risk factors for infertility. According to the young men, future initiatives should prioritize clear communication of accurate, reliable and understandable fertility information in web-based venues. In addition, the young men suggested that general fertility information should be a mandatory part of the (sexual) education curriculum in primary and secondary schools. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONS Participants were young and highly educated; thus the findings cannot be generalized to all men of a similar age group or to men at older ages. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Different strategies that are relevant to the lifespan are needed to increase fertility awareness in the male population. The young men’s responses underscored that any fertility awareness strategy or campaign must convey respect for the individual’s autonomy. The findings highlight that how information is communicated and the quality or type of information that is disseminated are both important in acceptability by target users. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) No funding was received for this study. No conflicts were declared for all authors. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.

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Top 10 priorities for future infertility research: an international consensus development study

Cited by 42 publications

References 24 publications

Machine learning algorithms as new screening approach for patients with endometriosis

Machine learning algorithms as new screening approach for patients with endometriosis

Characterization of Epigenetic and Molecular Factors in Endometrium of Females with Infertility

How do young men want to receive information about fertility? Young men’s attitudes towards a fertility campaign targeting men in Copenhagen, Denmark

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