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Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is used to examine the genetic and chromosomal makeup of a pre-embryo in the laboratory before it is implanted into the maternal womb. Like many scientific advances, this is a breakthrough that might hold the promise of hugely significant benefits to both individuals and scientific communities but also carries the potential for misuse. These potential uses of the technology in ways that were not part of the original intention have raised ethical concerns for current and future applications.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition which can affect women during their fertile years. It affects how the ovaries work, and can reduce their function and effectiveness. It is a common hormonal condition, present in as many as one in five of the relevant population, although many women with PCOS do not experience any symptoms and it remains undiagnosed in around 70% of those who have it.

The medical term for a false pregnancy, or phantom pregnancy, is pseudocyesis, from the mid-century English pseudo-meaning ‘false’ and the ancient Greek kuesis meaning ‘conception’. It is a rare condition, estimated in the US, for example, to affect only around six out of 22,000 pregnancies. It is often assumed to be ‘all in the mind’ but the reality of the condition is much more complex.

We have been helping people to start families for 29 years now. It is the way we have been paving on a daily basis with our social and environmental commitment. In fact, at IVI, we work on making the journey towards motherhood a sustainable one. A journey that we embark on even before the patients… View Article

In the last decade the number of treatments involving donated embryos has tripled here at IVI. Although just over half of these patients were Spanish, IVI is still experiencing a lot more patients coming from overseas to receive this treatment, mainly due to the legality aspects that come with embryo transfer. We have spoken to… View Article

Preconception is the period of time when you prepare to start trying for a baby. In medical circles there is a growing recognition that maternal health before conception, not only during pregnancy, can have a major effect on the development and prospects of the unborn child. The best-known example of this is the now widely known development in spina bifida prevention. We now know that a small amount of the B-vitamin folic acid can reduce neural tube defects by up to 70%. This clinches the case for pre-conception health having a direct impact on the unborn child. But what about smoking? In this article we take a look at the benefits of quitting smoking before pregnancy. We also examine the potential damage it can do, some aspects of which you may not be aware.

The 8th International IVIRMA Congress on Reproduction took place in Mallorca 4th to 6th April 2019. More than 1,600 participants from 71 countries attended the event in Palma de Mallorca including Javier Marqueta, President of the Congress and Director of IVI Mallorca, Scientific Director Juan Antonio García-Velasco and Dr. Dagan Wells, all members of the scientific committee.

A lot of us have a general idea of how important progesterone is during pregnancy, knowing that the progesterone-oestrogen balance is important for the menstrual cycle and a healthy hormone balance. For most of the non-medical community, that’s probably the extent of the awareness. Now, new research, unveiled at the 35th European Society of Human… View Article

New research conducted by IVI has revealed important new discoveries in the field of embryo selection as part of the IVF process. This is highly significant because improved embryo selection is key to IVF success rates and can therefore help more people in their ambition build their families. These exciting advances were presented to a… View Article