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<p>The newly established ASRM Research Institute invites applications from investigators to develop research projects addressing fundamental questions of major clinical significance to reproductive medicine. Preference for funding will be given to projects that attempt to answer timely, basic and clinically relevant questions of potential high impact to the practice of reproductive medicine and which are currently not fundable (either because of applicable existing federal law or because of relatively lower prioritization) by federal funding agencies. Applicants are advised to review the recently published ASRM Research Blueprint identifying the list of research priorities for the Society.</p>
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<p>This week, members of ASRM’s leadership team are meeting with other leaders in reproductive health from around the world in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is holding its Global Summit on Safety and Access to Fertility Care to develop strategies for improving access to safe, ethical, and cost-effective fertility care, particularly in developing countries. This conference follows up on an ASRM-sponsored meeting in 2015.</p>
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<p>Statement attributable to ASRM President, Peter Schlegel, MD.</p>
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<p>“We have reviewed the report of He Jiankui of Shanghai, China, regarding the initiation of a twin pregnancy after premature human application of the unfolding scientific technique of CRISPER/Cas to modify genes in human embryos as part of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. Although gene editing may have an important place in human medicine in the future, it should only be used clinically after careful study done with vigorous oversight. </p>
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<p>Birmingham, AL – The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) today announced the appointment of William W. Hurd, MD to the post of Chief Medical Officer.</p>
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<p>The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is pleased to announce the Prize Papers and Posters of the 2018 Scientific Congress and Expo. We congratulate the winners on their achievements and contributions to medical science.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- Innovation in embryo grading is taking the form of artificial intelligence systems that can grade embryos and accurately predict ART outcomes. Australian and US groups presented new research Wednesday at ASRM’s Scientific Congress and Expo.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, Co</em> – Peter Schlegel became President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine today at the Society’s Scientific Congress and Expo in Denver.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO-</em> Today, Scandinavian and American researchers presented the outcomes of a large prospective cohort study, looking at the connection between mortality risk and a diagnosis of male factor infertility. Men diagnosed with azoospermia- no sperm observed in the ejaculate- were found to be at increased risk of dying during the years following assisted reproduction treatment compared to men with no male factor diagnosis. This risk was not seen for men with low sperm counts.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO-</em> Two new studies presented today at the Scientific Congress of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine show that sperm quality has declined noticeably this century in infertility patients and sperm donors, alike</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO </em>– A team of Harvard-based investigators today told the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress that a fertility patient’s pre-conception exposure to common environmental toxins were associated with a higher chance of a pre-term delivery.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- Researchers from Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan found that semen quality differed significantly between ethnic groups in a retrospective institutional review. African American men had lower average sperm counts and motility and more abnormal sperm forms than Caucasian men. And Middle Eastern and African American men were more likely to suffer from azoospermia (no sperm in the ejaculate) than Caucasian men.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO-</em> Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri presented their findings today at the ASRM’s Scientific Congress and Expo in Denver, Colorado. In a prospective cohort study designed to determine the associations of different measures of chronodisruption with time to conception (TTC), they found that women who were trying to become pregnant, who had more regular bedtimes, took less time to conceive than those whose bedtimes were more erratic.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- A study presented today at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress evaluated the association between impaired sleep and reduced testosterone levels in men. Aging, increasing alcohol consumption, and higher BMI also contribute to lower testosterone levels.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em> – Researchers as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress reported on several exciting studies in the rapidly growing field of transgender reproduction. Before undergoing medical and/or surgical transition, transgender people may freeze eggs or sperm to preserve their future fertility. New research presented today sheds light on reproductive outcomes in this population.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- Presenting at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress in Denver, scientists provide an estimate of the number of organs that might be available for transplantation in the US.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, CO</em>- Today, at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress, researchers reported for the first time that poor sexual function in pre-menopausal women can be significantly improved by androgen supplementation with DHEA.</p>
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<p><em>Denver, Co</em> – According to new research presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress, a high proportion of female veterans have been victims of sexual assault. Veterans who reported infertility were found to have suffered sexual assault at even higher rates than those who did not report fertility problems.</p>
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<p>Denver, CO – Several studies presented this week at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Congress revealed that outcomes of IVF procedures among African American women were not as good as for other races.</p>
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<p><em>Denver CO</em> – Fertility clinics who are members of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) overwhelmingly support laws which mandate insurance coverage for infertility care.</p>
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<p><em>Denver CO</em> – Research presented today at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress showed that while the likelihood of having infertility was not impacted by race, education level, income or other social indicators, the ability to access treatment for infertility was strongly impacted by social factors.</p>
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<p>Congress approved a $855 billion fiscal year 2019 appropriations bill (HR 6157) link that funds multiple agencies of the federal government, including the Departments of Defense, Labor, Education and Health and Human Services. The Senate voted 93-7 and the House voted 361-61 to approve the measure. President Trump signed the measure into law today. </p>
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<p>Today, President Trump signed into law a fiscal year 2019 spending measure which packages three of the twelve annual appropriations measures required to annually fund the operations of the federal government.</p>
<p>HR 5895 combines funding for the Departments of Energy, Veterans Affairs and Legislative Branch and importantly includes a reauthorization of the program ASRM has long promoted which allows the VA to cover IVF treatments for wounded veterans. Last week, the Senate approved the bill by a vote of 92-5 and the House followed suit, voting 377-20.</p>
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<p>Illinois became the fifth state with a fertility preservation statute when Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bill (HB 2617) into law yesterday at Northwestern’s Prentice Women’s Hospital. The new law requires individual and group health policies to provide coverage for medically necessary expenses for standard fertility preservation services when a necessary medical treatment may directly or indirectly cause iatrogenic infertility to an enrollee. </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW206877204" lang="EN-US">Forty years ago, in July 1978, a remarkable medical breakthrough resulted in the birth of the first human conceived outside her mother’s body. Celebrating this achievement and Louise Brown’s birth, a special issue of Fertility and Sterility describes the development of IVF from its beginnings, through the refinements that brought embryo implantation rates up from less than 5% to over 50%, to technologies holding the potential to develop eggs or sperm from stem cells and to repair genetic errors in embryos. </p>
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<p>Delaware Governor John Carney signed into law a bill (SB139) to require insurers to cover a comprehensive list of infertility treatments, including IVF, bringing the number of states that now require some form of infertility coverage to sixteen and the number of states requiring coverage of fertility preservation services for those at risk of iatrogenic infertility to four. The new law becomes effective immediately.</p>
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<p>The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the nation’s leading professional organization in reproductive medicine, today announced the creation of a new research arm, the ASRM Research Institute, with an initial funding level of $10 million to be spent over the next five years.</p>
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<p>This week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law the New Jersey Gestational Carrier Agreement Act (S482). This is the third time the legislature has passed legislation to establish a legal framework for gestational carrier agreements, though it was vetoed both in 2012 and 2015 by former Governor Chris Christie.</p>
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<p>[...] as hundreds of advocates for patients suffering from infertility, and the professionals who care for them, converged on Capitol Hill for RESOLVE’s and ASRM’s Advocacy Day, Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act.</p>
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<p>As hundreds of advocates for patients suffering from infertility, and the professionals who care for them, converged on Capitol Hill for RESOLVE’s and ASRM’s Advocacy Day, Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act.</p>
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<p>Next week, on May 22 and 23, more than 200 ASRM and RESOLVE advocates will be in Washington, DC to advocate for issues important to the infertility community.</p>
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<p>May’s issue of Fertility and Sterility features a study showing the effects of depression and antidepressant use on male and female fertility treatment and another demonstrating an association between dietary patterns and semen quality.</p>
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<p>Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has signed into law a bill to require insurance coverage of fertility preservation treatment for those at risk of iatrogenic infertility, making it the third state to do so behind Connecticut and Rhode Island, which both passed laws in 2017. The new law applies to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the State on or after January 1, 2019.</p>
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<p>Beginning Saturday, May 5, in upcoming weeks surrounding Mother’s Day, the US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) will host baby showers around the United States. The events will be held in partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and will honor over 2,400 new parent Veterans and Veteran parents-to-be.</p>
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<p>Preliminary data for 2016 show that 71,296 babies were born as a result of 242,618 cycles performed during that year, at 377 SART member clinics, continuing the steady increase of ART utilization in the United States.</p>
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<p>National Infertility Awareness Week is April 22-28, 2018. NIAW is a collaborative effort on the part of the millions of women and men diagnosed with infertility and the nation’s medical, mental health, family building experts and policymakers to raise awareness about infertility.</p>
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<p>Today, ASRM submitted comments to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in response to a 216-page proposed rule aimed at protecting conscience-based objections of individuals and entities that are opposed to participating in certain activities based on religious belief or moral convictions. The proposed rule was issued in late January by the agency’s Office for Civil Rights days after the creation of a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division within HHS.</p>
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<p>After running on a series of temporary extensions, the federal government finally has an operating budget for fiscal year 2018. Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a 2,200+ page bill to fund the government through September; the Senate followed suit this morning. Despite an early morning veto threat, President Trump signed the measure into law moments ago.</p>
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<p>Researchers retrospectively reviewing data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) found the data showed that for reproductive-age men and women in the United States trying to conceive, marijuana use, or frequency of use, is not associated with a longer time to pregnancy (TTP).</p>
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<p><i>Washington D.C.- </i>Cryopreservation of reproductive tissues is an essential part of modern infertility therapy. Up until last week, the history of cryopreservation had been a steady string of improved performance and reliability. We have now seen two major failures, apparently of equipment, redundancy and warnings, which have led to some tissue loss, though the extent of that loss is not yet fully determined.</p>
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<p> “As the leading groups of professionals providing health care for women in the United States, we join together to observe International Women’s Day 2018 and pledge to continue our efforts, both domestic and abroad, to create a world where health care disparities will one day no longer exist and gender parity is achieved.</p>
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<p><i>Washington, DC</i> - This evening, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) sent out the following statement, attributable to Sean Tipton, Chief Policy, Advocacy and Development Officer, ASRM.</p>
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<p>Today, ASRM released the following statement on a bill that has passed the Arizona Senate and is being considered in committee by the Arizona House of Representatives. In a dispute over embryo custody, the bill would require a judge to rule in favor of the party who desires to bring the embryos to birth, regardless of the other party’s wishes, and in disregard of any previous agreement.</p>
