Infertility in the Modern World: Present and Future Prospects

by Edited by Gillian R. Bentley , C. G. Nicholas Mascie-Taylor

• ISBN13: 9780521643641
• ISBN10: 0521643643
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-01-08
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

As we enter the twenty-first century, a number of medical, environmental, and social changes have profoundly affected human reproduction. This book discusses some of the more dramatic changes in an accessible manner, illustrating the ways in which human biology and culture can affect fertility. It provides a unique interdisciplinary perspective on the subject. Topics of discussion include medical technological advances that equip us with potential cures for many causes of infertility; diseases, such as AIDS, that have a devastating impact on the reproductive and social lives of humans; increasing industrialization and the development of fabricated materials that pollute our environment in unforeseen ways with possibly devastating effects on human health and fertility; and social revolutions that profoundly alter human relationships, such as nonmarital unions between heterosexual couples, same-sex relationships, and adoption and surrogacy.

Table of Contents

List of contributors	xi
Introduction	1	(14)
G. R. Bentley
C. G. N. Mascie-Taylor
Part I: Biomedical perspectives on fertility	15	(68)
Reproductive possibilities for infertile couples: present and future	17	(29)
S. Fishel
K. Dowell
S. Thornton
Abstract	17	(1)
Introduction	18	(2)
Ovarian stimulation	20	(3)
In vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)	23	(2)
Immature sperm conception	25	(3)
Egg donation and surrogacy	28	(1)
Oocyte maturation	28	(2)
Embryo culture	30	(1)
Assisted hatching	31	(1)
Cryopreservation	32	(2)
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)	34	(3)
Cytoplasmic donation and mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) transfer	37	(2)
Fertility preservation	39	(2)
Conclusion	41	(1)
References	41	(5)
Genetic influences on human infertility	46	(37)
A. H. Bittles
P. L. Matson
Abstract	46	(1)
Introduction	47	(1)
The prevalence of infertility in humans	47	(2)
Infertility due to maternal-fetal red cell compatibility	49	(2)
Infertility associated with maternal-fetal HLA compatibility	51	(2)
Specific genetic disorders causing primary infertility	53	(11)
Treatment of individuals with genetically determined infertility	64	(5)
Conclusions	69	(3)
Acknowledgements	72	(1)
References	73	(10)
Part II: Environmental influences on fertility	83	(104)
Environmental pollutants and fertility	85	(68)
G. R. Bentley
Abstract	85	(1)
Introduction	86	(1)
Xenobiotics	87	(9)
The effects of xenobiotics: wildlife studies	96	(5)
The effects of xenobiotics: observations on humans	101	(3)
Decreasing sperm counts in humans	104	(22)
Other male reproductive health problems	126	(6)
Xenoestrogens and female reproductive health	132	(2)
Human fertility	134	(1)
Conclusion	135	(2)
Acknowledgements	137	(1)
References	137	(16)
From STD epidemics to AIDS: a socio-demographic and epidemiological perspective on sub-Saharan Africa	153	(34)
J. C. Caldwell
P. Caldwell
Abstract	153	(1)
Introduction	153	(3)
The social and historical context	156	(5)
Sterility	161	(11)
AIDS and infertility	172	(6)
Tackling the epidemics	178	(2)
Acknowledgements	180	(1)
References	180	(7)
Part III: Social perspectives on infertility	187	(74)
Voluntary childlessness: trends and implications	189	(49)
F. Mcallister
L. Clarke
Introduction	189	(2)
Demographic trends in childlessness in Britain	191	(4)
Low fertility, childlessness and family intentions in an international context: childlessness in other industrialized countries	195	(3)
Factors associated with childlessness	198	(3)
Defining voluntary childlessness	201	(4)
Choosing childlessness: summary of the qualititative study	205	(19)
Values and childlessness	224	(5)
Policy implications and conclusions	229	(5)
References	234	(4)
Sexual orientation and fertility	238	(23)
C. J. Patterson
L. V. Friel
Abstract	238	(1)
Introduction	239	(2)
Early estimates of the numbers of lesbian mothers, gay fathers and their children	241	(4)
Recent estimates of the numbers of lesbian mothers, gay fathers and their children	245	(3)
Estimates based on the National Health and Social Life Survey	248	(8)
Conclusions	256	(3)
References	259	(2)
Index	261