Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Local privileges not universal rights: geographic variations in the science and clinical practice of reproductive medicine

  • Commentary
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on personal experience in the science and clinical practice of reproductive medicine in different settings, enormous variations are highlighted, demonstrating that freedom of research and clinical practice in reproductive medicine is a local privilege, not a universal right.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Quaas AM, et al. Early markers of reprogramming in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): a timeline of key steps in the reprogramming process. Fertil Steril. 2011;95(4):S5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Pomeroy JE, Hough SR, Davidson KC, Quaas AM, Rees JA, Pera MF. Stem cell surface marker expression defines late stages of reprogramming to pluripotency in human fibroblasts. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2016;5(7):870–82.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Annas GJ. Resurrection of a stem-cell funding barrier—Dickey-Wicker in court. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(18):1687–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Trounson A. California Institute for Regenerative Medicine: accelerating stem cell therapies in California and beyond. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2012;1(1):6–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Owen-Smith J, McCormick J. An international gap in human ES cell research. Nat Biotechnol. 2006;24(4):391–2.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Guzick DS, Carson SA, Coutifaris C, Overstreet JW, Factor-Litvak P, Steinkampf MP, et al. Efficacy of superovulation and intrauterine insemination in the treatment of infertility. National Cooperative Reproductive Medicine Network. N Engl J Med. 1999;340(3):177–83.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Myers, E.R., Silva S., Barnhart K., Groben P.A., Richardson M.S., Robboy S.J., Leppert P., Coutifaris C., NICHD National Cooperative Reproductive Medicine Network., Interobserver and intraobserver variability in the histological dating of the endometrium in fertile and infertile women. Fertil Steril, 2004. 82(5): p. 1278–1282.

  8. Legro, R.S., Barnhart H.X., Schlaff W.D., Carr B.R., Diamond M.P., Carson S.A., Steinkampf M.P., Coutifaris C., McGovern P., Cataldo N.A., Gosman G.G., Nestler J.E., Giudice L.C., Leppert P.C., Myers E.R., Cooperative Multicenter Reproductive Medicine Network., Clomiphene, metformin, or both for infertility in the polycystic ovary syndrome. N Engl J Med, 2007. 356(6): p. 551–566.

  9. Legro, R.S., Brzyski R.G., Diamond M.P., Coutifaris C., Schlaff W.D., Casson P., Christman G.M., Huang H., Yan Q., Alvero R., Haisenleder D.J., Barnhart K.T., Bates G.W., Usadi R., Lucidi S., Baker V., Trussell J.C., Krawetz S.A., Snyder P., Ohl D., Santoro N., Eisenberg E., Zhang H., NICHD Reproductive Medicine Network., Letrozole versus clomiphene for infertility in the polycystic ovary syndrome. N Engl J Med, 2014. 371(2): p. 119–129.

  10. Diamond, M.P., Legro R.S., Coutifaris C., Alvero R., Robinson R.D., Casson P., Christman G.M., Ager J., Huang H., Hansen K.R., Baker V., Usadi R., Seungdamrong A., Bates G.W., Rosen R.M., Haisenleder D., Krawetz S.A., Barnhart K., Trussell J.C., Ohl D., Jin Y., Santoro N., Eisenberg E., Zhang H., NICHD Reproductive Medicine Network., Letrozole, gonadotropin, or clomiphene for unexplained infertility. N Engl J Med, 2015. 373(13): p. 1230–1240.

  11. Israel R. Footfalls echo in the memory. Fertil Steril. 1982;38(4):403–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Diagnosis and Management of Ectopic Pregnancy: Green-top Guideline No. 21. BJOG, 2016. 123(13): p. e15–e55.

  13. Chambers GM, Sullivan EA, Ishihara O, Chapman MG, Adamson GD. The economic impact of assisted reproductive technology: a review of selected developed countries. Fertil Steril. 2009;91(6):2281–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mavrelos D, Memtsa M, Helmy S, Derdelis G, Jauniaux E, Jurkovic D. Beta-hCG resolution times during expectant management of tubal ectopic pregnancies. BMC Womens Health. 2015;15:43.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Cohen MA, Sauer MV. Expectant management of ectopic pregnancy. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1999;42(1):48–54. quiz 55-6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Craig LB, Khan S. Expectant management of ectopic pregnancy. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2012;55(2):461–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Parks MA, Barnhart KT, Howard DL. Trends in the management of nonviable pregnancies of unknown location in the United States. Gynecol Obstet Investig. 2018:1–6.

  18. van Mello NM, Mol F, Verhoeve HR, van Wely M, Adriaanse AH, Boss EA, et al. Methotrexate or expectant management in women with an ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy of unknown location and low serum hCG concentrations? A randomized comparison. Hum Reprod. 2013;28(1):60–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kirk E, Bottomley C, Bourne T. Diagnosing ectopic pregnancy and current concepts in the management of pregnancy of unknown location. Hum Reprod Update. 2014;20(2):250–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gordon CM. Clinical practice. Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(4):365–71.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Schneider LF, Warren MP. Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea is associated with elevated ghrelin and disordered eating. Fertil Steril. 2006;86(6):1744–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Belchetz PE, et al. Hypophysial responses to continuous and intermittent delivery of hypopthalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Science. 1978;202(4368):631–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Buchter D, Behre H, Kliesch S, Nieschlag E. Pulsatile GnRH or human chorionic gonadotropin/human menopausal gonadotropin as effective treatment for men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a review of 42 cases. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998;139(3):298–303.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Christou F, Pitteloud N, Gomez F. The induction of ovulation by pulsatile administration of GnRH: an appropriate method in hypothalamic amenorrhea. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2017;33(8):598–601.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Hurley DM, Brian R, Outch K, Stockdale J, Fry A, Hackman C, et al. Induction of ovulation and fertility in amenorrheic women by pulsatile low-dose gonadotropin-releasing hormone. N Engl J Med. 1984;310(17):1069–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Martin KA, Hall JE, Adams JM, Crowley WF Jr. Comparison of exogenous gonadotropins and pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone for induction of ovulation in hypogonadotropic amenorrhea. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993;77(1):125–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Tjon-Kon-Fat RI, Bensdorp AJ, Scholten I, Repping S, van Wely M, Mol BWJ, et al. IUI and IVF for unexplained subfertility: where did we go wrong? Hum Reprod. 2016;31(12):2665–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. O'Flynn N. Assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems: NICE guideline. Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(618):50–1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Kim D, Child T, Farquhar C. Intrauterine insemination: a UK survey on the adherence to NICE clinical guidelines by fertility clinics. BMJ Open. 2015;5(5):e007588.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Nandi A, Gudi A, Shah A, Homburg R. An online survey of specialists’ opinion on first line management options for unexplained subfertility. Hum Fertil (Camb). 2015;18(1):48–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Farquhar CM, Liu E, Armstrong S, Arroll N, Lensen S, Brown J. Intrauterine insemination with ovarian stimulation versus expectant management for unexplained infertility (TUI): a pragmatic, open-label, randomised, controlled, two-centre trial. Lancet. 2018;391(10119):441–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. “Bundesgesetz über die medizinisch unterstützte Fortpflanzung”. Swiss Constitution / Bundesverfassung, 1998(810.11).

  33. Van den Bergh M, et al. Ten years of Swiss national IVF register FIVNAT-CH. Are we making progress? Reprod BioMed Online. 2005;11(5):632–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. “Bundesgesetz über die medizinisch unterstützte Fortpflanzung”, . Swiss Constitution / Bundesverfassung, 2017. 810.11.

  35. Maheshwari A, Griffiths S, Bhattacharya S. Global variations in the uptake of single embryo transfer. Hum Reprod Update. 2011;17(1):107–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Templeton A. Avoiding multiple pregnancies in ART: replace as many embryos as you like-one at a time. Hum Reprod. 2000;15(8):1662.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Gleicher N, Barad D. The relative myth of elective single embryo transfer. Hum Reprod. 2006;21(6):1337–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Bundesamt für Statistik / Swiss National Department of Statistics. https://www.bfs.admin.ch.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexander M. Quaas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Quaas, A.M. Local privileges not universal rights: geographic variations in the science and clinical practice of reproductive medicine. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 1559–1563 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1249-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1249-7

Navigation