Human reproduction
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The WHO Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction was established in 1972, to respond to a global expansion in research needs in human reproduction, especially in the area of fertility regulation. The Programme's limited resources come from voluntary contributions by governments and international agencies. The emphasis is always on the needs of developing countries. ⋯ Promotion of research in human reproduction, to serve developing country needs, has to move into two directions. One is the mobilization of a global effort to develop and test technologies, where the available technologies are not satisfactory to meet the needs and where the research is slackening. The second is the strengthening of in-country resources for research to deal with country-specific problems and to enable countries to utilize, to the best, available technologies.
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Follicle puncture under the guidance of ultrasound has now been used for some years. The most important advantage of the ultrasound-guided technique compared with the laparoscopic technique is that the former can be performed under local anaesthesia. However, both the trans-vesical and the perurethral ultrasound-guided puncturing routes may be quite painful for the patient. ⋯ Only 10% of the patients found the puncture painful. Ninety-eight per cent of the patients felt no anxiety about going through the procedure again. We therefore conclude that trans-vaginal oocyte pick-up using a vaginal transducer is very well accepted by most women.
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A case of bilateral femoral neuropathy after microsurgical tuboplasty for reversal of sterilization is reported. Although the prognosis is favourable and full recovery is usually observed, the disabling effect of the neuropathy may last for several months. This report is an attempt to alert fertility surgeons to the possible occurrence of such a complication disturbing to both patient and physician, by analysing the mechanisms of injury and possible ways of its prevention.