While the organization of an international congress on in vitro fertilization (IVF) was an entirely new venture for us in 1983, since we had no experience but were full of optimism, we approached the organization of a second Congress in Vien na in 1986 much more calmly. Our experience had increased as had the readiness of many of our friends to help and of people interested in cooperating. However, would our Congress not lose its originality on account of the increased routine? This was certainly a possible danger which we wanted to prevent by means of two counter measures. The first concerned the scientific program: the new and trend-setting aspects of IVF would be discussed primarily rather than the results of traditional methods. The second measure concerned the social program, aimed more at private contacts in the intimate and familiar atmosphere of homes and workplace rather than meetings in luxurious but impersonal public institu tions. We believe that both these measures achieved the desired effect. Although we could not avoid some events taking place at the same time, the most important problems were treated and discussed jointly. Thus, the Congress was easy to survey, and all topics were thoroughly discussed.

While the organization of an international congress on in vitro fertilization (IVF) was an entirely new venture for us in 1983, since we had no experience but were full of optimism, we approached the organization of a second Congress in Vien na in 1986 much more calmly. Our experience had increased as had the readiness of many of our friends to help and of people interested in cooperating. However, would our Congress not lose its originality on account of the increased routine? This was certainly a possible danger which we wanted to prevent by means of two counter measures. The first concerned the scientific program: the new and trend-setting aspects of IVF would be discussed primarily rather than the results of traditional methods. The second measure concerned the social program, aimed more at private contacts in the intimate and familiar atmosphere of homes and workplace rather than meetings in luxurious but impersonal public institu tions. We believe that both these measures achieved the desired effect. Although we could not avoid some events taking place at the same time, the most important problems were treated and discussed jointly. Thus, the Congress was easy to survey, and all topics were thoroughly discussed.

By all indicators, the reproductive health of Americans has been deteriorating since 1980. Our nation is troubled by rates of teen pregnancies and newborn deaths that are worse than almost all others in the Western world. Science and Babies is a straightforward presentation of the major reproductive issues we face that suggests answers for the public. The book discusses how the clash of opinions on sex and family planning prevents us from making a national commitment to reproductive health; why people in the United States have fewer contraceptive choices than those in many other countries; what we need to do to improve social and medical services for teens and people living in poverty; how couples should "shop" for a fertility service and make consumer-wise decisions; and what we can expect in the futureâ€"featuring interesting accounts of potential scientific advances.

Thirty-five years after its initial success as a form of technologically assisted human reproduction, and five million miracle babies later, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a routine procedure worldwide. In Biological Relatives, Sarah Franklin explores how the normalization of IVF has changed how both technology and biology are understood. Drawing on anthropology, feminist theory, and science studies, Franklin charts the evolution of IVF from an experimental research technique into a global technological platform used for a wide variety of applications, including genetic diagnosis, livestock breeding, cloning, and stem cell research. She contends that despite its ubiquity, IVF remains a highly paradoxical technology that confirms the relative and contingent nature of biology while creating new biological relatives. Using IVF as a lens, Franklin presents a bold and lucid thesis linking technologies of gender and sex to reproductive biomedicine, contemporary bioinnovation, and the future of kinship.

As a capstone of the commemorations of the 40th anniversary of the birth of the first baby conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF), in 1978, this collection gathers the principal actors of the history of IVF, and summarizes the main achievements, current state, and future prospects of this technique. The contributions here cover, in a historical perspective, all major aspects of IVF, including its indications and techniques, the basic concepts of ovarian stimulation, the cryopreservation of embryos and oocytes, oocyte in vitro maturation, and technical aspects of oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer, among many other topics. The volume not only provides topical information to health professionals, but is written in such a way that it is understandable to the lay public who may read it as a passionate story of the evolution of techniques intimately related to the origin of human life.

Human Assisted Reproductive Technology: Future Trends in Laboratory and Clinical Practice offers a collection of concise, practical review articles on cutting-edge topics within reproductive medicine. Each article presents a balanced view of clinically relevant information and looks ahead to how practice will change over the next five years. The clinical section discusses advances in reproductive surgery and current use of robotic surgery for tubal reversal and removal of fibroids. It looks into the refinement of surgical procedures for fertility preservation purposes. Chapters also discuss non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis with proteomics technology, new concepts in ovarian stimulation and in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome, and evidence-based ART. The embryology section discusses issues ranging from three-dimensional in-vitro ovarian follicle culture, and morphometric and proteomics analysis of embryos, to oocyte and embryo cyropreservation. This forward-looking volume of review articles is key reading for reproductive medicine physicians, gynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, urologists and andrologists.