Francisco Domínguez

A systematic review with a meta-analysis published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Women’s Health concludes that there is insufficient evidence that most complementary treatments for in vitro fertilization (IVF) improve fertility in patients undergoing this procedure. Some of these techniques involve introducing platelet-rich plasma into the uterus or ovaries, administering a lipid infusion into the bloodstream, administering corticosteroids, or performing preimplantation genetic testing to detect aneuploidies—that is, abnormalities in chromosome number. According to the study, which included 85 clinical trials, there is only evidence—albeit of low quality—suggesting a possible benefit from three treatments: EmbryoGlue—a method of embryo transfer containing hyaluronic acid—endometrial scraping, and physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection—a technique for selecting sperm.

The ovarian cycle is regulated by internal circadian rhythms rather than external processes, says a study published in Science Advances. Using menstrual cycle data from some 3,000 women in Europe and North America, the authors add that the influence of the lunar cycle on women's menstrual cycle is weak, but significant.

Heavy metals - including arsenic, cadmium and mercury - may adversely affect the ovaries of women approaching menopause, a study claims. Those with high levels of metals in their urine had lower levels of anti-Müllerian hormone, indicating diminished ovarian reserve - fewer oocytes in the ovaries compared to other women of that age. The authors, whose study is published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, used urine data from more than 500 women in the US up to 10 years before their last menstrual period.