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To investigate the clinical factors that could be used predict the number of transferable blastocysts in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) cycles based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) and formed form a mathematical model to predict the chance likelihood of obtaining one transferable blastocyst, which is helpful for genetic counseling. This retrospective study enrolled couples undergoing PGT cycles for chromosomal structural rearrangement (PGT-SR, n = 363, 202 with reciprocal translocation carriers, 131 with Robertsonian translocation carriers, 30 with inversion carriers), monogenic diseases (PGT-M, n = 47), and for Aneuploidies (PGT-A, n = 132) from January 2015 to October 2018. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify the factors relevant for obtaining at least one transferable blastocyst. The factors that predict the number of biopsied blastocysts were further analyzed. The transferable blastocyst rates were 29.94, 41.99, 49.09, 41.42, and 44.37% in the reciprocal translocation carrier, Robertsonian translocation carrier, inversion carrier, PGT-M, and PGT-A cycles, respectively. The number of transferable blastocysts in these cycles were 0.3004 × the number of biopsied blastocysts (NBB) − 0.0031, 0.4063 × NBB + 0.0460, 0.5762 × NBB − 0.3128, 0.3611 × NBB + 0.1910, and 0.4831 × NBB − 0.0970, respectively. Furthermore, the number of MII oocytes and female age were clinical predictors of NBB in reciprocal translocation and PGT-A couples, while the number of MII oocytes was the only clinical predictor in Robertsonian translocation carriers, inversion carriers, and PGT-M couples. The number of biopsied blastocysts was the only clinical predictor of the ability to obtain a transferable blastocyst in PGT cycles; therefore, for clinical practice, theoretically the minimum numbers of biopsied blastocysts is 4 in reciprocal translocation carrier and 3 in couples undergoing PGT for other reasons. The number of MII oocytes and female age were clinical predictors of the number of biopsied blastocysts. With the mathematical models in our study as a reference, in clinical practice, clinicians will be able to conduct a more targeted genetic consultation for different kinds of PGT patients.

Background To analyze the characteristics of basal thyroid hormone levels in infertile women consulting for assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Methods This was a retrospective study. Serum TSH, FT3 and FT4 levels of women seeking ART consultation were tested routinely. Analyses were performed based on age and sampling time. One-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used to compare the continuous data among the groups, and the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare categorical data where appropriate. Results A total of 6426 women were initially included in the study. After exclusion criteria were applied, the remaining 4126 women were categorized into different groups. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism significantly decreased with age and sampling time, from 21.09 to 11.91% and from 28.57 to 10.67%, respectively (P P = 0.017, P P = 0.258, 0.300, respectively). Conclusions The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism significantly decreased with increasing age and sampling time, as did the serum TSH levels. Even though, the establishment of reference interval of TSH level based on age or sampling time was not recommended. Full consideration of age and sampling time should be carefully taken before initiation of treatment.

The aim of this study was to accurately describe outcome differences (cryo-survival, pregnancy rate and live birth rate, both per ET and cumulatively), between the vitrification method and slow-freezing method of surplus 2PN oocytes in an IVF program. In 2004, the freezing method for 2PN oocytes was changed from slow-cooling to vitrification. The data of 711 patients (timespan: 1/1999–7/2011; 410 vitrification and 301 slow-cooling events) undergoing a first IVF/ICSI cycles with freezing of 2PN oocytes were retrospectively analyzed. The outcome of one, the first, IVF cycle per patient was explored. The data were analyzed per freezing–thawing attempt as well as cumulatively per one complete IVF cycle, taking pregnancy occurrence after a fresh embryo transfer preceding the cryo-cycle(s) and other confounders (such as female age, elective vs. surplus 2PN cryopreservation) into account by means of exploratory regression analyses. In the vitrification and slow-cooling group, 756 and 376, respectively, attempts of thawing 2PN oocytes were recorded. Each attempt of thawing 2PN oocytes showed statistically significantly higher mean cryo-survival rates after vitrification (effect size approximately 30–40%, with vitrification cryo-survival consistently above 90% in all thawing attempts). Furthermore, the incidence of “zero survival” was lower after vitrification (0.5 vs. 7.3%, p

Female crickets (Gryllidae) often rely on the quality of male acoustic signals when choosing a potential mate. This quality can be determined by the frequency and temporal structure of the calling song, and both these characteristics are known to change as males grow old. In addition, female choice is influenced by call amplitude, which is primarily a function of the distance between a singing male and the recipient female. In this study, we use a binary choice experimental design to test whether an old male, whose song appeared to be less attractive in terms of its frequency and temporal structure, may benefit from its increased amplitude. We demonstrate that increased amplitude does improve attractiveness of the calling song chirped by an older male. We also show that female preference for young males does not change with female age. These findings are discussed in light of possible behavioral strategies and spatial distribution of young and old males in the field.

Male and female age are important factors that can influence mating and remating behavior. Females can discriminate against or prefer older males, but there have been relatively fewer studies on how female and male age influence female remating. Here we showed in wild flies of the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew), that when females were given a choice between males of different ages, younger females preferred to mate with younger males over older males, while older females were less selective. Also, when given a choice between males of different ages, older females had longer copulation durations than younger females. On the other hand, older males and females had lower mating success, compared with young and middle-aged flies under no choice conditions. However, middle-aged females mated faster compared to young females and young males mated faster compared to middle-aged males. Male age did not influence female remating, while female age strongly determined female remating, with no females remating when they were old. It is unclear if female receptivity mechanisms are switched off at older ages, or if females are reluctant to remate due to possible costs of mating. We discuss our results in terms of how male and female age can influence mating decisions. Fil: Abraham, Solana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucuman. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiologicos; Argentina Fil: Contreras Navarro, Yair. Universidad Veracruzana. Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada; México Fil: Perez Staples, Diana Folger. Universidad Veracruzana. Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada; México

The aim of this study was to (1) investigate the incidence of embryos derived from “unfertilized oocytes” i.e., oocytes not displaying pronuclei (0PN) at the time of the fertilization check and (2) determine the clinical pregnancy rates when transferring 0PN-derived embryos. In this retrospective study, 4424 IVF-ET cycles were reviewed. In total, 11.3 % (4966/43,949) 0PN-derived embryos were observed. It was found that female age, number of oocytes, and the top-quality embryo rate were significantly correlated with 0PN-derived embryo occurrence. The source of embryos transferred did not impact significantly on clinical pregnancy and live-birth rates. Of the 183 cycles included in this study where 275 0PN-derived embryos were transferred in total, only 0PN-derived embryos were available in 70 of those cycles. It was noteworthy that 13 healthy infants resulted from 0PN-derived embryos with an implantation rate of 17.0 %. These results indicate that the traditional method of excluding embryos because of those oocytes originally lacking any sign of a pronucleus at the fertilization check should be re-considered as transferring 0PN-derived embryos with subsequent expected developmental performance may be considered as an option for those patients where no other embryos are available.

Male and female sexual dysfunctions encompass biological, psychological and interpersonal aspects. Premature ejaculation (PE) and female vaginal penetration difficulties (VPD) are problems that may concurrently impair the couple's sexual relationship. We have studied the correlation between PE and VPD in the female partner, in a cross-sectional study of 125 heterosexual couples (male age 35.01±10.63; female age 32.36±10.07). VPD included tampon insertion, gynecological examination, inserting self-finger or partner-finger and penile-vaginal intercourse. Female sexual function index (FSFI) and a validated PE questionnaire were used to measure the female sexual function and PE in their male partners. We found that female partners of men with anteportal ejaculation were found to experience significantly more VPDs, especially with regard to difficulties in penile penetration and tampon use. The intensity of pain in VPD was higher in females whose male partners presented anteportal ejaculation. No significant correlation was found between total male PE score and the total FSFI or separate domains of female sexual function. The results suggest that female VPD and male anteportal ejaculation are interrelated. Such severe couple sexual problems should be addressed in parallel. Further research is required to study the causation of PE and VPD.

In the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), because only the first mating results in fertilisation, adult males guard quiescent deutonymph females, the stage immediately before adult emergence. Previous studies showed that T. urticae males prefer to guard older rather than younger females. However, as previous experimental designs have included uncertain factors, findings have not always been sufficiently rigorous. Therefore, we reexamined whether T. urticae males discriminate between the females closest to becoming receptive and younger females. One male was introduced onto leaf squares with two differently aged quiescent deutonymph females, with time lags between the females of 3, 6, 12 or 23 h, and whether the older or younger female was guarded was recorded. When the time lags between the females were 3, 6 or 12 h, males showed no preferences. Males preferred older females over younger ones only when the time lag was 23 h. Under non-choice conditions, fewer males guarded the 23-h younger females than other older females, suggesting that the attractiveness of the younger females is weaker than older females. Our results are not fully consistent with previous studies; T. urticae males do not obviously discriminate between females closest to becoming receptive and younger females.

The study explores the link between the 1992–1998 armed conflict in Tajikistan and women’s entry into first marriage using data from the 2003 Tajik Living Standards Measurement Survey. The estimation method is a Cox proportional hazard model specified as the differences-in-differences framework. The findings suggest that women who reached marriage age during or soon after the conflict (‘war cohort’) and lived in districts more exposed to conflict, were less likely to enter marriage at any given time compared to women from the ‘war cohort’ who lived in less-affected areas and women who reached the peak of prime marriage age before the start of the conflict. The analysis of sub-samples of women by their migration status indicates that migration during the war is one of the mechanisms explaining this delay in entering marriages.

Participation and performance trends in age group athletes have been investigated for different sport disciplines, but not for master swimmers. The knowledge on this topic is still missing for a particular stroke such as backstroke. Changes in participation and performance of male and female age group backstroke swimmers (≥25 years) competing in 50, 100 and 200 m pool swimming at the FINA World Masters Championships held between 1986 and 2014 were investigated using mixed-effects regression analyses. The overall participation was n = 26,217 including n = 13,708 women and n = 12,509 men. In 50 m, female (age groups 85–89 years; p = 0.002) and male participation (age groups 55–59; p = 0.030 and 80–84 years; p = 0.002) increased, while female participation decreased in age groups 55–59 (p = 0.010) and 60–64 years (p = 0.050). In 100 and 200 m, participation increased in age groups 45–49, 50–54, 65–69, 70–74, 80–84 years. Swimmers in age groups 25–29 to 95–99 years improved performance over all distances. Women were slower than men in age groups 25–29 to 80–84 years, but not in age groups 85–89 to 95–99 years over all distances. In 50 m and 100 m, the sex difference decreased in age groups 40–44 (p = 0.007 and p = 0.005), 45–49 (p = 0.017 and p = 0.034), 50–54 (p = 0.002 and p = 0.040), to 55–59 years (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004). In 200 m, the sex difference decreased in age groups 40–44 (p = 0.044) and 90–94 (p = 0.011), but increased in age group 25–29 years (p = 0.006). In summary, in age group backstroke swimmers, (1) participation increased or remained unchanged (except women in age groups 55–59 and 60–64 years in 50 m), (2) swimming performance improved in all age groups from 25–29 to 95–99 years over all distances, (3) men were faster than women in age groups 25–29 to 80–84 years (except age groups 85–89 to 95–99 years) over time and all distances.

Phenological events such as conception or parturition dates may have profound impact on several key life-history traits of ungulates at the individual as well as the population level. However, relatively little is known about the causes of variation in the timing of reproduction. Based on a 17-year survey of reproductive tracts, we investigated the effect of climate, population density, and age on the conception date of female moose (Alces alces) harvested in Estonia. Ninety-five percent of studied moose cows were conceived within a period of 9 weeks (29 August–30 October), while more than 45 % of all moose cows were conceived from 19 September to 2 October. Conception date was negatively related to population density and nonlinearly to the regional measure of winter climate reflecting the maximal extent of ice on the Baltic Sea (MIE) in the previous winter. High air temperatures during rut (in September) delayed the conception date. The timing of conception also depended on female age. Yearlings conceived significantly later as compared to females of all other age groups. Our findings corroborate the importance of density-dependent as well density-independent processes on the timing of conception of this ungulate. We also propose that the effect of population density on conception date may be mediated by increasing ecological carrying capacity concurrent with increasing population abundance.

After recurrent implantation failure (RIF), empirical figures on further prospects are essential for counselling but difficult to estimate within single IVF centres due to high drop-out rates. Alternatively, couples referred to a tertiary unit for RIF were evaluated. Multi-centre 2-year observational trial of 1,174 eligible couples treated consecutively with adjuvant lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT) in a university immunological department from 1999 to 2002 after three or more unsuccessful fresh embryo transfers. Acquisition of data was completed in 2005. With another 1.5 oocyte retrievals, delivery rate per couple depended on age (39.3% at 39 years, P

In vitro fertilization (IVF) in women of advanced age (>42 years) represents only 5%, a comparatively minute part, of the national IVF experience in the United States (US). In view of evolving population dynamics, it, however, also represents proportionally a rather quickly expanding patient need. Because of access restrictions at many IVF programs, this market does not live up to its potential. As best demonstrated by the 2004 US National Summary and Fertility Clinic Report, which for the first time reported pregnancies and births above age 45 year, IVF in women of advanced reproductive age represents a cutting edge area of interest for improving current IVF outcomes. Access to IVF should, therefore, not be withheld based on female age and/or baseline FSH levels. Instead, a definition of acceptable minimal pregnancy and life birth rates could be used to define the limits of offered access to IVF, independent of age and/or baseline FSH levels.

In 14 previously published experiments with clones of three species of Brachionus, Epiphanes ukera, and Rhinoglena frontalis, females cultured singly in small volumes from birth through most of their reproductive period usually produced some mictic daughters. Here, these data are analyzed to test two hypotheses: the propensity of females in a clone to produce mictic daughters will vary significantly among females, and will decrease with female age. Significant heterogeneity (χ2) among replicate females was demonstrated in two clones of B. calyciflorus from Florida, in single clones of this species from Georgia, Texas, Spain, and Australia, in a clone of B. angularis from Argentina, and in single clones of E. ukera and R. frontalis from Germany. No significant heterogeneity was found in two other clones of B. calyciflorus from Florida and in a clone of B. variabilis from Spain. Significant heterogeneity among females of a clone could be caused by chance fluctuations during development, differences in birth order, or epimutations. This heterogeneity is an important component of a bet-hedging strategy to balance production of diapausing fertilized eggs and future population growth by female parthenogenesis. The propensity of a female to produce mictic daughters did not decrease with her age. In experiments with six different clones from four strains of B. calyciflorus, and with single clones of E. ukera and R. frontalis, only one clone of B. calyciflorus showed significant variation (ANOVA) in the proportion of mictic daughters produced in three or four successive one- or two-day periods. In this clone the proportion of mictic daughters increased with maternal age.

Individual variation in female preference for male traits may influence mate choice, especially if benefits and costs of choosiness vary with the range of available males or reproductive timing. We examined variation in female preference for male leg tuft size in Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz) wolf spiders with video playback. Dichotomous (simultaneous) choice test experiments included all possible combinations of four stimuli (i.e., modified versions of the same video male stimulus): average tuft size (control), reduced (−25%), enlarged (+25%), and no tufts (removed). Females exhibited a directional preference for larger tuft size independent of the nature of the choice (except for reduced tufts vs no tufts where no difference was seen). Female preference in the short term (over a period of 4 days) was also highly repeatable for control vs reduced tufts, but not for control vs enlarged tufts. Responses of females in ‘no-choice’ presentations of a single (control) male stimulus varied with age post-maturity; females were less receptive in weeks 1 and 2, highly receptive at week 3, and less thereafter. Mated females were least receptive and most aggressive towards a male stimulus. Females offered choices repeatedly at different ages post-maturity consistently preferred the control male vs reduced tufts over all 3 weeks but varied in their preference for enlarged tufts vs control male. In the first 2 weeks, females preferred the enlarged tuft male stimulus, but showed no preference by the third week. Females tested in week 4 showed no preference in either choice. Results suggest that the potential interaction between female preference for male traits and female reproductive timing may be a critical consideration in mate choice.

Natal philopatry is an important component of mammalian behaviour but is difficult to study in natural vertebrate populations due to the requirement for long-term individual-based spatial observations. Consequently, we quantified fine-scale patterns of natal philopatry in an intensively studied colony of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), where a scaffold walkway allows individual locations to be measured to the nearest metre. Using subcutaneous PIT tags, we tracked the early life histories of 335 females born within the colony, of which 38 were resighted as breeding adults. We found that individual females returned to as little as one body length (2 m) of their birth locations. Moreover, distances between natal and pupping sites were not correlated with female age, but instead tended to decrease with the number of seasons an individual was sighted ashore. This suggests that breeding experience may be a better predictor than age of the ability of females to occupy preferred sites within fur seal colonies.

In this paper an attempt is made to see the differentials, if any, in Mean Age at Marriage [MAM] and Mean Age at Consummation [MAC] in two Indian States, Rajasthan & Andhra Pradesh. Utilizing the technique of Multiple Classification Analysis [MCA], the analysis is carried out to see how the category means of the predictor variable differ from the grand mean. The analysis indicates that educational status of women play a dominant role in determining the age at marriage for females in both the States. Consanguinity tends to lower the MAM is an important finding of the study. Unit of analysis is individual women. Analysis is at micro level and cross-sectional. The data relates to National Family Health Survey of 1992-93 data[5].

The relationship between hemoparasite infection (measured just after egg laying) and primary reproductive output (laying date, clutch size and egg volume) was studied in female pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca, of different ages (2 years old vs. 4 or more years old). The hemoparasite (Haemoproteus balmorali and Trypanosoma spp.) prevalence increased with advancing female age. H. balmorali-infected females initiated egg laying earlier and laid larger clutches. There was no evidence that infected females laid smaller eggs or had a lower body mass after egg laying than non-infected ones. Only for H. balmorali-infected females was there an increase in clutch size between age groups. The present results suggest that primary reproductive output of females will depend on their health-dependent residual reproductive value. Only old females may be able to control a chronic or latent infection by hemoparasites and thereby invest more heavily in reproduction than younger but experienced females. Alternatively, high hemoparasite prevalence may be the cause of increased female primary reproductive output in old females.

The factors affecting individual variation in reproductive success in a multibrooded passerine, the Black WheatearOenanthe leucura, were studied during five years in a dry inland depression in SE Spain. Black Wheatear pairs initiated 1–5 breeding attempts in a season, including relayings, and managed to raise 0–3 broods and 0–13 fledglings. The onset of breeding for different pairs spanned several months. The number of breeding attempts and the proportion of young resulting in fledged young (excluding predated broods) were the best predictors of seasonal reproductive success. Clutch size showed a quadratic relationship with laying date. Female age and time of residency and indexes of parental condition such as discontinuities in feather growth or prevalence of ectoparasites had significant effects on breeding productivity. Repeatabilities of breeding performance for males, females or in territories were not significant.

The purpose of the study reported here is to assess the relationship between fertility expectation (total number of children expected to have or have had), childrearing career (ratio of actual or intended total time per child taken out of the labour force to rear children), and the following variables across female age cohorts: (a) age, (b) education, (c) personal income, (d) religious strength, (e) marital status, and (f) employment status. The random sample consists of 323 women. Results of simultaneous equation modelling indicates that fertility expectation and childrearing career are influenced by different factors in the age cohorts. Results are discussed in terms of role compatibility and new home economics theories.

Observations were made on the feeding behavior of 34 lactating rhesus females (Macaca mulatta) at Tughlaqabad, India. Consistent interindividual differences in feeding times were found and two sources of this variation were identified. Time spent feeding was found to decline with female age; rhesus mothers 4–6 years old spent over 40% more time feeding than did females 11–15 years of age. When the animals were divided into high- and low-status groups, dominance was also found to relate to individual feeding times; high-status females spent more time feeding that did low-status females, but this difference was evident only when the effect of female age was held constant. The age effect is probably an expression of age-related variation in nutritional requirements due to growth in the youngest subject and, perhaps, a declining basal metabolic rate in the oldest. We speculate that the comparatively weak dominance effect is due less to the aggressive interruption of feeding bouts than it is to a presumed greater vigilance on the part of subordinant mothers in monitoring their infants' whereabouts.

It follows from a number of theoretical models of marriage that the scarcer women are relative to men, i.e., the higher the sex ratio, the less married women are likely to participate in the labor force. Such sex ratio effects may be stronger among less educated women. These predictions are tested using individual data from Current Population Surveys for four regions of the U.S. (Northeast, Midwest, South and West), and for the U.S. as a whole, covering the period 1965–2005 at 5-year intervals. Within-region sex ratio variation results from variation in cohort size (due principally to large fluctuations in number of births) and limited fluctuations in the difference between male and female age at marriage. As hypothesized, we find that sex ratios are inversely related to women’s labor force participation, reflecting that ceteris paribus women born in years of peak baby-boom are more likely to be in the labor force than women born in years of peak baby-bust. Additionally, weaker sex ratio effects are found among educated women in two of the four regions of the United States.

The Marriage Question, hotly debated during the late Victoria era, concerned whether the younger generation was marrying at the “proper time”, neither irresponsibly too early nor selfishly too late. Data for the colony of Victoria show modest rises in male and female age at marriage from 1861 to 1901. This article uses Melbourne marriage certificates from 1866 to 1896 to compare urban and rural marriage trends and study the individual determinants of the timing of first marriage; on the whole, urban brides and grooms mere likely to be younger than rural ones. Economic conditions, as measured by occupation, played a more important role in men’s timing of marriage than in women’s. The fact that prenuptial pregnancy led couples to marry several years before their peers suggests that family commitments and other personal, unmeasured, factors affected marriage age.

Because most heterosexual pedophilic offenses are committed by males who in fact erotically prefer adult females, the hypothesis was tested that males with nondeviant erotic preferences are generally prone to react in a sexual way to female children. With nondeviant subjects, penile volume changes (PVCs) were measured to stimulus slides and movie pictures of males and females, varying in age. There were significant differerences in PVCs to each of the female age groups shown, and responses were greater to all female age groups than to the male ones. PVCs to the youngest female age group (6 to 8 years) were clearly different not only from those to pictures of males but also from those to neutral slides. Reactions to certain parts of the female and male bodies at various stages of development were also assessed. Of female children, only the pubic region, and to some degree the buttocks, elicited clearly distinctive reactions.