Preface

Article Outline

• Copyright

This volume is based on presentations by an international forum of experts that will meet on October 2008 in Milano, Italy, to discuss the theme: From Infertility Treatment to Reproductive Health. This symposium brings together the multi-faceted viewpoints of scientists and physicians who have the common interest of investigating the physiology of reproduction and the consequences of assisted reproductive technologies on future health.

The methods utilized in assisted reproduction rapidly proliferated and in some cases they have grown beyond their scientific foundation. This is leading to greater understanding of the physiology of reproduction, including the early mechanisms of gamete selection, embryo development and implantation. Moreover, newly developed technologies can be applied today that allow safe reproduction in men and women with viral infections or after cancer treatment.

The outcome of babies from assisted reproductive technologies has always been of interest to the medical community, but recent interest has also focused on how reproductive technologies impact the future health of both men and women undergoing these treatments. Primum non-nocere is the teaching that we all should bear in mind. The forum for this symposium will therefore also consider potential risks derived from infertility treatments.

The main theme of the meeting, “From Infertility Treatment to Reproductive Health”, constitutes a continuum of presentations that are necessarily divided into thematic sections. The first section of this volume addresses oocyte and sperm quality, embryo implantation and uterine receptivity. These topics are discussed in relation to morphology, genetics and immunology. The second section highlights fertility treatments and complications in special groups of patients, including those with viral infections and those with life threatening cancers that desire fertility preservation. Moreover, the final section considers if, and how, infertility treatment may enhance the risk for disease development in infertile patients. This subject is considered in light of recent advances in progenitor cell therapy and how this approach may modulate risks identified by investigations in reproductive medicine.

The articles in this volume will be published by the time of the symposium and will describe the state-of-the-art in this field of science. Pressure on authors, reviewers, and publishers is invoked to achieve a rapid publication schedule, and we sincerely thank each of these groups for their help and co-operation. We anticipate that each contribution will raise interest and increase understanding of the field of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. We predict that the papers therein will be well received, and we look forward to meeting you in Milano!