During human evolutionary history, there were "trade-offs" between expending time and energy on child-rearing and mating, so both men and women evolved conditional mating strategies guided by cues signaling the circumstances. Many short-term matings might be successful for some men; others might try to find and keep a single mate, investing their effort in rearing her offspring. Recent evidence suggests that men with features signaling genetic benefits to offspring should be preferred by women as short-term mates, but there are trade-offs between a mate's genetic fitness and his willingness to help in child-rearing. It is these circumstances and the cues that signal them that underlie the variation in short- and long-term mating strategies between and within the sexes.

/pdf/the-evolution-of-human-mating-trade-offs-and-strategic-4f53scw0tn.pdf

The evolution of human mating: Trade-offs and strategic pluralism

Endometriosis

The differentiation of the urinogenital system and the appendicular skeleton in vertebrates is under the control of Hox genes. The common control of digit and gonad differentiation raises the possibility that patterns of digit formation may relate to spermatogenesis and hormonal concentrations. This work was concerned with the ratio between the length of the 2nd and 4th digit (2D:4D) in humans. We showed that (i) 2D:4D in right and left hands has a sexually dimorphic pattern; in males mean 2D:4D = 0.98, i.e. the 4th digit tended to be longer than the 2nd and in females mean 2D:4D = 1.00, i.e. the 2nd and 4th digits tended to be of equal length. The dimorphism is present from at least age 2 years and 2D:4D is probably established in utero; (ii) high 2D:4D ratio in right hands was associated with germ cell failure in men (P = 0.04); (iii) sperm number was negatively related to 2D:4D in the right hand (P = 0.004); (iv) in men testosterone concentrations were negatively related to right hand 2D:4D and in women and men LH (right hand), oestrogen (right and left hands) and prolactin (right hand) concentrations were positively correlated with 2D:4D ratio and (v) 2D:4D ratio in right hands remained positively related to luteinizing hormone and oestrogen after controlling for sex, age, height and weight.

http://www.bioteach.ubc.ca/TeachingResources/Biochemistry/fingerratiopaper.pdf

The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length: a predictor of sperm numbers and concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and oestrogen.

Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is a heterogeneous condition. A large number of studies has recently been published, yet many of them have conflicting conclusions. The various aetiological factors, management, prognostic features and outcomes of a subsequent pregnancy in women with RM are reviewed.

/pdf/recurrent-miscarriage-aetiology-management-and-prognosis-3yyiyjiu0y.pdf

Recurrent miscarriage: aetiology, management and prognosis

BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common metabolic dysfunction and heterogeneous endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Although patients with PCOS are typically characterized by increased numbers of oocytes retrieved during IVF, they are often of poor quality, leading to lower fertilization, cleavage and implantation rates, and a higher miscarriage rate. METHODS For this review, we searched the database MEDLINE (1950 to January 2010) and Google for all full texts and/or abstract articles published in English with content related to oocyte maturation and embryo developmental competence. RESULTS The search showed that alteration of many factors may directly or indirectly impair the competence of maturating oocytes through endocrine and local paracrine/autocrine actions, resulting in a lower pregnancy rate in patients with PCOS. The extra-ovarian factors identified included gonadotrophins, hyperandrogenemia and hyperinsulinemia, although intra-ovarian factors included members of the epidermal, fibroblast, insulin-like and neurotrophin families of growth factors, as well as the cytokines. CONCLUSIONS Any abnormality in the extra- and/or intra-ovarian factors may negatively affect the granulosa cell-oocyte interaction, oocyte maturation and potential embryonic developmental competence, contributing to unsuccessful outcomes for patients with PCOS who are undergoing assisted reproduction.

/pdf/extra-and-intra-ovarian-factors-in-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-563m7yosbd.pdf

Extra- and intra-ovarian factors in polycystic ovary syndrome: impact on oocyte maturation and embryo developmental competence

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(97)00241-0/pdf

The hypo-osmotic swelling test in recurrent miscarriage

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(00)01538-7/pdf

Follicular fluid concentrations of interleukin-12 and interleukin-8 in IVF cycles

Evaluation of different sperm function tests as screening methods for male fertilization potential—the value of the sperm migration test

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(98)00317-3/pdf

D. Iwan Lewis-Jones

Papers

The hypo-osmotic swelling test in recurrent miscarriage

Follicular fluid concentrations of interleukin-12 and interleukin-8 in IVF cycles

Evaluation of different sperm function tests as screening methods for male fertilization potential—the value of the sperm migration test

Human sperm head morphometric distribution and its influence on human fertility

Development and in vitro testing of a new method of urine preparation for retrograde ejaculation; the Liverpool solution