Matching Items (2)
Description
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if there was a statistically significant relationship between the success rate of Assisted Reproductive Technology treatments and factors including the socioeconomic status of the area around selected fertility clinics as well as whether the eggs used in the treatments were fresh or frozen, and either from donors or from the patients themselves. Data on treatment success rates were gathered from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and socioeconomic status data in the form of median income and racial makeup of the area surrounding selected clinics were gathered from the national Census. These data were analyzed using a general linear model to determine whether any of the potential effects had a significant impact on success rates. A binomial logit link analysis of the results showed that only the fresh versus frozen nature of the egg used in each procedure had a significant impact on the success rate of that procedure, and that the socioeconomic status of the area around the clinics seemed to have no effect on treatment success rates. The value of this analysis in particular comes from its attention to the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the success rates of fertility specifically, as much of the existing research on the relationship between socioeconomic factors and quality of care tends to focus on medical care in general, as opposed to any one area.
ContributorsEgler, Austin Michael (Author) / Ebie, Jessie (Thesis director) / Eaton, Kathryn (Committee member) / Grade, Patricia (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The desire to start a family is something millions of people around the globe strive to achieve. However, many factors such as the societal changes in family planning due to increasing maternal age, use of birth control, and ever-changing lifestyles have increased the number of infertility cases seen in the United States each year. Infertility can manifest as a prolonged inability to conceive, or inability to carry a pregnancy full-term. Modern advancements in the field of reproductive medicine have begun to promote the use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) to circumvent reduced fertility in both men and women. Implementation of techniques such as In Vitro Fertilization, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, and Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing have allowed many couples to conceive. There is continual effort being made towards developing more effective and personalized fertility treatments. This often begins in the form of animal research—a fundamental step in biomedical research. This dissertation examines infertility as a medical condition through the characterization of normal reproductive anatomy and physiology in the introductory overview of reproduction. Specific pathologies of male and female-factor infertility are described, which necessitates the use of ARTs. The various forms of ARTs currently utilized in a clinical setting are addressed including history, preparations, and protocols for each technology. To promote continual advancement of the field, both animal studies and human trials provide fundamental stepping-stones towards the execution of new techniques and protocols. Examples of research conducted for the betterment of human reproductive medicine are explored, including an animal study conducted in mice exploring the role of tyramine in ovulation. With the development and implementation of new technologies and protocols in the field, this also unearths ethical dilemmas that further complicate the addition of new technologies in the field. Combining an extensive review in assisted reproduction, research and clinical fieldwork, this study investigates the history and development of novel research conducted in reproductive medicine and explores the broader implications of new technologies in the field.
ContributorsPeck, Shelbi Marie (Author) / Baluch, Debra P (Thesis advisor) / Maienschein, Jane (Thesis advisor) / Sweazea, Karen (Committee member) / Ellison, Karin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021