Eggs can select semen

According to the latest research, female's eggs are able to select sperm with the best genes to ensure the healthiest offspring. Semen does not appear to have the same ability to detect bad genes, this shows that fertilisation is not random and specific pairings between certain eggs and sperm are more common than others. Researchers bred female mice carrying one normal and one mutant copy of a gene that increased the chance of getting testicular cancer.

 The resulting offspring followed Mendel's rules and there was a random dispersal of the mutated form among offspring. Researchers reversed the breeding- gave males the mutant copy of the cancer gene while the females had the normal version. Only 27 per cent of the offspring had the mutant variant, compared to the 75 per cent. Researchers found no evidence the mutated mice embryos were dying shortly after fertilisation, rather they were never fertilised.

The rate of metabolism folic acid - which is an important signalling molecule - is different in sperm and eggs. Research has revealed that these molecules play an important role in fertilisation. Changes in these signals may impact how much sperm and egg are attracted to one another. When sperm from multiple males arrive at an egg concurrently, eggs are able to choose the sperm whose recognition proteins are best suited for healthy fertilization. This selection process can spur the evolution of new recognition proteins, eventually resulting in reproductive isolation and, in some cases, the creation of new species altogether.
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One embryo increases the chance of having a healthy baby

Transferring one rather than multiple fertilized donor eggs doubles the chances of a healthy birth. Using In vitro fertilisation IVF increases the odds of having twins or multiples birth which increases the likelihood that the babies will be born premature and underweight.

Many women choose to have multiple embryos transferred in IVF to improve their chances of getting pregnant. In traditional IVF, using fresh eggs, the donor egg is immediately fertilized with a semen sample and then inserted into the uterus of the mother.

For the process to work, the egg donor and recipient have to have their hormonal schedules synced up. With more moving parts, IVF with fresh eggs can take more time, patience, work and money. Frozen eggs can be cryogenically stored for up to 15 years, and are ready to be fertilized as soon as they have thawed.

Egg-freezing is now a commercially available service, but using them for IVF was still an experiment. Cryobanks have touted the practice as just as effective, affordable and simpler than the use of live eggs. Using frozen- bank eggs has no negative outcomes compared to using fresh eggs. Fresh donor eggs are slightly more likely to successfully implant in the recipient’s uterus and result in a live birth, but the outcome is not clinically significant.

There are elevated risks for multiple births, and babies that are premature and have low birth rates for both forms of IVF, but especially for those who use fresh donor eggs. Only one embryo should be transferred at a time because multiple births are at risk for premature birth or low birth weights.
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Effects of father's diet on fetus

Father's diet before conception can impact newborn's health, low carbohydrate and high protein diet can make the fetus healthy. Experiments were performed on fruit flies and the results showed offspring were less likely to survive if their fathers consumed a poor diet of high carbohydrates and low protein.

The insects were used because they have 60 percent of human genes.
Researchers mated male fruit flies with females after they altered their diet.
Since fruit flies share similar genes to that of humans, the researchers believe the impacts of the bugs' diet would correlate with that of men.

The study claims that men who want to become fathers should have a diet consisting of fish, meat, vegetables and fruit while cutting out pasta, rice and white bread. Sugary foods such as sweets, cakes and biscuits should be avoided. Exposure to toxins can be passed from the father to his offspring through his semen. During the experiment, female fruit flies were fed the same diet while males had different ones consisting of yeast and sugars.

The insects ate different foods, from low to high concentrations of proteins, carbohydrates and calories. After some days the males were mated with two females. The results showed that embryos were more likely to survive if they had a father with a high protein and low carbohydrates diet. Mortality was highest for offspring of males given a high carbohydrate, low protein diet. Researchers also found a connection between the male's body condition and his offspring's mortality.
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Human semen keeps viruses

The current analysis revealed genetic evidence of many infectious viruses found in semen. Semen provides a hiding place and breeding ground for many dangerous viruses

Zika, Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever, Chikungunya, Mumps, Epstein-Barr and Chhicken pox are present in human semen. Non-sexually transmitted viruses can persist in semen, and this increases the risk of sexual transmission.

 The presence of viruses in semen does not mean that every virus can be sexually transmitted, common viruses in semen are: hepatitis viruses, herpes viruses, and range of other viruses that can be pass from person-to-person via blood, saliva or other means.

It is easy for viruses to get in to the semen, but relatively hard for the immune system to kill the viruses, the immune system recognized sperm as foreign objects in the body and this subject sperm to attack from the immune system.

For sperm to survive, the testes are immunologic locations in the body, where the immune system does not have much access to, this immunological location can also protect dangerous viruses.

Zika is cleared from the bloodstream within one week of treatment, but can persist in semen for months, Ebola survivors can reigniting an outbreak because the virus remained latent and active in their testicles.
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Zika may not last in semen as thought

According to the latest research, Zika virus might not remain in the semen of some infected men as long as previously thought.

The researchers said Zika may only be present in semen for about a month. Previous research had suggested that Zika virus can be found in semen for as long as 188 days after the onset of symptoms.

The new study included 12 men in French Guiana who had Zika virus. Four of the men never had any detectable Zika in their semen. One excreted Zika virus in his semen for at least three days. And seven had Zika-laced semen for at least a month.

The maximum duration of detectable Zika in semen in the study was 45 days.
These data suggest that not all men who are symptomatically infected with Zika virus will have Zika virus RNA detectable in semen.

The results also showed that Zika does replicate in the testicles or semen-producing glands, since the amount of Zika in semen was significantly different than the Zika load found in the men's blood.

Zika causes neurological birth defects, most commonly microcephaly, a condition in which a baby's brain and skull are underdeveloped.
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Parabens can reduce sperm quality

According to the latest research, chemicals found in soap and plastic can reduce sperm quality. Hormone-disrupting chemicals, known as parabens, are significantly associated with an increased number of abnormally sized and shaped sperm, which has previously been linked to infertility.

Parabens, which are also found in certain foods, drugs and cosmetics can also cause DNA damage in sperm, which may hinder a woman's ability to conceive. Exposure to such chemicals also reduces sperms' mobility, making it more difficult for ejaculate to reach an egg. Parabens cause slow-moving sperm of an abnormal size

The researchers analysed the urine samples of men who attended a fertility clinic. The samples' paraben concentrations were assessed. The participants were also interviewed and provided semen, saliva and blood samples.

Results reveal the presence of parabens in urine are significantly associated with an increase number of sperm of an abnormal size and shape, which has previously been linked to infertility.
Parabens are also linked to DNA damage in sperm.

A particular type of the chemical, known as butyl paraben, was found to be particularly associated with reducing sperm quality. Parabens are widely-used preservatives in cosmetic products, including soaps, moisturisers and make-up. They are also found in certain drugs, pesticides, plastics, detergents, foods, toys and flame retardants.

The most common forms of the chemical are methylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben. Parabens are sometimes combined to increase their effectiveness. Parabens may have developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune-system side effects.
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Ebola found in semen of survivors two years after infection

Ebola virus disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other
animals caused by Ebola viruses. Ebola virus RNA can hibernation in the semen of survivors for more than two years after the treatment of the infection.

 Researchers found Ebola virus RNA in the semen of men who had negative test after the treatment of the infection. Men who survived Ebola virus disease EVD are advised to use condoms until their semen has tested negative for Ebola virus RNA.

The presence of Ebola virus in the semen for 2 years after treatment shows that it has long-term effects on the affected people. In some survivors, the virus can hibernate in the male genital tract for long periods of time with potential implications for transmission.

Men who had Ebola virus RNA detected in their semen also complained of vision problems at a higher rate than male survivors without evidence of Ebola virus RNA in their semen. Case of Ebola hibernation in semen is common among older men.
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Children of older women may develop cancer

Increase in chromosomal mutations as we get older may increase the risk of giving birth to children that will develop cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Increasing chromosomal aberrations with older parental may cause stillbirth or a baby with conditions like autism and Down’s syndrome.

A chromosome mutation is an unpredictable change that occurs in a
chromosome. This change is caused by problems that occur during cell division process.

Increasing new mutations that happens in sperm or egg cells are associated with the parents age. These increases the risk of birth defects related to single gene mutations and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Older parents can reduce the risk by embracing healthy lifestyle, reducing alcohol intake, avoiding smoking and chemical exposure.
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Zika virus cannot be transmitted by casual contact

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that is spread by the Aedes mosquito,
Casual contact like kissing or sharing of cutlery cannot transmit Zika virus from an infected person to others.

Mosquito bites are the major source of most Zika virus infections in people. After infection, the Zika virus is present in blood and saliva for two weeks, but it remains in bodily fluids like breast milk for weeks and semen for months.

The viral loads in the saliva are very low, anti-microbial components in the saliva also making that low level of virus less infectious than it might be in another bodily fluid like blood and semen.

Saliva is a viscous liquid, that prevents the ability of the virus to move and get to cells that they could infect.
Presently, there is no cure for Zika virus
infected person should rest, stay hydrated, use painkiller drugs and avoid mosquito bites.
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Swimming condition in the uterus and fertility

Before conception can take place in mammals, the semen and the egg must be in good condition. Male and female mammals have to contribute to conception before it can take place.

Researcher in Washington State University has found that uterus in female mice has enzymes that can break semen into watery form and make it easier to swim for conception to take place.

Female mice produce the enzyme using estrogen to cause the process of breaking down the semen. Lack of gene to induce the process will leads to failure of the semen in the uterus.