Assisted Reproductive Technology in Reproductive Medicine: Emerging Trends and Application

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Obstetrics and Gynecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 434

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece
Interests: female and male infertility; gamete and embryo ultrastructure; electron microscopy; reproductive morphology; fertility preservation; assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece
Interests: gamete and embryo quality; fertility preservation; assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Special Issue in Medicina entitled “Assisted Reproductive Technology in Reproductive Medicine: Emerging Trends and Application.” This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances and emerging trends in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and their applications in reproductive medicine.

Since the first successful in vitro fertilization procedures, ART has transformed the management of infertility, enabling millions of individuals and couples to achieve parenthood. Recent developments in molecular and cellular technologies, cryopreservation, embryo culture systems, and personalized reproductive approaches are reshaping the field, offering new insights into reproductive biology and patient care.

This Special Issue seeks to capture both historical perspectives and cutting-edge innovations in ART. We welcome contributions that advance understanding of reproductive biology, enhance clinical outcomes, and address ethical, technological, and translational challenges in reproductive medicine. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Advances in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo culture techniques;
  • Gamete and embryo cryopreservation, vitrification, and thawing strategies;
  • Molecular and imaging approaches for assessing gamete and embryo quality;
  • Oncofertility and fertility preservation;
  • Innovations in reproductive genetics and personalized medicine in ART.

We particularly encourage studies that push the boundaries of ART, including novel diagnostic tools, omics-based approaches, artificial intelligence applications in embryo selection, and translational research bridging basic science with clinical practice. Contributions providing mechanistic insights or demonstrating clear potential to improve clinical outcomes are highly valued.

We invite submission of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, perspectives, and methodological papers. Interdisciplinary contributions integrating molecular biology, embryology, reproductive endocrinology, and clinical ART practice are strongly encouraged.

We look forward to your contributions, which will help shape the future of reproductive medicine and ART. Your expertise and insights will be invaluable in making this Special Issue a rich resource for the global reproductive medicine community.

Dr. Sevastiani Antonouli
Dr. George Anifandis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • quality of gametes and embryos
  • advances in ART
  • IVF/ICSI
  • embryo culture and selection
  • gamete cryopreservation
  • embryo vitrification
  • fertility preservation
  • oncofertility
  • reproductive genetics
  • molecular diagnostics in ART
  • artificial intelligence in embryology
  • reproductive endocrinology
  • embryo imaging and assessment
  • personalized reproductive medicine
  • translational reproductive research
  • clinical outcomes in ART

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 472 KB  
Article
The Influence of Sexually Transmitted Bacteria and Human Papillomavirus on Sperm Parameters: Data from a Preliminary Study
by Maria Samara, Eleni Thodou, Christina Messini, Efthalia Moustakli, Maria Anagnostou, Athanasios Zikopoulos, Alexandros Daponte, Ioannis Georgiou and George Anifandis
Medicina 2026, 62(5), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62050874 - 3 May 2026
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: The microbiome plays a pivotal role in male infertility, with distinct microbial species exerting both beneficial and deleterious effects on reproductive function. Sexually transmitted bacteria and several viruses, including human papillomavirus (HPV), have been identified in semen. This cross-sectional [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: The microbiome plays a pivotal role in male infertility, with distinct microbial species exerting both beneficial and deleterious effects on reproductive function. Sexually transmitted bacteria and several viruses, including human papillomavirus (HPV), have been identified in semen. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the prevalence of single and co-infections of sexually transmitted bacteria (STB)—such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma spp., and Ureaplasma spp.—with various HPV subtypes in Greek male partners of infertile couples and to evaluate their potential impact on sperm parameters. In addition, the possible effect of cryopreservation on the maintenance of these pathogens was assessed. Materials and Methods: Eighty-two semen samples were initially collected from 82 individuals undergoing routine sperm analysis. In total, 80/82 (97.6%) participants proceeded to further analysis, as 2/82 (2.4%) were excluded due to poor DNA quality. Results: A total of 18/80 (22.5%) sperm samples tested positive for STB, with Ureaplasma spp. representing the most frequently detected pathogen. Co-infection of Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis was observed in 4/80 (5%) samples. Twelve samples (12/80, 15%) were positive for HPV, including low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) types, and HPV 16 was the predominant HR genotype. Notably, a co-infection of STB and HPV was not found in our specimens. STB-positive samples demonstrated significantly higher sperm concentration and improved progressive motility compared with STB-negative samples. HPV-positive samples exhibited lower sperm volume and concentration and increased non-progressive motility compared with HPV-negative samples. Following three months of cryopreservation, LR HPV and STB were no longer detectable, whereas HR HPV types remained detectable. Conclusions: These preliminary findings are interesting, as they could be useful for routine screening of HPV and STB in sperm samples preserved in sperm banks and highlight the need for future research. Full article
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