Changing the Perspective on Fertility Preservation for Women with Metastatic or Advanced Stage Cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this Perspective we share the personal story of a 33-year-old patient diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and her journey through fertility preservation, surrogacy, and eventually motherhood, highlighting misconceptions about fertility preservation in this population. RECENT FINDINGS: There are nearly 1 million women under the age of 50 diagnosed and living with cancer in the USA. These patients are met with life-altering decisions, including those that may limit their reproductive ability. While there have been tremendous advances and advocacy in the field of oncofertility, there has been limited focus on patients with advanced stage or metastatic cancer. We describe five key misconceptions surrounding fertility preservation in patients with advanced stage cancer, offering a review of the literature and our approach to challenging topics like desiring fertility preservation in the face of Stage 4 disease, the safety and timing of ovarian stimulation during cancer treatment, and passing away following fertility preservation. We review the importance of assessing perceptions of fertility preservation in patients with metastatic cancer and highlight the lack of research in this area as a call to action.

Aneuploidy rates and morphokinetic parameters of embryos cultured in distinct culture media: a sibling oocyte study.

STUDY QUESTION: Do embryos from sibling oocytes assigned to distinct single-step media culture systems demonstrate differences in early embryo development, morphokinectics or aneuploidy rates? SUMMARY ANSWER: Embryo quality, morphokinetic parameters and aneuploidy rates from trophectoderm biopsy were similar between sibling embryos cultured in distinct media systems from the time of gamete isolation. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Studies on the effect of commercially available embryo culture media systems have demonstrated inconsistent impact on human embryonic development, morphokinetics, aneuploidy rates and clinical outcomes. In addition, these studies have been primarily randomized at the level of the embryo or the patient to culture media. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Prospective sibling oocyte cohort derived from 200 subjects undergoing IVF at a tertiary academic medical center between February 2018 and November 2019. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Sibling oocytes were allocated to Global® or SAGE® media system based upon laterality of ovary from which they were retrieved. All embryos were cultured in a time-lapse incubator. Blastocysts underwent trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy using next-generation sequencing. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: One hundred twenty-seven subjects (n = 127) had paired blastocysts for biopsy in each culture media system. There was no difference in top quality blastocyst formation (47.1 ± 31.0 vs 48.1 ± 27.2%; P = 0.87) nor aneuploidy rate (62.3 ± 34.0 vs 56.1 ± 34.4%; P = 0.07) for sibling embryos cultured in Global versus SAGE media system. Embryo morphokinetic parameters including time to each cell division from two cells (t2) to eight cells (t8), time to morula stage (tM), time to blastocele formation (tSB), time to fully formed blastocyst (tB) and time to expansion of the blastocyst (tEB) were similar between paired blastocysts from each culture media system. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Pregnancy outcomes and offspring health data were not available for analysis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Commercially available culture media may not have a differential impact on embryo development and blastocyst aneuploidy rate when patient and stimulation-related factors are held constant. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): There was no external funding for this study. C.H. is owner of a consultancy company, IVF Professionals, Chief Scientific Officer at Apricity, Executive Director at TMRW and co-owner and shareholder of Aria Fertility. She has received speaker fees, consulting fees and travel support from Cooper Surgical and Vitrolife. J.B. is an employee and shareholder of vitrolife. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Microfluidic preparation of spermatozoa for ICSI produces similar embryo quality to density-gradient centrifugation: a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial.

STUDY QUESTION: Does processing of spermatozoa for IVF with ICSI by a microfluidic sperm separation device improve embryo quality compared with density-gradient centrifugation? SUMMARY ANSWER: Patients randomized to microfluidic sperm preparation had similar cleavage- and blastocyst-stage embryo quality and clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates to those who underwent standard sperm processing for IVF with ICSI. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Microfluidic sperm preparation can isolate spermatozoa for clinical use with minimal DNA fragmentation but with unclear impact on clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A prospective randomized controlled trial of 386 patients planning IVF from June 2017 through September 2021 was carried out. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: One hundred and ninety-two patients were allocated to sperm processing with a microfluidic sperm separation device for ICSI, while 194 patients were allocated to clinical standard density-gradient centrifugation (control) at an academic medical centre. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: In an intention to treat analysis, there were no differences in high-quality cleavage-stage embryo fraction [66.0 (25.8)% control versus 68.0 (30.3) microfluidic sperm preparation, P = 0.541, absolute difference -2.0, 95% CI (-8.5, 4.5)], or high-quality blastocyst fraction [37.4 (25.4) control versus 37.4 (26.2) microfluidic sperm preparation, P = 0.985, absolute difference -0.6 95% CI (-6, 5.9)] between groups. There were no differences in the clinical pregnancy or ongoing pregnancy rates between groups. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The population studied was inclusive and did not attempt to isolate male factor infertility cases or patients with a history of elevated sperm DNA fragmentation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Microfluidic sperm separation performs similarly to density-gradient centrifugation in sperm preparation for IVF in an unselected population. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No external funding to declare. M.P.R. is a member of the Clinical Advisory Board for ZyMot® Fertility, Inc. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03085433. TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE: 21 March 2017. DATE OF FIRST PATIENT'S ENROLLMENT: 16 June 2017.

Hormone concentrations of dominant follicles in the TALES randomized controlled trial comparing letrozole with tamoxifen.

BACKGROUND: In this secondary analysis of the TAmoxifen or Letrozole in Estrogen Sensitive tumors (TALES) trial, we aimed to investigate if concurrent administration of letrozole vs. tamoxifen vs. no added treatment affects hormonal composition and size of stimulated ovarian follicles. METHODS: TALES is a randomized controlled trial of IVF stimulation for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients stimulated with gonadotropins and administered concurrent tamoxifen 20 mg or letrozole 5 mg. We analyzed estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), progesterone (P4), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). We used ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis, logistic, and linear regression models to examine differences in follicular hormone levels, size, and mature oocyte yield between trial arm. RESULTS: We included data from total 246 follicles (94 letrozole, 82 tamoxifen, and 70 control) from 123 unique participants. E2 was lower (letrozole 187.4, tamoxifen 1026.0, control 821.5 ng/mL, p < 0.01) and T was higher (letrozole 2489, tamoxifen 571, and control 504 ng/mL, p < 0.03) in the letrozole group compared to tamoxifen and control groups, while other hormone levels and follicle size were similar across groups. There were no significant differences in hormone concentrations within the follicle between tamoxifen and control arms. On multivariate logistic regression, there was no significant association of mature oocyte yield by follicle size, hormone levels, or trial arm. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent administration of letrozole with gonadotropins affects follicular E2 and T concentrations compared to tamoxifen/control. Tamoxifen was not associated with any differences in hormone concentrations within the follicle. Mature oocyte yield was similar across groups.

Fertility preservation practices for female oncofertility differ significantly across the USA: results of a survey of SREI members.

PURPOSE: The field of oncofertility has maintained an important focus on improving access, yet standardized practices are lacking. To assess how female cancer patients are provided oncofertility care, we sought to determine provider-level differences and whether there are physician or practice characteristics that predict these variations. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was sent to SREI members. The survey included fifteen questions about physician practice characteristics and oncofertility cryopreservation protocols. Topics included ovarian stimulation protocols, fertilization techniques, stage of embryo cryopreservation, routine use of pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), and ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC). Statistical analyses assessed whether practice setting, geographic region, time in practice, and mandatory state insurance coverage had effects on cryopreservation protocols. RESULTS: A total of 141 (17%) from diverse REI practice backgrounds completed the survey. The median number of new female oncofertility consults per year was 30 (range 1 to 300). Providers in academic settings treated more patients (median 40 vs. 15, p < 0.001). Providers in academic settings more often use gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (85% vs. 52%, p < 0.001) and perform OTC (41% vs. 4%, p < 0.001). Providers in academic practices were less likely to perform intracytoplasmic sperm injection in every cycle (37% vs. 55%, p = 0.032) and less likely to usually advise PGT-A (21% vs. 36%, p = 0.001). Mandated state insurance coverage had no effect on oncofertility practices. CONCLUSION: Oncofertility practices vary among providers. Factors such as practice setting and region may affect the services provided. We do not yet know the best practices in oncofertility patients, and future research is needed.

Breast cancer grade and stage do not affect fertility preservation outcomes.

PURPOSE: To investigate if breast cancer stage and grade affect fertility preservation outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study that included premenopausal women with breast cancer undergoing fertility preservation diagnosed between January 2011 and January 2019. The primary outcome measure was the number of mature oocytes (MII) per antral follicle count (AFC). Secondary outcome measures included total oocytes retrieved, total mature oocytes retrieved, and greater than 10 mature oocytes preserved. Univariate and multivariate models were used to assess the association of low vs. high stage (low stage I-II and high stage III-IV) and grade I vs. grade II/III with each outcome, with adjustment for confounders. RESULTS: A total of 267 premenopausal breast cancer patients undergoing fertility preservation were included in our study, with the majority presenting with low stage (N = 215, 80.5%), grade II/III (N = 235, 88.1%) disease. Baseline AFC, total gonadotropin dose, days of stimulation, and follicles [Formula: see text] 13 mm on the day of trigger did not differ by stage or grade. After adjusting for age, BMI, and baseline AFC, we found that the mean MII per AFC did not differ by stage (1.0 vs. 1.1, P = 0.3) or grade (1.0 vs. 1.0, P = 0.92). Similarly, total oocytes retrieved, total MII retrieved, and percentage of patients who were able to preserve greater than 10 MII did not differ by breast cancer stage or grade (all P > 0.2). CONCLUSION: Breast cancer grade and stage do not impact ovarian stimulation or fertility preservation outcome.

Regional air transportation of ovarian tissue for cryopreservation in a prepubertal female with cancer.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is the only fertility preservation (FP) option available to prepubescent females receiving gonadotoxic therapy, but it has limited availability. A 6-year-old female was diagnosed with high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma, and the planned treatment carried an 80% risk of ovarian failure. Her parents desired FP, but the nearest center was 500 miles away. The patient underwent oophorectomy at the cancer center with air transport of the tissue to the oncofertility center, where it was successfully cryopreserved. Formation of networks between full-service and limited oncofertility centers in a hub-and-spoke model would increase access to FP services, particularly in children.

Conception after chemotherapy: post-chemotherapy method of conception and pregnancy outcomes in breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: As the paradigm shifts towards improving cancer survivorship, an important concern for reproductive-aged women diagnosed with cancer is how their disease and its treatment will affect their future fertility. We sought to characterize pregnancy attempts and outcomes in breast cancer patients following chemotherapy. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of women diagnosed with breast cancer seen between 2010 and 2019. A questionnaire was administered following cancer treatment with questions regarding oncologic and reproductive history and attempts and method of conception. RESULTS: Of 181 participants, 46 (25.4%) attempted to conceive following chemotherapy. Thirty-five patients (76.1%) had return of ovarian function. Of those, 34 patients (mean age 32.8 years) first attempted to conceive by intercourse, and 22 (64.7%) became pregnant, resulting in 17 live births. Of the remaining 12 who did not successfully conceive through intercourse, eight went on to try other methods, resulting in five additional pregnancies and one live birth. Twelve patients (mean age 34.6 years) proceeded directly to ART; of those, eight (66.7%) became pregnant, resulting in six live births. CONCLUSION: In breast cancer patients with return of ovarian function after chemotherapy, half were able to conceive by intercourse alone. In order to maximize reproductive potential in patients who have return of ovarian function, providers should offer natural conception as a reasonable option prior to the use of cryopreserved tissue. For those who did not attempt to conceive on their own, the use of pre-treatment cryopreserved eggs or embryos had a high likelihood of success.

Fertility preservation before breast cancer treatment appears unlikely to affect disease-free survival at a median follow-up of 43 months after fertility-preservation consultation.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether fertility preservation (FP) with oocyte/embryo cryopreservation is associated with differences in disease-free survival (DFS). METHODS: This retrospective study included patients aged 18 to 45 who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2007 and 2017 and were seen for FP consultation at a university fertility center before cancer treatment. The primary endpoint, DFS, was defined as the time from FP consultation until patients developed a locoregional recurrence, distant metastasis, a contralateral breast tumor, or a new primary malignancy. DFS was compared for FP versus no FP using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis. RESULTS: The study included 329 women, with 207 (63%) in the FP group and 122 (37%) in the no FP group. Patients who underwent FP had more aggressive initial disease profiles than those in the no FP group. In addition, they were younger (35 vs 37 years; P = .009), more often had stage II or III disease (67% vs 55%; P = .03), and had higher rates of requiring chemotherapy (77% vs 65%; P = .01). Over a median follow-up of 43 months, the rates of DFS were similar among patients in the FP group and the no FP group (93% vs 94%, respectively; hazard ratio [HR] 0.7; 95% CI, 0.3-1.7). Positive ER status (79% vs 83%; P = .38), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (41% vs 48%; P = .32), ER-positive DFS (HR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.1-1.6), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy DFS (HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.2-9.1) were similar in the FP and no FP groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: At a median follow-up of 43 months, FP appears unlikely to affect DFS, even in the setting of tumors with positive ER status or treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (in which the tumor remains in situ during FP).

Perceptions, motivations and decision regret surrounding preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there a difference in level of decision regret following IVF treatment between those who choose to complete or not complete preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy [PGT-A]? SUMMARY ANSWER: Approximately one-third of the participants expressed moderate to severe regret (MSR) following their decision to either complete or not complete PGT-A; notably, decision regret was higher in those who chose not to complete PGT-A, primarily driven by significantly higher regret scores in those that experienced a miscarriage after not testing. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Previous research has found that 39% of participants who completed PGT-A expressed some degree of decision regret and that negative clinical outcomes, such as lack of euploid embryos, negative pregnancy test or miscarriage, were associated with a higher level of decision regret. To date, there are no published studies assessing the possible disparity in decision regret surrounding PGT-A in a population of IVF patients that either chose to pursue PGT-A or not. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: An anonymous online survey was distributed to 1583 patients who underwent IVF with or without PGT-A at a single university institution between January 2016 and December 2017. In total, 335 women accessed the survey, 220 met eligibility criteria and 130 completed the full study survey. Six participants were excluded due to refusal of medical record review, and nine participants were excluded after record review due to not meeting eligibility based on cycle start date or completing only embryo banking without attempting transfer. One hundred and fifteen participants were included in the final analysis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Of the 115 participants included, 55 (48%) completed PGT-A and 60 (52%) did not complete PGT-A. The online survey included four sections: Demographics; Perceptions about PGT-A risks and benefits [scale from 0 (absolutely not true) to 100 (absolutely true)]; Decision-making factors [scale from 0 (not important) to 100 (very important)]; and Brehaut Decision Regret Scale [DRS] [range 0-100, with >25 indicating MSR]. A retrospective chart review was conducted to confirm study eligibility and collect cumulative clinical outcomes of consenting participants who completed the survey. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Demographics of the PGT-A and no PGT-A cohorts were similar, with the majority of respondents being Caucasian or Asian, unaffiliated with any religion and with a graduate or professional degree. The two groups differed significantly in mean age, with the PGT-A group being slightly older (mean ± SD: 37 ± 3.7 versus 36 ± 3.4; P = 0.048), and in rate of miscarriages, with fewer participants in the PGT-A cohort experiencing a miscarriage (5% versus 22%; P = 0.012). The majority of participants in both PGT-A and no PGT-A cohorts strongly believed in the purported benefits of PGT-A, including that it decreases the risk of birth defects (median 82 versus 77; P = 0.046), improves the chances of having a healthy baby (median 89 versus 74; P = 0.002) and selects the best embryo for transfer (median 85 versus 80; P = 0.049). When asked to report their motivating factors for decision-making, both groups cited physician counseling as important (median 70 versus 71; P = 0.671); however, the PGT-A cohort was more strongly motivated by a desire to not transfer abnormal embryos (median 84 versus 53; P = 0.0001). Comparison of DRS score between those who did or did not undergo PGT-A showed significantly higher median DRS score after not completing PGT-A (median 15 versus 0; P = 0.013). There was a significantly higher proportion of participants who did not complete PGT-A that expressed mild (36% versus 16%) and MSR (32% versus 24%) compared to those who completed PGT-A (χ2 = 9.03, df = 2; P = 0.011). Sub-group analyses of DRS scores by outcomes of clinical pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth revealed that the higher DRS score in those not completing PGT-A was driven by a large increase in regret noted by those with history of a miscarriage (median 45 versus 0; P = 0.018). Multivariate logistic regression modeling found no evidence that any specific demographic factor, clinical outcome or perception/motivation surrounding PGT-A was independently predictive of increased risk for MSR. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The retrospective nature of data collection incurs the possibility of sampling and recall bias. As only 59% of eligible respondents completed the full survey, it is possible that mainly those with very positive or negative sentiments following treatment felt compelled to complete their response. This bias, however, would apply to the whole of the population, and not simply to those who did or did not complete PGT-A. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The proportion of participants expressing any degree of decision regret in this PGT-A cohort was 40%, which is comparable to that shown in prior research. This study adds to prior data by also assessing decision regret experienced by those who went through IVF without PGT-A, and showed that 68% expressed some level of regret with their decision-making. These results should not be interpreted to mean that all patients should opt for PGT-A to pre-emptively mitigate their risk of regret. Instead, it suggests that drivers of decision regret are likely multifactorial and unique to the experience of one's personal expectations regarding PGT-A, motivations for pursuing or not pursuing it and resultant clinical outcome. Highlighting the complex nature of regret, these data should encourage physicians to more carefully consider individual patient values toward risk-taking or risk-averse behavior, as well as their own positions regarding PGT-A. Until there are clear recommendations regarding utilization of PGT-A, a strong collaboration between physicians and genetic counselors is recommended to educate patients on the risks and potential benefits of PGT-A in a balanced and individualized manner. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No funding was utilized for study completion and the authors have no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Decreased clinical pregnancy and live birth rates after short interval from delivery to subsequent assisted reproductive treatment cycle.

STUDY QUESTION: Does the interval from delivery to initiation of a subsequent ART treatment cycle impact clinical pregnancy or live birth rates? SUMMARY ANSWER: An interval from delivery to treatment start of <6 months or ≥24 months is associated with decreased likelihood of clinical pregnancy and live birth. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Short interpregnancy intervals are associated with poor obstetric outcomes in the naturally conceiving population prompting birth spacing recommendations of 18-24 months from international organizations. Deferring a subsequent pregnancy attempt means a woman will age in the interval with an attendant decline in her fertility. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Retrospective analysis of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinical Outcome Reporting System (SARTCORS) cohort containing 61 686 ART cycles from 2004 to 2013. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The delivery-to-cycle interval (DCI) was calculated for patients from SARTCORS with a history of live birth from ART who returned to the same clinic for a first subsequent treatment cycle. Generalized linear models were fit to determine the risk of clinical pregnancy and live birth by DCI with subsequent adjustment for factors associated with outcomes of interest. Predicted probabilities of clinical pregnancy and live birth were generated from each model. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A DCI of <6 months was associated with a 5.6% reduction in probability of clinical pregnancy (40.1 ± 1.9 versus 45.7 ± 0.6%, P = 0.009) and 6.8% reduction in live birth (31.6 ± 1.7 versus 38.4 ± 0.6%, P = 0.001) per cycle start compared to a DCI of 12 to <18 months. A DCI of ≥24 months was associated with a 5.1% reduction in probability of clinical pregnancy (40.6 ± 0.5 versus 45.7 ± 0.6%, P < 0.001) and 5.7% reduction in live birth (32.7 ± 0.5 versus 38.4 ± 0.6%, P < 0.001) compared to 12 to <18 months. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The SART database is reliant upon self-report of many variables of interest including live birth. It remains unclear whether poorer outcomes are a result of residual confounding from factors inherent to the population with a very short or long DCI or the interval itself. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Birth spacing recommendations for naturally conceiving populations may not be generally applicable to patients with a history of infertility. Patients planning ART treatment should wait a minimum of 6 months, but not more than 24 months, from a live birth for optimization of clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, UCSF-CTSI Grant number UL1TR001872. The authors have no competing interests.

Microfluidic sorting selects sperm for clinical use with reduced DNA damage compared to density gradient centrifugation with swim-up in split semen samples.

STUDY QUESTION: Does microfluidic sorting improve the selection of sperm with lower DNA fragmentation over standard density-gradient centrifugation? SUMMARY ANSWER: Microfluidic sorting of unprocessed semen allows for the selection of clinically usable, highly motile sperm with nearly undetectable levels of DNA fragmentation. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Microfluidic devices have been explored to sort motile and morphologically normal sperm from a raw sample without centrifugation; however, it is uncertain whether DNA damage is reduced in this process. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This is a blinded, controlled laboratory study of differences in standard semen analysis parameters and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in split samples from infertile men (n = 70) that were discarded after routine semen analysis at an academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Sperm concentration, progressive motility and forward progression were assessed by microscopic examination. For each sample, the unprocessed semen was tested for DNA fragmentation and split for processing by density-gradient centrifugation with swim-up or sorting by a microfluidic chip. DNA fragmentation was assessed in unprocessed and processed samples by sperm chromatin dispersion assay. The DFI was calculated, from up to 300 cells per slide, as the number of cells with fragmented DNA divided by the number of cells counted per slide. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The median DFI in unprocessed samples was 21% (interquartile range (IQR): 14-30). In paired analyses of all samples, those processed by the microfluidic chip demonstrated significantly decreased DFI compared to those processed by density-gradient centrifugation (P = 0.0029) and unprocessed samples (P < 0.0001). The median DFI for chip specimens was 0% (IQR: 0-2.4) while those processed by density-gradient centrifugation had a median DFI of 6% (IQR: 2-11). Unprocessed samples in the highest DFI quartile (DFI range: 31-40%) had a median DFI of 15% (IQR: 11-19%) after density-gradient centrifugation and DFI of 0% (IQR: 0-1.9%) after processing with the microfluidic chip (P = 0.02). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: While a high DFI has been associated with poor outcomes with IVF/ICSI, there are limited data illustrating improvements in clinical outcomes with a reduction in DFI. As this study utilized discarded, non-clinical samples, clinical outcomes data are not available. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: While microfluidic sorting of unprocessed semen allowed for the selection of clinically usable, highly motile sperm with nearly undetectable levels of DNA fragmentation, standard processing by density-gradient centrifugation with swim-up did not increase DNA fragmentation in an infertile population. The proposed microfluidic technology offers a flow-free approach to sort sperm, requiring no peripheral equipment or filtration step, while minimizing hands-on time. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No external funding to declare. Utkan Demirci, PhD is the Co-founder and Scientific Advisor for DxNow Inc., LevitasBio Inc. and Koek Biotech. Mitchell Rosen, MD is a member of the Clinical Advisory Board for DxNow Inc.

Author Correction: A novel oocyte maturation trigger using 1500 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin plus 450 IU of follicle-stimulating hormone may decrease ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome across all in vitro fertilization stimulation protocols.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The middle initial of Douglas A. Mata was omitted. The original article has been corrected.

A novel oocyte maturation trigger using 1500 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin plus 450 IU of follicle-stimulating hormone may decrease ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome across all in vitro fertilization stimulation protocols.

PURPOSE: Modification of the trigger used to induce final oocyte maturation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a major strategy used to reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). A novel trigger composed of 1500 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) plus 450 IU of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has been developed to reduce OHSS risk. This study compares outcomes of the novel trigger to conventional triggers used in high-risk OHSS patients undergoing IVF. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, IVF cycles at high risk for OHSS based on a serum estradiol > 5000 pg/ml on trigger day conducted between January 2008 and February 2016 were evaluated. Oocyte maturation was induced with the novel trigger (1500 IU hCG plus 450 IU FSH) or a conventional trigger [3300 IU hCG, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) alone, or GnRHa plus 1500 IU hCG]. IVF cycle outcomes were compared. Trigger strategies were examined for associations with OHSS development using logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 298 eligible IVF cycles identified, there were no differences in oocyte maturation, fertilization, embryo quality, or pregnancy outcomes among all triggers. After adjusting for serum estradiol level and number of follicles, the novel trigger was associated with lower odds of OHSS symptom development compared to the 3300 IU hCG and GnRHa plus hCG 1500 IU triggers (p = 0.007 and 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that 1500 IU hCG plus 450 IU FSH may be associated with decreased OHSS symptoms compared to conventional triggers, while producing similar IVF and pregnancy outcomes. More important, this novel trigger may provide a superior alternative in down-regulated cycles and in patients with hypothalamic dysfunction where GnRHa triggers cannot be utilized.

Decision-making surrounding the use of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy reveals misunderstanding regarding its benefit.

PURPOSE: We aimed to explore how patients make decisions regarding use of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) for in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey at an academic medical center. Three hundred subjects initiating an IVF cycle over 8 weeks were asked to complete a validated survey to determine how they decided whether or not to pursue PGT-A. All patients were previously counseled that the primary goal of PGT-A is to maximize pregnancy rates per embryo transfer. Survey responses were compared between those who elected PGT-A and those who did not with a chi-squared or t test. RESULTS: Of 191 subjects who completed the survey, 117 (61%) planned PGT-A, while 74 (39%) did not. Among those who decided to undergo PGT-A, 56% stated their primary reason was to have a healthy baby, while 18% chose PGT-A to reduce the incidence of birth defects, and 16% aimed to decrease the risk of miscarriage. Patients who decided not to pursue PGT-A stated they prioritized avoiding the scenario in which they might have no embryos to transfer (36%) or reducing cost (31%). Both groups rated physicians as the single most important source of information in their decision-making (56% vs 68%, p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who chose to undergo PGT-A have different priorities from those who do not. Many patients planning PGT-A do so for reasons that are not evidence-based. While patients cite physicians as their primary source of information in the decision-making process, rationales for selecting PGT-A are inconsistent with physician counseling.

Antral follicle count recovery in women with menses after treatment with and without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist use during chemotherapy for breast cancer.

PURPOSE: After chemotherapy for breast cancer, most women will recover some ovarian function, but the timing and extent of this recovery are poorly understood. We studied post-chemotherapy ovarian recovery in women with and without a history of ovarian suppression during chemotherapy. METHODS: Reproductive age breast cancer patients who were seen prior to chemotherapy for fertility preservation consult were consented for follow-up ovarian function assessment (every 3-6 months after chemotherapy) with antral follicle count (AFC) in this prospective cohort study. We restricted our analysis to those with menses present after chemotherapy. Box plots were used to demonstrate the change in follow-up AFC versus time elapsed after chemotherapy. A mixed effects regression model was used to assess differences in AFC. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients with a history of newly diagnosed breast cancer were included. Forty-five patients (51%) had ovarian suppression with GnRH agonist (GnRHa) during chemotherapy. AFC recovery appeared to plateau at 1 year after completing chemotherapy at a median of 40% of pre-chemotherapy AFC. After adjustment for age, initial AFC, cyclophosphamide exposure, combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC) use, and tamoxifen use, AFC recovered faster and to a greater degree for those women who underwent GnRHa therapy for ovarian protection during chemotherapy (P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Women with menses after chemotherapy for breast cancer appear to recover their full potential AFC 1 year after their last chemotherapy dose. Treatment with GnRHa during chemotherapy is associated with a higher degree of AFC recovery. The findings of this study can aid in counseling patients prior to chemotherapy about expectations for ovarian recovery and planning post-treatment fertility preservation care to maximize reproductive potential when pre-treatment fertility preservation care is not possible or has limited oocyte yield.

Fertility preservation with ovarian stimulation and time to treatment in women with stage II-III breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant therapy.

PURPOSE: To determine whether fertility preservation with ovarian stimulation (OS) results in treatment delay in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). METHODS: This is a retrospective study of women screened for the prospective neoadjuvant ISPY2 trial at the University of California San Francisco. All patients were <43, had stage II-III BC, and received neoadjuvant therapy. Time to initiation of NAT was compared between women who underwent OS (STIM) and women who did not (control). Patient and tumor characteristics, as well as oncologic outcomes, were compared between STIM and control groups. RESULTS: 82 patients were included (34 STIM and 48 control). STIM patients were overall younger (mean = 35 vs. 36.9 years old, p = 0.06), and more likely to be childless (79.4 vs 31.2%, p < 0.0001) than controls. Mean time from diagnosis to initiation of NAT was 40 days, with no significant difference between STIM and control groups (mean 39.8 days vs 40.9 days, p = 0.75). Mean time from diagnosis to fertility consultation was 16.3 days. With median follow-up of 79 months, 16 (19.5%) patients have recurred or died from BC. Rates of pCR, recurrence, and death were similar in both groups. Six of 34 STIM patients have undergone embryo transfer, resulting in one patient with two live births. CONCLUSION: Fertility preservation with OS can be performed in the neoadjuvant setting without delay in initiation of systemic therapy and should be discussed with all early-stage BC patients of reproductive age.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome demonstrate worsening markers of cardiovascular risk over the short-term despite declining hyperandrogenaemia: Results of a longitudinal study with community controls.

OBJECTIVE: To compare age-associated changes in cardiovascular risk markers in lean and obese reproductive-aged women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with community controls. DESIGN: Longitudinal study at an academic medical centre PATIENTS: Patients diagnosed with PCOS by 2004 Rotterdam criteria in a multidisciplinary clinic were systematically enrolled from 2006-2014 in a PCOS cohort study and subsequently agreed to participate in a longitudinal study. The comparison controls were from the prospective, longitudinal Ovarian Aging (OVA) study, which consists of healthy women with regular menstrual cycles recruited from 2006 to 2011. MEASUREMENTS: Cardiovascular risk markers and hormone parameters at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: Obese and lean PCOS (n = 38) and control women (n = 296) completed two study visits. The follow-up time (3.5 ± 1.5 vs 4.0 ± 0.8 years, P = .06) and magnitude of BMI gain (+0.1 kg/m2 /y [-0.11, 0.36] vs +0.26 [-0.18, 0.87] P = .19) did not differ between obese and lean PCOS and controls. In PCOS subjects, total testosterone decreased in both obese and lean, but the decrease was greater in obese subjects (-0.09 nmol/L per year; 95% CI: -0.16, -0.02 vs -0.04 nmol/L per year; 95%CI: -0.11, 0.03). Compared to their respective controls, obese and lean PCOS saw worsening triglyceride (TG) levels (P < .05) and HOMA-IR (P < .05) over time, but there was no difference in change in LDL, HDL, fasting glucose, C-reactive protein or ALT. CONCLUSIONS: In a longitudinal study, reproductive-aged women with PCOS demonstrated declines in biochemical hyperandrogenaemia over time. Despite this, PCOS subjects experienced steeper increases in cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance, including triglycerides and HOMA-IR.

Response to ovarian stimulation is not impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis.

STUDY QUESTION: Does a breast cancer diagnosis impact ovarian function in the setting of fertility preservation? SUMMARY ANSWER: Ovarian reserve and ovarian stimulation outcomes are similar in patients with a new diagnosis of breast cancer and patients undergoing elective fertility preservation. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Prior studies, with small study populations, lack of controlling for individual differences in ovarian reserve and infertile controls, have reported conflicting outcomes for cancer patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This retrospective cohort analysis included 589 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation between 2009 and 2015. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Women with a recent breast cancer diagnosis (n = 191) and women desiring elective fertility preservation (n = 398) underwent ovarian stimulation with an antagonist protocol at an academic medical center. The aromatase inhibitor letrozole was administered to breast cancer patients with estrogen-sensitive disease. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Baseline antral follicle count (AFC) was not different between the breast cancer patients and controls (15.4 ± 10.4 [mean ± SD] vs 15.4 ± 10.0, P = NS), even after categorization by age. Total (19.4 ± 0.9 [mean ± SEM] vs 17.0 ± 0.5, P = NS) and mature (MII) oocytes retrieved (13.7 ± 0.7 vs 13.2 ± 0.4, P = NS), adjusted for age, BMI and total gonadotropin dose, were also similar between the two groups. Letrozole use was associated with a decreased maturity rate (MII/total oocytes retrieved) compared to elective cryopreservation (0.71 ± 0.01 vs 0.77 ± 0.01, P < 0.001), although the mature oocyte yield [MII/AFC] was comparable (1.01 ± 0.06 vs 0.93 ± 0.03, P = NS). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The single center design may impact generalizability. Additionally, the lack of subsequent embryo and pregnancy data is an inherent weakness. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: In females, a breast cancer diagnosis does not impact gonadal function as measured by AFC or ovarian stimulation outcomes. Breast cancer patients should be counseled that their response to ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation is similar to that of patients undergoing elective oocyte cryopreservation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): None. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Long-term hormonal contraceptive use is associated with a reversible suppression of antral follicle count and a break from hormonal contraception may improve oocyte yield.

PURPOSE: Unlike infertility, patients presenting for fertility preservation (FP) are often using combined hormonal contraceptives (CHC). We studied whether long-term (≥6 months) CHC use is associated with reversible suppression of antral follicle count (AFC). METHODS: This is a longitudinal study of FP cycles from 2012 to 2016. We studied three groups: those without CHC exposure (NO CHC), those with CHC usage with a CHC break (BREAK), and without a break (NO BREAK) prior to ovarian stimulation. We assessed ovarian reserve by AFC at initial consultation and discussed the possibility of CHC suppression of AFC. Patients chose between ovarian stimulation with no CHC break versus ovarian stimulation after a CHC break. AFC was measured serially in the BREAK group. We assessed whether AFC suppression was reversed in the BREAK group. Total oocyte yield was compared among the NO CHC, BREAK, and NO BREAK groups. T tests, ANOVA, and linear/logistic regressions were used. RESULTS: Seven hundred forty-three women underwent FP. Twenty-one percent (n = 154) were taking long-term CHC (≥6 months). AFC suppression was more likely with CHC use (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.4, P = 0.011). The BREAK group (n = 79) stopped CHC for an average of 4 months. AFC improvement started at 1 month and plateaued at approximately 6- to 7-month break. The BREAK group had approximately twice as many oocytes per initial AFC as NO BREAK (2.8 ± 3.8 vs. 1.4 ± 0.9, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: When women present for FP on CHC, AFC may be suppressed. A CHC break of several months is associated with an increase in AFC and a potential improvement in overall egg yield.