IVF twins: buy one get one free?

There has been an overall increase in the incidence of multiple pregnancies and assisted reproduction technology is largely responsible for this rise. Although twins may appeal to couples undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF), they have been associated with serious health consequences to the babies, their mothers and the family unit, as well as having massive financial implications for the National Health Service. Transfer of more than one embryo during IVF is mainly responsible for IVF twins, and elective transfer of a single embryo at a time with cryopreservation of surplus embryos for later transfer has been shown to be an effective strategy to minimise the risk of twins without compromising IVF success rates. Factors that will impact on the success of the policy of elective single embryo transfer (eSET) include improvement in embryo selection for transfer, better cryopreservation techniques and adequate state funding for IVF. However, in implementing the policy of eSET it is important that each case is assessed on an individual basis since in some situations (e.g. in older women) the transfer of two embryos may be more cost effective. Adequate and continuous education of all stakeholders is essential if the policy of eSET is to be successful in the UK.

Prognostic value of first IVF cycle on success of a subsequent cycle.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a live birth or miscarriage in a previous IVF cycle is predictive of success in a subsequent cycle. DESIGN: Retrospective study SETTING: Private IVF unit PATIENTS: 1141 couples having a second IVF cycle. INTERVENTION: 3 groups; Group I: women who had a live birth in the first cycle, Group II those who had a miscarriage, Group III, women who had a negative pregnancy test in their first cycle. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy (PR), Live birth (LBR) & miscarriage rates in the second cycle. RESULTS: For women < than 40: PR was 46.4% (368/793), miscarriage rate was 29.9% and the LBR was 32.5% (258/793). Women in groups I & II had a statistically higher PR than those in group III 63.3% v 55.2% v 41.9% respectively. LBR was higher 45% v 37.8 v 29.6% respectively. Miscarriage rate was similar. For women 40 years and older: The PR was 21.0% (73/348), miscarriage rate was 52.1% (38/73) and the LBR was 10.1% (35/348).There was no significant difference in PR among women in groups I, II & III. The LBR and miscarriage rates were similar in all groups. CONCLUSION: Young women who had a live birth and those who experienced an early miscarriage after IVF have a greater likelihood of achieving a live birth in a second cycle. Outcome of first IVF cycle however does not predict subsequent IVF success in older women.

Vaginal restoration in survivors of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma.

Childhood genital rhabdomyosarcoma is a devastating diagnosis. Treatment is usually rigorous, comprising extensive surgery often with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This management is, however, increasingly successful, and survival into adolescent and adult life is becoming more commonplace. These young women will have sexual and reproductive expectations similar to those of their peers and will present to gynecologists for advice and treatment. This report describes the presenting problems seen in this group and highlights the complex nature of the investigations required and the treatments available.

Retained foetal bones: an intrauterine cause of chronic pelvic pain.

Intrauterine retention of foetal bones is an uncommon but recognised complication of late termination of pregnancy. Secondary subfertility, abnormal uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge are the usual presenting complaints. We report a case of prolonged retention of foetal bones for 14 years in a woman who presented with chronic pelvic pain. Hysteroscopic examination was diagnostic and therapeutic. Retained foetal bones are an uncommon intrauterine cause of chronic pelvic pain that should be considered particularly when a woman with a history of late termination presents with pelvic pain. Hysteroscopic evacuation is curative.

Spontaneous premature ovarian failure: management challenges.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) generally describes a syndrome consisting of amenorrhea, sex steroid deficiency, and elevated/menopausal levels of ganadotropins in a woman aged more than two standard deviations below the mean age at menopause estimated for the reference population. Numerous questions relating to this condition remain unanswered, and several important management issues are yet to be addressed. The challenges posed by this important condition range from difficulties with nomenclature to the absence of standardized diagnostic criteria and management guidelines. In the present paper we discuss the management of spontaneous premature ovarian failure, highlight the challenging issues, review the current literature and propose a practical management outline based on our local practice. Women with POF have unique needs that require special attention. There is an urgent need for a more suitable terminology and evidence-based guidelines on which to establish the diagnosis and manage this difficult condition.

Management of premature ovarian failure.

Premature ovarian failure (POF), a major life-changing condition that affects a significant proportion of young women, remains an enigma and the researcher's minefield. As women increasingly survive childhood cancers due to improved iatrogenic interventions, the number of POF sufferers will inevitably increase. Numerous questions relating to this condition remain unanswered, and several important management issues are yet to be addressed. The challenges posed by this important condition range from difficulties with nomenclature to the absence of specific standardized diagnostic criteria and management guidelines. There is a particularly urgent need to determine the optimum therapeutic hormonal regimens in women with POF, both in terms of immediate symptom relief and also for protection against the long-term sequelae of an early menopause. This chapter discusses the management of POF, highlights the challenging issues, reviews the current literature and proposes a practical management outline based on the authors' own practice.

Evisceration 5 years post abdominal hysterectomy.

This report describes a case of a 55-year old woman presenting with evisceration of small bowel through the vagina, five years after a Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoopherectomy for irregular bleeding and a benign ovarian cyst. Examination under anesthesia revealed a 70 cm loop of bowel prolapsing through a 5 cm defect in the vaginal vault. She underwent an exploratory laparotomy and repair of vaginal vault defect. Small bowel prolapse through vaginal vault defect is a rare complication after abdominal hysterectomy. Appropriate management includes prompt recognition, thorough assessment of the herniated viscus and surgical repair of the vaginal defect. Combining abdominal and vaginal approaches as in our case may facilitate repair and avoid further morbidity.

Endometriosis-associated ileo-cecal perforation in a woman on the pseudopregnancy regimen.

Small intestinal obstruction and perforation associated with endometriosis is uncommon. We report a similar effect following treatment with the combined oral contraceptive. Caution should be exercised when prescribing the combined oral contraceptive in women with suggested small intestinal endometriosis. Disease flare-up after therapy may be associated with intestinal obstruction and perforation.

Serial estimation of Th1:th2 cytokines profile in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

PROBLEM: To investigate changes in the ratio of T-cell subpopulations expressing intracellular T helper1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines in women with a history of recurrent failed implantation under going in-vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer. METHOD OF STUDY: Twenty-eight peripheral blood samples were obtained at two time points, from 14 women undergoing IVF treatment; eight women with a history of recurrent failed implantation, who did not get pregnant in the index IVF cycle and six who had one or more previous successful IVF pregnancy and who became pregnant in the index IVF cycle. The proportion of lymphocytes expressing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin 4 (IL-4) and the Th1:Th2 ratios of IFN-gamma:IL-4, and TNF-alpha:IL-4 in T helper cells was measured by flow cytometry, in samples obtained before commencing IVF treatment and in samples obtained after ovarian stimulation (on the day of oocyte retrieval). RESULTS: In samples collected during oocyte retrieval, women with a history of recurrent failed implantation had a higher IFN-gamma:IL-4 and TNF-alpha:IL-4 ratio than the control group, (18.6+/-9.3 versus 6.47+/-1.68, P=0.009) and (39.1+/-15.7 versus 11.53+/-3.76, P=0.001) respectively. In women with a history of recurrent failed implantation the ratio of IFN-gamma:IL-4 and TNF-alpha:IL-4 at oocyte retrieval was higher than pre-treatment ratios (18.6+/-9.3 versus 12.01+/-9.8, P=0.018) and 39.10+/-15.7 versus 18.66+/-11.42, P=0.010) respectively, showing a Th1 bias. In women with a successful IVF the converse was true; the ratio at oocyte retrieval was significantly lower than pre-treatment ratios (6.47+/-1.68 versus 9.37+/-6.8, P=0.035) and 11.53+/-3.76 versus 18.60+/-12.9, P=0.027) respectively, representing a Th2 bias. CONCLUSION: Women with a history of unexplained recurrent failed IVF treatment have a Th1 bias and this polarization is more enhanced following hormonal manipulations during IVF treatment. Comparing pre-treatment ratios of IFN-gamma:IL-4 and TNF-alpha:IL-4 to ratios obtained at oocyte retrieval may be clinically useful. Women with recurrent failed IVF have increasing ratios.

Initial investigation of the infertile couple. Pre-clinic request of investigations to facilitate diagnosis: utilising the waiting time to minimise delay.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of pre-clinic request of investigations to facilitate diagnosis in couples referred to the infertility clinic and to assess patient satisfaction of the concept. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with analysis of patient satisfaction questionnaire. Investigation packs were sent to patients in advance of their clinic appointment. These contained written explanation about various fertility tests to enable patients to have investigations before their first clinic appointment. The results should then be available at the time of consultation enabling a diagnosis to be made at their first clinic visit. RESULTS: Eighty percent (43/54) of couples had completed all the investigations requested by the time of their clinic appointment. The full investigation results of 41 couples were available at the time of consultation. From the available results, a diagnosis could be reached in 76% of couples at the first clinic visit. Twenty-three percent of couples were not happy with the concept of pre-clinic investigation and would prefer to come to clinic first to discuss these tests, even if that meant a delay in diagnosis. There appears to be a trend in age, with those who were satisfied with the concept of pre-clinic investigation being older. Older women seem to have an increasing sense of urgency with advancing age. CONCLUSION: While the concept of pre-clinic request of investigations may not be suitable for every couple it does allow for early initiation of treatment in selected patients.

Successful outcome following pre-viability amniorrhexis.

A 34-years-old primigravida conceived following a fourth attempt at in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer for severe bilateral tubal disease and grade IV endometriosis. Pregnancy progressed well until 17 weeks gestation when she spontaneously ruptured her membranes. She elected to continue with the pregnancy despite the significant risks associated with prolonged rupture of membranes (PROM) and anhydramnion at extremes of viability. Pregnancy was carried to 28 weeks gestation, when delivery was necessitated by a major antepartum haemorrhage following abruption placentae. A male infant weighing 1,100 g was delivered by emergency caesarean section in good condition, and with no features oligohydramnion tetrad (Potter's features, skeletal deformities, intrauterine growth restriction, and pulmonary hypoplasia). This case adds to the small number of cases in the literature of successful outcome following prolonged pre-viability PROM. Counselling and psychological support to the parents in this situation is extremely important since the anxiety and uncertainty associated with expectant management of PROM does not end with the "successful" delivery of the baby but persists all through the neonatal period and for several years later.

Cytokine profiles in serum and peritoneal fluid from infertile women with and without endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the serum and peritoneal fluid cytokine profiles in infertile women with minimal/mild active endometriosis. METHODS: Fifty-seven consecutive infertile women undergoing laparoscopy for unexplained infertility had peritoneal fluid and serum samples obtained at the time of laparoscopy. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), monocyte chemotatic protein-1 (MCP-1), RANTES, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), soluble Fas (sFas), and soluble Fas Ligand (sFasL) in peritoneal fluid and serum were measured to compare the concentration in both biological fluids, in women who have minimal/mild red endometriosis using women with no endometriosis as controls. RESULTS: Peritoneal fluid levels of MCP-1, IL-8 and IL-6 were significantly higher in the endometriosis group (P < 0.012, P = 0.003, and P = 0.015, respectively). There was no significant difference in the peritoneal fluid levels of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, RANTES, VEGF, PDGF, sFas and sFasL in the two groups. Although serum levels of IL-8 were higher in women with endometriosis, the difference was not significant (P = 0.07). Serum levels of PDGF, IL-6, RANTES, IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and sFas, were not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The elevated levels of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in peritoneal fluid but not serum may indicate the importance of local macrophage activating factors in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Gestational intestinal obstruction: a case report and review of literature.

Intestinal obstruction in pregnancy is rare and difficult to diagnose. Common causes of gestational intestinal obstruction include adhesions, volvulus, intussuscetion, carcinoma, hernia and appendicitis [3]. Abdominal pain is a common feature, but the displacement of abdominal organs as pregnancy progresses results in atypical location of the pain and hence delay in diagnosis. We report a case of intestinal obstruction at 33 weeks gestation in a woman with previous appendicectomy. Clinical suspicion of the presence of obstruction is required for prompt diagnosis and aggressive intervention, to minimise the morbidity and mortality of this rare complication of pregnancy.

IVF/ICSI in a woman with active acromegaly: successful outcome following treatment with pegvisomant.

A 29 year old woman with difficult to control acromegaly and a pituitary macroadenoma responded to pegvisomant therapy and subsequently conceived with her first cycle of in-vitro fertilization and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection. Pregnancy was complicated by gestational diabetes, pituitary gland enlargement and deteriorating visual fields. Conservative management with elective cesarean section was performed at 32 weeks gestation. A healthy boy was delivered who remains developmentally normal at 1 year. This complex case required intricate care by a multi-disciplinary team and is likely to represent the first in many cases of assisted conception on pegvisomant therapy for active acromegaly.

Appendiceal mucocele: a rare differential diagnosis of a cystic right adnexal mass.

CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 42-year-old woman with an incidental finding of a large right adnexal mass during pelvic ultrasound scan for a spontaneous miscarriage. Ultrasound suggested the mass was ovarian in origin and serum Ca125 was normal. Laparotomy, however, revealed normal ovaries with no ovarian pathology. The right adnexal mass was appendiceal in origin and was delivered intact with no spillage. Histology confirmed a diagnosis of mucinous cystoadenoma of the appendix. DISCUSSION: Pre-operative diagnosis of this condition is difficult. Various radiological tools including CT scans, MRI, and ultrasound scans have been used with poor results. Pre-operative diagnosis would be useful, as extra measures could be taken to avoid intra-peritoneal rupture during surgery with the consequent development of pseudomyxoma peritonei. For a similar reason, needle aspiration should be avoided. In malignant cases co-existing ovarian neoplasm must be excluded as this will be present in 2-24% of cases. Simple appendicectomy is curative in uncomplicated, unruptured cases. CONCLUSION: Although relatively rare, appendiceal tumours should be considered in women who present to gynaecologists with a right adnexal mass.