The effect of ovarian response parameters and the synergistic effect of assisted reproduction of poor ovarian response treated with platelet rich plasma: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Poor ovarian response (POR) patients often encounter cycle cancellation and egg retrieval obstacles in assisted reproductive technology. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) ovarian injection is a potential treatment method, but the treatment methods are different, and the treatment results are controversial. OBJECTIVE: This study adopts a systematic review and meta-analysis method based on clinical research to explore the efficacy and safety of PRP injection on POR. METHOD: The following databases were searched for research published before March 2023; Medline (via PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI). The literature was then screened by two independent researchers, who extracted the data and evaluated its quality. Research was selected according to the inclusion criteria, and its quality was evaluated according to the NOS standard Cohort study. The bias risk of the included study was assessed with STATE 14.0. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. MAIN RESULTS: Ten studies were included in the analysis, including 7 prospective cohort studies and 3 retrospective studies involving 836 patients. The results showed that after PRP treatment, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) significantly decreased and anti-Mueller hormone (AMH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) significantly increased in POR patients, but estradiol did not change significantly; The number of antral follicles increased, and the number of obtaining eggs and mature oocytes significantly increased; The number of Metaphase type II oocytes, 2PN and high-quality embryos, and cleavage stage embryos significantly increased. In addition, the patient cycle cancellation rates significantly decreased. The rate of natural pregnancy assisted reproductive pregnancy and live birth increased significantly. Four reports made it clear that no adverse reactions were observed. CONCLUSION: PRP may have the potential to improve pre-assisted reproductive indicators in POR patients, increase the success rate of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in POR patients, and improve embryo quality, and may be beneficial to the pregnancy outcome. There is no obvious potential risk in this study, but further clinical support is still needed.

Dichorionic triamniotic triplets after two blastocysts transfer underwent multifetal pregnancy reduction: two case reports and literature review.

BACKGROUND: The increase in the rate of multiple pregnancies in clinical practice is associated with assisted reproductive technology (ART). Given the high risk of dichorionic triamniotic (DCTA) triplet pregnancies, reducing DCTA triplet pregnancies to twin or singleton pregnancies is often beneficial. CASE PRESENTATION: This article reports on two cases of DCTA triplet pregnancies resulting from two blastocyst transfers. Given the high risk of complications such as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies, patients have a strong desire to preserve the dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twins. Multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) was performed in both cases to continue the pregnancy with DCDA twins by reducing one of the MCDA twins. Both of the pregnant women in this report eventually gave birth to healthy twins at 37 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: For infertile couples with multiple pregnancies but with a strong desire to remain the DCDA twins, our report suggests that reducing DCTA triplets to DCDA twin pregnancies may be an option based on clinical operability and assessment of surgical difficulty.

GnRH antagonist impairs the process of embryo implantation by inhibiting motility of endometrial stromal cells through reducing c-kit expression.

BACKGROUND: It has been recognized that the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocol has a detrimental effect on clinical outcomes compared to the GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) protocol during in vitro fertilization-fresh embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. However, the related mechanisms were unclear. METHODS: A total of 18,561 patients, who underwent fresh IVF-ET cycles in the Center for Assisted Reproduction of Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2014 to September 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. The propensity score matching (PSM) technique was used to control for confounding factors between the GnRH-ant and GnRH-a groups. Human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) were collected for primary culture and treated with relevant receptor antagonists and activators. RT-PCR, Western Blot, immunofluorescence staining, cell migration and adhesion assays, and animal experiments were employed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which GnRH antagonist affects the migration and adhesion ability of hESCs. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of baseline characteristics after matching basal status by propensity score matching. The result showed that the endometrial thickness (10.4 ± 2.35 vs. 11.03 ± 2.61 mm, p < .001) on trigger day was significantly lower in the GnRH-ant group. Compared with the GnRH-a protocol, the implantation rate (39.71% vs. 50.36%, p < .001), biochemical pregnancy rate (64.26% vs. 72.7%, p < .001), clinical pregnancy rate (56.39% vs. 65.24%, p < .001), live birth rate (45.25% vs. 56.1%, p < .001) in the GnRH-ant group were significantly decreased. Contrarily, the rate of early miscarriage in the GnRH-ant group (13.95% vs. 9.04%, p < .001) was higher than in the GnRH-a group. Furthermore, after treating with GnRH-ant, hESCs showed a reduced expression of HOXA10 and MMP-9 proteins, and a weakened migration ability. Subsequently, by establishing the co-culture system of hESCs and JAR trophoblast spheroids, we found that GnRH-ant inhibited the adhesion and invasion ability of trophoblast cells. Moreover, we also found a decreased expression and phosphorylation of c-kit receptor in decidualized hESCs after treating with GnRH-ant. Similar results as observed above were also confirmed when inhibiting the activation of c-kit receptor by imatinib. CONCLUSIONS: GnRH-ant could reduce the motility of hESCs by inhibiting the expression and activation of the C-kit receptor, which impaired the process of embryo implantation.

The influence of radical trachelectomy on endometrial thickness in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

AIM: Both morbidity and mortality rates of cervical cancer are increasing, especially in reproductive-aged women. Radical trachelectomy (RT) is an effective fertility-preserving surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the influence of RT on endometrial thickness during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: Forty-four patients had undergone RT, and 23 women undergoing IVF-ET treatment (105 ET cycles) were included. Endometrial thickness during hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was retrospectively evaluated and compared between patients with and without RT. RESULTS: Eleven patients (50 ET cycles) in the RT group and 12 (52 ET cycles) in the control group were investigated. Compared with the control group, higher ET cancellation rates were observed in patients in the RT group (1 of 52 cycles [control group] vs. 8 of 50 cycles [RT group], p < 0.01). Endometrial thinning was not affected by patient age at first IVF-ET treatment, history of artificial abortion, preservation of uterine arteries during RT, or postoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.27, 1, 1, and 1, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed that RT influenced endometrial thickness in IVF-ET. This was not affected by the background of the patients or perioperative management in this study. We could not reveal the underlying mechanism, but it is postulated that the transient postoperative uterine blood flow status and postoperative infections may have some effect on the endometrium. To resolve these issues, accumulation of evidences are required. We recommend informing patients about the impact of RT on IVF-ET before starting assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Proximal tubal occlusion first or oocyte retrieval first for patients with hydrosalpinx?

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to investigate the best time to manage hydrosalpinx to improve pregnancy outcomes during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: Patients with hydrosalpinx who received IVF treatment were analyzed retrospectively. And two groups were included to compare the effects of different timing treatment of hydrosalpinx on IVF pregnancy outcomes, "Proximal Tubal Occlusion First Group" (Group Ligation-COH) and "Oocyte Retrieval First Group" (Group COH-Ligation). The main outcome measures included: ovarian response indexes, laboratory indexes and clinical pregnancy outcomes. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed for outcome indicators, and the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used. RESULTS: A total of 1490 patients were included (n = 976 Ligation-COH and n = 514 COH-Ligation). The Gn starting dose and MII rate in group Ligation-COH were significantly higher than those in group COH-Ligation (203.33 ± 58.20 vs. 203.33 ± 58.20, 81.58% vs. 80.28%, P < 0.05). The number of oocytes obtained and the number of available D3 embryos in group COH-Ligation were higher than those in group Ligation-COH (15.10 ± 7.58 vs. 13.45 ± 6.42, 10.92 ± 5.81 vs. 9.94 ± 5.15, P < 0.05). Although the number of ET cycles per IVF cycle in group COH-Ligation was higher than that in group Ligation-COH (1.88 ± 1.00 vs. 1.48 ± 0.70, P < 0.05), the biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, live birth rate and cumulative live birth rate in group Ligation-COH were significantly higher than those in group COH-Ligation (60.83% vs. 46.27% for biochemical pregnancy, 55.69% vs. 38.5% for clinical pregnancy, 26.18% vs. 17.74% for multiple pregnancy, 47.08% vs. 25.26% for live birth, 69.47% vs. 47.47% for cumulative live birth, P < 0.05), and the miscarriage rate in group Ligation-COH was lower than that in group COH-Ligation (10.47% vs. 17.20 for early abortion, 4.49% vs. 15.86% for late abortion, P < 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for age and multiple factors, the above results were still statistically significant differences (P < 0.001). For elderly patients, the clinical pregnancy rate, multiple birth rate and live birth rate in group Ligation-COH were also higher than those in group COH-Ligation (P < 0.001). No significant differences were detected for patients with diminished ovarian reserve. CONCLUSIONS: For the choice of ligation operation time, we recommend that patients choose tubal ligation first and then ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval treatment.

Comparison of reproductive outcomes in subclinical hypothyroidism women with high-normal versus low-normal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels after treatment with levothyroxine.

OBJECTIVE: Reproductive outcomes in euthyroid women with high-normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are comparable to those in euthyroid women with low TSH levels; however, few studies have investigated whether strictly controlled TSH levels after levothyroxine (LT4) treatment impair reproductive outcomes in infertile women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). This study aimed to investigate the impact of high-normal versus low-normal TSH levels on reproductive outcomes in women undergoing their first in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into low-normal (TSH < 2.5 mIU/L, and ≥0.27 mIU/L) and high-normal (TSH ≥ 2.5 mIU/L, and <4.2 mIU/L) groups based on TSH levels after LT4 treatment. TSH levels after LT4 treatment and before ovarian stimulation were recorded. Reproductive outcomes were compared between the low-normal and high-normal TSH groups and between the euthyroid and LT4-treated groups. RESULTS: A total of 6002 women, 548 of whom were LT4-treated women, were finally included in this study. Among the LT4-treated women, 129 women had low-normal TSH levels, and 167 women had high-normal TSH levels. The clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, and live birth rate were comparable between the low-normal and high-normal groups (all p > .05). When adjusted by age, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels, infertility duration, transferred embryos, and dose and duration of LT4 treatment, high-normal TSH levels neither significantly decreased miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77-6.69, p = .14) nor increased clinical pregnancy (aOR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.70-1.89, p = .57 or live birth (aOR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.60-1.59, p = .92). Similar obstetric outcomes were observed between the low-normal and high-normal TSH groups after LT4 treatment and between the euthyroid and LT4-treated groups (all p ≥ .05). CONCLUSIONS: High-normal TSH levels did not have adverse effects on clinical and obstetric outcomes when compared with low-normal TSH levels after LT4 treatment. However, whether it is appropriate to set 2.5 mIU/L as the goal of treatment before IVF/ICSI remains to be determined in further well-designed studies.

Routine double-ovarian-stimulation (DuoStim) in poor responders lacks rationale, evidence, and follow-up.

Double ovarian stimulation (DuoStim), initially only suggested for fertility preservation in cancer patients, is now increasingly also used in routine clinical IVF, especially in poor responders. The claimed rational for this is the alleged existence of multiple follicular waves in a single intermenstrual interval, allowing for retrieval of more oocytes in a single IVF cycle. This commentary argues that this expansion of purpose lacks rationale, evidence, and follow-up. Consequently, we suggest that, unless valid clinical indications have been established, DuoStim be only subject of controlled clinical trials with appropriate experimental consents.

TEAS, DHEA, CoQ10, and GH for poor ovarian response undergoing IVF-ET: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has brought good news to infertile patients, but how to improve the pregnancy outcome of poor ovarian response (POR) patients is still a serious challenge and the scientific evidence of some adjuvant therapies remains controversial. AIM: Based on previous evidence, the purpose of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of DHEA, CoQ10, GH and TEAS on pregnancy outcomes in POR patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation (IVF-ET). In addition, we aimed to determine the current optimal adjuvant treatment strategies for POR. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library and four databases in China (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed) were systematically searched up to July 30, 2022, with no restrictions on language. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adjuvant treatment strategies (DHEA, CoQ10, GH and TEAS) before IVF-ET to improve pregnancy outcomes in POR patients, while the control group received a controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) regimen only. This study was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to provide a pooled measure of cumulative ranking for each outcome. RESULTS: Sixteen RCTs (2323 women) with POR defined using the Bologna criteria were included in the network meta-analysis. Compared with the control group, CoQ10 (OR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.05 to 4.71) and DHEA (OR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.16 to 3.16) had obvious advantages in improving the clinical pregnancy rate. CoQ10 was the best in improving the live birth rate (OR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.07 to 5.38). DHEA increased the embryo implantation rate (OR 2.80, 95%CI: 1.41 to 5.57) and the high-quality embryo rate (OR 2.01, 95% CI: 1.07 to 3.78) and number of oocytes retrieved (WMD 1.63, 95% CI: 0.34 to 2.92) showed a greater advantage, with GH in second place. Several adjuvant treatment strategies had no significant effect on reducing the cycle canceling rate compared with the control group. TEAS was the least effective of the four adjuvant treatments in most pooled results, but the overall effect appeared to be better than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Compared with COS regimen, the adjuvant use of CoQ10, DHEA and GH before IVF may have a better clinical effect on the pregnancy outcome of POR patients. TEAS needs careful consideration in improving the clinical pregnancy rate. Future large-scale RCTs with direct comparisons are needed to validate or update this conclusion. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022304723.

The effect of adenomyosis types on clinical outcomes of IVF embryo transfer after ultra-long GnRH agonist protocol.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the effect of adenomyosis types on IVF and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) after ultra-long gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol? DESIGN: Patients who underwent the first cycle of IVF-ET with ultra-long GnRH agonist protocol were included in this retrospective cohort study. They were divided into three groups: (A) 428 patients with diffuse adenomyosis; (B) 718 patients with focal adenomyosis; and (C) 519 patients with tubal infertility. Reproduction outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis revealed that, compared with focal adenomyosis and tubal infertility, diffuse adenomyosis was negatively associated with clinical pregnancy and live birth (clinical pregnancy: A versus B: OR 0.708, 95% CI 0.539 to 0.931, P = 0.013; A versus C: OR 0.663, 95% CI 0.489 to 0.899, P = 0.008; live birth: A versus B: OR 0.530, 95% CI 0.385 to 0.730, P < 0.001; A versus C: OR 0.441, 95% CI 0.313 to 0.623, P < 0.001), but positively associated with miscarriage (A versus B: OR 1.727, 95% CI 1.056 to 2.825, P = 0.029; A versus C: OR 2.549, 95% CI 1.278 to 5.082, P = 0.008). Compared with patients with tubal infertility, focal adenomyosis was also a risk factor for miscarriage (B versus C: OR 1.825, 95% CI 1.112 to 2.995, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with patients with focal adenomyosis or tubal infertility, the reproduction outcomes of IVF-ET in patients with diffuse adenomyosis seems to be worse.

Brief and long co-incubation of sperm and oocytes for in vitro fertilization: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: There is still no consensus on the optimal time of oocyte-sperm co-incubation during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the effects of brief (1-6 h) and long (16-24 h) gametes co-incubation time on IVF outcomes. METHODS: The study protocol was registered online through PROSPERO (CRD42022337503) and PRISMA guidelines were followed in the present study. The following databases were searched from inception to May 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs): PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, using search terms related to IVF, gametes, time of co-incubation and reproductive outcome measure. Studies comparing outcomes of brief co-incubation to that of long co-incubation during IVF, and reporting primary outcome (live birth rate), secondary outcomes (clinical pregnancy rate; ongoing pregnancy rate; miscarriage rate; normal fertilization rate; polyspermy rate; top-quality embryo rate; implantation rate) were searched. A total of 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Combined odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for the data. Statistical heterogeneity analysis between studies was assessed by Cochran Q and I2 statistic with a significant threshold of P < 0.05. Methodologic quality assessment of RCTs was made for potential risk of bias with Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. RESULTS: Compared to long-term co-incubation, brief co-incubation had an advantage in increasing implantation rate (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.52-2.57), ongoing pregnancy rate (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.44-3.29) and top-quality embryo rate (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02-1.35). However, brief co-incubation of gametes had no advantages in the live-birth rate (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.72-1.65), miscarriage rate (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 0.55-3.18), clinical pregnancy rate (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 0.99-1.87) and polyspermy rate (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.48-1.33) than long-term co-incubation. Additionally, the brief co-incubation was associated with lower normal fertilization rate (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80-0.99), compared with long co-incubation. CONCLUSIONS: Brief co-incubation of gametes had the advantages in increasing implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate and top-quality embryo rate than long-term co-incubation. However, the live-birth rate displayed no difference between the two in vitro fertilization methods. Gametes co-incubation time should be individualized according to each patient's IVF history, infertility causes and the semen parameters.

Association of maternal risk factors with fetal aneuploidy and the accuracy of prenatal aneuploidy screening: a correlation analysis based on 12,186 karyotype reports.

BACKGROUND: NIPT is becoming increasingly important as its use becomes more widespread in China. More details are urgently needed on the correlation between maternal risk factors and fetal aneuploidy, and how these factors affect the accuracy of prenatal aneuploidy screening. METHODS: Information on the pregnant women was collected, including maternal age, gestational age, specific medical history and results of prenatal aneuploidy screening. Additionally, the OR, validity and predictive value were also calculated. RESULTS: A total of 12,186 analysable karyotype reports were collected with 372 (3.05%) fetal aneuploidies, including 161 (1.32%) T21, 81 (0.66%) T18, 41 (0.34%) T13 and 89 (0.73%) SCAs. The OR was highest for maternal age less than 20 years (6.65), followed by over 40 years (3.59) and 35-39 years (2.48). T13 (16.95) and T18 (9.40) were more frequent in the over-40 group (P < 0.01); T13 (3.62/5.76) and SCAs (2.49/3.95) in the 35-39 group (P < 0.01). Cases with a history of fetal malformation had the highest OR (35.94), followed by RSA (13.08): the former was more likely to have T13 (50.65) (P < 0.01) and the latter more likely to have T18 (20.50) (P < 0.01). The sensitivity of primary screening was 73.24% and the NPV was 98.23%. The TPR for NIPT was 100.00% and the respective PPVs for T21, T18, T13 and SCAs were 89.92, 69.77, 53.49 and 43.24%, respectively. The accuracy of NIPT increased with increasing gestational age (0.81). In contrast, the accuracy of NIPT decreased with maternal age (1.12) and IVF-ET history (4.15). CONCLUSIONS: ①Pregnant patients with maternal age below 20 years had higher risk of aneuploidy, especially in T13; ②A history of fetal malformations is more risky than RSA, with the former more likely to have T13 and the latter more likely to have T18; ③Primary screening essentially achieves the goal of identifying a normal karyotype, and NIPT can accurately screen for fetal aneuploidy; ④A number of maternal risk factors may influence the accuracy of NIPT diagnosis, including older age, premature testing, or a history of IVF-ET. In conclusion, this study provides a reliable theoretical basis for optimizing prenatal aneuploidy screening strategies and improving population quality.

The effect of large follicle puncture and aspiration on the outcomes of IVF-ET in patients with asynchronized follicles under the long GnRH-a protocol: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to explore whether puncturing and aspirating asynchronized large follicles during long GnRH-a protocol COH impacted IVF-ET outcomes. METHODS: A total of 180 patients with asynchronized follicles during long GnRH-a protocol COH were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into a puncture group, Group 1 (n = 81), and a non-puncture group, Group 2 (n = 99), according to whether puncture and aspiration were performed on the prematurely developing large follicles. The data of the selected patients were statistically analyzed to assess the effect of large follicle puncture and aspiration during ovulation induction on the final pregnancy results. In addition, we tentatively divided these 180 patients into either Group A (DF ≤ 14 mm) or Group B (DF > 14 mm) according to whether the diameter of the dominant large follicles (DF) exceeded 14 mm at the time of appearance. These two groups were then further divided into four subgroups: Subgroup A1 (DF ≤ 14 mm, patients underwent large follicle puncture), Subgroup A2 (DF ≤ 14 mm, patients did not undergo large follicle puncture), Subgroup B1 (DF > 14 mm, patients underwent large follicle puncture), and Subgroup B2 (DF > 14 mm, patients did not undergo large follicle puncture) based on whether large follicle puncture and aspiration were performed or not, aiming to compare the effects of large follicle puncture and aspiration on the clinical outcomes of patients with dominant large follicles at different time points. RESULTS: Group 1 exhibited significantly higher oocyte maturation rate (92.3% vs. 88.9%, P = 0.009) and high-quality embryo rate (75.2% vs. 65.7%, P = 0.007) compared with Group 2. No differences were observed in the number of oocytes retrieved, 2PN fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, and live birth rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). When the dominant large follicles' diameter was ≤ 14 mm, the final oocyte maturation rate (92.7% vs. 88.1%, P = 0.023), high-quality embryo rate (72.9% vs. 61.8%, P = 0.047) and live birth rate (54.5% vs. 31.9%, P = 0.043) of Subgroup A1 were significantly higher than those of Subgroup A2. In contrast, when the dominant large follicles' diameter was > 14 mm, no statistical difference was observed in all data. CONCLUSIONS: Large follicle puncture and aspiration in long GnRH-a protocol COH could improve the oocyte maturation rate and high-quality embryo rate in patients with asynchronized follicles. However, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were not significantly improved. In addition, when the dominant follicles' diameter did not exceed 14 mm, large follicles puncture and aspiration significantly improved the patient's oocyte maturation rate, high-quality embryo rate and live birth rate.

Application value of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Clinical value of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was investigated in this study. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 100 PCOS patients who received IVF-ET for the first time at Hebei Institute of reproductive health science and technology from January 2010 to June 2020. The patients were divided into Inhibitor group and Control group according to whether they were treated with or without TNF inhibitors. Next, the two groups were subject to comparison in terms of the days of gonadotropin (Gn) use, total dosage of Gn, trigger time, hormone level and endometrial condition on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection, the effects of two different regimens on controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups, including age, duration of infertility, body mass index (BMI), ovarian volume, antral follicle count, and basal hormone levels. Compared with the Control group, the days of Gn use and trigger time of patients in the Inhibitor group were significantly shortened, and the total Gn dosage was notably reduced. In terms of sex hormone levels on the HCG injection, the Inhibitor group displayed much lower serum estradiol levels while higher serum luteinizing hormone and progesterone (P) levels than the Control group. Notably, the high-quality embryo rate was also significantly increased with the use of TNF inhibitors. However, significant differences were not observed in endometrial thickness (on the day of HCG injection), proportion of endometrial A, B and C morphology (on the day of HCG injection), cycle cancellation rate, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, and cleavage rate between the two groups. Importantly, the clinical pregnancy rate in the Inhibitor group was significantly higher than that in the Control group, but there was no significant difference in the biochemical pregnancy rate, early abortion rate, multiple birth rate, ectopic pregnancy rate and number of live births between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Collectively, after application of TNF-α inhibitor regimen, superior overall treatment effect can be observed in infertile PCOS patients receiving IVF-ET. Therefore, TNF inhibitors have certain application value in IVF-ET in infertile women with PCOS.

Successful delivery after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in a woman with metachronous primary cancer of ovary and endometrium: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The appearance of malignancies at various times in the same individual, excluding metastases of the initial primary cancer, is termed multiple primary cancers. Double primary gynecological cancers cause inevitable damage to female reproductive function, and the preservation of fertility in such patients remains a challenging issue as relatively few cases have been reported. This case report provides management options for dual primary ovarian and endometrial cancers, including the choice of ovulation induction protocols, considerations during pregnancy and parturition, with the aim of providing assistance to clinicians. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 39-year-old woman with primary infertility and a medical history of right-sided ovarian mucinous borderline tumor with intraepithelial carcinoma, left-sided ovarian mucinous cystadenoma and endometrial cancer, who successfully conceived with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) after three different ovulation induction protocols. During her pregnancy, she was complicated by central placenta praevia with placental implantation and eventually delivered a healthy female infant by caesarean section at 33 gestational weeks. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with double primary gynecological cancers who have an intense desire for fertility, the most appropriate oncological treatment should be applied according to the patient's individual situation, and fertility preservation should be performed promptly. Ovulation induction protocol should be individualized and deliberate, with the aim of ensuring that the patient's hormone levels do not precipitate a recurrence of the primary disease during induction of ovulation and maximizing fertility outcomes. In addition, the risk of postpartum hemorrhage due to placental factors cannot be neglected in such patients.

The influence of male and female overweight/obesity on IVF outcomes: a cohort study based on registration in Western China.

BACKGROUND: Overweight/obesity can affect fertility, increase the risk of pregnancy complications, and affect the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, due to confounding factors, the accuracy and uniformity of published findings on IVF outcomes have been disputed. This study aimed to assess the effects of both male and female body mass index (BMI), individually and in combination, on IVF outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 11,191 couples undergoing IVF. Per the Chinese BMI standard, the couples were divided into four groups: normal; female overweight/obesity; male overweight/obesity; and combined male and female overweight/obesity. The IVF outcomes of the four groups were compared and analysed. RESULTS: Regarding the 6569 first fresh IVF-ET cycles, compared with the normal weight group, the female overweight/obesity and combined male/female overweight/obesity groups had much lower numbers of available embryos and high-quality embryos (p < 0.05); additionally, the fertilization (p < 0.001) and normal fertilization rates (p < 0.001) were significantly decreased in the female overweight/obesity group. The combined male/female overweight/obesity group had significant reductions in the available embryo (p = 0.002), high-quality embryo (p = 0.010), fertilization (p = 0.001) and normal fertilization rates (p < 0.001); however, neither male or female overweight/obesity nor their combination significantly affected the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR) or abortion rate (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings support the notion that overweight/obesity does not influence pregnancy success; however, we found that overweight/obesity affects the fertilization rate and embryo number and that there are sex differences.

Comparing the prognosis of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer between unexplained primary infertility patients with repeated artificial insemination with homologous semen failure and tubal infertility patients.

BACKGROUND: Both in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (ICSI-ET) have been recommended for unexplained primary infertility after recurrent artificial insemination with homologous semen failure (UAIHF), but few studies focused on the safety and efficiency of the IVF/ICSI-ET technique for these patients. In this study, we compared the IVF/ICSI-ET outcomes and perinatal and postnatal complications between UAIHF patients and tubal infertility (TI) patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of UAIHF and TI patients who underwent IVF/ICSI-ET at Guangxi Reproductive Medical Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2012 to March 2021. After propensity score matching (PSM), we analyzed the IVF/ICSI-ET outcomes and rates of perinatal and postnatal complications. RESULTS: PSM analysis revealed that the baselines of age, infertility duration, and body mass index were comparable. The fertilization method was significantly different between the two groups. Through IVF/ICSI-ET, UAIHF patients had a similar clinical outcome compared to TI patients. Regarding perinatal and postnatal complications, the incidence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (7.54% vs. 3.17%, p = 0.030) was significantly higher in UAIHF patients. CONCLUSIONS: UAIHF patients could achieve satisfying pregnancy outcomes by IVF/ICSI-ET. ICSI-ET did not seem to improve the clinical outcomes of UAIHF patients compared to those of TI patients who underwent IVF-ET, which might be related to possible underlying diseases in these patients. In addition, the incidence of PROM was significantly higher in UAIHF patients, which might be related to the ICSI technique used and uncertain potential idiopathic diseases associated with unexplained infertility patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200057572. Registered 15 March 2022.

AI-Based Optimal Treatment Strategy Selection for Female Infertility for First and Subsequent IVF-ET Cycles.

Over the last 20 years, China's infertility rate has risen from 3% to 12.5%-15%. Infertility has become the third largest disease following cancer and cardiovascular disease. Then, the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) becomes more and more important in infertility treatment field. However, the reported success rate for IVT-ET is 30%-40% and costs are gradually rising. Meanwhile, to increase success rates and decrease costs, the optimal selection of the IVF-ET treatment strategy is crucial. In a clinical work, the IVF-ET treatment strategy selection is always based on the experience of the doctor without a uniform standard. To solve this important and complex problem, we proposed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based optimal treatment strategy selection system to extract implicit knowledge from clinical data for new and returning patients, by mimicking the IVF-ET process and analysing a myriad of treatment decisions. We demonstrated that the performance of the model was different in 10 AI classification algorithms. Hence, we need to select the optimal method for predicting patient pregnancy result in different IVF-ET treatment strategies. Moreover, feature ranking is determined in the proposed model to measure the importance of each patient characteristics. Therefore, better advice can be provided for individual patient characteristics, doctors can provide more valid suggestions regarding certain patient characteristics to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and efficiency.

Pregnancy Rates after Hysteroscopic Endometrial Polypectomy versus Endometrial Curettage Polypectomy: A Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: A relationship between endometrial polypectomy and in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy outcomes has been reported; however, only a few studies have compared polyp removal techniques and pregnancy rates. We investigated whether different polypectomy techniques with endometrial curettage and hysteroscopic polypectomy for endometrial polyps affect subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data from 434 patients who had undergone polypectomy for suspected endometrial polyps using transvaginal ultrasonography before embryo transfer in IVF at four institutions between January 2017 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Overall, there were 157 and 277 patients in the hysteroscopic (mean age: 35.0 years) and curettage (mean age: 37.3 years) groups, respectively. Single-blastocyst transfer cases were selected from both groups and age-matched to unify background factors. Results: In the single-blastocyst transfer cases, 148 (mean age: 35.0 years) and 196 (mean age: 35.9 years) were in the hysteroscopic and curettage groups, respectively, with the 148 cases matched by age. In these cases, the pregnancy rates for the first embryo transfer were 68.2% (odds ratio (OR): 2.14) and 51.4% (OR: 1.06) in the hysteroscopic and curettage groups, respectively; the resulting OR was 2.03. The pregnancy rates after up to the second transfer were 80.4% (OR: 4.10) and 68.2% (OR: 2.14) in the hysteroscopic and curettage groups, respectively, in which the OR was 1.91. The live birth rates were 66.2% (OR: 1.956) and 53.4% (OR: 1.15) in the hysteroscopic and curettage groups, respectively, in which the odds ratio was 1.71. These results show the effectiveness of hysteroscopic endometrial polypectomy compared to polypectomy with endometrial curettage. No significant difference was found regarding the miscarriage rates between the two groups. Conclusions: Hysteroscopic endometrial polypectomy resulted in a higher pregnancy rate in subsequent embryo transfer than polypectomy with endometrial curettage. Therefore, establishing a facility where polypectomy can be performed hysteroscopically is crucial.

The Impact of Assisted Reproductive Technology on Umbilical Cord Insertion: Increased Risk of Velamentous Cord Insertion in Singleton Pregnancies Conceived through ICSI.

Background and Objectives: Vasa previa (VP) is a significant perinatal complication that can have serious consequences for the fetus/neonate. Velamentous cord insertion (VCI) is a crucial finding in prenatal placental morphology surveillance as it is indicative of comorbid VP. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been identified as a risk factor for VCI, so identifying risk factors for VCI in ART could improve VP recognition. This study aims to evaluate the displacement of umbilical cord insertion (CI) from the placental center and to examine the relationship between the modes of conception. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at the Obstetrics Department of Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital in Japan between May 2020 and June 2022. The study included a total of 1102 patients who delivered after 22 weeks of gestation. They were divided into three groups: spontaneous pregnancy, conventional in vitro fertilization (cIVF), and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). We recorded patient background information, perinatal complications, perinatal outcomes, and a numerical "displacement score", indicating the degree of separation between umbilical CI and the placental center. Results: The displacement score was significantly higher in the cIVF and IVF/ICSI groups compared with the spontaneous conception group. Additionally, the IVF/ICSI group showed a significantly higher displacement score than the cIVF group. Conclusions: Our study provides the first evidence that the methods of ART can affect the location of umbilical CI on the placental surface. Furthermore, we found that IVF/ICSI may contribute to greater displacement of CI from the placental center.

[The correlation between sperm DNA damage and IVF-ET clinical pregnancy outcomes in different BMI population with normal routine semen examination].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between sperm DFI, HDS and IVF-ET pregnancy outcomes in different BMI populations with normal routine semen examination. METHODS: The clinical data of 199 cycles of IVF-ET were retrospectively analyzed. Sperm chromatin structure analysis based on flow cytometry was used to detect sperm DFI and HDS. The correlation between sperm DFI, HDS and pregnancy outcome of IVF-ET were analyzed. RESULTS: The sperm DFI was negatively correlated with IVF-ET pregnancy in overweight (24.0 kg/m2≤BMI<28.0 kg/m2) population (OR=0.935, P=0.043). In the normal BMI group (18.5 kg/m2≤BMI < 24.0 kg/m2), the clinical pregnancy outcome of IVF-ET was not significantly correlated with sperm DFI, and was negatively correlated with male age (OR=0.744, P=0.020). In the obese population (BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2) , there was no significant correlation between the clinical pregnancy outcome of IVF-ET and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) , but a negative correlation with male BMI (OR = 0.779, P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: The male BMI affected the correlation between sperm DFI and IVF-ET pregnancy outcomes: ①Sperm DFI was only associated with IVF-ET clinical pregnancy outcome in the overweight population; ② In normal BMI and obese populations, male age and male BMI were important factors affecting IVF-ET clinical pregnancy outcome respectively; ③No correlation was found between sperm HDS and IVF-ET pregnancy outcomes.