Assessment of sub-endometrial blood flow parameters following dydrogesterone and micronized vaginal progesterone administration in women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage: a pilot study.

AIM: To evaluate differences in uteroplacental blood flow and pregnancy outcome in women with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (IRSM) following administration of micronized vaginal progesterone and oral dydrogesterone. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-three women (aged 23-40 years) who had had early miscarriages and spontaneous conception participated. Oral dydrogesterone (group A, n = 51) and micronized vaginal progesterone (group B, n = 50) were administrated for luteal support and compared. Pregnant women without history of recurrent miscarriage served as controls (group C, n = 32). The outcome measures consisted of endometrial blood flow parameters by Doppler indices and ongoing pregnancy rate. RESULTS: Before progesterone supplementation, resistivity index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were found to be significantly higher in groups A and B as compared to controls. Although statistically not significant, end diastolic velocity (EDV) and systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio was found to be superior in controls than IRSM women. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) was comparable between IRSM and non-IRSM groups. Following progesterone supplementation, groups A and B showed a highly significant reduction in RI, PI and an increase in EDV. A relative increase in the value of PSV was observed in group A as compared to group B. There was remarkable difference in S/D in both groups. Although not statistically significant, group C showed reduction in RI, PI, PSV, EDV and S/D ratio. Pregnancy salvage rates were higher in group A (92.0%) as compared to group B (82.3%). CONCLUSION: Progesterone supplementation appears to lower vascular resistance in women with IRSM. Oral dydrogesterone appears to be equally effective in improving endometrial blood flow as compared with micronized progesterone.

Assessment of oocyte quality in polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometriosis by spindle imaging and reactive oxygen species levels in follicular fluid and its relationship with IVF-ET outcome.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to examine meiotic spindle in oocytes along with reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in follicular fluid of women undergoing IVF and to correlate these findings with embryo quality and pregnancy outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 167 women aged 25-35 years with endometriosis (Group A), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (Group B) and tubal block (Group C) were included. Long protocol downregulation using recombinant follicular stimulating hormone was used for ovarian stimulation. Aspirated follicular fluid containing mature oocytes were analyzed for ROS levels and the oocytes were assessed for the presence of meiotic spindle using Cri-Oosight™ Polscope. Fertilization, embryo quality, endometrial assessment, and final pregnancy outcome were assessed. RESULTS: Meiotic spindles were visualized in a higher proportion of mature oocytes retrieved from women with endometriosis (66%) as compared to those with PCOS (50.5%) and tubal block (62.3%). ROS levels were also observed to be significantly less in the follicular fluid of oocytes in women with endometriosis (Group A) as compared to the other two groups (P ≤ 0.001). However, pregnancy rates were observed to be lower in Group A (32%) than Groups B (39%) and C (44%), respectively. Within each group, oocytes with spindle visualization yielded a higher number of Grade 1 embryos (P < 0.05) as well as lower ROS levels in follicular fluid (P ≤ 0.001) as compared to those where spindle could not be visualized. CONCLUSIONS: There was good correlation between spindle imaging and ROS levels as reliable predictors of oocyte assessment. Women with endometriosis had low ROS levels and good spindle imaging results suggesting a possible role of endometrial receptivity accounting for lower pregnancy rates in these women. Poor oocyte quality, as reflected by higher mean ROS levels and low number of oocytes with spindle visualization, could be the factor impeding pregnancy in women with PCOS as compared to women with tubal block.