Effects of chronic endometritis therapy on in vitro fertilization outcome in women with repeated implantation failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of antibiotic therapy for chronic endometritis (CE) on IVF outcome. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): Infertile women with history of recurrent implantation failure, defined as two or more failed ETs, undergoing one or more IVF cycle(s). INTERVENTION(S): The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017062494) before the start of the literature search. Observational studies were identified by searching electronic databases. The following comparators were included: women with CE receiving antibiotics vs. untreated controls; women with cured CE vs. women with persistent CE; and women with cured CE vs. women with normal endometrial histology (negative for CE). The summary measures were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), ongoing pregnancy rate/live birth rate (OPR/LBR), implantation rate (IR), miscarriage rate. RESULT(S): A total of 796 patients (from five studies) were included. Women receiving antibiotic therapy (without the histologic confirmation of CE cure) did not show any advantage in comparison with untreated controls (OPR/LBR, CPR, and IR). Patients with cured CE showed higher OPR/LBR (OR 6.81), CPR (OR 4.02), and IR (OR 3.24) in comparison with patients with persistent CE. In vitro fertilization outcome was comparable between women with cured CE and those without CE (OPR/LBR, CPR, and IR). Miscarriage rate was not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION(S): Chronic endometritis therapy may improve IVF outcome in patients suffering from recurrent implantation failure. A control biopsy should always confirm CE resolution before proceeding with IVF.

Uterine fibroid size modifications during pregnancy and puerperium: evidence from the first systematic review of literature.

PURPOSE: The influence of pregnancy on uterine fibroid size still remains an unsolved dilemma. Basing on current knowledge, physicians are not able to inform patients about the likelihood of uterine fibroids to modify their size during pregnancy. Study aim was to summarize available evidence concerning the size modifications of uterine fibroids during each trimester of pregnancy and during puerperium. METHODS: The review was reported following the PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42017071117). A literature search was conducted in electronic database (PubMed, Embase, Sciencedirect, the Cochrane library and Clinicaltrials.gov) until July 2017. All studies evaluating fibroids' changes during pregnancy and puerperium by ultrasound or magnetic-resonance-imaging were included. Descriptive characteristics of studies and patients were collected. The modifications of uterine fibroid diameter and volume were the outcome measures. RESULTS: Concerning the first trimester of pregnancy, all authors reported a significant growth of uterine fibroids. Contradictory evidence was found about uterine fibroid modifications during the second and third trimesters, mainly supporting a slowdown during mid pregnancy and a subsequent size reduction during late pregnancy. Concerning the overall modifications during pregnancy and puerperium, poor evidence quality suggests that uterine fibroids do not modify their volume/slightly enlarge during pregnancy and subsequently reduce in size during puerperium. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine fibroids seem to be subject to a non-linear trend of modifications during pregnancy and puerperium, which may vary from myoma to myoma. Adequate evidence supports uterine fibroid systematic enlargement during the first trimester of pregnancy, while inconsistent evidence is available about the changes of uterine fibroids during second and third trimesters. In addition, the overall modifications of myomas during pregnancy and puerperium remain unclear.

Endometrial scratch injury before intrauterine insemination: is it time to re-evaluate its value? Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of endometrial scratch injury (ESI) on the outcomes of intrauterine insemination (IUI) stimulated cycles. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): Infertile women undergoing one or more IUI stimulated cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified by searching electronic databases. We included RCTs comparing ESI (i.e., intervention group) during the course of IUI stimulated cycle (C-ESI) or during the menstrual cycle preceding IUI treatment (P-ESI) with controls (no endometrial scratch). The summary measures were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence-interval (CI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate. RESULT(S): Eight trials were included in the meta-analysis, comprising a total of 1,871 IUI cycles. Endometrial scratch injury was associated with a higher clinical pregnancy rate (OR 2.27) and ongoing pregnancy rate (OR 2.04) in comparison with the controls. No higher risk of multiple pregnancy (OR 1.09), miscarriage (OR 0.80), or ectopic pregnancy (OR 0.82) was observed in patients receiving ESI. Subgroup analysis based on ESI timing showed higher clinical pregnancy rate (OR 2.57) and ongoing pregnancy rate (OR 2.27) in patients receiving C-ESI and no advantage in patients receiving P-ESI. CONCLUSION(S): Available data suggest that ESI performed once, preferably during the follicular phase of the same cycle of IUI with flexible aspiration catheters, may improve clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates in IUI cycles. Endometrial scratch injury does not appear to increase the risk of multiple pregnancy, miscarriage, or ectopic pregnancy.

Limits and complications of laparoscopic myomectomy: which are the best predictors? A large cohort single-center experience.

PURPOSE: To determine whether a correlation exists between size, location, type of myomas and perioperative outcomes. METHODS: This is a observational study in women undergone to laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) because of single symptomatic myoma >4 cm in diameter. We collected data about general features, surgical outcomes, intraoperative/postoperative complications and time to return to normal activity. RESULTS: A total of 444 patients (mean age 36.7 ± 6.4 years) resulted eligible for the study. Myomas sized between 8 and 12 cm were linked to an increased amount of blood loss (significantly higher in intramural than subserosal myoma). The removal of intramural myomas >8 cm and the subserosal ones >12 cm required a significant longer surgical time. Patients returned 17.9 ± 9.5 days after surgery to their personal activities. Six cases (1.35 %) required conversion to laparotomy, and only in two cases blood transfusion was necessary. CONCLUSION: Myomas size and type represent the best predictors of surgical difficulties and possible intrapostoperative complications. Intramural myomas >8 cm and subserosal ones >12 cm should be considered as a challenging procedure. LM remains the gold standard approach because of very low perioperative complication rate and faster return to normal activity.

Female sterilization: update on clinical efficacy, side effects and contraindications.

PURPOSE: The aim of this review is to compare studies concerning female sterilization in order to define the most suitable approach and device for each patient considering timing, safety, cost-effectiveness, failure rate, complication rate and patient satisfaction. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in electronic databases MEDLINE-EMBASE-Sciencedirect and Cochrane Library between 2000 and 2012. All original descriptions, case reports, retrospective and review articles on tubal sterilization methods have been considered. Outcome measures were effectiveness, tolerability, procedure complications and female satisfaction. RESULTS: The ideal female sterilization system should be a simple, safe, highly efficient, easily learned, inexpensive, one-time procedure without negative side-effects. Nowadays, the trans-cervical approach is associated with minimal postoperative pain, allowing short hospitalization and fast resumption of daily activities. Laparoscopic and laparotomic approaches are considered second choices, since, particularly in developing countries, the transcervical hysteroscopic methods will increasingly spread within gynaecological clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Safety issues, hospital stay, costs and surgeons' experience are important factors in decision-making of the method for female sterilization. Hysteroscopic devices should be preferred when possible. The counselling time remains a fundamental step in choice. The decision concerning method depends on the setting, the surgeon's experience, the country's economical development and the woman's preference.

Endometrial polyps in women affected by levothyroxine-treated hypothyroidism--histological features, immunohistochemical findings, and possible explanation of etiopathogenic mechanism: a pilot study.

The aim of the study was to investigate the possible overexpression of estrogen (ERs) and progesterone (PRs) receptors both in EPs glandular and stromal cells in postmenopausal women with levothyroxine-treated hypothyroidism in comparison to EPs detected in women with physiological thyroid hormone levels. During the study period (January-February 2013) 22 patients were eligible (12 treated, 10 controls). The two groups were homogenous for general, EPs sonographic and hysteroscopic features. None of the cases of atypia was found. Immunohistochemistry showed that the two groups were similar for ERs and PRs intensity rates in EPs glandular cells despite a trend of ERs percentage expression more than 60% in 2/3 of treated patients versus 1/3 of controls. In stromal EPs components, ERs intensity was high positive in 10 (83,3%) treated cases while it was high positive in 1 control (10%). Percentage of ERs stromal expression showed a different trend between the two groups despite a borderline statistical significance. Our hypothesis is based on a possible double action of hypothyroidism and thyroxine intake: the subclinical TSH increased levels and its possible circadian oscillation could stimulate the endometrial TSHRs (increasing type 2 DIO activity); the circulating levels of exogenous thyroxine could be locally metabolized in active form by type 2 DIO stimulating ERs.