ART in Latin America: the Latin American Registry, 2020.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the utilization, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Latin America during 2020? DESIGN: Retrospective collection of multinational data on ART performed by 188 institutions in 16 countries. RESULTS: Overall, 87,732 initiated cycles resulted in 12,778 deliveries and 14,582 births. The major contributors were Brazil (46.0%), Mexico (17.0%) and Argentina (16.8%). However, the highest utilization (cycles/million inhabitants) was Uruguay with 558, followed by Argentina with 490 and Panama with 425 cycles/million. Globally, women aged ≥40 years increased to 34% while women ≤34 dropped to 24.7%. After removing freeze-all cycles, the delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 14.8% for intracytoplasmic sperm injection and 15.6% for IVF. Single-embryo transfer (SET) represented 38.3% of all fresh transfers, with delivery rate per transfer of 20.0%; this increased to 32.4% for elective SET (eSET) and 34.2% for blastocyst eSET, compared with blastocyst elective double embryo transfer (eDET) of 37.9%. However, multiple births increased from 1% in eSET to 30.5% in eDET. Perinatal mortality increased from 7.7‰ in singletons to 24.4‰ in twins and 64.0‰ in triplets. Frozen embryo transfer (FET) represented 66.6% of all transfers, with a delivery rate/transfer of 29.0%, significantly higher than 23.9% after fresh transfers at all ages (P < 0.0001). Preimplantation genetic testing, reported in 8920 cycles, significantly improved delivery rate and decreased miscarriage rates at all ages (P ≤ 0.041), including oocyte donation (P = 0.002). Endometriosis was diagnosed in 28.3% of cases. The delivery rate in 5779 women after removal of peritoneal endometriosis was significantly better than tubal and endocrine factors in women aged 35-39 (P = 0.0004) and women aged ≥40 (P = 0.0353). CONCLUSIONS: Systematic collection and analysis of big data in a south-south cooperation model allow regional growth by implementing evidence-based reproductive decisions.

Assisted reproductive technologies in Latin America: the Latin American Registry, 2019.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the utilization, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Latin America during 2019? DESIGN: This was a retrospective collection of multinational data on ART performed at 196 institutions from 15 countries. RESULTS: A total of 106,918 initiated cycles, 18,133 deliveries and 21,096 births were reported. ART utilization was 24-558 cycles per million inhabitants. Women aged ≥40 years represented 32.9% of fresh IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. After removing freeze-all cycles, the delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 17.3% for ICSI and 19.5% for IVF. Overall, single-embryo transfer (SET) represented 36.2% of fresh transfers, with a 19.5% delivery rate per transfer, increasing to 30.7% for elective SET and 32.7% for blastocyst elective SET (eSET). The delivery rate for double-embryo transfers (DET) was 27.8%, increasing to 37.1% after elective DET. This 6.4% increment in deliveries between eSET and elective DET resulted in a 12-fold increase in twin births. Furthermore, overall perinatal mortality was more than two-fold higher for twin compared with singleton deliveries. The delivery rate for frozen-thawed SET reached 28.1%, most being blastocyst transfers. Of all births, 72.3% were singletons, 26.4% twins and 1.3% triplets and higher multiples. Preterm deliveries reached 14.3% for singletons and 58.1% for twins. Perinatal mortality was 7.4‰ in singletons, 17.2‰ for twins and 62.9‰ for triplets or higher. CONCLUSIONS: The number of initiated cycles has slowly increased in countries with laws or regulations facilitating access. FET cycles predominate and blastocyst SET are also increasing. The data show that, especially in young women and oocyte recipients, when there is more than one blastocyst for transfer, eSET should be the rule.

Celebrating 30 years of ART in Latin America; and the 2018 report.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the trends in patient characteristics, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) performed in Latin America over the past three decades, as well as the detailed outcomes of procedures initiated in 2018? DESIGN: Retrospective collection of multinational data including epidemiology and outcomes of ART performed between 1990 and 2018. RESULTS: Over these 30 years we report 955,117 initiated cycles, 191,191 deliveries and 238,045 live births. In 1990, 66.5% of women were ≤34 years and 8.7% ≥40 years; in 2018, 26.4% of women were ≤34 years and 32.0% were ≥40 years. In 1990, 60.4% of transfers included ≥3 embryos, falling to 13.5% in 2018, and single embryo transfer (SET) increased from 13.8% to 30.4% between 1990 and 2018. Delivery rate per fresh transfer increased from approximately 17% in the 1990s to 25% in 2018, with a meaningful drop in high-order multiples, from 5-9% in the 1990s to 0.4% in 2018. This drop is associated with increasing use of frozen embryo transfer (FET) (57% in 2018) compared with 10% in 2000. In 2018, delivery rate in FET was 28.3%, reaching 31.2% in freeze-all cycles; and the cumulative live birth rate (fresh + FET) was 41.9%. Elective SET also increased, from 0.9% in 2010 to 10% in 2018. The delivery rate in elective SET (31.7%) was only 5.4% lower than elective double embryo transfer (DET) (37.1%); however, multiple births increased from 2.1% to 25.5% twins and 0.4% triplets in elective DET. CONCLUSION: The Latin American Registry of Assisted Reproduction (RLA) celebrates 30 years of voluntary reporting from a total of nearly 200 centres in 15 countries. This South-South Cooperation network has proven to be an efficient and safe system for technological transfer and regional growth.

Assisted reproductive technology in Latin America: the Latin American Registry, 2017.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the utilization, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) carried out in Latin America during 2017. DESIGN: Retrospective collection of multinational data on ART carried out in 188 institutions from 15 Latin American countries. RESULTS: In this study, 93,600 initiated cycles, 16,976 deliveries and 20,404 births reported. Utilization of ART was 221 cycles per million inhabitants (15 to 535). Women aged 40 years and above represented 30.5% of fresh IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); however, after removing freeze-all cycles, delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 19.9% for ICSI and 20.2% for IVF. Overall, single embryo transfer (SET) represented 26.9% of fresh transfers, with 18.2% delivery rate per transfer, increasing to 32.3% in elective SET. Delivery rate in double embryo transfers (DET) was 28.3% increasing to 37.3% with elective DET. This 5% increment in births in elective DET over elective SET resulted in a tenfold increase in twin births, gestational periods almost 3 weeks' shorter and a threefold increase in perinatal mortality. Delivery rate in frozen-thawed SET reached 25.5% increasing to 30.8% with DET, most being blastocyst transfers. Of all births, 66.9% were singletons, 31.4% twins and 1.6% triplets and higher. Overall, preterm deliveries reached 9.5% in singletons, 64.3% in twins and 97.9% in triplets; perinatal mortality was 9.4‰ in singletons, 25.3‰ in twins and 63.3‰ in high-order multiples. CONCLUSIONS: The number of initiated cycles has slowly increased. Frozen embryo transfers, blastocyst transfers and SET are also increasing. Our data show that, especially in young women and oocyte recipients, when there is more than one blastocyst for transfer, elective SET should be the rule.

Assisted reproductive techniques in Latin America: the Latin American Registry 2016.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the utilization, effectiveness and perinatal outcome of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) performed in Latin America during 2016? DESIGN: Retrospective collection of multinational data on ART performed in 178 institutions from 15 Latin American countries. RESULTS: This paper reports on 85,474 initiated cycles, 15,070 deliveries and 18,182 babies born in this period. Of all fresh autologous IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles, 40.9% were performed in women aged 35-39 years, and 31.1% in women aged ≥40 years. After removing freeze-all cycles, delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 20.31% for ICSI and 21.85% for IVF. Fresh single embryo transfer including all age categories represented 22.96%, with a 15.35% delivery rate per transfer. Double embryo transfer represented 61.58% of transfers, with a 27.62% delivery rate per transfer. Multiple births included 18.12% twins and 0.55% triplets and higher. In oocyte donation, delivery rate per transfer was 32.89%, with a twin and triplet rate of 23.48% and 0.73%, respectively. Overall, preterm deliveries reached 17.11% in singletons, 65.69% in twins and 95.51% in triplets. Perinatal mortality was 8.0‰ in singletons, 19.0‰ in twins, and 62.3‰ in high-order multiples. CONCLUSIONS: The number of initiated cycles continues to increase. Compared with previous years, the number of embryos transferred decreased while the proportion of single embryo transfers increased with a drop in multiple births. It is vital to motivate health care providers and consumers to continue this trend.

Assisted reproductive techniques in Latin America: the Latin American Registry, 2015.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the utilization, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) performed in Latin American countries during 2015, and what were the regional trends? DESIGN: Retrospective collection of multinational data on assisted reproduction techniques (IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI], frozen embryo transfer, oocyte donation, preimplantation genetic testing and fertility preservation), from 175 institutions in 15 Latin American countries. RESULTS: In total, 41.25% of IVF/ICSI cycles were performed in women aged 35-39 years, and 28.35% in women aged ≥40 years. After removing freeze-all cycles, delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 21.39% for ICSI and 24.29% for IVF. Multiple births included 19.58% twins and 0.95% triplets and higher. In oocyte donation, delivery rate per transfer was 36.77%, with a twin and triplet rate of 27.65% and 1.06%, respectively. Overall, preterm deliveries reached 17.38% in singletons, 64.94% in twins and 98.41% in triplets. Perinatal mortality in 14,936 births and 18,391 babies born was 10.5 per 1000 in singletons, 17.9 per 1000 in twins, and 57.1 per 1000 in high-order multiples. Elective single embryo transfer represented 3.11% of fresh transfers, with a 31.78% delivery rate per transfer. Elective double embryo transfer represented 23.3% of transfers, with a 37.79% delivery rate per transfer. Out of 18,391 babies born, 63.22% were singletons, 34.4% twins, and 2.38% triplets and higher. CONCLUSIONS: Given the effect of multiple births on prematurity, morbidity and perinatal mortality, reinforcing the existing trend of reducing the number of embryos transferred remains mandatory.

Assisted reproduction techniques in Latin America: the Latin American Registry, 2014.

Multinational data on assisted reproduction techniques (IVF and intractytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI], frozen embryo transfer, oocyte donation, preimplantation genetic diagnosis and fertility preservation) were collected from 159 institutions in 15 Latin American countries. A total of 41.34% of IVF-ICSI cycles were conducted in women aged 35-39 years and 23.35% in women aged 40 years and older. After removing freeze-all cases, delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 25.05% for ICSI and 27.41% for IVF. Multiple births included 20.78% twins and 0.92% triplets and over. In oocyte donation, twins reached 28.93% and triplets 1.07%. Preterm deliveries reached 16.4% in singletons, 55.02% in twins and 76% in triplets. Perinatal mortality in 18,162 births was 23 per 1000 in singletons, 35 per 1000 in twins, and 36 per 1000 in high-order multiples. Elective single embryo transfer represented 2.63% of fresh transfers, with a 32.15% delivery rate per transfer. Elective double embryo transfer represented 23.74% of transfers, with a 41.03% delivery rate per transfer; 11,373 babies (62.6%) were singletons; 6398 (35.2%) twins, and 391 (2.2%), triplets and more. Given the effect of multiple births on prematurity, morbidity and perinatal mortality, reinforcing the existing trend of reducing the number of embryos transferred is mandatory.

Assisted reproductive techniques in Latin America: the Latin American Registry, 2013.

Multinational data on assisted reproduction techniques undertaken in 2013 were collected from 158 institutions in 15 Latin American countries. Individualized cycle-based data included 57,456 initiated cycles. Treatments included autologous IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), frozen embryo transfers, oocyte donations. In autologous reproduction, 29.22% of women were younger than 35 years, 40.1% were 35-39 years and 30.6% were 40 years or older. Overall delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 20.6% for ICSI and 25.4% for IVF. Multiple births included 20.7% for twins and 1.1% for triplets and over. In oocyte donations, twins reached 30% and triplets 1.4%. In singletons, pre-term births were 7.5%: 36.58% in twins and 65.52% in triplets. The relative risk for prematurity was 4.9 (95% CI 4.5 to 5.3) in twins and 8.7 (95% CI 7.6 to 10.0) in triplets and above. Perinatal mortality was 29.4 per 1000 in singletons, 39.9 per 1000 in twins and 71.6 per 1000 in high order multiples. Elective single embryo transfer represented only 2% of cycles, with delivery rate of 39.1% in women aged 34 years or less. Given the effect of multiple births and prematurity, it is mandatory to reduce the number of embryos transferred in the region.

Effect of embryo freezing on perinatal outcome after assisted reproduction techniques: lessons from the Latin American Registry of Assisted Reproduction.

Embryo cryopreservation is an integral part of assisted reproduction techniques; it allows the sequential transfer of all embryos, thus diminishing the risk of multiple pregnancies and associated perinatal complications. To address concerns about the safety of this procedure, neonatal outcome after 43,070 fresh embryo transfers was compared with 12,068 frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FET). After adjusting for maternal age, gestational age, embryo development at time of transfer, number of babies born and gestational order, FET was not found to be associated with an increase in perinatal mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81 to 3.62); preterm birth (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.18); or extreme preterm birth (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.06). Furthermore, after correcting for known confounding factors, FET was found to be associated with an increase in neonatal weight of 39.7 g (95% CI 1.54 to 64.10; P < 0.0001). Embryo cryopreservation was, therefore, not associated with an increase in the risk of poor perinatal outcome.

Assisted reproductive technologies in Latin America: the Latin American Registry, 2012.

Multinational data on assisted reproduction technologies were collected from 155 institutions in 14 Latin American countries during 2012. Case-by-case data included 47,326 assisted reproduction technology cycles covering over 80% of cycles carried out in Latin America. Treatments included IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), frozen embryo transfers, oocyte donations and fertility preservation. Embryo transfer and IVF-ICSI was carried out in 39% of women aged 35-39 years and 31% of women aged 40 years or over. Delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 20.9% for ICSI and 26.5% for IVF. Multiple births comprised 20.6% twins and 1.2% triplets and over. In oocyte donations, twins reached 27.8% and triplets and over 2.4%. Pre-term births in singletons were 14%. The relative risk of prematurity increased by 4.30 (95% CI 4.1 to 4.6) in twins and 43.8 (95% CI 28.5 to 67.4) in triplets and higher. Perinatal mortality increased from 25.2 per thousand in singletons to 44.4 in twins and 80.7 in triplets and over. Elective single embryo transfer was carried out in only 1.4%, of cycles, with a delivery rate of 30% in women 34 years or younger, and should be considered the way forward provided access is facilitated with public funding.

[Medical and ethical basis for embryo cryopreservation]. / Fundamentos biomédicos y éticos de la criopreservación de embriones.

As part of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), the advent of embryo freezing lowered the number of embryos transferred, decreasing multiple births without jeopardizing pregnancy rates. Using vitrification technology, 90% of embryos survive after thawing, producing clinical pregnancy rates similar to those of fresh embryos (41.6%y 44.3% respectively). Furthermore, cumulative pregnancy rates, obtained after transferring fresh plus frozen/thawed embryos, can reach 70%. Frozen embryo transfers (FET) are reported by six of seven institutions, which are part of the Chilean ART registry, and altogether constitute 22.8% of all ART procedures. Increasing use of cryopreservation lowered overall multiple gestations from 33% in 1995 to 23% in 2011, reducing pre term births and perinatal mortality. For many people, embryo freezing generates ethical dilemmas, due to the potential risks to which embryos are exposed, and the uncontrolled accumulation and disposal of human embryos. Scientific evidence today shows that frozen/thawed embryos are not exposed to disproportionate risks, and by hindering its use, both women and their children are exposed to the risks of multiple gestation, repeated cycles of ovarian hormonal stimulation or the impossibility to afford repeated ART cycles. In this article, we provide biomedical, as well as ethical, arguments to sustain that embryo cryopreservation is not only justified but fundamental when offering infertility treatment with ART.

Sibling embryo blastocyst development as a prognostic factor for the outcome of day-3 embryo transfer.

This study assessed the development of sibling embryos to blastocyst as a prognostic factor for patients undergoing embryo transfer at day 3. A retrospective analysis of a clinical and embryology database including 353 patients who underwent 393 cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with day-3 embryo transfer and excess embryos, maintained in culture until day 5, was performed. Cycles were divided into group A and group B (with and without blastocyst formation, respectively). Age and basal FSH were similar in both groups. Statistically significant differences in clinical pregnancy rates (55.8% versus 40.6%; P=0.0031), live birth rates (50.0% versus 37.2%; P=0.012) and implantation rates (34.2% versus 23.7%; P=0.0035) were observed in groups A and B, respectively. Odds ratios showed women from group A had 1.85- and 1.68-times the odds of patients from group B of achieving clinical pregnancy and a live birth, respectively. Cumulative live birth rate for group A, after one cycle of vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer, was 66.4%. The development of sibling embryos to blastocyst is a prognostic factor for the outcome of the cycle in which transfer is performed at day 3 and provides valuable information about the prognosis of subsequent cycles.

ART in Latin America: the Latin American Registry, 2020.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the utilization, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Latin America during 2020? DESIGN: Retrospective collection of multinational data on ART performed by 188 institutions in 16 countries. RESULTS: Overall, 87,732 initiated cycles resulted in 12,778 deliveries and 14,582 births. The major contributors were Brazil (46.0%), Mexico (17.0%) and Argentina (16.8%). However, the highest utilization (cycles/million inhabitants) was Uruguay with 558, followed by Argentina with 490 and Panama with 425 cycles/million. Globally, women aged ≥40 years increased to 34% while women ≤34 dropped to 24.7%. After removing freeze-all cycles, the delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 14.8% for intracytoplasmic sperm injection and 15.6% for IVF. Single-embryo transfer (SET) represented 38.3% of all fresh transfers, with delivery rate per transfer of 20.0%; this increased to 32.4% for elective SET (eSET) and 34.2% for blastocyst eSET, compared with blastocyst elective double embryo transfer (eDET) of 37.9%. However, multiple births increased from 1% in eSET to 30.5% in eDET. Perinatal mortality increased from 7.7‰ in singletons to 24.4‰ in twins and 64.0‰ in triplets. Frozen embryo transfer (FET) represented 66.6% of all transfers, with a delivery rate/transfer of 29.0%, significantly higher than 23.9% after fresh transfers at all ages (p<0.0001). Preimplantation genetic testing, reported in 8920 cycles, significantly improved delivery rate and decreased miscarriage rates at all ages (p≤0.041), including oocyte donation (p=0.002). Endometriosis was diagnosed in 28.3% of cases. The delivery rate in 5779 women after removal of peritoneal endometriosis was significantly better than tubal and endocrine factors in women aged 35-39 (p=0.0004) and women aged ≥40 (p=0.0353). CONCLUSIONS: Systematic collection and analysis of big data in a south-south cooperation model allow regional growth by implementing evidence-based reproductive decisions.

Assisted reproductive technologies in Latin America: the Latin American Registry, 2019.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the utilization, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Latin America during 2019? DESIGN: This was a retrospective collection of multinational data on ART performed at 196 institutions from 15 countries. RESULTS: A total of 106,918 initiated cycles, 18,133 deliveries and 21,096 births were reported. ART utilization was 24-558 cycles per million inhabitants. Women aged ≥40 years represented 32.9% of fresh IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. After removing freeze-all cycles, the delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 17.3% for ICSI and 19.5% for IVF. Overall, single-embryo transfer (SET) represented 36.2% of fresh transfers, with a 19.5% delivery rate per transfer, increasing to 30.7% for elective SET and 32.7% for blastocyst elective SET (eSET). The delivery rate for double-embryo transfers (DET) was 27.8%, increasing to 37.1% after elective DET. This 6.4% increment in deliveries between eSET and elective DET resulted in a 12-fold increase in twin births. Furthermore, overall perinatal mortality was more than two-fold higher for twin compared with singleton deliveries. The delivery rate for frozen-thawed SET reached 28.1%, most being blastocyst transfers. Of all births, 72.3% were singletons, 26.4% twins and 1.3% triplets and higher multiples. Preterm deliveries reached 14.3% for singletons and 58.1% for twins. Perinatal mortality was 7.4‰ in singletons, 17.2‰ for twins and 62.9‰ for triplets or higher. CONCLUSIONS: The number of initiated cycles has slowly increased in countries with laws or regulations facilitating access. FET cycles predominate and blastocyst SET are also increasing. The data show that, especially in young women and oocyte recipients, when there is more than one blastocyst for transfer, eSET should be the rule.

Celebrating 30 years of ART in Latin America; and the 2018 report.

OBJECTIVE: What are the trends in patient characteristics, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) performed in Latin America over the past three decades, as well as the detailed outcomes of procedures initiated in 2018?. DESIGN: Retrospective collection of multinational data including epidemiology and outcomes of ART performed between 1990 and 2018. RESULTS: Over these 30 years we report 955,117 initiated cycles, 191,191 deliveries and 238,045 live births. In 1990, 66.5% of women were ≤34 years and 8.7% ≥40 years; in 2018, 26.4% of women were ≤34 years and 32.0% were ≥40 years. In 1990, 60.4% of transfers included ≥3 embryos, falling to 13.5% in 2018, and single embryo transfer (SET) increased from 13.8% to 30.4% between 1990 and 2018. Delivery rate per fresh transfer increased from approximately 17% in the 1990s to 25% in 2018, with a meaningful drop in high-order multiples, from 5-9% in the 1990s to 0.4% in 2018. This drop is associated with increasing use of frozen embryo transfer (FET) (57% in 2018) compared with 10% in 2000. In 2018, delivery rate in FET was 28.3%, reaching 31.2% in freeze-all cycles; and the cumulative live birth rate (fresh + FET) was 41.9%. Elective SET also increased, from 0.9% in 2010 to 10% in 2018. The delivery rate in elective SET (31.7%) was only 5.4% lower than elective double embryo transfer (DET) (37.1%); however, multiple births increased from 2.1% to 25.5% twins and 0.4% triplets in elective DET. CONCLUSIONS: The Latin American Registry of Assisted Reproduction (RLA) celebrates 30 years of voluntary reporting from a total of nearly 200 centres in 15 countries. This South-South Cooperation network has proven to be an efficient and safe system for technological transfer and regional growth.

Atosiban improves the outcome of embryo transfer. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized trials.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness of Atosiban in improving the outcome after embryo transfer. The effectiveness of embryo transfer per cycle is still relatively low. One possible explanation might be uterine contractility that expels the transferred embryos. Atosiban improved the outcome of embryo transfer by reducing uterine contractility. METHODS: Data sources: A systematic review of papers in English using MEDLINE and EMBASE (1990-2019). Search terms included Atosiban, embryo transfer. Study selection: We included studies that compared the outcomes of embryo transfer with Atosiban and a control group. Data Extracting: Independent extraction of papers by two authors, using predefined data fields, including study quality indicators. RESULTS: All pooled analyses were based on a fixed-effect model. Four randomised controlled trials, including 1,025 women, and two non-randomised trials, including 686 patients, met our inclusion criteria. In both studies, the heterogeneity was moderate. Atosiban increased clinical pregnancy rates regardless of the indication for ART or type of embryo transferred. Pooled OR in randomized controlled trials reached 1.47 (1.18-1.82), and in non-randomised controlled trials it reached 1.50 (95% CI 1.10-2.05). CONCLUSION: Atosiban appears to increase the clinical pregnancy rates in women undergoing embryo transfer.

The effects of aging on semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to look into possible correlations between male age and different sperm parameters derived from semen analysis and sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation. METHODS: This retrospective descriptive study included 2681 male patients who underwent semen analysis at Clínica Las Condes (CLC), Santiago, Chile, between January 2014 and May 2017; correlations between age and sperm parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Males above the age of 50 were significantly more likely to present anomalies in semen volume, sperm concentration, and sperm DNA fragmentation; males aged 41+ years were more likely to have lower sperm concentration levels; males aged 31+ years were more likely to have decreased sperm motility; when concentration was constant, more volume and motility anomalies were seen as age increased; when volume was kept constant, more motility and concentration anomalies were seen as age increased; and when motility was constant, normal semen volumes decreased as age increased. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that male age significantly affects sperm parameters that might have an impact on male fertility.

Assisted reproductive techniques in Latin America: The Latin American Registry, 2017.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the utilization, effectiveness and safety of assisted reproductive techniques performed in Latin America during 2017. DESIGN: Retrospective collection of multinational data on ART performed in 188 institutions from 15 Latin American countries. RESULTS: We are reporting 93,600 initiated cycles, 16,976 deliveries and the birth of 20,404 babies. ART utilization was 221 cycles/million inhabitants (15 to 535). Despite women aged ≥40 represented 30.5% of fresh IVF/ICSI, after removing freeze-all cycles, delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 19.9% for ICSI and 20.2% for IVF. Overall, single embryo transfer (SET) represented 26.9% of fresh transfers, with 18.2% delivery rate per transfer; increasing to 32.3% in elective SET. Delivery rate in double embryo transfers (DET) was 28.3% increasing to 37.3% with elective DET. This 5% increment in births in eDET over eSET resulted in10-fold increase in twin births, almost 3 weeks' shorter gestations and 3-fold increase in perinatal mortality. Delivery rate in frozen/thawed SET, reached 25.5% increasing to 30.8% with DET; the majority being blastocysts transfers. Of all births, 67% were singletons, 31.4% twins, and 1.6% triplets and higher. Overall, preterm deliveries reached 9.5% in singletons, 64.3% in twins and 97.9% in triplets; and perinatal mortality was 9.4‰ in singletons, 25.3‰ in twins, and 63.3‰ in high-order multiples. CONCLUSIONS: The number of initiated cycles slowly increases. Frozen embryo transfers, blastocyst transfers and SET are also increasing. Our data shows that especially in young women and oocyte recipients, when there is more than one blastocyst for transfer, elective SET should be the rule.

Assisted reproductive techniques in Latin America: The Latin American registry, 2016.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the utilization, effectiveness and perinatal outcome of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) performed in Latin America during 2016. DESIGN: Retrospective collection of multinational data on ART performed in 178 institutions from 15 Latin American countries. RESULTS: We are reporting 85,474 initiated cycles, 15,070 deliveries and 18,182 babies born in this period. Of all fresh autologous IVF/ICSI cycles, 40.9% were performed in women aged 35-39 years, and 31.1% in women aged ≥40 years. After removing freeze-all cycles, delivery rate per oocyte retrieval was 20.31% for ICSI and 21.85% for IVF. Fresh single embryo transfer including all age categories represented 22.96%, with a 15.35% delivery rate per transfer. Double embryo transfer represented 61.58% of transfers, with a 27.62% delivery rate per transfer. Multiple births included 18.12% twins and 0.55% triplets and higher. In oocyte donation, delivery rate per transfer was 32.89%, with a twin and triplet rate of 23.48% and 0.73%, respectively. Overall, preterm deliveries reached 17.11% in singletons, 65.69% in twins and 95.51% in triplets. Perinatal mortality was 8.0 ‰ in singletons, 19.0 ‰ in twins, and 62.3 ‰ in high-order multiples. CONCLUSIONS: The number of initiated cycles continues to increase. Compared with previous years, the number of embryos transferred decreased while the proportion of single embryo transfers increased with a drop in multiple births. It is mandatory to stimulate health care providers and consumers to continue in this trend.