Research priorities in infertility and assisted reproductive technology treatments - a James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership with brazilian patients.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the main research interests of Brazilian patients in the field of infertility and assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments. METHODS: This prospective multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out in Brazil. Patients attending five fertility centers from the Huntington Group between October and December 2018 were invited to join the study, which consisted of answering an anonymous survey online. Two hundred and twenty-seven patients signed the informed consent form and were emailed the survey link. The survey was designed based on the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership protocol. In the area of infertility, patients were probed on issues such as somatic and psychological effects of treatment, prevention, assisted reproductive technology (medications and procedures), success rates, risks, and emotional aspects. RESULTS: The response rate (RR) was 47.58% (108 patients; 88 women - RR 51.46% and 20 men - RR 35.71%). Patient mean age was 36.5 years (SD 4.6). The top ten research priorities listed were 1) short- and long-term side effects of treatment; 2) how to cope with infertility; 3) risks associated with ART; 4) success rates in ART; 5) impact of diet on ART and fertility; 6) healthy habits; 7) alternative therapies; 8) impact of exercise on fertility and ART success; 9) oocyte quality and ovarian reserve; and 10) genetic or inherited causes of infertility. CONCLUSION: To better cater to the needs of patients and develop patient-centered care in the field of infertility and ART treatment, clinicians, healthcare providers, and the scientific community must identify patient concerns and priorities and make efforts to address them.

Influence of Donor, Recipient, and Male Partner Body Mass index on Pregnancy Rates in Oocyte Donation Cycles.

OBJECTIVE: A high body mass index (BMI) has been shown to associate with negative reproductive outcomes. Women with high BMI have in general lower chances of getting pregnant as well as higher risk of pregnancy complications. Several studies have described in the past the relationship between high BMI and the pregnancy outcome, however, some of them have a small sample size or fail to control for variables associated with a diminished probability of pregnancy. In the present study, we aim to analyze the role of the BMI of all parties involved in oocyte donation cycles (that is: the oocyte donor, the recipient woman, and the male partner) on pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: This study includes 1092 oocyte donation cycles. Inclusion criteria were: fertilization by ICSI, frozen semen, transfer of 2 embryos at day 3 of in vitro development. For statistical analysis, BMI was divided in: low weight (<20 kg/m2), normal (20-24 kg/m2), overweight (25-29 kg/m2) and obesity (≥30 kg/m2). Quantitative and categorical variables were assessed by squared-Chi test and one-way ANOVA. The association between the BMI (recipient, oocyte donor and partner) and pregnancy rate was assessed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Laboratory outcomes and pregnancy rates do not differ among the different BMI categories of recipient, oocyte donor or partner. After adjusted analyses (for oocyte donor age, for laboratory outcomes and for age and BMI of all the parties for pregnancy outcomes), no difference was found either. CONCLUSION: In oocyte donation cycles, where donors BMI is by law mandated to be in the 18-30 range, the pregnancy rate of the oocyte recipient does not seem to be affected by the BMI of any of the parties involved.