Minimally invasive management of juvenile cystic adenomyoma: report of three cases.

Background: Juvenile cystic adenomyosis (JCA) represents a rare form of focal adenomyosis in young women. Objectives: To determine safety and effectiveness of minimally invasive surgery (MIS for JCA). Materials and Methods: Three patients aged 16-30 years old presented with chronic pelvic pain [2016 - 2019]. Hormonal treatment failed in two cases. Cystic lesions in the myometrium (n=2), and the broad ligament (n=1) was detected on transvaginal 2D ultrasound (TV 2D US) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cyst was separate from the endometrium in all the cases, within the myometrium in two patients and in the right broad ligament in one case. The cystic lesions were confirmed on laparoscopy; and laparoscopic excision of the cysts with adequate repair of the myometrial beds were performed in all cases with fertility preservation. Robotic assistance was chosen in one case in an attempt to avoid injury of the fallopian tube based on the cyst location during a previous laparoscopy. The endometrial cavity was entered in one case. Main outcome measures: Absence of intraoperative complications and relief of presenting symptoms postoperatively. Results: Pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of JCA is all cases. There were no intraoperative complications. All three patients reported relief of their symptoms 6 to 8 months after surgery. No recurrence of the JCA was reported using TV 2D US in all cases. Conclusions: MIS could be the treatment of choice for patients with JCA. The technique described in our study is safe, effective, and easy to master in experienced hands. What is new?: Value of MIS in treatment of patients with JCA.

The impact of single versus double blastocyst transfer on pregnancy outcomes: A prospective, randomized control trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if elective single blastocyst transfer (e-SBT) compromises pregnancy outcomes compared to double blastocyst transfer (DBT) in patients with favorable reproductive potential. METHODS: This Randomized Control Trial included 50 patients with SBT (Group 1) and 50 patients with DBT (Group 2). All women were <35 years and had favorable reproductive potential. Randomization criterion was two good quality blastocysts on day 5. Patients who did not get pregnant or who miscarried underwent subsequent frozen cycles with transfer of two blastocysts (if available) in both groups. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the majority of the demographic data, infertility etiology, ovarian stimulation characteristics and embryology data between the two groups. There was a significantly lower clinical pregnancy (61.2% vs 80.0%), and delivery (49.0% vs 70.0%) rates, but no difference in implantation (59.2% vs 54.0%), miscarriage, or ectopic pregnancy rates between Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. There was a significantly higher multiple pregnancy rate in Group 2 (35.0%) compared to Group 1 (0%) [P=0.000]. When fresh and first frozen cycles were combined, there was a significantly lower cumulative clinical pregnancy (77.6% vs 96.0%, P=0.007) and delivery (65.3% vs 86.0%, P=0.016) rates in Group 1 compared to Group 2 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with favorable reproductive potential, although e-SBT appears to reduce clinical pregnancy and live-birth rates, excellent pregnancy outcomes are achieved. Clinicians must weigh the benefits of DBT against the risk associated with multiple pregnancies in each specific patient before determining the number of blastocysts to be transferred.

Cumulative live birth rate and assisted reproduction: impact of female age and transfer day.

BACKGROUND: Many studies on assisted reproductive technology examine live birth rate per cycle. However, after a cycle fails, couples often want to know what their chances are of having a live birth if they continue treatment. From a patients' perspective, the cumulative probability of live birth is more informative. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study includes patients who underwent fresh, frozen and non-donor ICSI cycles at our IVF unit between 2006-2012. Patients were divided into two groups; Group 1 represented those who underwent only Day 5 transfers, Group 2 represented only Day 3 transfers. Patients who underwent both were excluded. -Cycles were analyzed until the first live birth or the end of the 3rd cycle. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, we estimated the cumulative live birth rates for each group and according to female age. RESULTS: The mean age for Group 1 was significantly lower than for Group 2. After 3 cycles, Group 1's CLBR was 79% versus 66% in Group 2. When analyzing the live births by age and group, there was a significant difference in the CLBR after 3 cycles with the women less than 35 years having the highest CLBR and the women 40 years or older having the lowest CLBR. CONCLUSION: In women less than 35 years, excellent CLBR can be achieved irrespective of the transfer day. For women 40 years and above, better results of CLBR are observed with Day 5 transfers. Our findings may impact the counseling of couples considering IVF treatment.

Pigtail catheter for the treatment of ascites associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is potentially dangerous. The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous pigtail catheter drainage for the management of ascites complicating severe OHSS. METHODS: This was a prospective trial conducted at a private IVF centre and a tertiary teaching medical centre. A total of 26 patients with severe OHSS was recruited. Patients were divided into two groups. Patients in group 1 (n = 13) were hospitalized, while patients in group 2 (n = 13) were managed on an outpatient basis. A pigtail catheter was inserted under transabdominal ultrasound guidance and kept in place until drainage ceased. The main outcome measures were resolution of OHSS as determined by symptomatology and laboratory values, time to removal of catheter, patient tolerance of the procedure and complication rate. RESULTS: The catheter was successfully placed in all patients following one attempt and was kept in place for a mean +/- SD of 12.9 +/- 4.3 days (range 7-24). Average amount of fluid drained was 11.2 +/- 4.3 l (range: 3.35-18.5). An improvement of symptoms and signs was noted 24-48 h after catheter placement in all patients in both groups. Procedure was well tolerated and no complications reported. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous placement of a pigtail catheter is a safe and effective treatment modality for severe OHSS. It may represent an attractive alternative to multiple vaginal or abdominal paracentesis.

Administration of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone in a woman with allergic reaction to menotropin: a case report.

This report describes a patient who experienced a generalized allergic reaction to Pergonal during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in preparation for an intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure for treatment of severe male factor infertility. The report describes a successful desensitization protocol which allowed the patient to complete her treatment cycle despite the allergic reaction to Pergonal. Subsequently recombinant follicle stimulating hormone was used successfully in inducing follicular growth in the absence of any allergic reactions. Therefore, this report confirms other studies which have suggested that an allergic reaction to human menopausal gonadotropins is due to impurities in such urine-derived products.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection for treatment of non-obstructive azoospermia.

Four cases from a tertiary care teaching medical center were studied to assess the potential of sperm extraction, fertilization and the establishment of pregnancy in couples with non-obstructive azoospermia. Four couples with non-obstructive azoospermia underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection after testicular sperm extraction. Multiple small biopsies were obtained from each testis under general anesthesia in search for sperm, and to establish a histologic diagnosis. The histopathology includes incomplete maturation arrest, hypospermatogenesis, germ cell hypoplasia and incomplete tubular sclerosis. Testicular sperm extraction resulted in the retrieval of immotile sperm from three patients, and a few motile sperm from one patient. Of 60 oocytes which were injected with testicular sperm, 32 (53.3%) fertilized and 27 of these (84.4%) cleaved. Twelve embryos were transferred to three patients and the remaining 15 embryos were cryopreserved. In one patient, no embryos resulted. One clinical pregnancy was established and a normal female infant, weighing 7 lbs 11 oz, was delivered vaginally in August 1996. This study shows that sperm can be extracted from patients with non-obstructive azoospermia when multiple biopsies are obtained. Fertilization, cleavage, clinical pregnancy and delivery of normal babies can be achieved using intracytoplasmic injection of extracted sperm.

Testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a simplified method for treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a simple method of testicular sperm extraction for the treatment of obstructive azoospermia. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Teaching tertiary medical center. PATIENT(S): Seventeen men with obstructive azoospermia. INTERVENTION(S): The patients underwent 19 cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using testicular sperm. In 5 cycles, testicular sperm extraction was performed after failed microepididymal sperm aspiration. In 14 cycles, testicular sperm extraction was performed in the office under local anesthesia from the outset. The outcome was compared with ICSI cycles using ejaculated sperm (95 cycles) and epididymal sperm (12 cycles fresh and 9 cycles frozen-thawed). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy and implantation rates. RESULT(S): There were no differences in the fertilization, cleavage, implantation, or clinical pregnancy rates among ICSI cycles using testicular, epididymal (fresh or frozen-thawed), or ejaculated sperm. CONCLUSION(S): When used in conjunction with ICSI, testicular sperm extraction from small excisional biopsy is a simple and cost-effective method for the treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

Relative bioactivity of endogenous luteinizing hormone during superovulation therapy for in vitro fertilization in normal-cycling women.

PURPOSE: Impaired outcome of in vitro fertilization treatment has been related to abnormal luteining hormone (LH) secretion and to the occurrence of a premature LH surge. The purpose of this study was to compare LH serum concentrations, measured by bioassay (LH-b) and immunoassay (LH-i), during early and late follicular phases in normal-ovulatory women who were stimulated with clomiphene, human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), while undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for infertility, due mainly to tubal damage. RESULTS: Of 22 patients, 15 had an LH surge (surge group) before receiving hCG and 7 did not (nonsurge group). LH-b and LH-i concentrations were higher in the late follicular phase than before clomiphene treatment, but the LH-b/LH-i (B/I) ratios remained unchanged and there were no significant differences between the LH surge and the nonsurge groups. In the surge group, the B/I ratio appeared to fall during the LH surge [presurge values, 5.4 +/- 0.5 (SD) and 5.2 +/- 0.5; surge values, 4.9 +/- 0.6 and later 4.0 +/- 0.6], but the differences were not significant, and in some individuals, the B/I ratio later rose as the LH surge progressed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that interference with IVF outcome by a spontaneous LH surge is due to quantitative and/or exposure time effects on the oocyte, rather than to any qualitative variation in bioactivity of LH.

Elevated progesterone levels in the late follicular phase do not predict success of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of subtle elevation in P levels in late follicular phase on the outcome of IVF-ET cycles, using GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) and hMG +/- FSH protocol. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of data. PATIENTS: Fifty-four patients who completed 63 IVF-ET cycles were treated with midluteal GnRH-a, followed by hMG +/- pure FSH. Depending on serum P levels on the day of hCG administration, patients were divided in two groups. In group 1, P levels were < or = 0.9 ng/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 3.180) and in group 2, the levels were > 0.9 ng/mL. RESULTS: Luteinizing hormone levels, on the day of hCG administration, as measured by RIA, were suppressed completely. In cycles with subtle P rise (71%), we observed a significantly higher serum E2 concentration, greater number of mature follicles, and greater number of oocytes retrieved. There were no differences between the two groups in fertilization rate, number of embryos transferred, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, and miscarriage or delivery rates. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in IVF-ET cycles, when pretreated with GnRH-a, P levels may increase on the day of hCG administration despite LH suppression and such elevation may not affect adversely the final outcome.

Fertilization and pregnancy achieved by intracytoplasmic injection of sperm retrieved from testicular biopsies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if intracytoplasmic sperm injection using testicular sperm is effective in the treatment of infertile couples with obstructive azoospermia. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Tertiary care teaching medical center. METHODS: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed in two patients using testicular sperm after microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration failed. RESULTS: In both cases fertilization and embryos resulted. One patient conceived and delivered triplets. There was no evidence of chromosomal abnormality or congenital malformation. CONCLUSIONS: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection using sperm extracted from testicular biopsy appears to be effective in the treatment of infertile couples with obstructive azoospermia when microsurgical sperm aspiration fails.

Selection of human spermatozoa by a hyperosmotic two-layer Percoll gradient.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a hyperosmotic Percoll solution improves the spermatozoal recovery rate of a two-layer Percoll gradient. DESIGN: A total of 49 semen samples were prepared by both the conventional two-layer Percoll gradient and a hyperosmotic Percoll gradient. SETTING: In vitro fertilization laboratory of a tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Semen samples were obtained from patients attending semen analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of spermatozoa recovered, percentage motility, percentage normal morphology, and their survival at 24 hours were assessed after preparation by both Percoll gradients. RESULTS: The hyperosmotic Percoll gradient resulted in a significantly higher total and motile sperm recovery rate. The degree of increase in total sperm recovery was significantly higher in abnormal semen samples compared with normal semen samples. Percentage normal morphology of sperm samples prepared by hyperosmotic Percoll was improved compared with conventional Percoll but was only significant in abnormal semen samples. However, percentage motility of sperm samples prepared by the hyperosmotic Percoll was significantly lower than those prepared by conventional Percoll gradients. CONCLUSIONS: The hyperosmotic two-layer Percoll gradient improved motile sperm recovery but also recovered more immotile sperm, leading to a decrease in percentage motility. This technique may allow us to recover more spermatozoa when we come across samples of low sperm concentration.

Expectations of assisted conception for infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To provide reliable prognostic information for couples seeking assisted conception. DESIGN: Analysis of four years' practice (1988-91). SETTING: Private university service linked with NHS reproductive medicine services. PATIENTS: 804 couples with various causes of subfertility, median duration five years, median age of women 34 years. INTERVENTIONS: 1280 completed cycles: 950 in vitro fertilisation, 144 gamete intrafallopian transfer, and 186 intrauterine insemination and superovulation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy and birth rates per cycle and cumulative pregnancy and take home baby rates per couple. RESULTS: In women under 40 years and men with normal sperm, whatever the cause of infertility, results with in vitro fertilisation improved steadily reaching a pregnancy rate per cycle of 30% (95% confidence interval 26% to 35%) during 1990-1 and birth rate per cycle of 29% (23% to 35%) in 1990. Pregnancy and birth rates for gamete intrafallopian transfer were 36% (28% to 44%) and 26% (17% to 37%) and for intrauterine insemination 18% (12% to 24%) and 16% (10% to 22%). After six cycles cumulative probability of pregnancy was 82% and cumulative take home baby rate 70%. Considering only in vitro fertilisation and gamete intrafallopian transfer after four cycles the pregnancy rate was 78% (66% to 91%). CONCLUSIONS: Conception is less likely in women over 40 and men with sperm dysfunction. For other couples the prognosis for a live birth is at least as good as for fertile couples if they persist with treatment.

A prospective controlled study of in-vitro fertilization, gamete intra-fallopian transfer and intrauterine insemination combined with superovulation.

The relative effectiveness of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) combined with superovulation in the treatment of infertility were compared in 151 couples undergoing a single cycle of treatment. Treatment was selected as appropriate (IVF for tubal disease, GIFT or IUI/superovulation for nontubal infertility) but possible bias due to non-randomization was overcome by all couples having had favourable fertilization in a previous cycle of IVF. Furthermore, in a preliminary study of initial IVF treatment in 265 couples from whom the study patients were drawn, implantation and pregnancy rates in the diagnostic groups were similar. In the definitive study comparing IVF, GIFT and IUI/superovulation, the pregnancy rate observed with GIFT was highest (40%) but this was not significantly higher than with IVF (28%) or IUI/superovulation (20%). However, the implantation rate per egg transferred by GIFT (21%) was significantly higher than the implantation rate per embryo transferred by IVF (11%). Although the pregnancy rates with GIFT were not statistically greater than with IVF, a significant advantage is likely to be observed in larger groups in view of the better implantation rate. The lower pregnancy rates with IUI superovulation are to be expected because of limited ovarian stimulation, they are nevertheless of comparative interest.