Double ionophore application in cases with previous failed/low fertilization or poor embryo development.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does a double ionophore application improve the outcome of cycles in which single ionophore application was unsuccessful? DESIGN: This retrospective intervention study (duration 4.5 years) included 79 patients with suspected chronic failed oocyte activation (<30% fertilizations) and/or poor embryo development (developmental arrest, 24 h developmental delay, blastulation rate <15%) in both preceding cycles, the first without ionophore and the second with single ionophore treatment. Within the study period, all patients with failed ionophore treatments (single applications of ready-to-use calcimycin for 15 min) were offered an adapted protocol in the subsequent cycle (study cycle) in which the same ionophore was applied twice (separated by 30 min). Tests for paired data (control and study cycle) were used to reduce the effect of confounders. RESULTS: The overall fertilization rate did not differ between the study and control cycles. Cleavage (P = 0.020) and blastocyst formation (P = 0.018) rates improved significantly in the study cycles. Implantation (P = 0.001), biochemical (P < 0.001) and clinical pregnancy (P < 0.001) rates were also significantly higher in the study cycles. The study cycles resulted in 29 live births and all 32 babies born were healthy. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that double ionophore application may improve blastocyst formation and clinical pregnancy rates in cases of failed single ionophore treatment, irrespective of whether the ionophore was used to overcome fertilization failure or poor embryo development. Fertilization rate was only increased in cases with a history of fertilization failure. Because single ionophore treatment was used in only one previous cycle it cannot be ruled out that some improvement in clinical outcomes would also have been achieved by using single instead of double ionophore treatment again in the subsequent attempt.

Ionophore application for artificial oocyte activation and its potential effect on morphokinetics: a sibling oocyte study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether ionophore application at the oocyte stage changes the morphokinetics of the associated embryos in cases of artificial oocyte activation. METHODS: In a prospective sibling oocyte approach, 78 ICSI patients with suspected fertilization problems had half of their MII-oocytes treated with a ready-to-use ionophore (calcimycin) immediately following ICSI (study group). Untreated ICSI eggs served as the control group. Primary analyses focused on morphokinetic behavior and the presence of irregular cleavages. The rates of fertilization, utilization, pregnancy, and live birth rate were also evaluated. RESULTS: Ionophore-treated oocytes showed a significantly earlier formation of pronuclei (t2PNa) and a better synchronized third cell cycle (s3) (P < .05). The rate of irregular cleavage was unaffected (P > .05). Ionophore treatment significantly improved the overall rates of fertilization (P < .01) and blastocyst utilization (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Ionophore application does not negatively affect cleavage timing nor is it associated with irregular cleavage.

The Role of Endometrial Volume and Endometrial and Subendometrial Vascularization Parameters in a Frozen Embryo Transfer Cycle.

The role of three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography of the endometrium in assisted reproduction is still far from clear. In this retrospective cohort study, transvaginal three-dimensional power Doppler examinations were performed 30 min before frozen-thawed embryo transfer. After pregnancy tests, two cohorts were established: P (pregnant, n = 31) and NP (nonpregnant, n = 31). The study only included nullipara with no uterine abnormalities who were undergoing infertility treatment at the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Endocrinology, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria. The main outcome measures were the vascularization flow index (VFI), flow index (FI), and vascularization index (VI) in the endometrium/subendometrium, assessed using Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL™), and the endometrial volume. A total of 62 patients were enrolled in the study, forming two cohorts (pregnant, P; nonpregnant, NP). There were no significant differences between the two cohorts with regard to demographic data, numbers of embryos transferred, or embryo grading, but there was a significant difference in endometrial volume (cohort P, 3.17 ± 0.84 mL; cohort NP, 2.36 ± 0.9 mL; P = 0.001) and the pregnancy rate rises with larger volume. No differences were observed in the vascularization parameters FI, VFI, and VI in the endometrium and subendometrium. In the cohort of pregnant patients, there were 26 (41.9%) live births, with 21 term deliveries (80.8%). The endometrial volume was larger in the cohort of pregnant patients. Measurements were performed 30 min before embryo transfer, and no differences were observed in vascularization parameters in the subendometrium and endometrium.

Good-quality blastocysts derived from vacuolized morulas show reduced viability.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether late spontaneous vacuolization on day 4 is an artefact or an alternate means of blastocele formation and to analyze its impact on pregnancy outcome and live birth. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): A total of 424 patients who fulfilled inclusion criteria were subgrouped according to the spontaneous vacuolization on day 4: Group 1 had all morulas affected, group 2 showed no signs of vacuoles, and group 3 was mixed (some day 4 embryos had vacuoles and others did not). INTERVENTION(S): Screening for the presence of vacuoles on day 4 and fresh single-blastocyst transfer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Morula and blastocyst scoring, utilization rate, pregnancy and live birth rates. RESULT(S): Patients of group 1 had a reduced blastocyst formation rate on day 5 (P<.01) and significantly fewer good-quality blastocysts for usage (P<.05). In addition, pregnancy (P<.001) and live birth (P<.01) rate were significantly worse in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSION(S): Late onset of vacuolization around compaction stage is a negative predictor of blastocyst formation and outcome.

Delivery after Operation for Deeply Infiltrating Endometriosis.

Background. It has been suggested that, during pregnancy, endometriosis can cause a variety of disease-related complications. Objectives. The purpose of the study was to find out if women with histologically confirmed endometriosis do have a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcome and if they suffer from a higher rate of complications during labor. Study Design. 51 women who underwent surgery because of deeply infiltrating endometriosis in the General Hospital Linz and the Women's General Hospital Linz and who gave birth in the Women's General Hospital Linz after the surgery were included in our survey. Results. 31 women (60.8%) had a spontaneous delivery and in 20 women (39.2%) a caesarean section was performed. There were no cases of third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations. Collectively there were 4 cases (7.8%) of preterm delivery and one case (2.0%) of premature rupture of membranes. In two women (6.5%) a retained placenta was diagnosed. Conclusions. Our study is the first description on delivery modes after surgery for deeply infiltrating endometriosis. We did not find an elevated risk for perineal or vaginal laceration in women with a history of surgery for deeply infiltrating endometriosis, even when a resection of the rectum or of the posterior vaginal wall had been performed.

Initial clinical experience with a misoprostol vaginal insert in comparison with a dinoprostone insert for inducing labor.

OBJECTIVE: Only one phase III trial has been published to date on the efficacy and safety of misoprostol vaginal inserts for inducing labor. The aim of this study was to compare misoprostol inserts with dinoprostone inserts. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the reduction in time to vaginal delivery and delivery within 24h, in routine clinical work, in 119 labor inductions using a 200-µg misoprostol vaginal insert (Misodel(®); June-October 2014) in comparison with 124 inductions using a 10-mg dinoprostone insert (Propess(®); December 2013-April 2014). RESULTS: Vaginal delivery within 24h occurred in 77.3% (n=92) of the misoprostol cohort and 74.2% (n=92) of the dinoprostone cohort (P=0.654). Time from insert application to vaginal delivery (min) was 761.76 (±409.44, cohort M) versus 805.17 (±473.00, cohort D) (P=0.817). Cesarean delivery was performed in 10.1% (n=12) versus 10.5% (n=13) in the misoprostol and dinoprostone cohorts, respectively (P≥0.999). The modified Bishop scores were 2.0 versus 3.0 (P=0.001), mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.72 versus 23.95 (P=0.033), and fetal scalp blood testing was required in 12.6% (n=15) versus 3.2% (n=4; P=0.008). No differences were observed with regard to the rates of transfer to the neonatal unit or any type of fetal acidosis. CONCLUSIONS: The groups thus had similar results for rates of vaginal delivery within 24h, cesarean delivery and fetal outcomes. The misoprostol group had lower modified Bishop scores, higher BMIs, and a higher rate of fetal scalp blood testing.