Transient azoospermia following rosuvastatin medication for hypercholesterolemia.

The authors report a case of transient azoospermia following hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) inhibitor rosuvastatin medication for hypercholesterolemia. While a primary infertile couple with oligoasthenospermia was preparing for an in vitro fertilization program, the male partner had been diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia in a medical check-up and prescribed four-week oral administration of rosuvastatin. No motile spermatozoa were found in the ejaculated semen and urine on the day of follicular aspiration. Azoospermia was confirmed by reexamination in weeks 3 and 7. Spermatozoa appeared in the ejaculated semen in two weeks of drug withdrawal. In week 16, the sperm count and motility increased to the level where intracytoplasmic sperm injection was available.

Do combined psychological stress examinations predict pregnancy outcome in an assisted reproductive technology program?

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To investigate prospectively if the pregnancy outcome in infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) is predictable by a combination of psychological stress examinations on the day of embryo/blastocyst transfer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2012 to May 2012, 114 women aged 42 years old or less underwent transfer of morphologically-good embryo/blastocyst(s) in the present in vitro fertilization (IVF) center. Immediately before the transfer, salivary secretion was obtained and frozen. α-amylase and cortisol concentrations were quantified using biochemical assays. In addition, patients were asked to answer General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ28) and Zung's Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS) following transfer. The results were compared between the pregnant group and non-pregnant group. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the age of the infertile couples between the pregnant group and non-pregnant group as well as body mass index of the infertile women. The GHQ28 and SDS scores were similar between the two groups, as were the salivary α-amylase and cortisol concentrations. CONCLUSION: This prospective study failed to demonstrate the predictivity of the pregnancy outcome by psychological stress examinations in infertile women in an ART program, even though these tests were used in combination.

A pilot survey on obstetric complications in pregnant women with a history of repeated embryo implantation failure and those undergoing single local endometrial injury.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To assess if a history of repeated implantation failure (RIF) or local endometrial injury (LEI) for RIF affects the pregnancy course in women who conceived in the subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo/blastocyst transfer (ET/BT) cycle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 42 pregnant women with a history of three consecutive failed ET/BT cycles with negative pregnancy tests, 11 patients had a clinical pregnancy in the immediate subsequent ET/BT cycle following (the RIF group), whereas 31 patients had a clinical pregnancy in the subsequent ET/BT cycle following single curettage LEI in the proliferative phase of the preceding spontaneous cycle (the RIF/LEI group). Information on the obstetric complications were retrieved from medical records and compared with that of women who had a live birth in the first ET/BT attempt (the control group). Results: The clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and live birth rate were significantly higher in the RIF/LEI group than in the RIF group (p < 0.010). There were no significant differences in the incidence of pregnancy of unknown location, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, premature rupture of the membranes, placenta previa, placental abruption, preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, caesarean section, and blood transfusion were similar between the three groups (p > 0.31). CONCLUSION: In this pilot survey, neither a history of RIF nor LEI intervention for RIF increased the incidence of obstetric complications in the women who conceived in the subsequent ET/BT cycle.

Diclofenac suppository pretreatment in prevention of vasovagal reflex-associated complications for infertile women undergoing local endometrial injury.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To assess the effects of the diclofenac suppository pretreatment in prevention of vasovagal reflex-associated complications for infertile women undergoing local endometrial injury (LEI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-six infertile outpatients with repeated implantation failure following transfer of morphologically good embryos and/or blastocysts underwent single curettage LEI to improve the pregnancy outcome in the subsequent embryo/blastocyst transfer cycle. Of them, 35 patients chose diclofenac suppository administration prior to LEI, whereas 51 patients did not. The occurrence of palpitations, bradycardia, hypotension, presyncope, and requirement of bed rest was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the demographics between the two groups. The prevalence of presyncope and requirement of bed rest was significantly lower in the diclofenac suppository group than in the control group. The pregnancy outcome was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The diclofenac suppository administration is a low-cost effective method to reduce the risk of the vasovagal reflex-associated complications in infertile women undergoing LEI.

Vaginal preparation with povidone iodine disinfection and saline douching as a safe and effective method in prevention of oocyte pickup-associated pelvic inflammation without spoiling the reproductive outcome: evidence from a large cohort study.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The aim of this study was to investigate if vaginal preparation procedure affects the occurrence of oocyte pickup-associated pelvic inflammation (OPU-PI) and the reproductive outcome in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The occurrence of OPU-PI and the reproductive outcome were compared between 956 infertile patients undergoing vaginal preparation with saline douching alone versus 1,216 infertile patients undergoing a combination ofpovidone iodine disinfection and subsequent saline douching in an IVF program. RESULTS: OPU-PI occurred in four patients (0.042%) in the saline douching alone group, whereas there were no cases in the combination group (p = 0.016). There were no significant differences in the rate of fertilization, morphologically good embryo acquisition, clinical and ongoing pregnancy between the two groups (p > 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: This large cohort study demonstrated that a combination of vaginal povidone iodine disinfection and subsequent saline douching is more effective procedure than saline douching alone to prevent OPU-PI, without spoiling the oocyte quality.

Single curettage endometrial biopsy injury in the proliferative phase improves reproductive outcome of subsequent in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycle in infertile patients with repeated embryo implantation failure.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To evaluate the effectiveness of single curettage endometrial biopsy injury (EBI) in the proliferative phase for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcome of the subsequent cycle in infertile patients with repeated embryo implantation failure (EIF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 89 patients who repeated EIF three times following transfer of morphologically good embryos and/or blastocysts, 40 patients chose curettage EBI prior to the subsequent IVF-ET cycle. Using a three-mm wide curette, EBI was performed once between days 6 and 12 of the spontaneous cycle. Their IVF-ET outcomes in the subsequent cycle were compared with those in 49 patients who did not opt for EBI. RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate (37.5% vs 12.2%), embryo implantation rate (23.6% vs 6.3%), and ongoing pregnancy rate (25.0% vs 8.2%) were significantly higher in the EBI group than in the non-EBI group. No serious complaints and complications were noted. CONCLUSION: Single curettage EBI in the proliferative phase of the preceding cycle significantly improved IVF-ET outcome in infertile patients with repeated EIF.

Neonatal dural arteriovenous fistula at the confluence presenting with paralysis of the orbicularis oris muscle.

A male neonate presented a dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) at the confluence with paralysis of the orbicularis oris muscle. The interesting features in our case were the clinical symptoms (orbicularis oris muscle paralysis at birth), angioarchitecture (high-flow arteriovenous shunts at the confluence) and the size and hemodynamic flow (mid-sized venous pouch) of the fistula. Additionally, the embolization technique (i.e., occipital artery approach, closing shunts with pure glue) automatically resulted in the immediate and complete closure of accessory feeders without any additional treatment, and the midterm clinical outcome was good. We succeeded improving the symptoms of a neonate with a congenital high-flow DAVF by closing a fistula using a small amount of glue.