Endometriosis III and IV as a risk factor for tubal obstruction in infertile women.

OBJECTIVE: A previous study carried out among infertile women with tubal obstruction identified a relative risk of 2.5 for Chlamydia trachomatis seropositivity. However, endometriosis may also be associated with increased risk. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of tubal obstruction associated with endometriosis III/IV among women submitted to assisted reproductive procedures. METHODS: A case-control study was performed among 144 women with and without tubal obstruction. We calculated the odds ratio with 95% CI regarding the association of endometriosis III/IV and tubal obstruction. Calculations were performed using the SPSS v.17.0 package. RESULTS: The mean age was 33.7 years (4.76 SD), and the mean infertility duration time was 66.7 months (120.6 SD). The total prevalence of endometriosis was 20/144 (13%). Among 144 women, the risk group with tubal obstruction and endometriosis III/IV comprised 7out of 20 (35%), compared with the group without such risk, that comprised 22 out of 124 (17%). The X2 test was 3.19 with a p-value of 0.07. The odds ratio (OR) was 2.5 (95% CI: 0.647-9.639). CONCLUSION: Although the OR was 2.5, there was no significant difference between the groups with and without endometriosis III/IV. Further studies are needed to increase the sample size.

Use of recombinant luteinizing hormone for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in infertile patients.

Controlled ovarian stimulation has become an integral part of a high complexity infertility treatment. Treatment options with recombinant gonadotrophins add more to knowledge on folliculogenesis and ovarian steroidogenesis. Therefore, a literature search was conducted in the following data bases: Medline, Scielo and PubMed. The descriptors/ key words used were ovarian stimulation, in vitro fertilization, recombinant luteinizing hormone, supplementation LH. The aim of this study was to review the available literature and to assess the benefits of using recombinant luteinizing hormone associated with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone in different populations who have undergone assisted reproduction procedures.

Music therapy in stress: proposal of extension to Assisted Reproduction.

Infertility is recognized as a disease of several causes by the World Health Organization. Assisted reproduction has a historic of progress since the development of biotechnology. Women who need this treatment are under stress and emotional tension. Since the 1980´s, professionals have been worried with psychological aspects of the patient that undergoes the Assisted Reproduction treatment. Studies about music therapy show positive results in diminishing/reducing patients' emotional stress in many specialties. However, there were not studies showing scientific results of this therapeutic approach. There were, though, works in correlated areas, such as Gynecology and Obstetrics. Therefore, a literature review was conducted in the following data bases: PubMed, Lilacs, Medline and Scielo in studies published between 2004 and January 2014. The descriptors/key words used were music therapy and stress; music therapy and infertility; music therapy and assisted reproduction; music therapy and gynecology and obstetrics. The therms were searched both in Portuguese and English. Therefore, this study aims to analyze what is discussed in literature about music therapy and stress in the context of health. The study will be a base for further research in the post-graduation program about the use of music therapy on emotional stress experienced by women during assisted reproduction. Articles about correlated themes, such as gynecology and obstetrics, were also considered, trying to relate them to assisted reproduction.