Translocator protein expression and localization in human endometrium and endometriosis: A potential target for a noninvasive diagnosis?

The limitations of current imaging methods to detect small or superficial endometriotic lesions prompt the search for new molecular targets. TSPO is an 18 KDa protein located in the outer mitochondrial membrane, which can be traced by positron emission tomography (PET) using specific ligands. TSPO is located mostly in neurons and inflammatory sites outside the brain. We hypothesized that it might also be expressed in the human endometrium and endometrial-like tissue, being a target for molecular imaging of endometriosis. This prospective cross-sectional study included 28 women with endometriosis and 11 endometriosis-free controls. Endometriotic lesions (n = 49) and normal peritoneum (n = 13) from endometriosis patients were obtained during laparoscopy, while samples of eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis (n = 28) and from control women (n = 11) were collected in the operating room using a flexible device. TSPO mRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative reverse-transcription real-time PCR while protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody antihuman TSPO. TSPO mRNA expression was detected in an invariable fashion in all tissue types evaluated; however, TSPO protein was found to be more abundant in the glandular epithelium than in the stroma, both in the endometrium and in the endometriotic lesions. Interestingly, hormone therapies did not alter the expression of TSPO, and its presence was mostly negative in tissues adjacent to endometriotic implants. As a proof of concept, the protein expression pattern of TSPO in endometriotic tissue and along the adjacent areas suggests that TSPO-based molecular imaging might be used for noninvasive endometriosis detection.

Control of feeding by a bottom-up midbrain-subthalamic pathway.

Investigative exploration and foraging leading to food consumption have vital importance, but are not well-understood. Since GABAergic inputs to the lateral and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (l/vlPAG) control such behaviors, we dissected the role of vgat-expressing GABAergic l/vlPAG cells in exploration, foraging and hunting. Here, we show that in mice vgat l/vlPAG cells encode approach to food and consumption of both live prey and non-prey foods. The activity of these cells is necessary and sufficient for inducing food-seeking leading to subsequent consumption. Activation of vgat l/vlPAG cells produces exploratory foraging and compulsive eating without altering defensive behaviors. Moreover, l/vlPAG vgat cells are bidirectionally interconnected to several feeding, exploration and investigation nodes, including the zona incerta. Remarkably, the vgat l/vlPAG projection to the zona incerta bidirectionally controls approach towards food leading to consumption. These data indicate the PAG is not only a final downstream target of top-down exploration and foraging-related inputs, but that it also influences these behaviors through a bottom-up pathway.

The role of the visceral adiposity index in the assessment of metabolic syndrome of polycystic ovary syndrome patients: a new anthropometric index.

PURPOSE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder often linked to metabolic syndrome (MS), raising the risk of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Certain indicators, such as the lipid accumulation product (LAP) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), can predict MS in PCOS patients. This study aimed to assess the predictive power of the visceral adiposity index (VAI) in comparison to LAP and HOMA-IR as predictors of MS in PCOS patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, data from 317 diagnosed PCOS women were analyzed. VAI, LAP, and HOMA-IR were computed as indexes. Participants were categorized into two groups for index accuracy comparison: PCOS patients with and without MS. The data were assessed using a ROC curve. RESULTS: Among PCOS women with MS, 92.3% had abnormal VAI results, 94.5% had abnormal LAP results, and only 50.5% had abnormal HOMA-IR results. Conversely, the majority of PCOS women without MS had normal HOMA-IR (64.6%). When comparing these indexes using the ROC curve, VAI displayed the highest accuracy, followed by LAP and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSION: The VAI index proved to be a superior predictor of metabolic MS in PCOS women when compared to other indexes.

Assisted Reproductive Technology in the Presence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Current Evidence and Knowledge Gaps.

OBJECTIVE: In this narrative review, we discuss the current evidence as well as the knowledge gaps concerning assisted reproductive technology (ART) indications, protocols, and results in the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: An electronic literature search was performed for English-language publications in the last decade in databases such as PubMed, Medline, the Web of Sciences, Embase, and Scopus. RESULTS: We found evidence that ovarian steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis are deeply altered by PCOS; however, the oocyte quality and pregnancy rates after ART are not affected. Patients with PCOS are more sensitive to the action of exogenous gonadotropins and more likely to develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. This risk can be mitigated by the adoption of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocols for pituitary blockade and ovarian stimulation, along with frozen embryo transfer, without compromising the odds of achieving a live birth. Pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and very preterm birth, are more frequent in the presence of PCOS, requiring more intense prenatal care. It remains uncertain whether weight reduction or insulin sensitizers used before ART are beneficial for the treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: Although PCOS is not a drawback for ART treatments, the patients need special care to avoid complications. More in-depth studies are needed to uncover the mechanisms of follicular growth, gamete maturation, and endometrial differentiation during ART procedures in the presence of PCOS.

Effects of Ulipristal Acetate on Reactive Oxygen Species and Proinflammatory Cytokine Release by Epithelial and Stromal Cells from Human Endometrium and Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a condition characterized by increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which can be treated with progestins and other progesterone receptor ligands. However, some patients are refractory to this treatment and the reason is uncertain. Here we investigated the effects of the selective progesterone receptor modulator ulipristal acetate (UPA) on proliferation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and proinflammatory cytokine production by endometriotic cells and endometrial cells from women with histologically proven endometriosis (n = 22) and endometriosis-free controls (n = 6). Epithelial and stromal cells were isolated and treated in triplicate for 24 h with 1 µM, 10 µM, or 100 µM UPA. Cells were tested for proliferation and ROS production, while cell supernatants were assayed for interleukin (IL)-6, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations. Proliferation, ROS production, and IL-6 and CCL2 secretion were increased in non-stimulated epithelial and stromal cells from endometriotic lesions compared to endometrial cells from endometriosis patients and controls. UPA induced a dose-dependent increase of cell proliferation only in endometriosis, while enhancing ROS production by all cell types evaluated. UPA reduced CCL2 production in controls but failed to do that in endometriosis, whereas TNF-α was undetectable. We conclude that treatment of endometriotic cells with UPA stimulated in vitro proliferation and ROS production and failed to revert the proinflammatory cytokine excess that characterized these cells, unravelling possible mechanisms of drug resistance in the treatment of endometriosis.

Dietary pattern in women with polycystic ovary syndrome with and without associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have a higher prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) than the general population. PCOS and NAFLD have common metabolic risk factors, however, the role of diet in NAFLD development is still uncertain in PCOS women. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the dietary patterns and nutritional intake in patients with PCOS with and without NAFLD. METHOD: Cross-sectional study that included patients with PCOS diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria. All participants were submitted to abdominal ultrasound to investigate liver steatosis. Dietary profile was assessed by 24-hour food recall (24hR), and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) adapted for the Brazilian population. Physical activity practice was also assessed. RESULTS: 87 participants were included (average age 35.2 ± 5.7 years), among whom, 67 (77%) had NAFLD. The group with PCOS and NAFLD presented higher body mass index (BMI) (34.9 ± 4.5 vs. 30.4 ± 4.9 kg/m2; p = 0.001), Waist Circumference (WC) (103 [97‒113] vs. 95 [87.5‒100] cm; p < 0.001) and were considered physically active less frequently than those without NAFLD (34.3% vs. 60%; p = 0.04). Food intake and dietary patterns assessed by 24hR, FFQ and HEI presented no difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: PCOS women with coexistent NAFLD had higher BMI, WC and were less physically active than those without NAFLD. Dietary evaluation showed that PCOS women with NAFLD had no significant difference in macro and micronutrients or food group intake and diet quality in comparison to those without NAFLD.

Seminal glucose levels: a prognostic factor of sperm survival to cryopreservation?

OBJECTIVE: Considering that glucose is an important component of seminal plasma and is a cryoprotectant at high concentrations, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of glucose levels in fresh semen with the sperm survival and motility rates following cryopreservation. METHODS: This was a prospective study including 149 men undergoing semen analysis due to male and/or female infertility. The seminal samples were analyzed according to the World Health Organization standards and glucose concentrations were measured using a dipstick glucometer. Samples were cryopreserved with Test Yolk Buffer-Gentamicine freezing medium under liquid nitrogen for an average of 120 days. The frozen aliquots were thawed at 37°C for 10 minutes and analyzed using the same methods and protocols used pre-freezing. RESULTS: Glucose levels ranged from 14 to 99 mg/dL and were similar in individuals with normal (n=100) vs. abnormal (n=49) semen analysis. The rates of sperm recovery (total, alive or motile sperm) in the cryopreserved samples did not change among samples with different glucose levels (p>0.05, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Spearman's correlation coefficient). CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be no association between glucose levels in human semen samples and their resistance to cryopreservation.

Metabolomic analysis of follicular fluid from women with Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Hashimoto thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease characterized by hypothyroidism and a high level of anti-thyroid autoantibodies. It has shown to negatively impact female fertility; however, the mechanisms are unclear. Ovarian follicular fluid appears to be the key to understanding how Hashimoto thyroiditis affecst fertility. Thus, we aimed to evaluated the metabolic profile of follicular fluid and antithyroid autoantibody levels in the context of Hashimoto thyroiditis. We collected follicular fluid from 61 patients, namely 38 women with thyroid autoantibody positivity and 23 women as negative controls, undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment. Follicular fluid samples were analyzed using metabolomics, and thyroid autoantibodies were measured. Fifteen metabolites with higher concentrations in the follicular fluid samples from Hashimoto thyroiditis were identified, comprising five possible affected pathways: the glycerophospholipid, arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and sphingolipid metabolism pathways. These pathways are known to regulate ovarian functions. In addition, antithyroglobulin antibody concentrations in both serum and follicular fluid were more than tenfold higher in women with Hashimoto thyroiditis than in controls. Our data showed that the metabolic profile of follicular fluid is altered in women with Hashimoto thyroiditis, suggesting a potential mechanistic explanation for the association of this disease with female infertility.

Characteristics, prevalence and sources of stress in individuals who discontinue assisted reproductive technology treatments: a systematic review.

By considering the reasons behind discontinuing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment, several studies have indicated that 'stress' is an important issue, but the prevalence of stressors and stress responses, either acute or chronic, remains unclear. In this systematic review, we evaluated the characteristics, prevalence and causes of what was perceived and reported as 'stress' by couples who discontinued ART treatment. Electronic databases were systematically searched, and studies were considered eligible if they evaluated stress as a possible reason for ART discontinuation. Twelve studies were included, with 15,264 participants from eight countries. In all studies, 'stress' was assessed through generic questionnaires or medical records, not by validated stress questionnaires or biomarkers. The prevalence of 'stress' ranged from 11-53%. When the results were pooled, 'stress' was cited as a reason for ART discontinuation by 775 out of 2507 participants (30.9%). Clinical factors associated with worse prognosis, physical discomfort due to treatment procedures, family demands, time pressure and economic burden were identified as sources of 'stress' that contributed to ART discontinuation. Precisely knowing the characteristics of the stress associated with infertility is essential to devise preventive or supportive interventions to help patients to cope and endure the treatments. Further studies are necessary to investigate whether the mitigation of stress factors can reduce ART discontinuation rates.

Updates in diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome-related infertility.

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects approximately 13% of reproductive age women and is characterized by androgen excess, menstrual irregularity and altered ovarian morphology. PCOS presents a complex etiology and pathophysiology, which still requires a detailed investigation of biochemical signatures to identify the molecules and mechanisms that govern it. AREAS COVERED: This narrative review summarizes the main molecular alterations found in the ovarian follicular fluid, endometrium and placenta of women with PCOS, and the genotypes potentially associated with the outcome of infertility treatments in PCOS. EXPERT OPINION: PCOS is associated with multiple alterations in growth factors, sex steroid hormones, reactive oxygen species, proinflammatory cytokines and adipokines, which contribute to follicle arrest/ anovulation or suboptimal corpus luteum function, and ultimately to menstrual irregularity and hyperandrogenic symptoms. A panel of PCOS biomarkers should include, besides ovarian products, markers of adipose tissue function, insulin resistance, vascular health, and low-grade chronic inflammation. The effects of ovarian stimulation drugs on infertile women with PCOS are likely to be modified by genetic factors, but the available evidence is heterogeneous; therefore, future studies should evaluate standard treatments and pre-specified outcomes of interest to provide more conclusive answers.

Influence of metformin on hyperandrogenism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

PURPOSE: To summarize the effects of metformin treatment on markers of hyperandrogenism in patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: A systematic review, with meta-analysis, of randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials that evaluated the effects of metformin treatment in adult patients with PCOS on the levels of hyperandrogenism markers was conducted. The literature search, data extraction, risk of bias, and the assessment of certainty of evidence were performed independently by two reviewers using a structured form. The results were combined by applying the random effect, and the effect measure presented as a standardized mean difference (SMD). Significant values were considered as p < 0.05 with 95% CI. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses were performed in order to explore possible heterogeneity between studies. RESULTS: Were included 18 studies in the quantitative evaluation and 17 studies (23 reports) in the quantitative evaluation. A significant reduction in total testosterone levels was seen in the metformin-treated group when compared to the control group after combining the results by the sensitivity analysis [SMD: - 0.46 (95% CI: - 0.89 to - 0.02)]. Therefore, FAI values were also regulated by metformin treatment. CONCLUSION: We showed that metformin proved to be effective in reducing total testosterone levels, and the same was observed for free androgen index (FAI) values-a measure influenced by testosterone levels. The protocol of this study was registered at Prospero (CRD42021235761).

Orchestration of innate and conditioned defensive actions by the periaqueductal gray.

The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) has been recognized for decades as having a central role in the control of a wide variety of defensive responses. Initial discoveries relied primarily on lesions, electrical stimulation and pharmacology. Recent developments in neural activity imaging and in methods to control activity with anatomical and genetic specificity have revealed additional streams of data informing our understanding of PAG function. Here, we discuss both classic and modern studies reporting on how PAG-centered circuits influence innate as well as learned defensive actions in rodents and humans. Though early discoveries emphasized the PAG's role in rapid induction of innate defensive actions, emerging new data indicate a prominent role for the PAG in more complex processes, including representing behavioral states and influencing fear learning and memory. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Fear, Anxiety and PTSD".

Comparison of image-based modified Ferriman-Gallway score evaluation with in-person evaluation: an alternative method for hirsutism diagnosis.

The gold standard for diagnosing hirsutism is based on the modified Ferriman-Gallway (mFG) score, requiring trained and in-person evaluation. Our study aimed to evaluate whether using mobile phone images of the nine mFG areas could offer an alternative way to support the diagnostic of hirsutism. All patients from an endocrine outpatient clinic underwent an initial mFG evaluation by two blinded, trained examiners. Then, images of the nine mFG areas were acquired using a mobile device (48 MP) under standard conditions and artificial illumination. A cutoff mFG score of ≥ 4 (suggested by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) or ≥ 6 (proposed by The Endocrine Society) has been established as the criteria for diagnosing hirsutism. After storage, the individual patients' images were submitted for mFG analysis by three independent, blinded examiners. Overall, 70 females were evaluated; 27.5% of the patients had an mFG score ≥ 4. The mean age ± SEM was 33.2 + 1.13 years. The first consideration was the evaluation of the examiners who analyzed the images. In this group, the inter-rater reliability based on the Fleiss' Kappa identified an agreement of 81.4%, with a Kappa index of 0.75 considered strong for clinical evaluations. For mFG score ≥ 6, the agreement was 77%, and the performance of Kappa Index was 0.62 (moderate). Independently of the cutoffs, the Bland-Altman analysis established a concordance of 0.89 (95% CI [0.83, 0.92]) between the in-person and image-based methods to score mFG. The lower limit of agreement of the estimated mFG scores was - 2.08 (95% CI [- 2.73, - 1.43]), and the upper limit of agreement was 4.14 (95% CI [3.491, 4.79]). We observed acceptable concordance between the image-based and in-person evaluation of mFG scores. Our results support the use of image acquisition of mFG areas as a valid approach for diagnosing hirsutism.

Dietary pattern in women with polycystic ovary syndrome with and without associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have a higher prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) than the general population. PCOS and NAFLD have common metabolic risk factors, however, the role of diet in NAFLD development is still uncertain in PCOS women. Objective To evaluate and compare the dietary patterns and nutritional intake in patients with PCOS with and without NAFLD. Method Cross-sectional study that included patients with PCOS diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria. All participants were submitted to abdominal ultrasound to investigate liver steatosis. Dietary profile was assessed by 24-hour food recall (24hR), and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) adapted for the Brazilian population. Physical activity practice was also assessed. Results 87 participants were included (average age 35.2 ± 5.7 years), among whom, 67 (77%) had NAFLD. The group with PCOS and NAFLD presented higher body mass index (BMI) (34.9 ± 4.5 vs. 30.4 ± 4.9 kg/m2; p = 0.001), Waist Circumference (WC) (103 [97‒113] vs. 95 [87.5‒100] cm; p < 0.001) and were considered physically active less frequently than those without NAFLD (34.3% vs. 60%; p = 0.04). Food intake and dietary patterns assessed by 24hR, FFQ and HEI presented no difference between the groups. Conclusions PCOS women with coexistent NAFLD had higher BMI, WC and were less physically active than those without NAFLD. Dietary evaluation showed that PCOS women with NAFLD had no significant difference in macro and micronutrients or food group intake and diet quality in comparison to those without NAFLD.

Altered Endometrial Expression of α-Inhibin Subunit and Its Co-Receptor Betaglycan in Infertile Women with Endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Inhibins and their co-receptor betaglycan are members of the transforming growth factor ß superfamily, a group of signaling molecules that control the differentiation of human endometrium in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. OBJECTIVE: Since endometriosis is associated with endometrial dysfunction and infertility, this study aimed at evaluating the expression of α-inhibin and betaglycan mRNA and proteins in endometrial samples of infertile women with and without endometriosis. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. Participants/Materials: Endometrial samples of women with (n = 17) and without (n = 22) endometriosis were subdivided according to the menstrual cycle phase into proliferative and secretory. SETTING: University hospital. METHODS: We used real-time RT-PCR to quantify mRNA levels and immunohistochemistry to localize the proteins. RESULTS: α-inhibin mRNA levels were significantly increased in the secretory phase (p < 0.01 vs. proliferative phase) only among women with endometriosis. Conversely, betaglycan mRNA levels were downregulated in the secretory endometrium of controls (p < 0.01 vs. proliferative) but failed to change between cycle phases of patients with endometriosis. Both proteins were present in the glandular epithelium and stroma in the endometrium of women with and without endometriosis. Immunostaining analysis showed that while α-inhibin protein expression did not vary significantly, the intensity of betaglycan immunostaining decreased in the secretory phase in the control group (p = 0.038 vs. proliferative phase) but not in the endometriosis group. LIMITATIONS: We cannot determine whether endometriosis causes the abnormal expression of α-inhibin and betaglycan in the eutopic endometrium or if this alteration already existed before the establishment of endometriotic lesions. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest an abnormally increased expression of α-inhibin mRNA (not protein) and betaglycan (mRNA and protein) in the secretory-phase endometrium of women with endometriosis.

Sparse genetically defined neurons refine the canonical role of periaqueductal gray columnar organization.

During threat exposure, survival depends on defensive reactions. Prior works linked large glutamatergic populations in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) to defensive freezing and flight, and established that the overarching functional organization axis of the PAG is along anatomically-defined columns. Accordingly, broad activation of the dorsolateral column induces flight, while activation of the lateral or ventrolateral (l and vl) columns induces freezing. However, the PAG contains diverse cell types that vary in neurochemistry. How these cell types contribute to defense remains unknown, indicating that targeting sparse, genetically-defined populations may reveal how the PAG generates diverse behaviors. Though prior works showed that broad excitation of the lPAG or vlPAG causes freezing, we found in mice that activation of lateral and ventrolateral PAG (l/vlPAG) cholecystokinin-expressing (CCK) cells selectively caused flight to safer regions within an environment. Furthermore, inhibition of l/vlPAG-CCK cells reduced predator avoidance without altering other defensive behaviors like freezing. Lastly, l/vlPAG-CCK activity decreased when approaching threat and increased during movement to safer locations. These results suggest CCK cells drive threat avoidance states, which are epochs during which mice increase distance from threat and perform evasive escape. Conversely, l/vlPAG pan-neuronal activation promoted freezing, and these cells were activated near threat. Thus, CCK l/vlPAG cells have opposing function and neural activation motifs compared to the broader local ensemble defined solely by columnar boundaries. In addition to the anatomical columnar architecture of the PAG, the molecular identity of PAG cells may confer an additional axis of functional organization, revealing unexplored functional heterogeneity.

GABAergic CA1 neurons are more stable following context changes than glutamatergic cells.

The CA1 region of the hippocampus contains both glutamatergic pyramidal cells and GABAergic interneurons. Numerous reports have characterized glutamatergic CAMK2A cell activity, showing how these cells respond to environmental changes such as local cue rotation and context re-sizing. Additionally, the long-term stability of spatial encoding and turnover of these cells across days is also well-characterized. In contrast, these classic hippocampal experiments have never been conducted with CA1 GABAergic cells. Here, we use chronic calcium imaging of male and female mice to compare the neural activity of VGAT and CAMK2A cells during exploration of unaltered environments and also during exposure to contexts before and after rotating and changing the length of the context across multiple recording days. Intriguingly, compared to CAMK2A cells, VGAT cells showed decreased remapping induced by environmental changes, such as context rotations and contextual length resizing. However, GABAergic neurons were also less likely than glutamatergic neurons to remain active and exhibit consistent place coding across recording days. Interestingly, despite showing significant spatial remapping across days, GABAergic cells had stable speed encoding between days. Thus, compared to glutamatergic cells, spatial encoding of GABAergic cells is more stable during within-session environmental perturbations, but is less stable across days. These insights may be crucial in accurately modeling the features and constraints of hippocampal dynamics in spatial coding.

Predicting in vitro fertilization success in the Brazilian public health system: a machine learning approach.

Infertility has become a global health problem, increasing the number of couples looking for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Despite advances and technical improvements, some couples remain childless due to the high complexity of the technique. The use of machine learning (ML) in the prediction of pregnancy, computing factors that could interfere in the effectiveness of the treatment, is an important tool to optimize these factors and reach the success of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to apply ML models to determine variables related to pregnancy after IVF in a public health service, including pre-implantation variables. This study included 771 women who underwent IVF treatment at Hospital das Clínicas, Federal University of Minas Gerais, between 2013 and 2019. We used the following Machine Learning algorithms: Logistic Regression, Random Forest, XG Boost and Support Vector Machines. The Random Forest algorithm achieved the best performance, with better accuracy, sensitivity and area under the ROC curve to predict the success of IVF evaluated by pregnancy frequency. We also trained a specific model only for women older than 35 years old. Variables in the Random Forest model related to pregnancy after in vitro fertilization.