Full-term live birth in a woman with 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase deficiency with assisted reproductive technology: a case report.

BACKGROUND: 17α-hydroxylase deficiency, which is caused by a CYP17A1 gene mutation, is a rare type of congenital adrenocortical hyperplasia that mainly manifests as hypertension, hypokalaemia and sexual dysplasia. To date, few pregnancies associated with this syndrome have been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 35-year-old Chinese woman with nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH) due to 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency who achieved pregnancy after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and frozen-thawed embryo transfer. She had secondary amenorrhea since she was 27, and subsequently, high level of progesterone in the follicular phase was found during a blood test. A compound heterozygous mutation was found in the CYP17A1 gene, c.1263G > A and c.985_987delinsAA. The patient was given standardized treatment with dexamethasone. Due to ovulation disorder, IVF was performed. She underwent whole embryo vitrification freezing. Frozen-thawed embryo transplantation was performed following the artificial cycle protocol of endometrium preparation, resulting in a singleton pregnancy. At 39 weeks and 1 day of gestation, caesarean section was performed due to the breech position of the foetus. CONCLUSION: A high level of progesterone reduces endometrial receptivity. Standardized treatment with dexamethasone and frozen-thawed embryo transfer with an artificial cycle protocol of endometrium preparation should be the choice for infertile female patients with CYP17A1 deficiency.

A premature luteinizing hormone surge without elevated progesterone levels has no adverse effect on cumulative live birth rate in patient undergoing a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: A premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge refers to an endogenous LH peak that occurs before follicle maturation or human chorionic gonadotropin injection in the process of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. The effect of premature LH surge on pregnancy outcomes in fresh embryo transfer cycles is still controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a premature LH surge without elevated progesterone levels on the cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) of patients during a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol. METHODS: A total of 730 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI were recruited for this retrospective study. Only women who either delivered a live infant or had no remaining frozen embryos after a single stimulation cycle were included in the analysis. During the study period, each patient underwent a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol. Women were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a premature LH surge. The primary outcome measures were the CPR and CLBR per ovarian stimulation cycle. The secondary outcome measures were the number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, good-quality embryo rate, and clinical pregnancy rate. RESULTS: Ninety-one women (12.47%) experienced a premature LH surge without elevated progesterone levels, and the other 639 (87.53%) women were assigned to the control group. The numbers of oocytes retrieved and fertilization rate were significantly greater in the premature LH surge group than in the control group. There was no significant difference between groups in the good-quality embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate or live birth rate in the fresh embryo transfer cycle. The primary outcome measures, the CPR and CLBR per ovarian stimulation cycle, were not significantly different between the premature LH surge group and the control group. According to the analysis stratified by ovarian response (normal or high), there were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between the groups with and without a premature LH surge. CONCLUSIONS: The retrospective study demonstrated that the patients experiencing a transient premature LH surge without progesterone elevation had equivalent pregnancy outcomes with those without a premature LH surge on a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol. The present conclusions need to be further validated in a prospective well-designed large-scale study.

Comparison of the predictive value of progesterone-related indicators for pregnancy outcomes of women undergoing the short-acting GnRH agonist long protocol: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: There are many progesterone (P) elevation-related indicators for predicting pregnancy outcomes, including the serum P, P-to-oestradiol ratio (P/E2), P-to-follicle index (PFI), and P-to-mature oocyte index (PMOI); however, due to inconsistencies in study populations and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocols among studies, these indicators are controversial. Moreover, no researchers have included these four commonly used indicators in one study to compare their predictive efficacies. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive value of P-related indicators for pregnancy outcomes of women undergoing the short-acting GnRH agonist long protocol. METHODS: A total of 612 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI were recruited for this study. Serum samples were obtained on the morning of HCG injection for serum P and E2 measurements. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed to determine the follicle count (≥ 14 mm in diameter). The number of mature oocytes was observed in the embryo laboratory after oocyte retrieval. RESULTS: In cases of P < 2.5 ng/ml, there was no significant difference in the serum P level or P/E2 between the pregnant group and the non-pregnant group. The PFI and PMOI of the pregnant group were significantly lower than those of the non-pregnant group. According to the stratified analysis of the ovarian response, only the PMI and PMOI of the pregnant women in the normal ovarian response group were lower than those of the non-pregnant women. To compare the predictive value of the PFI and PMOI in IVF/ICSI outcomes, the patients were divided into four groups. The good-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate were highest in Group A (low PFI and low PMOI) and lowest in Group D (high PFI and high PMOI). In the two groups with discordant PFI and PMOI, namely Group B (low PFI and high PMOI) and Group C (high PFI and low PMOI), the good-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The PFI and PMOI had equal value in predicting clinical pregnancy outcomes in the normal ovarian response group undergoing the short-acting GnRH agonist long protocol. Each clinical centre can choose one of the indicators according to their actual situation in clinical practice and establish individual cut-off values for PFI and PMOI based on their own hormonal measurements.

Discordance between antral follicle counts and anti-Müllerian hormone levels in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

BACKGROUND: In general, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is positively associated with antral follicle count (AFC). However, there is often discordance between the AMH level and AFC in clinical practice. In cases of discordance, which indicator should be chosen to predict ovarian response and subsequently develop an ovulation induction protocol? The objective of this study was to investigate which indicator was more accurate in predicting ovarian response and pregnancy outcomes when the AMH level and AFC were discordant. METHODS: A total of 1121 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI were recruited in this study. During the study period, patients were subjected to individualized controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocols according to specific characteristics. The AMH levels and AFCs were measured on days 2-3 of the menstrual cycle. Serum samples were obtained to determine AMH levels. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed to determine the AFC. All patients were divided into four groups: Group A had AFCs and AMH levels in the normal range; Group B had normal AFCs and low AMH levels; Group C had low AFCs and normal AMH levels; and Group D had low AFCs and AMH levels. RESULTS: Two hundred three women (18.11%) showed discordant AFCs and AMH levels. In the two groups with discordant AFCs and AMH levels, namely, Group B and Group C, the oocyte yield, good-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate were significantly higher in Group B than in Group C. The incidence of poor ovarian response (POR) was significantly lower in Group B than in Group C. According to the stratified analysis of age, for the three categories above the age of 30, oocyte yield was higher in Group B than in Group C. In all age categories, the clinical pregnancy rate was higher in Group B than in Group C. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that approximately one in five patients in clinical practice showed discordance between AFCs and AMH levels. In view of the AFC being better than AMH for predicting POR, the AFC should be the preferred indicator for predicting ovarian response to subsequently develop an optimal individualized COH protocol.

[Cervical cancer associated with pregnancy: 2 cases report].

Cervical cancer is the first malignant disease of the women all over the world. Although the incidence of cervical cancer has been decreasing due to increased availability of screening tests, the diagnosis, management and prognosis of pregnancy associated with cervical cancer are still complex problems for clinical doctors. Here we report two cases of pregnancy associated with cervical cancer in our hospital and analyze the screening tests, the management, the neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the prognosis of the cases. Besides, we also review some literature and conclude by relating with our case reports that: cervical cytological test is significant for the prenatal examination and doing the test can obviously decrease the incidence of cervical cancer for pregnant women; In the clinical process, the doctors should take the social, ethical, medical condition etc. into account in the management for each trimester at presentation; The neoadjuvant chemotherapy has become a blessing for the pregnant women associated with cervical cancer and there is no bad result reported in the literature; The main factor influencing prognosis of pregnancy associated with cervical cancer is in the tumor stage.