Live birth after artificial oocyte activation using a ready-to-use ionophore: a prospective multicentre study.

Artificial oocyte activation has been proposed as a suitable means to overcome the problem of failed or impaired fertilization after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In a multicentre setting artificial oocyte activation was applied to 101 patients who were diagnosed with fertilization abnormalities (e.g. less than 50% fertilized oocytes) in a previous conventional ICSI cycle. Female gametes were activated for 15 min immediately after ICSI using a ready-to-use Ca(2+)-ionophore solution (A23187). Fertilization, pregnancy and live birth rates were compared with the preceding cycle without activation. The fertilization rate of 48% in the study cycles was significantly higher compared with the 25% in the control cycles (P < 0.001). Further splitting of the historical control group into failed (0%), low (1-30%) and moderate fertilization rate (31-50%) showed that all groups significantly benefitted (P < 0.001) in the ionophore cycle. Fewer patients had their embryo transfer cancelled compared with their previous treatments (1/101 versus 15/101). In total, 99% of the patients had an improved outcome with A23187 application resulting in a 28% live birth rate (35 babies). These data suggest that artificial oocyte activation using a ready-to-use compound is an efficient method.

Final ART success rates: a 10 years survey.

BACKGROUND: Cumulative pregnancy rates (CPRs) and live birth rates (CLBRs) are much better indicators of success in IVF programmes than cross-sectional figures per cycle or embryo transfer. They allow a better estimation of patient's chances of having a child and enable comparisons between centres and treatment strategies. METHODS: A 10 year cohort study of patients undergoing their first assisted reproductive technique cycle was conducted. Patients were followed until live birth or discontinuation of treatment. All IVF and ICSI cycles and cryo-cycles with embryos derived from frozen pronuclear stage oocytes were included. The CPR and CLBR were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method for both the number of treatment cycles and transferred embryos. The analysis assumed that couples who did not return for subsequent treatment cycles would have had the same chance of success as those who had continued treatment. RESULTS: A total of 3011 women treated between 1998 and 2007 were included, and 2068 children were born; women already with a live birth re-entered the analysis as a 'new patient'. For 3394 'patients under observation' with 8048 cycles, the CLBR was 52% after 3 cycles (the median number of cycles per patient), 72% after 6 cycles and 85% after 12 cycles. A CLBR of ∼ 50% was achieved for patients aged under 40 years, after the cumulative transfer of six embryos. The mean live birth rate from one fresh cycle and its subsequent cryo-cycle(s) was 33%. Our analysis also shows that ART can reach natural fertility rates but not exceed them. CONCLUSIONS: Most couples with infertility problems can be treated successfully if they continue treatment. Thereby ART can reach natural fertility rates. Even with the restrictions in place as a result of the German Embryo Protection Law, CLBR reach internationally comparable levels.

Relevance of anti-Mullerian hormone measurement in a routine IVF program.

BACKGROUND: Diminished ovarian reserve has become a major cause of infertility. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) seems to be a promising candidate to assess ovarian reserve and predict the response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the relevance of AMH in a routine IVF program. METHODS: Three hundred and sixteen patients were prospectively enrolled to enter their first IVF/ICSI-cycle. Age, FSH-, inhibin B- and AMH-levels and their predictive values for ovarian response and clinical pregnancy rate were compared by discriminant analyses. RESULTS: A total of 132 oocyte retrievals were performed. A calculated cut-off level < or =1.26 ng/ml AMH alone detected poor responders (< or =4 oocytes) with a sensitivity of 97%, and there was a 98% correct prediction of normal response in COH if levels were above this threshold. With levels <0.5 ng/ml, a correct prediction of very poor response (< or =2 oocytes) was possible in 88% of cases. Levels of AMH > or =0.5 ng/ml were not significantly correlated with clinical pregnancy rates. CONCLUSIONS: AMH is a predictor of ovarian response and suitable for screening. Levels < or =1.26 ng/ml are highly predictive of reduced ovarian reserve and should be confirmed by a second line antral follicle count. Measurement of AMH supports clinical decisions, but alone it is not a suitable predictor of IVF success.

Definition and prevalence of subfertility and infertility.

A common definition of sub- and infertility is very important for the appropriate management of infertility. Subfertility generally describes any form of reduced fertility with prolonged time of unwanted non-conception. Infertility may be used synonymously with sterility with only sporadically occurring spontaneous pregnancies. The major factor affecting the individual spontaneous pregnancy prospect is the time of unwanted non-conception which determines the grading of subfertility. Most of the pregnancies occur in the first six cycles with intercourse in the fertile phase (80%). After that, serious subfertility must be assumed in every second couple (10%) although--after 12 unsuccessful cycles--untreated live birth rates among them will reach nearly 55% in the next 36 months. Thereafter (48 months), approximately 5% of the couples are definitive infertile with a nearly zero chance of becoming spontaneously pregnant in the future. With age, cumulative probabilities of conception decline because heterogeneity in fecundity increases due to a higher proportion of infertile couples. In truly fertile couples cumulative probabilities of conception are probably age independent. Under appropriate circumstances a basic infertility work-up after six unsuccessful cycles with fertility-focused intercourse will identify couples with significant infertility problems to avoid both infertility under- and over-treatment, regardless of age: Couples with a reasonably good prognosis (e.g. unexplained infertility) may be encouraged to wait because even with treatment they do not have a better chance of conceiving. The others may benefit from an early resort to assisted reproduction treatment.

[Unusual course of an advanced extra-uterine pregnancy]. / Ungewöhnlicher Verlauf einer fortgeschrittenen Extrauterin-Gravidität.

We report about the course of an advanced ectopic pregnancy in case of uterine leiomyomata, which was diagnosed after surgery. A vaginal bleeding appeared in the first trimester. Vaginal ultrascan was missing in those early time of pregnancy. Finally prenatal diagnosis in a center of perinatal medicine led to a suspicious fetal morphology and gave the indication for medical abortion. The induction of abortion with Gemeprost remained without success. Meanwhile abdominal pain increased and a laparoscopic exploration was carried out and showed a big vital ectopic pregnancy. This indicated laparotomy. This case showed the difficulties in diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy in the second trimester and discusses possibilities of the therapeutic procedures.