Neonatal outcomes for women at risk of preterm delivery given half dose versus full dose of antenatal betamethasone: a randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal betamethasone is recommended before preterm delivery to accelerate fetal lung maturation. However, reports of growth and neurodevelopmental dose-related side-effects suggest that the current dose (12 mg plus 12 mg, 24 h apart) might be too high. We therefore investigated whether a half dose would be non-inferior to the current full dose for preventing respiratory distress syndrome. METHODS: We designed a randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial in 37 level 3 referral perinatal centres in France. Eligible participants were pregnant women aged 18 years or older with a singleton fetus at risk of preterm delivery and already treated with the first injection of antenatal betamethasone (11·4 mg) before 32 weeks' gestation. We used a computer-generated code producing permuted blocks of varying sizes to randomly assign (1:1) women to receive either a placebo (half-dose group) or a second 11·4 mg betamethasone injection (full-dose group) 24 h later. Randomisation was stratified by gestational age (before or after 28 weeks). Participants, clinicians, and study staff were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was the need for exogenous intratracheal surfactant within 48 h after birth. Non-inferiority would be shown if the higher limit of the 95% CI for the between-group difference between the half-dose and full-dose groups in the primary endpoint was less than 4 percentage points (corresponding to a maximum relative risk of 1·20). Four interim analyses monitoring the primary and the secondary safety outcomes were done during the study period, using a sequential data analysis method that provided futility and non-inferiority stopping rules and checked for type I and II errors. Interim analyses were done in the intention-to-treat population. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02897076. FINDINGS: Between Jan 2, 2017, and Oct 9, 2019, 3244 women were randomly assigned to the half-dose (n=1620 [49·9%]) or the full-dose group (n=1624 [50·1%]); 48 women withdrew consent, 30 fetuses were stillborn, 16 neonates were lost to follow-up, and 9 neonates died before evaluation, so that 3141 neonates remained for analysis. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the primary outcome occurred in 313 (20·0%) of 1567 neonates in the half-dose group and 276 (17·5%) of 1574 neonates in the full-dose group (risk difference 2·4%, 95% CI -0·3 to 5·2); thus non-inferiority was not shown. The per-protocol analysis also did not show non-inferiority (risk difference 2·2%, 95% CI -0·6 to 5·1). No between-group differences appeared in the rates of neonatal death, grade 3-4 intraventricular haemorrhage, stage ≥2 necrotising enterocolitis, severe retinopathy of prematurity, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. INTERPRETATION: Because non-inferiority of the half-dose compared with the full-dose regimen was not shown, our results do not support practice changes towards antenatal betamethasone dose reduction. FUNDING: French Ministry of Health.

Neurodevelopment at 5 years of age for preterm-born children according to mode of conception: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Preterm delivery is a risk factor for suboptimal neurodevelopment. Pregnancies conceived after medically assisted reproduction-which includes in vitro fertilization, with or without intracytoplasmic insemination, and induction of ovulation followed by intrauterine insemination or timed intercourse-have a higher risk of preterm delivery. Few studies have evaluated the outcome at >2 years of age of such preterm-born children. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate neurodevelopmental outcome at 5½ years of age of children born preterm according to the mode of conception (spontaneous vs medically assisted reproduction). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 4349 children born between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation who survived to 5½ years of age in the 2011 French prospective national cohort study "EPIPAGE-2" were included: 814 in the medically assisted reproduction group (433 by in vitro fertilization, with or without intracytoplasmic insemination, and 381 by induction of ovulation) and 3535 in the spontaneously conceived group. The studied neurodevelopmental outcomes were sensory (hearing and vision) impairments, cerebral palsy, cognition, and developmental coordination disorders. Multivariate analyses were performed with generalized estimating equation models adjusted for gestational age, antenatal steroids, and social characteristics. All analyses were performed following multiple imputation. Sensitivity analyses were performed with the populations of singletons and cases with complete data. RESULTS: No differences in cerebral palsy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-1.49), neurodevelopmental impairment (adjusted odds ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.45), or developmental coordination disorders (adjusted odds ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-1.12) were found between children born following medically assisted reproduction and children born following spontaneous conception after adjustment for sociodemographic factors. For proportions of children with an intelligence quotient below 1 and 2 standard deviations, there were no differences between those born after medically assisted reproduction and those born after spontaneous pregnancy (respectively, adjusted odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-1.23 and adjusted odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.56). In subgroup analyses, no differences were observed between children born following induction of ovulation or in vitro fertilization and those conceived spontaneously. Sensitivity analyses were consistent with the main results. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of preterm-born children, there was no evidence of an impact of the mode of conception on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5½ years of age.

Efficacy of In Situ Methotrexate Injection in the Treatment of Nontubal Ectopic Pregnancies: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the efficacy of different injection sites of methotrexate in the treatment of nontubal ectopic pregnancies. DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter study. SETTING: Multicenter, including 3 teaching hospitals, an intercommunal hospital, and a clinic. PATIENTS: A total of 106 patients with nontubal ectopic pregnancies, including 59 interstitial, 39 cesarean scar, and 8 cervical or isthmic. INTERVENTIONS: Overall, 58 patients received methotrexate via intramuscular injection (IM group), 35 received methotrexate via in situ injection (IS group), and 13 received a combination of both in situ and intramuscular injections of methotrexate (IS + IM group). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The main end point of this study was measured via the primary success rate (defined as a negative ß-human chorionic gonadotropin level without recourse to any additional treatment) of treatment with methotrexate according to injection site. The primary success rate was 46.55% in the IM group, 60% in the IS group, and 61.54% in the IS + IM group, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the primary success rate of treatment was significantly correlated to the in situ injection of methotrexate, either solely or in conjunction with an intramuscular injection of methotrexate administered the following day, (odds ratio = 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-7.14). CONCLUSION: Solely an intramuscular injection of methotrexate is a less efficient first-line treatment strategy for the conservative management of nontubular ectopic pregnancy. The use of an in situ injection of methotrexate should therefore be preferred.

Benefits of an oocyte pickup simulation training program using a high-fidelity simulator (PickUpSimTM) for obstetrics and gynaecology residents: an observational survey study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate an oocyte pick-up (OPU) simulation training program for residents using the high fidelity PickUpSimTM (Accurate, Cesena, Italy) simulator. The authors carried out an observational study during an OPU simulation workshop. A successful scenario was defined as an oocyte retrieval rate ≥70% without any complications. Forty-six residents affiliated to 23 different French university hospitals were included, and 37/46 (80.4%) of them successfully completed the scenario with a mean time of 3.4 ± 1.1 minutes. The oocyte retrieval rate was 442/561 (78.8%). All residents found training beneficial and 41/46 (87%) were in favour of having simulation-based training programs for OPU in their reproductive medicine departments. All residents who had previous experience with OPU (11/11) recommended the use of a simulator before performing OPU. This study confirms that high-fidelity OPU simulation is a simple and efficient method for training residents.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Simulator-based training has been shown to be effective and useful for oocyte pick-up (OPU) training.What the results of this study add? All residents found the simulation program beneficial and formative, with 80% successfully completing their scenarios in a mean time of 3.4 ± 1.1 minutes. All residents who had previous experience with OPU recommended the use of a simulator before performing OPU.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Prospective studies are needed to confirm the short- and long-term positive clinical impact of OPU simulation training programs.

Impact of mode of conception on neonatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.

STUDY QUESTION: Is assisted conception associated with neonatal morbidity and mortality and with neurodevelopmental impairment at 2 years of corrected age in preterm infants born before 34 weeks of gestational age? SUMMARY ANSWER: Assisted conception is not associated with an increase in neonatal morbidity and mortality and is even significantly associated with a better 2-year neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Assisted conception appears to increase the rate of preterm births, though few studies have analysed outcomes for these preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This prospective observational study included 703 preterm infants born between January 2009 and December 2013 and 573 of them were assessed at 2 years of corrected age. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: All infants born alive between 24+0 and 33+6 weeks of gestational age and hospitalised at the Angers University Hospital were eligible as long as the mode of conception was known for neonatal outcome assessment. They were enroled in the Loire Infant Follow-up Team (LIFT) prospective longitudinal cohort and included for neurodevelopmental outcome assessment. Neonatal morbidity and mortality were evaluated during hospitalisation based on a composite score including death, intraventricular haemorrhage Grade ≥3, periventricular leukomalacia, treated patent ductus arteriosus and bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks of gestational age. The neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of corrected age was determined by a physical examination, a neuropsychological test and a parental questionnaire. In order to ensure comparability, infants were matched 1:1 according to maternal age, twin status and propensity score,calculated from variables usually associated (positively or negatively) with assisted conception, including gestational age, z-score of birth weight, antenatal corticosteroids and magnesium sulphate treatments, gender, parity, maternal body mass index, tobacco consumption, outborn delivery (i.e. not at a tertiary-care medical centre) and maternal socio-economic status. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: There were 703 preterm infants included in the analysis of neonatal morbidity and mortality, including 137 born after assisted conception. After matching, 184 preterm infants were included for neonatal morbidity and mortality analysis. There was no significant association between assisted conception and neonatal morbidity and mortality (aOR 0.67, 95% CI [0.25, 1.77], P = 0.422). 573 infants were assessed at 2 years, including 121 born after assisted conception. After matching, 154 preterm infants were included for neurodevelopmental outcome analysis. Assisted conception was significantly associated with a reduction in the probability of non-optimal neurological development at 2 years (aOR 0.26, 95% CI [0.09, 0.80], P = 0.019). LIMITATION, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Further studies remain necessary to fully confirm these results. This was a monocentric study and 14% of enroled infants were lost to follow up at 2 years of corrected age. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: These findings are relevant for providing appropriate information to parents considering assisted conception, and more importantly for those with a preterm infant following a pregnancy achieved by assisted conception. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): The authors report external funding and no conflicts of interest for this work. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Metabolomics shows no impairment of the microenvironment of the cumulus-oocyte complex in women with isolated endometriosis.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Is there any metabolomic evidence of impairment of the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) microenvironment in the follicular fluid of women with endometriosis? DESIGN: A prospective observational study from January to July 2018 at the Angers University Hospital, France. Seventy-nine women undergoing IVF with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were included: 39 for endometriosis-related infertility and 40 controls with other causes of infertility. A targeted quantitative metabolomic and lipidomic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Patient characteristics (age, body mass index, smoking status, hormonal profile and ovarian reserve markers) were comparable between the endometriosis and the control groups. There was no significant difference in the cumulative FSH dose used for stimulation between the endometriosis and the control groups (2732 versus 2257 IU, respectively). There were no differences in the oocyte maturity rates (72.2% versus 77.7%), or in the fertilization rates in IVF and ICSI (49.4% versus 50.2% and 76.4% versus 68.8%, respectively) between the endometriosis and control groups. Among the 188 metabolites analysed, 150 were accurately measured. Univariate analysis did not reveal any significant modification of metabolite concentrations, and none of the multivariate models discriminated between the two groups of patients, even when the study was restricted to the most severe form of endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: No specific metabolomic signature of endometriosis was found in the follicular fluid of women undergoing IVF. These results suggest that there is no microenvironmental impairment of the COC in cases of isolated endometriosis among women with infertility.

Surgical treatment of postpartum haemorrhage: national survey of French residents of obstetrics and gynecology.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of maternal morbidity and one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. Many medical treatments and interventions are available nowadays, but surgical treatment is sometimes required when less invasive methods are unsuccessful. This study aimed to assess the theoretical and practical knowledge of French residents of Obstetrics and Gynecology concerning the surgical treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a questionnaire study for senior residents of Obstetrics and Gynecology in France (fourth and fifth year of training). An anonymous survey was sent by email. Between December 2013 and April 2014, a total of 370 residents responded. RESULT: The response rate was 47.6% (176/370). Only 156 questionnaires were fully completed and included for analysis. In all, 74% (115/156) of residents reported not mastering sufficiently or at all the technique for bilateral ligation of uterine arteries, 79% (123/156) for uterine compression sutures, 95% (148/156) for ligation of the internal iliac arteries, and 78% (122/156) for emergency peripartum hysterectomy. More than half of respondents (55%, 86/156) stated that they had not mastered any of these techniques. CONCLUSION: An alarmingly high number of French senior residents in Obstetrics and Gynecology report that they have not acquired the sufficient surgical skills during their training to be able to perform the surgeries required for the management of PPH.

Timing therapeutic donor inseminations in natural cycles: human chorionic gonadotrophin administration versus urinary LH monitoring.

This cohort study assessed whether timing therapeutic donor sperm inseminations (TDI) in natural cycles (NC) using ultrasound monitoring and ovulation trigger with human chorionic gonadotrophin (US/HCG) improves cumulative live birth rates (LBR) compared with detection of LH surge with urinary kits (u-LH). It included 232 normo-ovulatory women aged ≤40 years, undergoing 538 TDI in NC between 2011 and 2014. In the u-LH group (113 women, 267 cycles), TDI was performed the day following a positive test. In the US/HCG group (119 women, 271 cycles), ovulation was triggered with HCG when a follicle ≥17 mm was noted, and TDI performed 36 h later. The first three cycles were analysed per patient. Groups were comparable for baseline characteristics. Cumulative LBR were comparable between u-LH and US/HCG groups (31.47% versus 23.11%, respectively) (log-rank test). A generalized estimating equation analysis was performed to compare outcomes per cycle. The LBR per started cycle was comparable between the u-LH and US/HCG groups (12.4% versus 9.2%, respectively). Cancellation rate was significantly higher with u-LH (19.1% versus 11.4%, P = 0.011), but did not impact overall outcomes. In conclusion, urinary LH monitoring is as effective as ultrasound monitoring and ovulation trigger with HCG in TDI performed in NC.

Clomiphene Citrate versus Letrozole for Ovarian Stimulation in Therapeutic Donor Sperm Insemination.

AIM: To compare clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole for ovarian stimulation (OS) in therapeutic donor sperm insemination (TDI) cycles. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study between January 2011 and June 2014 at a University-affiliated private IVF clinic in Montreal, Canada. 257 normo-ovulatory women ≤40 years of age with no history of infertility undergoing 590 TDI cycles in the absence of a male partner (single women and same-sex couples) or azoospermia were included. Patients received 100 mg CC daily (145 women, 321 cycles) or letrozole 5 mg daily (112 women, 269 cycles), from days 3 to 7. Only the first 3 cycles were included per patient. Our main outcome measure was cumulative live birth rates (LBR). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. There were no differences in LBR per cycle (16.5% (53/321) vs. 11.5% (31/269), p = 0.08) and cumulative LBR (36.6% (53/145) vs. 27.7% (31/112), p = 0.13), between CC and letrozole, respectively. Multiple pregnancy rate (11.6% (8/69) vs. 8.7% (4/46), p = 0.6) and miscarriage rate (21.7 vs. 21.7%, p = 1) were also comparable between CC and letrozole, respectively. CONCLUSION: In normo-ovulatory women undergoing TDI, OS with CC or letrozole resulted in similar live birth and twin pregnancy rates.

Fertility and Pregnancy in Turner Syndrome.

Turner syndrome (TS) occurs in one in 2500 live female births and is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities in women. Pregnancies in women with TS, conceived with either autologous or donated oocytes, are considered high risk because of the associated miscarriages and life-threatening cardiovascular complications (aortic dissection, severe hypertension). Therefore, it is imperative to conduct a full preconception evaluation and counselling that includes cardiac assessment with Holter blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography, and thoracic MRI. Abnormal findings, such an aortic dilatation, mandate close monitoring throughout the pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period and could possibly contraindicate pregnancy. When in vitro fertilization using donated oocytes is performed in these women, only a single embryo should be transferred. Women with a Turner mosaic karyotype appear to have a lower risk of obstetrical and cardiovascular complications but should nevertheless undergo the full preconception evaluation. In this article, we offer guidelines on the management of women with TS in the preconception period, during pregnancy, and postpartum.

Maternal outcomes after uterine balloon tamponade for postpartum hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal outcomes following uterine balloon tamponade in the management of postpartum hemorrhage. DESIGN: Retrospective case-series. SETTING: Two French hospitals, a level 3 university referral center and a level 2 private hospital. POPULATION: All women who underwent balloon tamponade treatment for primary postpartum hemorrhage. METHODS: Uterine tamponade was used after standard treatment of postpartum hemorrhage had failed. The study population was divided into two groups, successful cases where the bleeding stopped after the balloon tamponade, and failures requiring subsequent surgery or embolization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Success rates. RESULTS: Uterine tamponade was used in 49 women: 30 (61%) after vaginal delivery and 19 (39%) after cesarean section. Uterine atony was the main cause of hemorrhage (86%). The overall success rate was 65%. Of 17 failures, surgery was required in 16 cases, including hysterectomy in 11, and uterine artery embolization in one case. Demographic and obstetric characteristics did not differ significantly between the success and failure groups. No complications were directly attributed to the balloon tamponade in the postpartum period. Two women had a subsequent full-term pregnancy without recurrence of postpartum hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon tamponade is an effective, safe and readily available method for treating primary postpartum hemorrhage and could reduce the need for invasive procedures.

Comparison of two cancellation strategies to lower the risk of multiple pregnancies in gonadotropin stimulated intrauterine insemination cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two cancellation policies in controlled ovarian stimulation-intrauterine insemination (COS-IUI) cycles to lower the risk of multiple pregnancies (MP). DESIGN: We performed a bicentric retrospective cohort study in two academic medical centers: Angers (group A) and Besançon (group B) University Hospitals. We included 7056 COS-IUI cycles between 2011 and 2019. In group A, cancellation strategy was based on an algorithm taking into account the woman's age, the serum estradiol level, and the number of follicles of 14 mm or greater on ovulation trigger day. In group B, cancellation strategy was case-by-case and physician-dependent, based on the woman's age, number of follicles of 15 mm or greater, and the previous number of failed COS-IUI cycles, without any predefined cut-off. Our main outcome measures were the MP rate (MPR) and the live-birth rate (LBR). RESULTS: We included 884 clinical pregnancies (790 singletons, 86 twins, and 8 triplets) obtained from 6582 COS-IUI cycles. MPR was significantly lower in group A compared with group B (8.1% vs 13.3%, P = 0.01), but LBR were comparable (10.8% vs 11.8%, P = 0.19). Multivariate logistic regression found the following to be risk factors for MP: the "cancellation strategy" effect (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.60) and the number of follicles of 14 mm or greater (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.16-1.66). Cycle cancellation rate for excessive response was significantly lower in group A compared with group B (1.3% vs 2.4%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of an algorithm based on the woman's age, serum estradiol level and number of follicles of at least 14 mm on trigger day allows the MPR to be reduced without impacting the LBR.

[First-line management of infertile couple. Guidelines for clinical practice of the French College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2022]. / Prise en charge de première intention du couple infertile : mise à jour des RPC 2010 du CNGOF.

OBJECTIVE: To update the 2010 CNGOF clinical practice guidelines for the first-line management of infertile couples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five major themes (first-line assessment of the infertile woman, first-line assessment of the infertile man, prevention of exposure to environmental factors, initial management using ovulation induction regimens, first-line reproductive surgery) were identified, enabling 28 questions to be formulated using the Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) format. Each question was addressed by a working group that had carried out a systematic review of the literature since 2010, and followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE®) methodology to assess the quality of the scientific data on which the recommendations were based. These recommendations were then validated during a national review by 40 national experts. RESULTS: The fertility work-up is recommended to be prescribed according to the woman's age: after one year of infertility before the age of 35 and after 6months after the age of 35. A couple's initial infertility work-up includes a single 3D ultrasound scan with antral follicle count, assessment of tubal permeability by hysterography or HyFOSy, anti-Mullerian hormone assay prior to assisted reproduction, and vaginal swabbing for vaginosis. If the 3D ultrasound is normal, hysterosonography and diagnostic hysteroscopy are not recommended as first-line procedures. Chlamydia trachomatis serology does not have the necessary performance to predict tubal patency. Post-coital testing is no longer recommended. In men, spermogram, spermocytogram and spermoculture are recommended as first-line tests. If the spermogram is normal, it is not recommended to check the spermogram. If the spermogram is abnormal, an examination by an andrologist, an ultrasound scan of the testicles and hormonal test are recommended. Based on the data in the literature, we are unable to recommend a BMI threshold for women that would contraindicate medical management of infertility. A well-balanced Mediterranean-style diet, physical activity and the cessation of smoking and cannabis are recommended for infertile couples. For fertility concern, it is recommended to limit alcohol consumption to less than 5 glasses a week. If the infertility work-up reveals no abnormalities, ovulation induction is not recommended for normo-ovulatory women. If intrauterine insemination is indicated based on an abnormal infertility work-up, gonadotropin stimulation and ovulation monitoring are recommended to avoid multiple pregnancies. If the infertility work-up reveals no abnormality, laparoscopy is probably recommended before the age of 30 to increase natural pregnancy rates. In the case of hydrosalpinx, surgical management is recommended prior to ART, with either salpingotomy or salpingectomy depending on the tubal score. It is recommended to operate on polyps>10mm, myomas 0, 1, 2 and synechiae prior to ART. The data in the literature do not allow us to systematically recommend asymptomatic uterine septa and isthmoceles as first-line surgery. CONCLUSION: Based on strong agreement between experts, we have been able to formulate updated recommendations in 28 areas concerning the initial management of infertile couples.

The correlation between prenatal ultrasound and MRI in isolated periventricular pseudocysts: Analysis of 10 years' experience at the University Hospital of Angers.

BACKGROUND: Periventricular cysts are one of the most extensively documented antenatal brain lesions found through fetal ultrasound at the University Hospital of Angers. The main purpose of our study was to determine the contribution of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and postnatal transfontanellar ultrasound (TFU) in the assessment of isolated periventricular cysts found on antenatal ultrasound at the University Hospital of Angers. METHODS: This retrospective, descriptive study was carried out over a 10-year period. Overall, 82 cases were included, divided into two groups according to the type of cysts found on the ultrasound: 13 cases of subependymal pseudocysts (SEPC) and 69 cases of frontal horn cysts (FHC). In all, 43 children underwent a postnatal TFU: seven in the SEPC group and 36 in the FHC group. RESULTS: Our study found excellent agreement between antenatal ultrasound and fetal MRI in the FHC group concerning classification of the cysts (approval rate [TA]: 98.60%; kappa coefficient [κ]: 0.85), their location (TA: 98.80%; κ: 0.91), their number (TA: 78.20%; κ: 0.73), and the detection of FHC (TA: 81.10%; κ: 0.74), as well as a good agreement concerning the detection of SEPC and temporal horn cysts (THC; TA: 99.40% and 95.60%, respectively). Fetal MRI proved to be better in the SEPC group for cyst classification (TA: 66.70%; κ: 0.33), their location (TA: 60%; κ: 0.41), and their number (TA: 53, 30%; κ: 0.45) and the detection of SEPC (TA: 23.10%; κ: 0.14). In both groups, postnatal TFU did not provide additional information compared to MRI. CONCLUSION: The finding of periventricular cysts in antenatal ultrasound should lead to a reference ultrasound, a key procedure for distinguishing between SEPC and FHC. In our study, no additional benefit from MRI and TFU was established for the evaluation of FHC. These findings should be considered as normal variants, thus limiting pre- and postnatal investigations. The visualization of SEPC, THC, or a parenchymal abnormality on the reference ultrasound should lead to an additional MRI being performed and a personalized follow-up of the child.

Translation and validation of the French version of the ObsQoR-10 questionnaire for the evaluation of recovery after delivery: the ObsQoR-10-French.

Background: The Obstetric Quality of Recovery-10 (ObsQoR-10) is a validated tool for assessing the quality of postpartum recovery. This study aimed to validate the French version of the ObsQoR-10 scale (ObsQoR-10-French). Methods: After translating the ObsQoR-10 into French, we conducted a psychometric validation involving internal consistency, convergent validity, construct validity, reliability, responsiveness, scaling properties, acceptability, and feasibility. French women who underwent either a vaginal delivery (spontaneous or induced labour), or an emergency or elective Caesarean section (C-section) were prospectively included. They completed the ObsQoR-10-French before delivery and at 24 h (H24) and 48 h (H48) after delivery. Results: Of the 500 women included, 431 (86%) completed the questionnaire at all three timepoints. A total of 352 women (82%) underwent vaginal delivery (with 228 [53%] experiencing spontaneous labour and 124 [29%] had labour induced), whereas 53 (12%) women underwent an emergency C-section and 26 (6%) an elective C-section. The ObsQoR-10-French demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's coefficient of 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.78-0.84 at H24. The tool was correlated with an 11-item global health score (P<0.001). Of the list of hypotheses for evaluating the construct validity, 81% were confirmed (negative associations between ObsQoR-10-French and length of labour, hospital stay, the need for a C-section, and the emergency level of the C-section). The Cohen effect size at H24 was 0.58. The intra-class coefficient was 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.86-0.93 at H24. Conclusion: The ObsQoR-10-French is a valid and reliable psychometric questionnaire, capable of assessing the quality of postpartum recovery in French-speaking populations. Clinical trial registration: NCT04489602.

Assisted reproductive techniques do not impact late neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm children.

Objective: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) increases the rate of preterm births, though few studies have analyzed outcomes for these infants. No data are available on 4-year-old children born prematurely after ART. The objective was to investigate whether ART affect the neurodevelopmental outcomes at 4 years in preterm infants born before 34 weeks of gestational age (GA). Methods and results: A total of 166 ART and 679 naturally conceived preterm infants born before 34 weeks GA between 2013 and 2015 enrolled in the Loire Infant Follow-up Team were included. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 4 years using the age and stage questionnaire (ASQ) and the need for therapy services. The association between the socio-economic and perinatal characteristics and non-optimal neurodevelopment at 4 years was estimated. After adjustment, the ART preterm group remained significantly associated with a lower risk of having at least two domains in difficulty at ASQ: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.13-0.88), p = 0.027. The factors independently associated with non-optimal neurodevelopment at 4 years were male gender, low socio-economic level, and 25-30 weeks of GA at birth. The need for therapy services was similar between groups (p = 0.079). The long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm children born after ART are very similar, or even better than that of the spontaneously conceived children.

Influence of Diminished Ovarian Reserve on Early Embryo Morphokinetics during In Vitro Fertilization: A Time-Lapse Study.

There is great controversy as to whether women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) exhibit only a quantitative decrease in ovarian reserve or also impaired oocyte and embryo quality. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of DOR on embryo morphokinetic parameters with a time-lapse system. 1314 embryos were obtained from 256 couples undergoing IVF or ICSI cycles, with 242 embryos in the DOR group as classified by the Bologna and POSEIDON criteria and 1072 embryos derived from the Normal Ovarian Reserve (NOR) group. For each morphokinetic parameter (t2, t3, t4, t5, t8, tB, ECC2, cc2a, ECC3, s2, s3), a generalized linear mixed model was created to control for female age, BMI, smoking status, method of insemination and correlation between oocytes from a same cohort. No significant association was found between DOR and any of the morphokinetic parameters studied. In a secondary analysis, we evaluated the influence of maternal aging, comparing morphokinetic characteristics between two age groups (<37 and ≥37 years). In the univariate analysis, we found that embryos from older women displayed a slower embryo development (in particular for t3, t4, t5, tB, and ECC2), although without statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. In conclusion, our study did not reveal any substantial impact of ovarian aging on early morphokinetic parameters and suggested potential biases that may be a source of controversy in the literature.

Management of non-tubal ectopic pregnancies in France: Results of a practice survey.

INTRODUCTION: Non-tubal ectopic pregnancies (NTEP) in France constitute approximately 5% of ectopic pregnancies (EP). A NTEP can be abdominal, ovarian, cervical, interstitial, on a caesarean scar, or cornual. These pregnancies, which are sometimes difficult to diagnose and are often diagnosed late, carry a high risk of complications, particularly haemorrhages. Many treatments have been described for treating these NTEP. Our objective is to assess how they are cared for in terms of diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. EQUIPMENT AND METHODOLOGY: An online questionnaire was sent out to all members of the French Society of gynecologic and Pelvic Surgery (SCGP) in September 2020. The questionnaire was in the form of two clinical cases on interstitial and caesarean scar pregnancies. RESULTS: 141 SCGP members responded (36%). For diagnosis, 58% of respondents enlisted the help of a specialist sonographer. MRI is rarely used for diagnosis to the extent that it was only requested in 7% of cases for interstitial pregnancy and 23.6% of cases for caesarean scar pregnancy. In the case of stable interstitial pregnancy without signs of complications, treatment is predominantly medical (90%), with the use of methotrexate (MTX) by intramuscular injection in 33.3% of cases, by in situ injection in 30.7% of cases, or a combination of the two in 36% of cases. If there were signs of pre-rupture, the majority of respondents performed laparoscopic surgical treatment (79.3%). In terms of caesarean scar pregnancies, the treatment was predominantly medical (78.2%) with the use of MTX only, as an intramuscular injection in 23.3% of cases, in situ in 36% of cases, and as a combination of intramuscular and in situ in 37.2% of cases. DISCUSSION: Non-tubal ectopic pregnancies are sometimes difficult to diagnose in the first trimester and constitute a significant haemorrhage risk for patients. In France, there is currently no specific recommendation on this subject and there is huge disparity in practice.

The role of peak serum estradiol level in the prevention of multiple pregnancies in gonadotropin stimulated intrauterine insemination cycles.

The objective was to assess whether the measurement of serum estradiol (E2) level on trigger day in controlled ovarian stimulation with intrauterine insemination (COS-IUI) cycles helps lower the multiple pregnancy (MP) rate. We performed a unicentric observational study. We included all patients who underwent COS-IUI and had a subsequent clinical pregnancy (CP) between 2011 and 2019. Our main outcome measure was the area under Receiver-Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. We included 455 clinical pregnancies (CP) obtained from 3387 COS-IUI cycles: 418 singletons, 35 twins, and 2 triplets. The CP, MP, and live birth rates were respectively 13.4%, 8.1% and 10.8%. The area under ROC curve for peak serum E2 was 0.60 (0.52-0.69). The mean E2 level was comparable between singletons and MP (260.1 ± 156.1 pg/mL vs. 293.0 ± 133.4 pg/mL, p = 0.21, respectively). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that E2 level was not predictive of MP rate (aOR: 1.13 (0.93-1.37) and 1.06 (0.85-1.32), respectively). Our study shows that, when strict cancelation criteria based on the woman's age and follicular response on ultrasound are applied, the measurement of peak serum E2 levels does not help reduce the risk of MP in COS-IUI cycles.