Search Results (6)

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of chronic endometritis (CE) and its therapy on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. Additionally, we aim to investigate whether various degrees of CE severity may exert a different effect on IVF outcome. Ongoing-pregnancy rate/live-birth-rate (OPR/LBR), clinical-pregnancy rate (CPR), and miscarriage rate (MR) were calculated. A total number of 4145 patients (from ten studies) were included. Women with CE had lower OPR/LBR (OR 1.97, p = 0.02) and CPR (OR 2.28, p = 0.002) compared to those without CE. CE cure increased OPR/LBR (OR 5.33, p < 0.0001) and CPR (OR 3.64, p = 0.0001). IVF outcome was comparable between women with cured CE and those without CE (OPR/LBR, CPR and MR: p = ns). Women with severe CE had lower OPR/LBR (OR 0.43, p = 0.003) and CPR (OR 0.40, p = 0.0007) compared to those mild CE. Mild CE showed no influence on the IVF outcome as compared to women without CE (OPR/LBR, CPR and MR: p = ns). Based on this data analysis, CE significantly reduces OPR/LBR and CPR in women undergoing IVF. Importantly, CE resolution after antibiotic therapy may improves IVF outcome, leading to similar OPR/LBR and CPR as compared to unaffected patients. The negative effects of CE on IVF outcome may be restricted to severe disease, whereas mild CE may have no influence on IVF success. Full article

Objective: Ovarian response indexes have been proposed in assisted reproductive technology (ART) in order to optimize live birth rates (LBR), adjusting ovarian stimulation (OS), and minimizing risks. Gonadotropin doses are commonly adjusted according to ovarian reserve parameters, including antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. The retrospective assessment of ovarian responses allows one to identify three primary indexes: (i) follicular output rate (FORT), the ratio of the number of pre-ovulatory follicles obtained at OS completion over AFC; (ii) follicle oocyte index (FOI), the ratio of oocytes retrieved over AFC; (iii) ovarian sensitivity index (OSI), the ratio of oocytes retrieved over the total gonadotropin dose administered. In recent publications, these indexes were reported to predict ART outcome. In the present study, we assessed the ability of these indexes to predict cumulative ART outcome in women ≥39 years. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cohort study. All patients ≥39 years who performed their first ART cycle with an antagonist protocol in our center between 01/2018 and 04/2020 were included. Patients with basal FSH > 20 IU/l, AMH < 0.1 ng/mL and severe male factors (azoospermia with testicular biopsy) were excluded. All patients received both recombinant FSH and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG). Cumulative live birth rate (cLBR) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included: the number of MII oocytes, cumulative implantation (cIR), and usable blastulation rates. Logistic regressions were performed to assess the predictive values of FORT, FOI, and OSI in cLBR and embryo culture success. For each parameter, the ability of the logistic regression models to predict embryo culture success was quantified by the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Only the significant findings related to FORT, FOI, and OSI were included in the multiple logistic regression model. Linear regression models were performed between cIR, cLB, FORT, FOI, and OSI. Each statistic model was adjusted for age. Concerning OR for OSI, values were multiplied *100 due to the very low value. Results: 429 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were 298 obtained usable blastocysts after ART treatment. Age-adjusted OSI was significantly associated with cLBR [OR = 17.58 95% CI (5.48–56.40), AUC = 0.707 95% CI (0.651–0.758)) and cIR (beta = 30.22 (SE: 7.88), p < 0.001, R2= 0.060). Both FOI (OR = 6.33 95% CI (3.27–12.25), AUC = 0.725 95% CI (0.675–0.771), R2 = 0.090, p < 0.001) and OSI (OSI*100; OR = 1808.93 95% CI (159.24–19,335.13), AUC = 0.790 95% CI (0.747–0.833), R2 = 0.156, p < 0.001) were independently, when age adjusted, associated with embryo culture success. OSI showed a main performance to explain successful embryo culture than FOI (R2 = 0.156 vs. R2 = 0.090, p < 0.001). In the age-adjusted linear regression model, FOI (R2 = 0.159, p < 0.001), OSI (R2 = 0.606, p < 0.001), and FORT (r2 = 0.030, p < 0.001) were predictive of the number of MII oocytes collected. Furthermore, for OSI (r2 = 0.759, p < 0.001) and FOI (r2 = 0.297, p < 0.001), the correlation with the number of metaphase II oocytes collected was significantly higher in the non-linear regression model. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the best index, among those analyzed, to predict cIR and cLBR, is OSI. Both OSI and FOI predict embryo culture with success, but OSI is more accurate. OSI, FOI, and FORT are significantly related to the number of MII oocytes obtained. Full article

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is an undefined, quite often, clinical phenomenon that can result from the repeated failure of embryo transfers to obtain a viable pregnancy. Careful clinical evaluation prior to assisted reproduction can uncover various treatable causes, including endocrine dysfunction, fibroid(s), polyp(s), adhesions, uterine malformations. Despite the fact that it is often encountered and has a critical role in Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART) and human reproduction, RIF’s do not yet have an agreed-on definition, and its etiologic factors have not been entirely determined. ART is a complex treatment with a variable percentage of success among patients and care providers. ART depends on several factors that are not always known and probably not always the same. When confronted with repeated ART failure, medical care providers should try to determine whether the cause is an embryo or endometrium related. One of the most common causes of pregnancy failure is aneuploidy. Therefore, it is likely that this represents a common cause of RIF. Other RIF potential causes include immune and endometrial factors; however, with a very poorly defined role. Recent data indicate that the possible endometrial causes of RIF are very rare, thereby throwing into doubt all endometrial receptivity assays. All recent reports indicate that the true origin of RIF is probably due to the “egg”. Full article

The recent advent of embryo vitrification and its remarkable efficacy has focused interest on the quality of hormone administration for priming frozen embryo transfers (FETs). Products available for progesterone administration have only been tested in fresh assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) and not in FET. Recently, there have been numerous concordant reports pointing at the inefficacy of vaginal preparations at delivering sufficient progesterone levels in a sizable fraction of FET patients. The options available for coping with these shortcomings of vaginal progesterone include (i) rescue options with the addition of injectable subcutaneous (SC) progesterone at the dose of 25 mg/day administered either solely to women whose circulating progesterone is <10 ng/mL or to all in a combo option and (ii) the exclusive administration of SC progesterone at the dose of 25 mg BID. The wider use of segmented ART accompanied with FET forces hormone replacement regimens used for priming endometrial receptivity to be adjusted in order to optimize ART outcomes. Full article

To evaluate the expression of genes encoding cytokines, grow factors and cell cycle regulators in the proliferative endometrium of women with chronic endometritis (CE) compared to controls. We performed a case-control study on seven women with CE as diagnosed by hysteroscopy and histology (Cases) compared to six women without CE (Controls). All women underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy plus endometrial biopsy during the mid-proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. Endometrial samples were divided into two different aliquots for histological and molecular analyses. The endometrial expression profile of 16 genes encoding proteins involved in the inflammatory process, proliferation and cell cycle regulation/apoptosis was assessed by using high-throughput qPCR. Study endpoints were between-group differences in the expression of VEGF A, VEGF B, VEGF C, EGF, TNF, TGF B1, IFNG, TP73, TP73L, BAXva, CDC2, CDC2va, CCND3, CCNB1, BAX and IL12. RESULTS: VEGF A, VEGF B, VEGF C, EGF, TNF, TGF B1, IFNG, TP73, TP73L, BAXva, CDC2, CDC2va, CCND3, CCNB1 were significantly overexpressed in women with CE compared to controls, while BAX and IL12 had similar expression between groups. In women with CE, we found an altered endometrial expression of genes involved in inflammatory, cell proliferation, and apoptosis processes. The dominance of proliferative and anti-apoptotic activity in CE may potentially promote the development of polyps and hyperplastic lesions. Full article

We report our experience regarding the profile and screening process of potential recipients (R) and their live donors (D) in our Uterus transplantation (UTx) trial from 2014 to 2020. The initial screening was performed using medical questionnaires and consultations. The second step of the screening consisted of two individual interviews with an independent multidisciplinary committee. Then, a complete medical, biological and imaging assessment of the directed living D, the R, and her partner was performed over a two-day hospitalization. A total of 239 women contacted our department: 165 potentials R and 74 potentials D. During the first step of screening, 141 R and 45 D were excluded. Only 12 R/D pairs were pursued. During inclusion, 10 R/D pairs were excluded. One R/D pair is still under evaluation. Finally, only 1 R/D pair was definitively included (0.6%), which led us to perform the first French UTx in March 2019 with a successful graft. The primary limiting factors of inclusion were due to very strict criteria and difficulty of having a suitable directed living D. The International Society of UTx (ISUTx) guidelines based on worldwide results of trials can help ease our inclusion criteria in the future while remaining safe for patients. Full article