Dynamics of IGF Signaling During the Ovulatory Peak in Women Undergoing Ovarian Stimulation.

Context: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling is known to affect human ovarian follicular function during growth and development. However, the role of the IGF system is unknown during the ovulatory peak, which is characterized by profound changes in granulosa cell (GCs) mitosis and function.

Objective: How is the IGF system expressed and regulated during the midcycle surge in women?

Methods: Follicular fluid (FF) and GCs were collected during the ovulatory peak from 2 specific time points.

Psychosocial wellbeing shortly after allocation to a freeze-all strategy compared with a fresh transfer strategy in women and men: a sub-study of a randomized controlled trial.

Study Question: Is the psychosocial wellbeing affected in women and men shortly after allocation to a freeze-all strategy with postponement of embryo transfer compared to a fresh transfer strategy?

Summary Answer: In general, psychosocial wellbeing (i.e. emotional reactions to the treatment, quality-of-life, infertility-related stress, and marital benefit) was similar in women and men allocated to a freeze-all versus those allocated to a fresh-transfer strategy 6 days after disclosure of treatment strategy (i.

Probiotic treatment with specific lactobacilli does not improve an unfavorable vaginal microbiota prior to fertility treatment-A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate whether treatment with proprietary lactobacilli-loaded vaginal capsules improves an unfavorable vaginal microbiome diagnosed using a commercially available test and algorithm.

Design: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 74 women prior to undergoing fertility treatment at a single university fertility clinic between April 2019 and February 2021. The women were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive one vaginal capsule per day for 10 days containing either a culture of more than 10 CFU of and more than 10 CFU (lactobacilli group) no active ingredient (placebo group).

Low-grade inflammation is negatively associated with live birth in women undergoing IVF.

Research Question: Is low-grade inflammation, detected by C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of IVF outcome addressing both blastocyst quality and pregnancy outcome?

Design: This sub-study of a multicentre randomized controlled trial included 440 women undergoing IVF treatment with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol. Serum CRP was measured on cycle day 2-3 (baseline) and on the day of ovulation triggering. The association between CRP concentrations and reproductive outcomes (number of retrieved oocytes, number of good-quality blastocysts, pregnancy, pregnancy loss and live birth), were analysed, adjusting for relevant confounders.

The Impact of Suppressing Estradiol During Ovarian Stimulation on the Unsupported Luteal Phase: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Context: Supraphysiological sex steroid levels at the follicular-luteal phase transition are implicated as the primary cause of luteal insufficiency after ovarian stimulation (OS) for in vitro fertilization.

Objective: We aimed to determine the impact of suppressing estradiol levels during OS of multiple dominant follicles on the unsupported luteal phase and markers of endometrial maturation.

Methods: At 2 university hospitals, 25 eligible egg donors were randomized to undergo OS using exogenous gonadotropins with or without adjuvant letrozole 5 mg/day.

Does adjuvant letrozole reduce uterine peristalsis prior to fresh embryo transfer?

Study Question: Does adjuvant letrozole in ovarian stimulation for IVF decrease the uterine peristalsis frequency (UPF) prior to fresh embryo transfer (ET)?

Summary Answer: Adjuvant letrozole in ovarian stimulation for IVF does not reduce the UPF significantly prior to fresh ET.

What Is Known Already: Throughout the cycle, uterine peristalsis aids spermatozoa transport to the fallopian tube and may affect implantation. At fresh ET, UPF is negatively correlated with implantation and clinical pregnancy rates and is believed to be modulated by oestradiol and progesterone.

Co-treatment with letrozole during ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Letrozole reduces serum oestradiol by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme and has growing clinical indications in fertility. The available evidence of letrozole's role in ovarian stimulation for IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and clinical outcomes was assessed. Medline, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.

Metformin decreases miR-122, miR-223 and miR-29a in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Metformin is associated with increased insulin sensitivity, whereas oral contraceptive pills (OCP) could increase the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Certain miRNAs might serve as biomarkers for the risk of T2D. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in circulating miRNA levels during treatment with metformin and OCP in women with PCOS.

Progressive changes in human follicular fluid composition over the course of ovulation: quantitative proteomic analyses.

Follicular fluid (FF) acts as a vehicle for paracrine signalling between somatic cells of the follicle and the oocyte. To investigate changes in the protein composition of FF during ovulation, we conducted a prospective cohort study including 25 women undergoing fertility treatment. Follicular fluid was aspirated either before or 12, 17, 32 or 36 h after induction of ovulation (five patients per time point).

Levels of circulating insulin cell-free DNA in women with polycystic ovary syndrome - a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) present a heterogeneous reproductive and metabolic profile with an increased lifetime risk of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Early biomarkers of these metabolic disturbances in PCOS women have not been identified. The abundance of circulating insulin gene promotor cell-free DNA (INS cfDNA) was shown to be valuable as a predictive biomarker of β-cell death in individuals with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) as well as with gestational diabetes.

Human granulosa cells function as innate immune cells executing an inflammatory reaction during ovulation: a microarray analysis.

Ovulation has been compared to a local inflammatory reaction. We performed an in silico study on a unique, PCR validated, transcriptome microarray study to evaluate if known inflammatory mechanisms operate during ovulation. The granulosa cells were obtained in paired samples at two different time points during ovulation (just before and 36 hours after ovulation induction) from nine women receiving fertility treatment.

Weight reduction intervention for obese infertile women prior to IVF: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Question: Does an intensive weight reduction programme prior to IVF increase live birth rates for infertile obese women?

Summary Answer: An intensive weight reduction programme resulted in a large weight loss but did not substantially affect live birth rates in obese women scheduled for IVF.

What Is Already Known: Among obese women, fertility and obstetric outcomes are influenced negatively with increased risk of miscarriage and a higher risk of maternal and neonatal complications. A recent large randomized controlled trial found no effect of lifestyle intervention on live birth in infertile obese women.

MicroRNAs Related to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common, though heterogeneous, endocrine aberration in women of reproductive age, with high prevalence and socioeconomic costs. The syndrome is characterized by polycystic ovaries, chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism, as well as being associated with infertility, insulin resistance, chronic low-grade inflammation and an increased life time risk of type 2 diabetes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that are able to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.