Comparison of the Administration of 150 or 75 of Recombinant LH in Agonist ICSI Cycles Stimulated with Recombinant FSH in Women Aged 35-39: A Comparative Study.

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess whether the coadministration of 150 of recombinant LH instead of 75 in women aged 35-39 improves the results in agonist ICSI cycles stimulated with 300 of recombinant FSH.

Methods: In this study, two ovarian stimulation protocols coexisted which were identical except in the administered dose of recombinant LH, for which some patients received 150 (n=231) and some received 75 (n=216). Both groups received 300 of recombinant FSH.

Effect of vitamin E administered to men in infertile couples on sperm and assisted reproduction outcomes: a double-blind randomized study.

Objective: To evaluate the influence on sperm parameters and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes of the administration of 400 mg/day of vitamin E for 3 months to men from infertile couples who are undergoing IVF.

Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.

Setting: Human reproduction unit of a university hospital.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of the Human Endometrial Fluid during the Natural Cycle.

Purpose: Some microbiota patterns have been associated with favorable IVF prognosis and others with pathological conditions. The endometrial fluid aspirate (EFA) contains antibacterial proteins that are enriched in implantative IVF cycles, but the antimicrobial effect of EFA has not been addressed. We aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the human endometrial fluid during the natural cycle.

Women's vitamin D levels and IVF results: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis, considering three categories of vitamin status (replete, insufficient and deficient).

To investigate the influence of vitamin D status on fertilisation (IVF) results, a meta-analysis of 15 cohort studies of 3711 women undergoing IVF was performed. Women were classified into three groups according their vitamin D levels (≥30 ng/mL considered replete/sufficient; 21-29 ng/mL insufficient and <20 ng/mL deficient). Three different meta-analyses were performed: (i) sufficient vs deficient; (ii) sufficient vs 'insufficient + deficient'; (iii) 'sufficient + insufficient' vs deficient.

Cervical pregnancy in assisted reproduction: an analysis of risk factors in 91,067 ongoing pregnancies.

Research Question: What is the frequency of cervical pregnancy in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and what are the risk factors?

Design: Case-control study of women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) at 25 private assisted reproduction clinics run by the same group in Spain. Two control groups (tubal ectopic pregnancies and intrauterine pregnancies) were established. The main outcome measure was frequency of cervical pregnancy.

Oocytes of women who are obese or overweight have lower levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with oocytes of women with normal weight.

Objective: To ascertain whether the oocytes of women who are obese or overweight have a different fatty acid (FA) profile than women with normal weight.

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Setting: Two IVF centers.

The lipidome of endometrial fluid differs between implantative and non-implantative IVF cycles.

Objective: To characterize the most relevant changes in the lipidome of endometrial fluid aspirate (EFA) in non-implantative cycles.

Design: Lipidomics in a prospective cohort study.

Settings: Reproductive unit of a university hospital.

Influence of Caesarean section-pregnancy interval on uterine rupture risk and IVF pregnancy rates: systematic review and mathematical modelling.

Research Question: What is the influence of the Caesarean section-pregnancy interval (CSPI) on the risk of uterine rupture, and what are the repercussions on IVF pregnancy rates of prolonging it?

Study Design: Systematic searches were performed using PubMed MEDLINE to identify studies published up until July 2017 for articles with the following keywords: 'interdelivery interval' and 'uterine rupture'; 'interpregnancy interval' and 'uterine rupture'; 'interpregnancy interval' and 'cesarean section'; and 'uterine rupture' and 'cesarean section'. The search identified 1609 articles, of which six were included (involving 56,419 women). Four reported significantly higher uterine rupture rates in cases of a short CSPI.

Recurrent Miscarriage and Implantation Failure of Unknown Cause Studied by a Panel of Thrombophilia Conditions: Increased Frequency of FXIII Val34Leu Polymorphism.

Background: The role of acquired thrombophilia has been accepted as an etiology of recurrent miscarriage (RM); however, the contribution of specific inherited thrombophilic genes to this disorder has remained controversial. An increased incidence of RM has been suggested in women with inherited thrombophilia.

Methods: In this prospective study, assisted women with RM or repeated implant failure (RIF) were subjected to Thromboincode analysis, in order to identify 12 genetic variants for Factor V Leiden, Factor V Hong Kong, Factor V Cambridge, FII, FXIII, FXII, and A1 carriers.

Differential proteomic analysis of endometrial fluid suggests increased inflammation and impaired glucose metabolism in non-implantative IVF cycles and pinpoints PYGB as a putative implantation marker.

Study Question: Is there any difference in the protein composition of the endometrial fluid aspirate (EFA) obtained the day of embryo transfer in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles achieving and not achieving pregnancy?

Summary Answer: Comparative analysis identified a differential protein expression pattern in 'implantative' and 'non-implantative' IVF cycles.

What Is Known Already: EFA allows non-invasive characterization of the endometrium, and may contain important information on its receptivity when performing (IVF) cycles. Endometrial side of implantation has usually been studied with endometrial biopsy in an IVF cycle prior to embryo transfer, focusing on 'receptive/non-receptive' endometria and with low-throughput proteomic techniques.

Infertile Couples Prefer Twins: Analysis of Their Reasons and Clinical Characteristics Related to This Preference.

Background: The number of multiple pregnancies has been significantly increased in the last decades due to assisted reproduction techniques development. Compared to singleton, twins and multiple pregnancies are associated to more complications and risks for both mother and children. The objective of this study was to examine the proportion of patients preferring a multiple birth over a singleton after an IVF/ICSI attempt, their reasons and the influence of socio-demographic and clinical parameters on their preference.

Proteomic pattern of implantative human endometrial fluid in in vitro fertilization cycles.

Purpose: To assess whether there are proteins in endometrial fluid aspirate (EFA) that predict implantation.

Methods: The population under study consisted of 285 women undergoing embryo transfer (ET). Endometrial fluid aspiration was performed immediately before ET.

Risk of pelvic inflammatory disease after intrauterine insemination: a systematic review.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) after intrauterine insemination (IUI). A systematic review was conducted using three different approaches: a search of IUI registries; a search of published meta-analyses; and a search of prospective randomized trials. Search terms were 'IUI', 'complications', 'infection' and 'PID'.

Dynamic of expression and localization of cannabinoid-degrading enzymes FAAH and MGLL in relation to CB1 during meiotic maturation of human oocytes.

The endogenous cannabinoid system has been characterized in some female reproductive organs but little is known about the expression and localization pattern of cannabinoid-degrading enzymes in relation to the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in human oocytes. In this study, we focus on the investigation of the presence and differential distribution of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoglyceride lipase (MGLL) in relation to CB1 during the maturation of human oocytes. We used a total of 290 human oocytes not suitable for in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): germinal-vesicle (GV) and metaphase-I (MI) stages and metaphase-II (MII) oocytes that had not developed into an embryo after ICSI.

Dynamics of expression and localization of the cannabinoid system in granulosa cells during oocyte nuclear maturation.

Objective: To describe the expression of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 and cannabinoid-degrading enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoglyceride lipase (MGLL) in human granulosa cells and to investigate their differential distribution with respect to CB1 at various stages during the nuclear maturation of the oocyte.

Design: Analysis of granulosa cells from germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI), and MII oocytes by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and indirect immunofluorescence assays.

Setting: Academic research laboratory.

Failure of intrauterine insemination as rescue treatment in low responders with adequate HCG timing with no oocytes retrieved.

In this retrospective study, the efficiency of carrying out rescue intrauterine insemination (IUI) in low-responder patients undergoing IVF when no oocytes were retrieved after follicular aspiration and when HCG timing was adequate was analysed. A historical control group was used. Over 13 years, women undergoing IVF with failure to obtain oocytes at follicular aspiration underwent rescue IUI if the following criteria were met: adequate HCG timing; one normal tube; motile sperm count after preparation over 3 million/ml; and ultrasound visualization of one to six follicles over 13 mm.

Quality of additional embryos transferred on pregnancy outcomes in IVF: predictions using a mathematical approach.

This study assessed the influence of adding embryos with different embryo quality on pregnancy rate and multiple pregnancy rate (MPR). The study included 1891 IVF transfers performed at two centres with different embryo transfer policies. Pregnancy rate and MPR were analysed following three models and then including embryo quality.

Prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in GnRH agonist IVF cycles in moderate risk patients: randomized study comparing hydroxyethyl starch versus cabergoline and hydroxyethyl starch.

Objective: To assess whether, in GnRH agonist IVF cycles where there is a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), the addition of cabergoline to the hydroxyethyl starch (HES) infusion could decrease OHSS incidence and severity.

Materials And Methods: Prospective randomized study. The population under study consisted of women undergoing IVF cycles with GnRH agonist protocols, at risk of OHSS (more than 20 follicles observed larger than 12 mm in diameter and/or estradiol levels of 3000-5000 pg/mL).

Hysteroscopic hydrosalpinx occlusion with Essure device in IVF patients when salpingectomy or laparoscopy is contraindicated.

Objective: To evaluate, in patients with hydrosalpinges, the effect on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome of the insertion by hysteroscopy of an intratubal blocking device, in cases where laparoscopic salpingectomy or laparoscopy was contraindicated.

Study Design: A prospective interventional case series study was conducted in fifteen women with unilateral (N=6) or bilateral hydrosalpinges (N=9) submitted for IVF. In all of them, laparoscopic salpingectomy was contraindicated.

Expression and localization of opioid receptors during the maturation of human oocytes.

The endogenous opioid system has been characterized in some female reproductive organs, but little is known about the expression of these receptors in human oocytes. This study investigated the presence and differential distribution of the opioid receptors during the maturation of human oocytes. A total of 821 human oocytes from an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) programme were studied including 213 at germinal-vesicle (GV) stage and 164 at metaphase-I (MI) stage and 444 failed fertilization metaphase-II (MII) oocytes.

Glutathione peroxidase activity in seminal plasma and its relationship to classical sperm parameters and in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome.

Objective: To relate the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity level in human seminal plasma with standard semen parameters and spermatozoa fertilization potential in terms of fertilization and pregnancy rates in an IVF program.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Human Reproduction Unit at Cruces Hospital (Vizcaya, Spain).

Efficacy of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device in the treatment of recurrent pelvic pain in multitreated endometriosis.

Objective: To assess the value of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) in the treatment of pelvic pain in patients with endometriosis in which previous medical and surgical treatments have failed.

Study Design: This prospective study evaluated pelvic pain by means of both a visual analog grading scale and a verbal descriptive grading scale. Pain was evaluated before insertion of the LNG-IUD and afterwards, at 3-month intervals.

Prognostic value of serum progesterone and LH values on the day of hCG administration in IUI GnRH antagonist cycles.

Objective: to evaluate the effect of LH surge and progesterone rise in IUI cycles under gonadotropin stimulation with GnRH antagonist coadministration on pregnancy rates (PR).

Study Design: The population under study consisted of 152 women prospectively studied and subjected to IUI.

Results: The higher the progesterone cutoff value, the lower the PR were 26.

Recombinant FSH versus highly purified FSH in intrauterine insemination: systematic review and metaanalysis.

Objective: To compare the pregnancy rates (PRs) in intrauterine insemination (IUI) using recombinant FSH (rec-FSH) or highly purified urinary FSH (HP-FSH).

Design: Systematic review and metaanalysis.

Setting: University hospital.

Decline in human fertility rates with male age: a consequence of a decrease in male fecundity with aging?

Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of male age on human fertility, defined as the birth rate for a given population.

Methods: Data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) for the year 2004 from a total of 454,753 newborn infants and sorted by male and female age groups were evaluated. In order to correct the influence of female age-related fertility, a different analysis was performed considering only women under 30 years of age.