Identification of common genetic polymorphisms associated with down-regulated gonadotropin levels in an exome-wide association study.

Objective: To investigate whether common genetic polymorphisms are associated with gonadotropin levels after down-regulation with daily gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and whether the polymorphisms of candidate variants influence the ovarian response to exogenous gonadotropins.

Design: Genetic association study.

Setting: University-affiliated in vitro fertilization center.

Effect of the initiation of progesterone supplementation in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer outcomes: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To analyze the influence of the start point of luteal support on clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, and live birth rate of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles.

Design: Single-center prospective randomized controlled trial.

Setting: University-affiliated IVF unit.

Self-control study on reduced-dose depot versus daily administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists for pituitary desensitization in in vitro fertilization cycles.

Aim: Our aim was to analyze the effect of reducing the dose of depot gonadotrophin-regulating hormone-agonist (GnRH-a) to 1.0 mg on pituitary desensitization and clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycles.

Material And Methods: This retrospective self-control study was conducted on 143 patients who underwent repeated long-protocol treatment from 1 January 2011 to 31 May 2012 at our hospital.

Preliminary investigation of the impact of anticentromere antibody on oocyte maturation and embryo cleavage.

Objective: To explore whether anticentromere antibody (ACA) is the most significant antibody among antinuclear antibodies (ANA), which adversely affect oocyte maturation, embryo cleavage, and pregnancy outcome in women undergoing an intracytoplasmic sperm injection program.

Design: Retrospective, nested case-control study.

Setting: Center for reproductive medicine, university hospital.

Mechanically expanding the zona pellucida of human frozen thawed embryos: a new method of assisted hatching.

Objective: To determine whether a new assisted hatching (AH) method increases the implantation and clinical pregnancy rates of frozen-thawed day-3 (D3) embryos.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: A university hospital in vitro fertilization (IVF) program.