Sequential use of letrozole and gonadotrophin in women with poor ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial.

Sequential use of letrozole and human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) was compared with HMG only in poor ovarian responders undergoing IVF. Patients (n=53) with less than four oocytes retrieved in previous IVF cycles or less than five antral follicles were randomized to either letrozole for 5days followed by HMG or HMG alone. The letrozole group had lower dosage of HMG (P<0.

Changes in endometrial and subendometrial blood flow in IVF.

A good blood supply to the endometrium is usually considered as an essential requirement for implantation. Endometrial and subendometrial blood flow was evaluated on the days of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration and embryo transfer and the percentage change in endometrial and subendometrial blood flow between these 2 days was assessed as a predictor of pregnancy during IVF treatment. A three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound examination with power Doppler was performed in 293 patients undergoing the first IVF cycle to determine endometrial thickness, endometrial volume, vascularization index, flow index and vascularization flow index of endometrial and subendometrial regions on the days of HCG and embryo transfer.

Ovarian stromal blood flow following clomiphene citrate challenge test in infertile women.

Purpose: To compare ovarian stromal blood flow indices in the follicular phase and after clomiphene citrate (CC) in infertile women.

Methods: Pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and peak systolic blood flow velocity (PSV) of ovarian stromal vessels were determined by spectral Doppler analysis in the early follicular phase and on day 10 after CC. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol concentrations were determined.

The role of endometrial blood flow measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound in the prediction of pregnancy during in vitro fertilization treatment.

Ultrasound examination of the endometrium is a commonly used non-invasive method to assess endometrial receptivity during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. A good blood supply towards the endometrium is usually considered to be an essential requirement for implantation and therefore assessment of endometrial blood flow in IVF treatment has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Doppler study of uterine arteries does not reflect the actual blood flow to the endometrium.

Comparison of 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, and vascular ultrasonographic parameters for endometrial receptivity between 2 consecutive stimulated in vitro fertilization cycles.

Objective: We compared the ultrasonographic parameters for endometrial receptivity between 2 consecutive in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in the same patients.

Methods: Patients who had undergone 2 in vitro fertilization cycles between November 2002 and December 2004 were recruited. A 3-dimensional ultrasonographic examination with power Doppler imaging was performed on the day of oocyte retrieval to determine the endometrial thickness, endometrial pattern, pulsatility and resistive indices of uterine vessels, endometrial volume, vascularization index, flow index, and vascularization flow index of endometrial and subendometrial regions.

Endometrial and subendometrial vascularity is higher in pregnant patients with livebirth following ART than in those who suffer a miscarriage.

Background: Blood flow towards the peri-implantation endometrium may have effects on miscarriage and live birth following assisted reproduction treatment, in addition to its role in implantation.

Methods: Three-dimensional ultrasound examination with power Doppler was performed on the day of oocyte retrieval in stimulated IVF cycles and on LH + 1 day in frozen thawed-embryo transfer (FET) cycles to measure endometrial thickness, endometrial pattern, uterine artery Doppler flow indices, endometrial volume, vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), vascularization flow index (VFI) of endometrial and subendometrial regions.

Results: In stimulated IVF cycles, 45 (28.

The prevalence of polycystic ovaries in Chinese women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus.

In the present study we aimed to define the prevalence of polycystic ovaries (PCO), using the revised ultrasound criterion, in Chinese women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as well as their associated clinical, hormonal and biochemical characteristics. Seventy Chinese women with previous GDM were recruited as the study group. The control group comprised women matched for age, parity and delivery year who had a normal oral glucose tolerance test during their index pregnancy.

A randomized comparison of side effects and patient convenience between Cyclogest suppositories and Endometrin tablets used for luteal phase support in IVF treatment.

Objective: This study compared side effects and patient convenience of vaginal progesterone suppositories (Cyclogest) and vaginal progesterone tablets (Endometrin) used for luteal phase support in in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET) cycles using pituitary downregulation.

Study Design: One hundred and thirty-two infertile patients were randomized on the day of ET by a computer-generated randomization list in sealed envelopes to receive either Cyclogest 400mg or Endometrin 100mg twice daily for 14 days. On days 6 and 16 after ET, they rated side effects and patient convenience into four grades: none, mild, moderate and severe by completing a questionnaire.

A pilot study on the effects of a Chinese herbal preparation on menopausal symptoms.

This study was conducted to determine whether a particular Chinese medicinal preparation is effective in alleviating menopausal symptoms. Chinese women with menopausal symptoms were recruited to receive treatment for 3 months followed by 3 months without treatment. The severity of menopausal symptoms and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol levels were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months.

Endometrial, subendometrial, and ovarian stromal blood flow in patients treated with two different doses of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin.

The effects of two different doses of recombinant hCG on blood flow to the uterus and ovary on the day of oocyte retrieval were studied by three-dimensional Doppler ultrasonography in 60 women during IVF treatment. There were no differences in all the indices of endometrial, subendometrial, and ovarian stromal blood flow in women who had received 250 microg or 500 microg of recombinant hCG for final oocyte maturation.

Comparison of endometrial and subendometrial blood flows among patients with and without hydrosalpinx shown on scanning during in vitro fertilization treatment.

Objective: To compare endometrial and subendometrial blood flows among patients with and without hydrosalpinx (HSP) during in vitro fertilization treatment as measured by a three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound.

Design: A prospective observational study.

Setting: A tertiary assisted-reproduction unit.

Mitochondrial DNA deletion in granulosa and cumulus oophorus cells.

The incidence of the 4,977-bp deletion in mitochondrial DNA (DeltamtDNA4977) in 73 pairs of granulosa and cumulus oophorus cells was studied with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and was significantly higher in granulosa cells (GC) (67/73, 91%) than in cumulus oophorus cells (17/73, 23.3%), independent of the donors' age. In the cumulus oophorus cells, the oocyte morphology, the ooplasma diameter, and the proportion of oocytes fertilized normally were comparable between those with and without DeltamtDNA4977; whereas the oocyte diameter and the zona thickness were significantly higher in those with DeltamtDNA4977.

Relationship between uterine blood flow and endometrial and subendometrial blood flows during stimulated and natural cycles.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between uterine Doppler flow and endometrial and subendometrial blood flows during stimulated and natural cycles.

Design: A prospective observational study.

Setting: A tertiary-assisted reproduction unit.

Ovarian stromal vascularity is not predictive of ovarian response and pregnancy.

The role of ovarian stromal vascularity in the prediction of the ovarian response and pregnancy in infertile women was evaluated by comparing age of women, body mass index (BMI), basal FSH concentration, antral follicle count (AFC) and ovarian stromal vascularity indices measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound. A total of 111 women in their first IVF cycle were analysed. They were aged <40 years with basal FSH concentration <10 IU/l on recruitment for IVF treatment.

The role of endometrial and subendometrial vascularity measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound in the prediction of pregnancy during frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.

Background: A good blood supply to the endometrium is usually considered as an essential requirement for implantation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of endometrial and subendometrial vascularity in the prediction of pregnancy during frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles.

Methods: Women undergoing FET in natural or clomiphene-induced cycles after the first stimulated IVF treatment were recruited.

Effects of Chinese green tea on weight, and hormonal and biochemical profiles in obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome--a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives: To study the effects of green tea on body weight, and biochemical and hormonal profiles in obese Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: Thirty-four obese Chinese women with PCOS were randomized into either treatment with green tea capsules or placebo for 3 months. The anthropometric measurements, and biochemical and hormonal profiles before and after treatment in each group were compared.

Factors affecting endometrial and subendometrial blood flow measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound during IVF treatment.

Background: No information exists in the literature regarding the factors affecting the blood flow towards the endometrial and subendometrial regions during IVF treatment.

Methods: We examined the effect of women's age, their smoking habits, their type of infertility (i.e.

Are there differences in ultrasound parameters between Chinese women with polycystic ovaries only and with polycystic ovary syndrome?

Objective: We aimed to compare antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian volume, ovarian stromal blood flow between Chinese women with polycystic ovary (PCO) only and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to evaluate the effect of age on these ultrasound parameters in these women.

Study Design: In the second to fourth day of the period, they underwent a transvaginal three-dimensional scanning with power Doppler to determine total AFC, total ovarian volume, total ovarian vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI). Hormonal profile was also measured.

The role of endometrial and subendometrial blood flows measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound in the prediction of pregnancy during IVF treatment.

Background: A good blood supply towards the endometrium is usually considered to be an essential requirement for implantation. We aimed to evaluate the role of endometrial and subendometrial blood flows in the prediction of pregnancy during IVF treatment.

Methods: Patients undergoing the first IVF cycle were recruited.

Bone turnover in young hypoestrogenic women on hormonal therapy.

Objective: To compare the biochemical markers of bone turnover in hypoestrogenic women who had been on the standard dosage of Premarin 0.625 mg to that of the age-matched women who were menstruating spontaneously.

Study Design: Chinese women between 25 and 40 years of age with a diagnosis of hypoestrogenism who had been on Premarin 0.

Comparison of three-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography and diagnostic laparoscopy with chromopertubation in the assessment of tubal patency for the investigation of subfertility.

Background: Two-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography, as a screening test for tubal patency for subfertile patients, is limited by the difficulty in visualizing the entire Fallopian tube owing to its tortuosity. This major disadvantage can be overcome by means of the three-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (3D-HyCoSy). The current study compared the efficacy of 3D-HyCoSy with diagnostic laparoscopy and its feasibility as a screening test for tubal patency.

A prospective randomized comparison of sublingual and oral misoprostol when combined with mifepristone for medical abortion at 12-20 weeks gestation.

Background: Sublingual misoprostol has been shown to be effective in medical abortion. A prospective double-blinded placebo-controlled trial was done to compare the efficacy and side-effects of sublingual to oral misoprostol when used with mifepristone for medical abortion from 12 to 20 weeks gestation.

Methods: A total of 120 women at 12-20 weeks of gestation were randomized to receive 200 mg oral mifepristone followed by either sublingual or oral misoprostol 400 mg every 3 h for a maximum of five doses 36-48 h later.

Ovarian stromal blood flow in the prediction of ovarian response during in vitro fertilization treatment.

Background: This study evaluated the role of ovarian stromal blood flow in the prediction of the ovarian response of infertile women by comparing age of women, body mass index (BMI), basal FSH concentration, antral follicle count (AFC) and ovarian stromal blood flow indices measured by power Doppler in two-dimensional ultrasound. Patients were aged <40 years with basal FSH <10 IU/l on recruitment for IVF treatment.

Methods: All received a standard regimen of ovarian stimulation in their first IVF cycle.

Circadian changes in uterine artery and ovarian stromal blood flow after pituitary down-regulation.

Objective: To investigate changes in the uterine artery and ovarian stromal blood flow in relation to the time of the day after pituitary down-regulation during in vitro fertilization treatment.

Methods: Thirteen women were recruited. The uterine artery blood flow was studied using pulsed color Doppler ultrasonography and the ovarian stromal blood flow was measured using three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasonography.