Endometrial scratching in women with implantation failure after a first IVF/ICSI cycle; does it lead to a higher live birth rate? The SCRaTCH study: a randomized controlled trial (NTR 5342).

Background: Success rates of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) are approximately 30%, with the most important limiting factor being embryo implantation. Mechanical endometrial injury, also called 'scratching', has been proposed to positively affect the chance of implantation after embryo transfer, but the currently available evidence is not yet conclusive. The primary aim of this study is to determine the effect of endometrial scratching prior to a second fresh in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycle on live birth rates in women with a failed first IVF/ICSI cycle.

[Polycythaemia in a patient with uterus myomatosus].

Background: Myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome (MES) is characterised by a combination of polycythaemia, uterus myomatosus and the normalisation of erythrocyte count after hysterectomy.

Case Description: A 58-year-old postmenopausal woman was referred to the gynaecologist with symptoms of vaginal blood loss, increased abdominal circumference and pollakiuria. Physical examination indicated her uterus was enlarged to the size of a 24-week gestation.

Oil-Based or Water-Based Contrast for Hysterosalpingography in Infertile Women.

Background: Pregnancy rates among infertile women have been reported to increase after hysterosalpingography, but it is unclear whether the type of contrast medium used (oil-based or water-soluble contrast) influences this potential therapeutic effect.

Methods: We performed a multicenter, randomized trial in 27 hospitals in the Netherlands in which infertile women who were undergoing hysterosalpingography were randomly assigned to undergo this procedure with the use of oil-based or water-based contrast. Subsequently, couples received expectant management or the women underwent intrauterine insemination.

Professionals' perceptions of their patients' experiences with fertility care.

Background: Patient-centredness is one of the core dimensions of quality of care. It can be monitored with surveys measuring patients' experiences with care. The objective of the present study was to determine to what extent gynaecologists, physicians specializing in infertility and nurses can estimate the level of patient-centredness of their clinic.

Why don't we perform elective single embryo transfer? A qualitative study among IVF patients and professionals.

Background: Elective single embryo transfer (eSET) enables the prevention of multiple pregnancies after in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, in Europe, the multiple pregnancy rate after IVF remains stable at approximately 23%, with SET occurring in 15% of all IVF cycles. In most European clinics, the decision for the number of embryos transferred is established through a form of shared decision-making between patients and professionals.