Pregnancy results after ovum donation following one to seven embryo transfers.

Objective: To determine whether failure to achieve pregnancy after repeated ET after ovum donation was due to an endometrial defect or to the embryo quality.

Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Setting: A private infertility center.

Triplet pregnancy and fetal reduction counselling.

The aim of this study was to compare the fetal loss between triplet pregnancies that underwent fetal reduction to twins and triplets which continued in spite of reduction being suggested to all of them. During a five year period a total of 3,518 cycles underwent ovarian stimulation with GnRH analogues, HMG, pure-FSH and HCG for the purpose of IVF; 2,918 women underwent ovarian aspiration leading to 2,380 embryotransfers. A total of 560 clinical pregnancies were detected with 24 clinical triplet pregnancies.

Serum and follicular fluid sex hormone-binding globulin in stimulated and unstimulated cycles.

Background: It is well-known that sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations in the follicle are relatively low in comparison with the corresponding estradiol (E2) levels, which are extremely high. A direct comparison of these data in stimulated and unstimulated cycles, as well as the relationship of SHBG with testosterone (T) and E2 in serum and follicular fluid (FF), is assessed.

Methods: SHBG was measured in serum and FF in 42 cycles stimulated by GnRH agonists and gonadotropins and in 15 unstimulated cycles.

The effect of pentoxifylline on sperm motility, oocyte fertilization, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcome in an in vitro fertilization program.

Objective: To study the effect of pentoxifylline on sperm motility, oocyte fertilization, embryo cleavage, and quality as well as pregnancy outcome on asthenospermic patients participating in an IVF program.

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: Private IVF unit.

Tumour-associated antigens, CEA, CA 125 and SCC in serum and follicular fluid of stimulated and unstimulated cycles.

Serum and follicular fluid levels of CEA, CA 125 and SCC of women participating in an IVF program, in 42 cycles stimulated with GnRH-a and gonadotropins and in 26 unstimulated cycles triggered with HCG, were evaluated and compared with (a) steroid and gonadotropin levels, (b) the results of IVF, and (c) serum values in a control group of women with spontaneous normal ovulatory cycles. In the control group, serum antigens did not vary significantly during the 3 phases of the cycle. In stimulated cycles the median values in serum were 0.