Histological ovarian features and hormonal determinations in assigned females at birth transgender individuals according to different testosterone preparations.

Introduction: Distinct androgen formulations have been used as gender-affirming hormone treatment, but little is known about the specific changes that may occur in the ovary depending on the testosterone preparation used. The study aims to evaluate the histological modifications of the ovarian tissue and the hormonal changes after gender-affirming surgery based on the testosterone preparation employed, such as testosterone cypionate or undecanoate.

Design: Unicenter transversal cohort study.

Reversible effects of the SARS-CoV-2 on semen parameters.

Despite that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been controlled, it has affected a large proportion of the population, raising some concerns about potential sequelae in men at reproductive age. To contribute to the clarification of this issue, we performed a retrospective study comparing semen parameters values before and after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large cohort of infertile men, compared to a control group that did not undergo SARS-CoV-2 infection. Wilcoxon test on paired samples and general linear regression model showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection has a detrimental effect on semen volume values ( < 0.

Impact of bariatric surgery on ovarian reserve markers and its correlation with nutritional parameters and adipokines.

Introduction: A reduction in anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels at short-term after bariatric surgery (BS) has been previously described. However, an assessment of ovarian reserve at longer-follow up, and a comprehensive evaluation of the potentially implicated factors has not been reported.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Current status of fertility preservation in a Spanish tertiary public hospital: multidisciplinary approach and experience in over 1500 patients.

Purpose: Currently, 15% of gynaecological and 9% of haematological malignancies are diagnosed before the age of 40. The increased survival rates of cancer patients who are candidates for gonadotoxic treatments, the delay in childbearing to older ages, and the optimization of in vitro fertilisation techniques have all contributed to an increased interest in fertility preservation (FP) treatments. This study reviews the experience of the Fertility Preservation Programme (FPP) of a tertiary public hospital with a multidisciplinary approach.

Obesity management in women of reproductive age.

With the increasing prevalence of obesity among women of reproductive age, the detrimental effects on maternal and neonatal health are increasing. The objective of this review is to summarise the evidence that comprehensive management of weight control in women of reproductive age has on maternal-fetal outcomes. First, the impact that obesity has on fertility and pregnancy is described and then the specific aspects of continued weight management in each of the stages (preconception, pregnancy and postpartum) during these years are outlined, not only to benefit women affected by obesity before pregnancy, but also to avoid and reverse weight gain during pregnancy that complicates future pregnancies.

Maternal and fetal haemopexin and α-microglobulin concentrations in pre-eclamptic IVF pregnancies according to presence of corpus luteum at embryo transfer.

Research Question: Do pregnancies with corpus luteum show different maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of the scavenger proteins haemopexin and α-microglobulin compared with pregnancies without corpus luteum in preeclampsia?

Design: Case-control study of 160 singleton pregnancies: 54 naturally conceived, 50 by IVF after fresh embryo transfer or frozen embryo transfer (FET) in natural cycle (presence of corpus luteum) and 56 after fresh oocyte donation or FET in programmed cycles (absence of corpus luteum). Pregnancies were subclassified into normotensive, preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia cases. Heme-scavenger concentrations were measured by ELISA in maternal and cord plasma collected at delivery.

Prevalence of missed lesions in patients with inadequate bowel preparation through a very early repeat colonoscopy.

Objectives: When bowel preparation (BP) is inadequate, international guidelines recommend repeating the colonoscopy within 1 year to avoid missing clinically relevant lesions. We aimed to determine the rate of missed lesions in patients with inadequate BP through a very early repeat colonoscopy with adequate BP.

Methods: Post hoc analysis was conducted using data collected from a prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial including patients with inadequate BP and then repeat colonoscopy.

Comparison between slow freezing and vitrification of ovarian tissue cryopreservation in assigned female at birth transgender people receiving testosterone therapy: data on histological and viability parameters.

Purpose: The use of fertility preservation (FP) techniques has significantly increased in recent years in the assigned female at birth (AFAB) transgender population. Oocyte cryopreservation is the established method for FP, but ovarian tissue cryopreservation may be considered an alternative option, especially during gender-affirming surgery (GAS). The slow freezing (SF) cryopreservation technique is the standard method for human ovarian tissue, but recently, several studies have shown good results with the vitrification (VT) technique.

Endocrinological and ovarian histological investigations in assigned female at birth transgender people undergoing testosterone therapy.

Research Question: What are the hormonal and ovarian histological effects of a gender affirming hormonal therapy in assigned female at birth (AFAB) transgender people?

Design: Prospective observational study of 70 AFAB transgender people taking testosterone therapy before gender-affirming surgery (hystero-oophorectomy). A gynaecological ultrasonographic scan was undertaken and serum hormone concentrations measured, including anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and androgenic profile. Histological ovarian evaluation was assessed in both ovaries, including the developmental stages of the follicles.

Psychological Issues and Sexual Function in Women with Different Infertility Causes: Focus on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

The objectives of this study are to assess the prevalence of psychological complaints and changes in sexual function in infertile PCOS women compared with patients with other infertility causes (tubal and male infertility factors) and to identify the predisposing factors. An observational study with three cohorts of infertile women was designed including 37 PCOS patients, 36 women with tubal factor, and 31 women with male factor. Clinical history and physical examination were carried out in all patients.

Bariatric Surgery on Reproductive Outcomes: the Impact According to the Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Surgical Procedures.

Background: There is limited evidence on the impact of bariatric surgery (BS) on reproductive outcomes in the general population and specifically in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or the effect of different BS techniques.

Purpose: The study aims to investigate the impact of BS on fertility, pregnancy, and newborn outcomes in reproductive age women who have undergone BS and the outcomes according to surgical procedure and PCOS diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study performed in women from 18-39 years undergoing BS in our centre from January 2005 to December 2010.

Impact of Surgery for Deep Infiltrative Endometriosis before In Vitro Fertilization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to compare reproductive outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE) before in vitro fertilization (IVF) with those in patients who underwent IVF without a previous surgery for DIE, to analyze data according to different types of surgery (complete or incomplete) or subgroups of patients (DIE with or without bowel involvement), and to assess surgical and IVF complications and data regarding safety concerns.

Data Sources: A systematic literature search from January 1980 to November 2019 with no language restriction was performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. The search strategy used the following Medical Subject Headings terms: "in vitro," "fertilization," "IVF," "assisted reproduction," "colorectal," "endometriosis," "deep," "infiltrating," "deep infiltrative endometriosis," "intestinal," "bowel," "rectovaginal," "uterosacral," "vaginal," and "bladder.

The Follicular Output Rate (FORT) as a method to evaluate transdermal testosterone efficacy in poor responders.

Objective: Follicular Output Rate (FORT) is an efficient quantitative and qualitative marker of ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins. Transdermal testosterone (TT) has been used as adjuvant therapy to gonadotrophins in order to improve ovarian response in poor responders (PR). The aim of this study was to analyze whether TT can improve follicular sensitivity to gonadotropins using FORT.

Quality of Life in Infertile Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Comparative Study.

To investigate the quality of life (QoL) of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and analyze the association between the clinical/biochemical features of PCOS and the physical/psychological well-being of patients. An observational study with three independent groups women was designed including 37 infertile PCOS patients, 36 women with tubal factor infertility, and 31 women with male factor infertility referred to the Reproductive Medicine Unit of the Hospital Clinic Barcelona from December 2017 to June 2019. Clinical history, physical examination including Ferriman-Gallwey scores, and vaginal ultrasound were carried out in all patients.

Comparison of GnRH agonist versus luteal estradiol GnRH antagonist protocol using transdermal testosterone in poor responders.

Objective: Transdermal testosterone has been used in different doses and in different stimulation protocols in poor responders. The aim of the present study is to compare the luteal estradiol/GnRH antagonists protocol versus long GnRH agonists in poor responder patients according to the Bologna criteria, in which transdermal testosterone has been used prior to the stimulation with gonadotropins.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, a total of 141 poor responder patients according to the Bologna criteria were recruited.

Increased circulating cell-derived microparticle count is associated with recurrent implantation failure after IVF and embryo transfer.

Cell-derived microparticles (cMPs) are small membrane vesicles that are released from many different cell types in response to cellular activation or apoptosis. Elevated cMP counts have been found in almost all thrombotic diseases and pregnancy wastage, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion and in a number of conditions associated with inflammation, cellular activation and angiogenesis. cMP count was investigated in patients experiencing unexplained recurrent implantation failure (RIF).

Age, independent from ovarian reserve status, is the main prognostic factor in natural cycle in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To analyze natural cycle IVF (NC-IVF) results according to patient age, ovarian reserve status following the Bologna criteria, cause of infertility, and modification of the cycle with the use of GnRH antagonist.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary-care university hospital.

Conservative medical treatment of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a single center series and cost analysis study.

Objective: To present the results of a large series of patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome treated with a conservative medical approach and to compare the cost of this treatment with outpatient management with paracentesis according to published data.

Design: Retrospective case series and cost analysis study using a decision-tree model.

Setting: University hospital.

Outcome from consecutive ICSI cycles in patients treated with recombinant human LH and those supplemented with urinary hCG-based LH activity during controlled ovarian stimulation in the long GnRH-agonist protocol.

Clinical results were compared in a well-established, assisted reproduction program during the cross-over from highly purified (HP)-human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) to rhFSH/rhLH. We included the last 33 patients treated with HP-hMG and the first 33 patients receiving rhFSH/rhLH for ovarian stimulation in their first intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle. Patient baseline characteristics were almost identical in the two groups.

Expression pattern of osteopontin and αvβ3 integrin during the implantation window in infertile patients with early stages of endometriosis.

Background: To study endometrial receptivity in terms of osteopontin (OPN) and αvβ3 integrin expression and co-expression in infertile women with early stages of endometriosis.

Methods: We investigated the immunohistochemical expression and co-expression of OPN and αvβ3 integrin in the endometrium of 20 infertile patients with Stage I or II endometriosis as the only detectable cause of infertility, 20 infertile patients with unexplained infertility and 20 fertile women undergoing tubal sterilization. Two endometrial biopsies were performed during a single menstrual cycle (postovulatory Day +7 to +8 and 4 days later) in each subject.

Evaluation of two doses of recombinant human luteinizing hormone supplementation in down-regulated women of advanced reproductive age undergoing follicular stimulation for IVF: a randomized clinical study.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of mid-follicular recombinant human luteinizing hormone (rhLH) supplementation in down-regulated women of advanced reproductive age undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Study Design: This was a prospective, randomized parallel-group study (allocation 1:1) including 187 normogonadotrophic infertile patients aged ≥ 35 years. Subcutaneous triptorelin was used for pituitary desensitization, and ovarian stimulation was achieved with recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH) either alone (Group 1) or in combination with rhLH in one of two daily doses: 37.

Osteopontin and alphavbeta3 integrin as markers of endometrial receptivity: the effect of different hormone therapies.

The osteopontin: alphavbeta3 integrin complex has been proposed as a means of distinguishing receptive from non-receptive endometrium in clinical practice, thus offering new directions for the development of contraceptive approaches targeted to the endometrium as well as a better understanding of occult causes of infertility in women. Histological dating and immunohistochemical study were performed in control and study cycles in seven groups of women including 10 subjects per group and who received clomiphene citrate, ovarian stimulation for IVF, oral contraception, dehydrogesterone for endometrial luteal phase defect, two different regimens of hormone replacement therapy, or no treatment. Ten healthy fertile women served as a general control group.

Novel Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Synthase with Anticancer Activity.

PURPOSE: Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is overexpressed in human breast carcinoma. The natural polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate blocks in vitro FASN activity and leads to apoptosis in breast cancer cells without any effects on carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) activity, and in vivo, does not decrease body weight. We synthesized a panel of new polyphenolic compounds and tested their effects on breast cancer models.

Transdermal testosterone may improve ovarian response to gonadotrophins in low-responder IVF patients: a randomized, clinical trial.

Background: Studies in macaques have indicated that androgens have some synergistic effects with FSH on folliculogenesis. This study investigated the usefulness of pretreatment with transdermal testosterone in low-responder IVF patients.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial including 62 infertile women who had a background of the first IVF treatment cycle cancelled because of poor follicular response.