New insights into the role of LH in early ovarian follicular growth: a possible tool to optimize follicular recruitment.

Evidence shows that LH participates in enhancing transition from the early stage to the antral stage of folliculogenesis. It has been demonstrated that functional LH receptors are expressed, albeit at a very low level and even in smaller follicles, during the phase that was traditionally considered to be gonadotrophin independent, suggesting a role for LH in accelerating the rate of progression of non-growing and primary follicles to the preantral/antral stage. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, together with other clinical conditions of pituitary suppression, has been associated with reduced functional ovarian reserve.

Chronic endometritis in recurrent implantation failure: Use of prednisone and IVF outcome.

In recurrent implantation failure patients (RIF), the main criteria for diagnosis of chronic endometritis, is the presence of plasma cells CD138 in endometrial biopsy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if treatment with prednisone, in patients with RIF and chronic endometritis, improve IVF outcome. A retrospective study was performed between 2019 and 2020.

The challenging screen detection of ovarian cancer in BRCA mutation carriers adhering to a 6-month follow-up program: results from a 6-years surveillance.

Objective: Approximately 25% of ovarian cancer (OC) cases are related to an inherited predisposition. Genetic mutations for the oncosuppressor genes BRCA1 and 2 have the best-known linkage to a higher incidence of OC and breast cancer, in approximately 70% to 80% of hereditary OC cases. To provide the first comprehensive clinical description of screen-detected (SD) OCs during a 6-years surveillance of a cohort of young BRCA carriers and carriers who refuse risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.

Satisfaction with prophylactic risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in BRCA mutation carriers is very high and little dependent on the participants' characteristics at surgery: a prospective study.

Objective: BRCA carriers are recommended to undergo prophylactic risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). Possible adverse health impacts of RRSO, particularly when done before natural menopause, can reduce the long-term satisfaction with this risk-reducing strategy. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the level of satisfaction of women undergoing RRSO, also in relation to some specific characteristics at RRSO.

New strategies of ovarian stimulation based on the concept of ovarian follicular waves: From conventional to random and double stimulation.

The theory of a multicyclic development of follicles during the menstrual cycle prompted new approaches to ovarian stimulation, such as starting gonadotrophins for ovarian stimulation at any time during the menstrual cycle or using double stimulation during it, with stimulation in both the follicular and luteal phases. Because of the asynchrony between endometrial receptivity and embryo development with a 'non-conventional start' stimulation, all the oocytes/embryos are generally cryopreserved and transferred subsequently. This deferred transfer policy is currently possible given the advances in vitrification techniques, with success rates comparable to those following transfer with 'fresh' embryos.

Female age, serum antimüllerian hormone level, and number of oocytes affect the rate and number of euploid blastocysts in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles.

Objective: To study the relative role of female age and ovarian reserve, measured through serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH) in determining the rate and number of euploid blastocysts in in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.

Design: Retrospective analysis of cycles performed in 2014-2015.

Setting: Tertiary referral IVF center.

How to personalize ovarian stimulation in clinical practice.

Controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles is the starting point from which couple's prognosis depends. Individualization in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) starting dose and protocol used is based on ovarian response prediction, which depends on ovarian reserve. Anti-Müllerian hormone levels and the antral follicle count are considered the most accurate and reliable markers of ovarian reserve.

Live birth rates in the different combinations of the Bologna criteria poor ovarian responders: a validation study.

Purpose: to compare the baseline characteristics and chance of live birth in the different categories of poor responders identified by the combinations of the Bologna criteria and establish whether these groups comprise a homogenous population.

Methods: database containing clinical and laboratory information on IVF treatment cycles carried out at the Mother-Infant Department of the University Hospital of Modena between year 2007 and 2011 was analysed. This data was collected prospectively and recorded in the registered database of the fertility centre.

The menstrual cycle regularization following D-chiro-inositol treatment in PCOS women: a retrospective study.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is characterized by irregular cycles, hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovary at ultrasound and insulin resistance. The effectiveness of D-chiro-inositol (DCI) treatment in improving insulin resistance in PCOS patients has been confirmed in several reports. The objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze the effect of DCI on menstrual cycle regularity in PCOS women.

Prediction of age at menopause from assessment of ovarian reserve may be improved by using body mass index and smoking status.

Objective: Menopause is the consequence of exhaustion of the ovarian follicular pool. AMH, an indirect hormonal marker of ovarian reserve, has been recently proposed as a predictor for age at menopause. Since BMI and smoking status are relevant independent factors associated with age at menopause we evaluated whether a model including all three of these variables could improve AMH-based prediction of age at menopause.

Polymorphisms in gonadotropin and gonadotropin receptor genes as markers of ovarian reserve and response in in vitro fertilization.

Since gonadotropins are the fundamental hormones that control ovarian activity, genetic polymorphisms may alter gonadal responsiveness to glycoproteins; hence they are important regulators of hormone activity at the target level. The establishment of the pool of primordial follicles takes place during fetal life and is mainly under genetic control. Consequently, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in gonadotropins and their receptors do not seem to be associated with any significant modification in the endowment of nongrowing follicles in the ovary.

Possibilities and limits of ovarian reserve testing in ART.

Markers of ovarian reserve are associated with ovarian aging as they decline with chronologic age, and hence may predict stages of reproductive aging including the menopause transition. Assessment of ovarian reserve include measurement of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-M�llerian hormone (AMH), and inhibin-B. Ultrasound determination of antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian vascularity and ovarian volume also can have a role.

Age-specific nomogram for the decline in antral follicle count throughout the reproductive period.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between antral follicle count (AFC) and chronological age and to establish normal values for AFC in women with regular menstrual cycles.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University hospital.

Primary ovarian insufficiency: autoimmune causes.

Purpose Of Review: To review the pathogenesis of premature ovarian insufficiency due to steroid cell autoimmunity (SCA-POI).

Recent Findings: Autoimmune oophoritis is characterized by a selective mononuclear cell infiltration into the theca layer of large, antral follicles, with earlier stage follicles consistently free of lymphocytic infiltration. SCA-POI is caused by the selective autoimmune destruction of theca cells with preservation of granulosa cells that produce low amounts of estradiol because of lack of substrates.