Ovarian reserve, metabolic and neuroendocrine profiles of cadets from Air Force Academy: a pilot study.

Background: Intensive physical activity and rigid dietary regimes can act as modifiers of neuroendocrine axes in women, inducing hormonal disorders and related menstrual irregularities such as functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). It would be important to evaluate if such disturbances may worsen female fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate ovarian reserve markers and neuroendocrine axis in young military academy female cadets with years of training and occurrence of FHA.

Semaphorin 3A Increases in the Plasma of Women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve Who Respond Better to Controlled Ovarian Stimulation.

Semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A) plays a crucial role in the development, differentiation, and plasticity of specific types of neurons that secrete Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) and regulates the acquisition and maintenance of reproductive competence in humans and mice. Its insufficient expression has been linked to reproductive disorders in humans, which are characterized by reduced or failed sexual competence. Various mutations, polymorphisms, and alternatively spliced variants of SEMA3A have been associated with infertility.

Assessing ovarian stimulation with letrozole and levonorgestrel intrauterine system after combined fertility-sparing approach for atypical endometrial lesions: a retrospective case-control study.

Research Question: Is ovarian stimulation with levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in situ and co-treatment with letrozole safe and effective in patients undergoing fertility-sparing combined treatment for atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) or early endometrial cancer limited to the endometrium?

Design: Retrospective case-control study recruiting women who had undergone fertility-sparing 'combined' treatment and ovarian stimulation with letrozole and LNG-IUS in situ. The 'three steps' hysteroscopic technique was used. Once complete response was achieved, the ovaries were stimulated, and mature oocytes cryopreserved.

Corrigendum: Endometrial microbiota profile in fertilization (IVF) patients by culturomics-based analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.

Endometrial microbiota profile in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients by culturomics-based analysis.

Introduction: It is well recognized that the human uterus and adjoining tissues of the female reproductive tract exist in a non-sterile state where dysbiosis can impact reproductive outcomes. The endometrial microbiota is a part of this greater milieu. To date, it has largely been studied using 16S rRNA or metagenomics-based methodologies.

Correction: Post-liquefaction normospermic human semen behaves as a weak-gel viscoelastic fluid.

Correction for 'Post-liquefaction normospermic human semen behaves as a weak-gel viscoelastic fluid' by Giovanna Tomaiuolo , , 2023, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3sm00443k.

Post-liquefaction normospermic human semen behaves as a weak-gel viscoelastic fluid.

The rheological behavior of human semen is overlooked and essentially unexplored in the scientific literature. Here, we provide the first quantitative experimental evidence that post-liquafaction normospermic human semen behaves as a viscoelastic fluid and the shear moduli can be scaled according to the weak-gel model.

Genetic Variants of Gonadotropins and Their Receptors Could Influence Controlled Ovarian Stimulation: IVF Data from a Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background: Specific polymorphisms might influence controlled ovarian stimulation in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Data regarding possible interactions of these polymorphisms are still scanty. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the effect of polymorphisms of gonadotropins and their receptors in women undergoing ART.

Does Intrauterine Injection of hCG Improve IVF Outcome? A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis.

Various interventions have been proposed to improve embryo implantation in IVF. Among these, intrauterine injections of human chorionic gonadotropin seem to have promising results. Consequently, we conducted a review and meta-analysis to assess IVF outcomes by comparing couples who underwent intrauterine hCG injection transfer versus those who underwent embryo transfer with intrauterine injection of placebo, or without any additional intervention.

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome after GnRH Agonist Triggering and Freeze-All Protocol? Never Not, Hardly Ever: A Systematic Review of Case Reports.

Introduction: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a severe complication associated with controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) triggering is considered an efficient strategy to prevent OHSS in the high-risk patient.

Methods: We performed a review of 11 cases of early and severe OHSS following GnRH-a triggering and freeze-all protocol.

Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue: the biggest challenge of oncofertility.

Survival rates after cancer diagnosis and treatment have been raising through the last decades. Nowadays, oncofertility represents a useful strategy for young women affected by cancer to preserve their ovarian function and their family planning opportunity. Apart from more diffused techniques as cryopreservation of mature oocytes after controlled ovarian stimulation and gonadal downregulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist depots, the cryopreservation of the cortical region of the ovarian tissue, which contains 90% of the follicular reserve, and later autologous transplant represent a possible and intriguing strategy.

Maternal and perinatal complications according to maternal age: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the risk levels for maternal and perinatal complications at > 40, > 45 and > 50 years old compared with younger controls.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched from their inception until March 2021. We included studies reporting pregnancy outcome in pregnant women aged 40, 45, and 50 years or older compared with controls at the time of delivery.

Luteal Phase Support Using Subcutaneous Progesterone: A Systematic Review.

Luteal phase support (LPS) is crucial in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles when the luteal phase has been found to be defective. Such deficiency is most likely related to the supraphysiological steroid levels that usually occurr in stimulated cycles which, in turn, could severely affect luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and function, thereby negatively influencing the luteal phase. A number of different medications and routes have been successfully used for LPS in ART.

Unravelling the link between phthalate exposure and endometriosis in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

Purpose: Endometriosis is a chronic debilitating inflammatory pathology which interests females in their reproductive age. Its pathogenesis has not yet been clearly defined. Recent evidence linked chemical agents as endocrine-disrupting chemicals to endometriosis.

Microbiological Evaluation and Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Semen Samples of Patients Undergoing Fertility Investigation.

Fifteen percent of male infertility is associated with urogenital infections; several pathogens are able to alter the testicular and accessory glands' microenvironment, resulting in the impairment of biofunctional sperm parameters. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of urogenital infections on the quality of 53 human semen samples through standard analysis, microbiological evaluation, and molecular characterization of sperm DNA damage. The results showed a significant correlation between infected status and semen volume, sperm concentration, and motility.

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing: Current Perspectives and Future Challenges.

Fetal aneuploidies are among the most common causes of miscarriages, perinatal mortality and neurodevelopmental impairment. During the last 70 years, many efforts have been made in order to improve prenatal diagnosis and prenatal screening of these conditions. Recently, the use of cell-free fetal DNA (cff-DNA) testing has been increasingly used in different countries, representing an opportunity for non-invasive prenatal screening of pregnant women.

Bisphenol A-Induced Epigenetic Changes and Its Effects on the Male Reproductive System.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread chemical agent which can exert detrimental effects on the male reproductive system. Exposure to BPA has been shown to induce several epigenetic modifications in both animal and human cells. Specifically, BPA could not only modify the methylation pattern of multiple genes encoding proteins related to reproductive physiology but also directly influence the genes responsible for DNA methylation.

COVID-19 and assisted reproductive technology services: repercussions for patients and proposal for individualized clinical management.

The prolonged lockdown of health services providing high-complexity fertility treatments -as currently recommended by many reproductive medicine entities- is detrimental for society as a whole, and infertility patients in particular. Globally, approximately 0.3% of all infants born every year are conceived using assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments.

The role of recombinant LH in women with hypo-response to controlled ovarian stimulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To study the role of recombinant human LH supplementation in women with hypo-response to ovarian stimulation.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective clinical trials in which recombinant FSH monotherapy protocols were compared with LH-supplemented protocols in hypo-responders. A search was conducted of the Scopus, MEDLINE databases without time or language restrictions.

The Distribution of Stroma and Antral Follicles Differs between Insulin-Resistance and Hyperandrogenism-Related Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Introduction: Although insulin resistance plays an important pathogenetic role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), no correlation between ultrasound PCOS pattern and insulin resistance has yet been reported. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to assess whether the ovarian ultrasonographic parameter differed between PCOS women with insulin resistance and those with a hyperandrogenic profile.

Materials And Methods: Women who fulfilled the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS were retrospectively studied.

In Estimated Good Prognosis Patients Could Unexpected "Hyporesponse" to Controlled Ovarian Stimulation be Related to Genetic Polymorphisms of FSH Receptor?

It has been reported that 10% to 15% of young normogonadotrophic women show suboptimal response to standard gonadotropin-releasing hormone-a long protocol. These patients require higher doses of exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This phenomenon could be associated with genetic characteristics.

The effect of FT500 Plus(®) on ovarian stimulation in PCOS women.

Both oxidative stress and polycystic ovary syndrome have been involved in several aspects of female reproduction. In this retrospective observational study, the outcome of controlled ovarian stimulation and follicular microenvironment of twenty-five women affected by PCOS (Group A) have been explored, evaluating the effects of myo-inositol in association with antioxidant activities (FT500 Plus(®)). Twenty-five untreated-PCOS women (Group B) with similar characteristics served as control group.

Techniques to reduce blood loss during open myomectomy: a qualitative review of literature.

Open myomectomy is the most adopted surgical strategy in the conservative treatment of uterine fibroids. According to several studies, the likelihood that a woman could develop uterine myomas is estimated around 75% by the age of 50. Open myomectomy is nonetheless a complicated surgery in terms of blood loss and need for transfusion.