Physicochemical and Functional Characterization of Female Reproductive Fluids: A Report of the First Two Infants Born Following Addition of Their Mother's Fluids to the Embryo Culture Media.

Culture media supplemented with reproductive fluids (RF) have been used in livestock species, improving the efficiency and quality of produced embryos. However, usefulness in humans is still unknown. In this study, we collected human reproductive fluids (HRFs) (from 25 patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy plus bilateral salpingectomy) and (from 31 oocyte donors).

Total urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) levels in seminal plasma are associated with positive assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

Purpose: The plasminogen/plasmin system is an important extracellular protease system whose function has been implicated in male reproductive function. However, its clinical relevance to fertility in human assisted reproduction technologies has not been systematically investigated. Here, we examined whether total and active populations of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in human seminal plasma and spermatozoa are predictive of pregnancy outcome in couples undergoing insemination or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Polycystic ovary syndrome throughout a woman's life.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among reproductive-aged women and the main cause of infertility due to anovulation. However, this syndrome spans the lives of women affecting them from in-utero life until death, leading to several health risks that can impair quality of life and increase morbidity and mortality rates. Fetal programming may represent the beginning of the condition characterized by hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance which leads to a series of medical consequences in adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves seminal antioxidant status and decreases sperm DNA fragmentation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) dietary supplementation on semen quality, fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity, and DNA fragmentation. In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, 74 subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to either the placebo group (n=32) or to the DHA group (n=42) to consume three 500-mg capsules of oil per day over 10 weeks. The placebo group received 1,500 mg/day of sunflower oil and the DHA group 1,500 mg/day of DHA-enriched oil.

Strategies to manage refractory endometrium: state of the art in 2016.

The endometrium is one of a number of factors involved in achieving optimal outcomes after assisted reproductive treatment. Owing to its "passive" growth following adequate ovarian stimulation, it has received virtually no attention. Only when either endometrial thickness or ultrasonographic pattern seem inadequate have different strategies been assessed to try to improve it, especially in those cases where it seems difficult or impossible to make it grow.

Collapse of blastocysts is strongly related to lower implantation success: a time-lapse study.

Study Question: Is there an association between blastocyst collapse patterns and implantation potential?

Summary Answer: Embryos that exhibit collapse are as likely to hatch as those that do not, but are less likely to implant and should not be replaced if alternatives are available.

What Is Known Already: Studies of blastocyst collapse in different species of mammals have found that most blastocysts, that experience consecutive weak contractions, hatch successfully whereas those that exhibit strong contractions or collapse, fail to hatch.

Study Design, Size, Duration: Retrospective cohort study.

Assessment of two thawing processes of cryopreserved human sperm in pellets.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of the thawing methodology on sperm function after cryopreservation in pellets. We compared the use of two thawing procedures: method (1) maintaining pellet for 10 min in air at room temperature, then another 10-min period in air at 37°C followed by dilution in a thawing medium; and method (2) immersing the pellets directly in thawing medium at 37°C for 20 min. This procedure leads to a higher rate of temperature increase and a dilution of the glycerol present in the freezing medium.

Could the addition of hp-hMG and GnRH antagonists modulate the response in IVF-ICSI cycles?

Objective: To assess if the luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin present in some gonadotropin formulations may be of benefit in protocols with GnRH antagonists.

Methods: Open, quasi-experimental, multicenter, prospective, parallel-controlled study compared 136 women undergoing in vitro fertilization--intracytoplasmic sperm injection after stimulation with highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin (hp-hMG) (n = 44), recombinant-follicle stimulating hormone (r-FSH) (n = 46), or a combination of both (r FSH + hp-hMG) (n = 46) following an antagonist protocol. Blood determinations were made on day 6 of stimulation and on the day of ovulation induction, with centralized analysis.

Effect of genistein supplementation of thawing medium on characteristics of frozen human spermatozoa.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of genistein supplementation of the thawing extender on frozen-thawed human semen parameters. We analyzed the effect of supplementation on sperm motility, capacitation (membrane lipid disorder), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, chromatin condensation and DNA damage. Using this preliminary information, it maybe possible to improve the cryopreservation process and reduce the cellular damage.

The non-ergot derived dopamine agonist quinagolide in prevention of early ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in IVF patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) seems to be induced by the ovarian release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which increases vascular permeability. Dopamine agonists inhibit VEGF receptor phosphorylation and thereby decrease vascular permeability.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study assessing three oral doses (50, 100, 200 microg/day) of the non-ergot derived dopamine agonist quinagolide started on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and continued for 17-21 days without dose-titration in comparison to placebo in preventing moderate/severe early OHSS (onset < or =9 days after hCG administration) in 182 IVF patients with > or =20 but less than 30 follicles > or =10 mm.

Cytogenetic analysis of early nonviable pregnancies after assisted reproduction treatment.

In our series, a very high prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities was observed in spontaneous miscarriages, irrespective of how pregnancy was achieved, by assisted reproductive technology (ART) or natural conception. This high prevalence was equally represented in both groups, with no statistical difference in type of chromosomal abnormalities or in total frequency; however, the incidence of monosomy X is increased and the polyploidies are decreased in abortus after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) when it is compared with miscarriages after spontaneous gestations.

Effects of men and recipients' age on the reproductive outcome of an oocyte donation program.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of men and recipient age on the reproductive outcome of our oocyte donation program.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 915 cycles, taking into account men and recipient age, separately and together.

Results: The significant cut off value for men and recipients age with incidence in the reproductive outcome was 39 years.

Use of letrozole in assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Letrozole is the third-generation aromatase inhibitor (AI) most widely used in assisted reproduction. AIs induce ovulation by inhibiting estrogen production; the consequent hypoestrogenic state increases GnRH release and pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) synthesis.

Methods: A systematic search of the literature was performed for both prospective and retrospective studies.