Elagolix Represents a Less Invasive and Cheaper Option than Injectable GnRH Antagonist for Ovulation Suppression in IVF.

Background: The injectable GnRH antagonists have traditionally been used for ovulation suppression during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in IVF, leading to increased painful daily injections and cost. The use of the oral GnRH antagonist elagolix for ovulation suppression in IVF has not been studied.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing IVF received either oral elagolix 50 mg every other day or ganirelix/cetrotide injection daily for ovulation suppression during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Live Birth Following a Two-Way Transport In Vitro Fertilization Using a Portable Incubator: A Novel Protocol Executed During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This case presents a live birth of a complete "two-way transport IVF" using a portable incubator during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing the patient to undergo both oocyte collection and embryo transfer in a satellite office located 30 miles, 2-h drive, away from the central IVF laboratory. A 30-year-old patient who lives on Long Island NY, with a history of unexplained infertility and previously failed intra-uterine inseminations (IUI), had a telehealth consultation for IVF. Because of the high prevalence of the COVID-19 virus in Manhattan-NYC where the central IVF laboratory is located, the patient was consented to undergo a two-way transport IVF.

Intraovarian platelet-rich plasma administration could improve blastocyst euploidy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Objective: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has received a considerable attention as an adjunct to fertility treatments, especially in women with very low ovarian reserve and premature ovarian insufficiency. Although recent studies have demonstrated that PRP led to improvements in folliculogenesis and biomarkers of ovarian reserve, the effect of intraovarian PRP administration on embryo genetics has not been studied.

Methods: We report a pilot study of patients who had preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) before and then within 3 months following PRP administration.

Contribution of Advanced Glycation End Products to PCOS Key Elements: A Narrative Review.

In the last decade, data has suggested that dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in both reproductive and metabolic dysfunctions associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). AGEs are highly reactive molecules that are formed by the non-enzymatic glycation process between reducing sugars and proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids. They can be formed endogenously under normal metabolic conditions or under abnormal situations such as diabetes, renal disease, and other inflammatory disorders.

A Case of Asthenozoospermia Following COVID-19 Infection.

Purpose: Studies pertaining to the effect of COVID-19 infection on male fertility are scarce. This case report describes a case of transient asthenozoospermia, absence of sperm motility, following a moderately severe COVID-19 infection.

Case: A couple presenting for infertility treatment due to low ovarian reserve presented for their second intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Impact of Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products on Female Reproduction: Review of Potential Mechanistic Pathways.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a heterogenous group of products formed by the reaction between protein and reducing sugars, can form endogenously due to non-enzymatic reactions or by exogenous sources such as diet where considerable increase in AGEs is observed due to the modification of food mainly by thermal processing. Recent studies have suggested that AGEs could impact, via inducing inflammation and oxidative stress, the reproductive health and fertility in both males and females. This review presents a summary of recently published data pertaining to the pathogenesis of dietary AGEs and their receptors as well as their potential impact on female reproductive health.

Ovarian response to intraovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP) administration: hypotheses and potential mechanisms of action.

Purpose: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been used as an adjunct to fertility treatments in women with very low ovarian reserve and premature ovarian insufficiency. Recent literature in both humans and animals suggest that intraovarian PRP administration in the setting of poor ovarian reserve may help ovarian function and increase the chances of pregnancy.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search through PubMed, MEDLINE databases, and recent abstracts published at relevant society meetings was performed and resulted in 25 articles and 2 abstracts published that studied effect of PRP on the ovaries for the purpose of reproduction.

Intraovarian PRP Injection Improved Hot Flashes in a Woman With Very Low Ovarian Reserve.

PRP, rich in growth factors and cytokines, has been gaining considerable attention as an adjunct therapy to fertility treatment for women with very low ovarian reserve and premature ovarian insufficiency. To date, most prior studies have focused on the effect of PRP on ovarian response pertaining to oocyte production and pregnancy outcome following assisted reproductive technology. This report presents a patient with very low ovarian reserve, with medical problems that preclude her from taking hormone replacement therapy, who presented for fertility treatment with PRP and then accidentally reported significant improvement of menopausal symptoms including her hot flashes for 14 weeks following PRP intra-ovarian injection.

Use of Intra-uterine Injection of Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) for Endometrial Receptivity and Thickness: a Literature Review of the Mechanisms of Action.

Endometrial receptivity and thickness play an important role in achieving a pregnancy. Intrauterine autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) infusion has been used in infertile women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and thin endometrial lining thickness (EMT). Literature search was performed in PubMed for studies including in vitro, animal, and human studies as well as in abstracts presented at national conferences.

Unexplained First Trimester Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a condition that usually affects the 3 trimester-pregnant women and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We present a 31-year-old G2P1 patient with symptoms of ICP as early as 10 weeks of gestation (WG). Her pruritis was initially attributed to eczema.

International authorship in leading world journals on incontinence and pelvic floor disorders: Is it truly international?

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to compare the authorship in the Journal of Neurourology and Urodynamics (NAU) and the International Urogynecology Journal (IUJ) across two categories: country members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and non-members of OECD (non-OECD). The secondary aim is to explore the obstacles in publishing in these two journals.

Study Design: NAU and IUJ articles between June 2014 and June 2018 were manually screened and divided into 2 categories depending on the country of affiliation of the corresponding author: OECD versus non-OECD.

Abdominal Fascia Closure Techniques During Laparoscopy.

Due to its decreased recovery time and increased patient satisfaction, laparoscopic surgery has witnessed an exponential rise in the last decade. In fact, the indications for laparoscopic surgery are currently numerous and involve multiple disciplines, including gastro-intestinal and gynecological surgery. With this boom, there is much focus on decreasing the rate of complications due to laparoscopy.