The number and rate of euploid blastocysts in women undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles are strongly dependent on ovarian reserve and female age.

Study Question: Can the possibility of having at least one euploid blastocyst for embryo transfer and the total number of euploid blastocysts be predicted for couples before they enter the IVF programme?

Summary Answer: Ovarian reserve and female age are the most important predictors of having at least one euploid blastocyst and the total number of euploid blastocysts.

What Is Known Already: The blastocyst euploidy rate among women undergoing ART has already been shown to significantly decrease with increasing female age, and the total number of euploid embryos is dependent on the blastocyst cohort size. However, the vast majority of published studies are based on retrospective analysis of data.

Which factors influence the success rate of egg donation programmes with imported vitrified oocytes?

Research Question: Which factors influence the success rate of egg donation programmes with imported vitrified oocytes?

Design: Observational longitudinal cohort study of 431 oocyte donation cycles conducted between January 2015 and February 2019. A total of 398 couples underwent an IVF cycle with imported donated vitrified eggs. All consecutive oocyte donation cycles conducted at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine of the European Hospital in Rome, Italy, were included.

Can sperm quality influence embryo development and its ploidy? Analysis of 811 blastocysts obtained from different sperm sources.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation between sperm quality and ploidy status of the derived blastocysts. We performed a retrospective analysis on a restricted pool of patients enrolling only those who had no female factors. Male patients with genetic factors affecting spermatogenesis were also excluded.

Cross-Validation of Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies for Diagnosis of Chromosomal Mosaicism and Segmental Aneuploidies in Preimplantation Embryos Model.

Detection of mosaic embryos is crucial to offer more possibilities of success to women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based preimplantation genetic testing are increasingly used for this purpose since their higher capability to detect chromosomal mosaicism in human embryos. In the recent years, new NGS systems were released, however their performance for chromosomal mosaicism are variable.

Using outcome data from one thousand mosaic embryo transfers to formulate an embryo ranking system for clinical use.

Objective: To study how the attributes of mosaicism identified during preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy relate to clinical outcomes, in order to formulate a ranking system of mosaic embryos for intrauterine transfer.

Design: Compiled analysis.

Setting: Multi-center.

The clinical use of time-lapse in human-assisted reproduction.

A major challenge in the assisted reproduction laboratory is to set up reproducible and efficient criteria to identify the embryo with the highest developmental potential. Over the years, several methods have been used worldwide with this purpose. Initially, standard morphology assessment was the only available strategy.

The complex relationship between female age and embryo euploidy.

Background: Female age is the strongest predictor of embryo chromosomal abnormalities and has a nonlinear relationship with the blastocyst euploidy rate: with advancing age there is an acceleration in the reduction of blastocyst euploidy. Aneuploidy was found to significantly increase with maternal age from 30% in embryos from young women to 70% in women older than 40 years old. The association seems mainly due to chromosomal abnormalities occurring in the oocyte.

When embryology meets genetics: the definition of developmentally incompetent preimplantation embryos (DIPE)-the consensus of two Italian scientific societies.

A clear definition of developmentally incompetent preimplantation embryo (DIPE) in literature is still missing, while several scientific societies are discussing this challenging topic. From both a clinical and scientific perspective, the identification of embryos unfit for reproductive purpose is crucial. This aim should be pursued in light of all diagnostic technologies for embryo evaluation, encompassing also genetic analyses, of recent implementation in IVF.

Phthalates and Bisphenol A: Presence in Blood Serum and Follicular Fluid of Italian Women Undergoing Assisted Reproduction Techniques.

Background: folliculogenesis is a strictly regulated process that may be affected by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) through sometimes not so clear molecular mechanisms.

Methods: we conducted a multicentric observational study involving six fertility centers across Italy, prospectively recruiting 122 women attending a fertility treatment. Recruited women had age ≤42 years, and normal ovarian reserve.

Cryopreserved Gamete and Embryo Transport: Proposed Protocol and Form Templates-SIERR (Italian Society of Embryology, Reproduction, and Research).

In Italy, the transport of cryopreserved biological material is controlled by several Decrees (Legislative Decree No. 191/2007 and No. 16/2010 and Health Ministry's Decree of October 10, 2012).

Preimplantation Genetic Testing: Where We Are Today.

Background: Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is widely used today in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) centers over the world for selecting euploid embryos for transfer and to improve clinical outcomes in terms of embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates.

Methods: We report the current knowledge concerning these procedures and the results from different clinical indications in which PGT is commonly applied.

Results: This paper illustrates different molecular techniques used for this purpose and the clinical significance of the different oocyte and embryo stage (polar bodies, cleavage embryo, and blastocyst) at which it is possible to perform sampling biopsies for PGT.

Comparison of euploidy rates of blastocysts in women treated with progestins or GnRH antagonist to prevent the luteinizing hormone surge during ovarian stimulation.

Study Question: Does the prevalence of euploid blastocysts differ between patients treated with progestin primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) and those treated with conventional ovarian stimulation?

Summary Answer: The numbers of blastocysts and euploid blastocysts per patient and the number of euploid embryos per injected oocyte are similar for patients undergoing progestin-primed ovarian stimulation and for those undergoing conventional ovarian stimulation with GnRH antagonist.

What Is Known Already: New approaches to ovarian stimulation have been developed based on the use of drugs administrable by mouth instead of via injections. Attention has been dedicated to progestins to block the LH surge.

Time of morulation and trophectoderm quality are predictors of a live birth after euploid blastocyst transfer: a multicenter study.

Objective: To investigate whether the morphodynamic characterization of a euploid blastocyst's development allows a higher prediction of a live birth after single-embryo-transfer (SET).

Design: Observational cohort study conducted in two phases: training and validation.

Setting: Private in vitro fertilization centers.

How 1 h of abstinence improves sperm quality and increases embryo euploidy rate after PGT-A: a study on 106 sibling biopsied blastocysts.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of different ejaculatory abstinence time frames (several days versus 1 h) on semen parameters, blastocysts ploidy rate, and clinical results in assisted reproduction cycles on sibling oocytes.

Methods: This is a prospective study including 22 preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) cycles performed between November 2015 and December 2018. Male partners with oligoastenoteratozoospermia produced two semen samples on the day of oocyte retrieval: the first one after several days of abstinence and the second, 1 h after the first one.

The aging male: Relationship between male age, sperm quality and sperm DNA damage in an unselected population of 3124 men attending the fertility centre for the first time.

Objective: the aim of our study was to put forward insights to treat any possible correlation among sperm quality, sperm DNA damage and male age as they may have fertility implications for men who choose to delay fatherhood.

Materials And Methods: Our study is a non-interventional retrospective analysis of 3124 semen samples from patients that were investigated for the conventional semen parameters. Tunel test assay was set up for the evaluation of the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI).

Testicular histopathology, semen analysis and FSH, predictive value of sperm retrieval: supportive counseling in case of reoperation after testicular sperm extraction (TESE).

Background: To provide indicators for the likelihood of sperm retrieval in patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction is a major issue in the management of male infertility by TESE. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of different parameters, including testicular histopathology, on sperm retrieval in case of reoperation in patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 486 patients who underwent sperm extraction for intracytoplasmic sperm injection and testicular biopsy.

Influence of human sperm origin, testicular or ejaculated, on embryo morphokinetic development.

In this retrospective observational study (October 2014 - July 2016), the impact of sperm origin on embryo morphokinetics and on clinical outcomes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection was evaluated. The developmental kinetics of embryos obtained either with testicular sperm (40 cycles; testicular sperm group) or with thawed donor sperm (26 cycles; donor sperm group) was analysed up to day-3 of culture with a time-lapse incubation system. In the testicular sperm group, all patients were affected by nonobstructive azoospermia.

Extent of chromosomal mosaicism influences the clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization treatments.

Objective: To assess whether the extent of chromosomal mosaicism can influence the success rate of IVF treatments.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Private genetic and assisted reproduction centers.

HCG administration after endogenous LH rise negatively influences pregnancy rate in modified natural cycle for frozen-thawed euploid blastocyst transfer: a pilot study.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether in a modified natural cycle (modified-NC) for a frozen-thawed single euploid blastocyst transfer, a critical LH value, above which human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration should be avoided, may be defined.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-seven patients underwent modified natural cycle in order to transfer a single frozen-thawed euploid blastocyst. All embryos were obtained by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and were biopsied at the blastocyst stage and analyzed by means of array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH).

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.