An auto-controlled prospective comparison of two embryos culture media (G III series versus ISM) for IVF and ICSI treatments.

Purpose: To compare the effects of 2 different media on embryo morphology and development at days 2/3.

Method: Six hundred seventy-six attempts from 512 couples were included in this prospective auto-controlled study. Sibling oocytes of all couples undergoing an IVF (n = 286) or ICSI (n = 390) attempt were randomly assigned to either GIII series (Vitrolife) or ISM (Medicult) media.

[Is there an interest in the addition of hyaluronan to human embryo culture in IVF/ICSI attempts?].

Objective: Several studies have been performed up to date, in order to assess whether the addition of hyaluronan (HA) in human embryo culture could improve the probability of pregnancy, leading, however, to controversies. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether the use of a HA-enriched transfer medium increases clinical pregnancy (PR) and implantation rates (IR), compared with the use of a conventional transfer medium.

Patients And Methods: All IVF/ICSI attempts from unselected women were included from January 2009 to July 2009 (study group).

A prospective randomized study to compare four different mineral oils used to culture human embryos in IVF/ICSI treatments.

Objective(s): We aimed to evaluate and compare the embryo quality at early cleavage stages using different oils overlaying media to culture human embryos during IVF/ICSI treatments.

Study Design: A total of 500 IVF/ICSI treatments from 500 women were analyzed in a prospective randomized study. Oocytes/embryos were treated into microdroplets of appropriate media overlaid with (i) Mineral Oil (CryoBioSystem, L'Aigle, France) (group 1, n=129), (ii) Liquid Paraffin (Medicult, Lyon, France) (group 2, n=126), (iii) Nidoil (Nidacon International, Guthenburg, Sweden) (group 3, n=126) and (iv) Ovoil (Vitrolife, Kungsbacka, Sweden) (group 4, n=119).

[Prospective evaluation of the impact of sperm characteristics on the outcome of intra-uterine insemination].

Objectives: Thresholds of sperm parameters associated with intrauterine insemination (IUI) success are controversial. This entails heterogeneous practices and leads to low success rate (approximately 8% per attempt). The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sperm parameters on the outcome of IUI.

Short gamete co-incubation during in vitro fertilization decreases the fertilization rate and does not improve embryo quality: a prospective auto controlled study.

Purpose: Evaluate the effect of short gamete incubation on fertilization rate and embryo quality.

Methods: A prospective study has been performed. Two thousand five hundred and forty seven sibling oocytes from 240 couples undergoing IVF attempts were allocated to a short (1 h) or a standard (18 h) insemination procedure.

[A prospective auto-controlled study to evaluate the interest of selected sperm morphology to inseminate oocytes during IVF].

Objectives: Since we observed in our laboratory a significant decrease of the fertilization rate in the classical IVF procedure compared to ICSI, we wanted to evaluate a new insemination procedure, using sperm morphology of selected semen as a criterion taken into account to calculate the number of mobile sperm to inseminate.

Patients And Methods: Therefore, we designed a prospective autocontrolled study which took place from September 2006 to May 2007. All IVF attempts resulting from infertile couples were included in the study if a previous analysis (lesser than one year) of sperm parameters performed in our laboratory was assessed as normal.

[Prospective evaluation of elective single-embryo transfer versus double-embryo transfer following in vitro fertilization: a two-year French hospital experience].

Objective: Multiple embryo transfer is responsible for a high rate of multiple pregnancies (ICSI), with subsequent risks of premature birth and perinatal death. This prospective non randomized study aimed to assess the ability of an elective single-embryo transfer (eSET) policy to reduce the twin pregnancy rate, compared to a double embryo transfer (DET) approach.

Patients And Methods: Between March 2005 and May 2006, 180 eligible women were proposed to benefit from an eSET transfer rather than a DET.

Day 3 compared with day 2 cryopreservation does not affect embryo survival but improves the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfers.

A retrospective study was performed to determine the differences in embryo survival and frozen-thawed embryo transfers outcome between cryopreservation performed on day 3 versus day 2. We conclude that freezing supernumerary embryos on day 3 provides similar thawing survival parameters, better implantation, pregnancy, and live-birth rates compared with day 2 cryopreservation.

A prospective randomized study to assess the benefit of partial zona pellucida digestion before frozen-thawed embryo transfers.

Background: Assisted hatching (AH) in fresh embryo transfer (ET) could be associated with increased implantation rates. However, very few prospective randomized studies have specifically addressed the issue of AH during frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FET) cycles, those that have reported controversial results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of an enzymatic zona pellucida treatment of frozen-thawed embryos before transfer.

Chromosome segregation in an infertile man carrying a unique pericentric inversion, inv(21)(p12q22.3), analysed using fluorescence in situ hybridization on sperm nuclei: significance for clinical genetics. A case report.

We report the case of a 40-year-old patient referred to our centre after 3 years of infertility. Karyotyping with the aid of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed a unique pericentric inversion of chromosome 21:46,XY,inv(21)(p12q22.3).

World Health Organization grade 'a' motility and zona-binding test accurately predict IVF outcome for mild male factor and unexplained infertilities.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the pronostic value of a sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) binding assay, combined with World Health Organization (WHO) grade 'a' sperm motility on the day of the IVF attempt, to predict sperm fertilizing ability in unexplained and moderate male factor infertilities.

Methods: In total, 84 couples (64 unexplained infertility; 20 male factor) underwent both a sperm-ZP binding assay and an IVF attempt, irrespective of the test's result. The test was negative when grade 'a' motility was #5% and/or the ZP binding index was <0.

[Spontaneous pregnancies and premature menopause].

Hypoestrogenic hypergonadotrophic amenorrhea occurring before the age of 40 years is generally considered irreversible. The term "premature menopause" used to define this condition seems a misnomer, and "premature ovarian failure" (POF) is preferred on both a psychological and a physiological basis. POF is not uncommon considering the incidence rate of 1-2% of women during their theoretically reproductive life.

[Oocytes in vitro maturation: results and future in humans].

Mature oocytes are rare and highly specialized cells. In vitro maturation of human oocytes is an emerging assisted reproductive technology allowing to produce more mature oocytes without ovarian stimulation. Whereas in vitro maturation is technically more demanding than conventional in vitro fertilization for the laboratory, it carries many potential advantages, for example, in terms of lower treatment heaviness and removal of risk of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome for the patients.

Familial sperm polyploidy induced by genetic spermatogenesis failure: case report.

We report a case of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in a 40 year-old patient with a familial history that revealed multiple cases of infertility and perinatal deaths. The patient's semen sample contained 2x10(6) spermatozoa/ml, with an overall progressively motile population of <5%. Cytological analysis revealed a teratozoospermia with 100% of abnormal macrocephalic sperm heads and an irregular acrosomal cap in 38% of cells.

[Results of oocyte donation in France (Study Group on Oocyte Donation)].

The French study group on oocyte donation, named GEDO, reports the results concerning the oocyte donation activity in France during 1998, including information from all the centers in effective operation except one. These data describe the recipients' and donors' situation and give the analysis of the results obtained.

[Results of oocyte donation in France (GEDO)].

The French study group on oocyte donation, named GEDO, reports the results concerning the oocyte donation activity in France from 1994 to 1997, with the informations of all the centers, in effective operation. These data describe the recipients' and donors' situation and give the analysis of the results obtained.

Factors influencing human sperm kinematic measurements by the Celltrak computer-assisted sperm analysis system.

This study examines the effect of varying several factors, both extrinsic and technology-dependent, on the reconstruction of human sperm trajectories and the derived kinematic measurements using videotapes and the Motion Analysis Celltrak/S instrument. In semen samples from normal healthy men, curvilinear (VCL) and straight line velocities (VSL) were found to increase 1.5-fold, and linearity (LIN) of trajectories and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) increased 1.

Chromosome 21 detection in human oocyte fluorescence in situ hybridization: possible effect of maternal age.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate, among 100 uncleaved oocytes, the incidence of numerical and structural chromosome 21 and X abnormalities and to analyze the influence of various factors, such as in vitro (IVF) indications, follicle stimulation protocols, and women's age.

Methods: We investigated 150 uncleaved oocytes from 128 patients after an IVF attempt. After cytogenetic analysis (Giemsa) 100 oocytes (66%) were selected for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

The hormonal flare-up following gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist administration is influenced by a progestogen pretreatment.

In a short-term protocol, the influence of progestogen pretreatment upon the oestradiol flare-up (delta E2) induced by gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) was assessed in relation to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome in 90 cycles programmed (n = 52) or not (n = 38) by norethisterone (10 mg/day for 12-20 days). Patients pretreated by progestogen had a significantly lower delta E2 value than patients without pretreatment (delta E2 = 26 +/- 5 versus 61 +/- 8 pg/ml, P = 0.003).

[Cytogenetic analysis of human oocytes after sperm microinjection].

After standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) chromosome analysis of uncleaved oocytes has shown that in about 80% of the cases, there was no fertilization at all while in 10% of the cases there was a premature chromosome condensation and a development arrest. After micro-injection our results suggest that both the technique itself and the pathologies which require micro-injection can influence the results. On the other hand about 20-30% of the metaphase II oocytes are cytogenetically abnormal after IVF attempt while ICSI might increase chromosome breakage.

Optic atrophy, microcephaly, mental retardation and mosaic variegated aneuploidy: a human mitotic mutation.

A 12-year-old girl presents with optic atrophy, pale papilla, amblyopia and microcephaly (-3 s.d.) with mild mental retardation and facial dysmorphism.

Effects of short-term GnRH agonist--human menopausal gonadotrophin stimulation in patients pre-treated with progestogen.

The recent use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist in a short-term regimen has allowed the effectiveness of human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) stimulation to be markedly improved. It seems to be related to the flare-up effect of the agonist in the early follicular phase of the cycle. However, individual hormonal responses to the agonist are quite variable and four patterns of oestradiol secretion have been described.

Chromosome analysis of multipronuclear human oocytes after in vitro fertilization.

Multipronuclear human eggs are frequent after in vitro fertilization. Their chromosome analysis can provide useful information. Before cleavage it can confirm the suspected polyploidy.

Cytogenetic study of human oocytes uncleaved after in-vitro fertilization.

Chromosome analysis of oocytes uncleaved after IVF allows the cause of the failure of cleavage to be determined and shows the incidence of chromosome disorders among human oocytes. A total of 198 uncleaved oocytes fixed 40 h after insemination were successfully analysed according to Tarkowski's air-drying method: 78.3% were unfertilized and arrested in metaphase II.

Interest of growth hormone-releasing hormone administration for improvement of ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins in poor responder women.

Objective: We have investigated the beneficial effect of a somatotroph axis stimulation on ovarian response to gonadotropin.

Design: Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GH-RH) was administered in a prospective study in women undergoing an in vitro fertilization protocol.

Patients: Twelve patients were selected for their poor ovarian response to previous stimulations using gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRH-a) and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG).