Trophectoderm, Inner Cell Mass, and Expansion Status for Live Birth Prediction After Frozen Blastocyst Transfer: The Winner Is Trophectoderm.

Despite advancements in technologies such as time-lapse microscopy and artificial intelligence, the gold standard for embryo selection still relies on standard morphological assessment. Several studies have investigated the correlation between blastocyst characteristics (expansion status, inner cell mass, and trophectoderm) and clinical outcomes, reaching contradictory results. In consideration of these ambiguities in the literature, we performed a retrospective study of 1546 untested first-vitrified-warmed single day 5/6 blastocyst transfers.

Are you aware of your citations? A cross-sectional survey on improper citations of retracted articles in assisted reproduction.

Research Question: Are authors aware when they have cited a retracted paper in their manuscripts in the medically assisted reproduction (MAR) field?

Design: A cross-sectional study based on an online survey was conducted to acquire information on the citation pattern from corresponding authors who had cited a retracted article. A dataset of retracted articles in the MAR field was collected from PubMed and Retraction Watch. A complete list of published articles that cited each retracted article was retrieved.

Thinking in context: Fibroids-to-uterine volume ratio in pre-surgical fertility evaluation for intramural fibroids.

Objective: To explore the utility of the total fibroids-to-uterine volume (FTUV) ratio as a simple, preoperative tool to assist in counseling patients seeking pregnancy who are undergoing myomectomy for intramural (IM) fibroids.

Study Design: This is an historical cohort study on reproductive-aged patients seeking pregnancy who underwent laparotomic myomectomy for intramural fibroids from January 2017 to December 2021. Only G3 to G5 fibroids, according to the 2011 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification, were included.

To Assess or Not to Assess: Reconsidering Day 3 Embryo Quality in Planned Freeze-All Blastocyst Cycles.

Day 3 embryo quality is a predictor of in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates in cleavage-stage embryo transfer. However, the association between day 3 embryo quality and clinical outcomes in blastocyst transfer policy is largely unknown. This retrospective study included 1074 frozen-thawed single day 5/6 blastocyst transfers between January 2019 and December 2022.

Response to "Letter to the Editor: The Promise and Pitfalls of AI-Generated Anatomical Images: Evaluating Midjourney for Aesthetic Surgery Applications".

This response letter answers a query regarding our study on the use of the Midjourney app in aesthetic surgery. The original study questioned the utility of Midjourney in enhancing surgical skills, patient understanding, and communication effectiveness. The response highlights the challenges and potential of AI in medical visualization, advocating for meticulous development and evaluation.

Role of Follicle-stimulating Hormone, Inhibin B, and Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Predicting Sperm Retrieval from Men with Nonobstructive Azoospermia Undergoing Microdissection Testicular Sperm Extraction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: No clear-cut markers for predicting positive sperm retrieval (+SR) at microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) have been identified thus far. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the ability of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B (InhB), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) to predict +SR in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing mTESE.

Methods: We performed a search in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement.

Too many embryos: a critical perspective on a global challenge.

Over the past decade, significant endeavors have been directed toward establishing an optimal oocyte number to maximize the chances for successful in vitro fertilization outcomes. The effectiveness of assisted reproductive technologies has greatly improved, and more good-quality embryos are being created in each cycle. However, many of these embryos remain unused.

The Promise and Pitfalls of AI-Generated Anatomical Images: Evaluating Midjourney for Aesthetic Surgery Applications.

Backgrounds: The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems, such as Midjourney, has paved the way for their use in medical training, producing computer-generated images. However, despite clear disclosures stating that these images are not intended for medical consultations, their accuracy and realism are yet to be thoroughly examined.

Methods: A series of requests were addressed to the Midjourney AI tool, a renowned generative artificial intelligence application, with a focus on depicting appropriate systemic anatomy and representing aesthetic surgery operations.

The relationship between CYP19A1 gene expression in luteinized granulosa cells and follicular estradiol output in women with endometriosis.

Endometriosis was claimed to negatively affect the intrafollicular environment, hindering oocyte competence. Previous studies evaluated expression levels of cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19A) in granulosa and cumulus oophorus cells collected from endometriosis women, but results are controversial. To further investigate the intrafollicular environment whose alteration may potentially disturb ovarian steroidogenesis in endometriosis, gene expression of CYP19A and of its upstream enzymes, StAR and 3βHSD was assessed in luteinized granulosa cells isolated from follicular fluids (FF) collected during Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) procedures in women with stage III-IV disease and from subjects without the condition.

The Task Matters: A Comprehensive Review and Proposed Literature Score of the Effects of Chemical and Physical Parameters on Embryo Developmental Competence.

To explore the effects of chemical and physical parameters on embryo developmental competence, we conducted a systematic search on PubMed for peer-reviewed original papers using specific keywords and medical subject heading terms. Studies of interest were selected from an initial cohort of 4141 potentially relevant records retrieved. The most relevant publications were critically evaluated to identify the effect of these parameters on embryo development.

Effect of ejaculatory abstinence period on fertilization and clinical outcomes in ICSI cycles: a retrospective analysis.

Research Question: Does ejaculatory abstinence impact fertilization outcomes in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in infertile couples?

Design: This single-centre retrospective observational study included 6919 ICSI cycles from 2013 to 2022. The primary outcome was the assessment of oocyte fertilization, measured in terms of the rate of formation of two-pronuclear (2PN), 3PN and 1PN zygotes. Secondary outcomes were blastulation, cumulative positive β-human chorionic gonadotrophin test and clinical pregnancy rates.

Fertility Preservation as an Option for Women with Genetic Disorders: Insights from a SWOT Analysis on Elective Oocyte Freezing and Preimplantation Genetic Testing.

This paper uses a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to overview the option of fertility preservation in women with genetic diseases, who would later use preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders, in order to not transmit their condition. Strengths associated with elective oocyte freezing are ethical considerations, overall maternal and fetal safety, and effectiveness, if performed at <35 years of age. Weaknesses are related to costs and rare but present (<1-3%) risks of maternal complications.

Response to Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Is Not Impaired in Young Patients with a Sarcoma: Results from a Monocentric Case-Control Study.

Sarcomas are relatively common in the young and their treatment can impair fertility. Fertility preservation can be achieved via the cryopreservation of gametes after controlled ovarian stimulation before cancer treatment. A reduced response to hormonal stimulation in patients suffering from certain types of malignancy is reported.

Anti-Müllerian hormone predicts positive sperm retrieval in men with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia-findings from a multi-centric cross-sectional study.

Study Question: Is it possible to identify a reliable marker of successful sperm retrieval (+SR) in men with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (iNOA) undergoing microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE)?

Summary Answer: A higher likelihood of +SR during mTESE is observed in men with iNOA and lower preoperative serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, with good predictive accuracy achieved using an AMH threshold of <4 ng/ml.

What Is Known Already: AMH has been previously linked to +SR in men with iNOA undergoing mTESE prior to ART.

Study Design, Size, Duration: A multi-centre cross-sectional study was carried out with a cohort of 117 men with iNOA undergoing mTESE at three tertiary-referral centres.

Concomitant Autoimmunity in Endometriosis Impairs Endometrium-Embryo Crosstalk at the Implantation Site: A Multicenter Case-Control Study.

Endometriosis and autoimmune diseases share a hyper-inflammatory state that might negatively impact the embryo-endometrium crosstalk. Inflammatory and immune deregulatory mechanisms have been shown to impair both endometrial receptivity and embryo competence at the implantation site. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential additional impact of co-existing autoimmunity in women affected by endometriosis on the early stages of reproduction.

Delayed blastocyst development is influenced by the level of progesterone on the day of trigger.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between progesterone (P) level on the day of trigger and time to blastulation in IVF cycles.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study with autologous IVF cycles performed at our Institution from January 2019 to December 2021. A total of 1109 IVF cycles were included.

"Better late than never but never late is better", especially in young women. A multicenter Italian study on diagnostic delay for symptomatic endometriosis.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the length of diagnostic delay of symptomatic endometriosis in Italy and analyse the presence of correlations between the socio-demographic status of patients and the clinical characteristics/type of diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in 10 tertiary Italian referral centres for diagnosis and treatment endometriosis. A total of 689 respondents with histologically proven endometriosis and onset of the disease with pain symptoms completed an on-line self-reported questionnaire written in their own language (World Endometriosis Research Foundation-Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project-Endometriosis Patient Questionnaire-Minimum) evaluating endometriosis related symptoms, family history of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, demographic data, as well as medical, reproductive, and obstetric history.

A prospective, observational study of chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage on follicular reserve and maturation.

Background: Chemotherapy negatively affects gonadal function, often resulting in premature ovarian failure (POF) due to ovarian reserve depletion. Mechanisms of gonadotoxicity, such as primordial follicle overactivation and "burnout", remain to be established. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) before treatment plays an important role in safeguarding fertility.

'Guess who'? An Italian multicentric study on pigmentation traits prevalence in endometriosis localizations.

Objectives: Previous evidence seems to support the more common presence of certain pigmentation types in women with endometriosis. The aim of this study was to assess the association of certain somatic phenotypes with specific localizations of the disease. The genetic makeup of those somatic traits may will help in better define the disease pathogenesis.

Ovarian failure risk in post-pubertal patients with cancer: a prognostic model.

To develop a predictive model for ovarian failure (OF) after chemotherapy in young post-pubertal women with cancer. Retrospective, monocentric cohort study including 348 patients referring to the Oncofertility Unit of San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy) from August 2011 to January 2020. A predictive model was constructed by multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis.

The effect of vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer on postnatal growth: a 1-year follow-up questionnaire study.

Research Question: Is postnatal growth of singletons aged 12 months born after vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (frozen embryo transfer [FET]) different from children born after fresh blastocyst transfer?

Design: A retrospective cohort study conducted at a single university-affiliated obstetrics and fertility centre between 2014 and 2016. Women who underwent fresh transfer or FET at blastocyst stage and obtained a singleton live birth were included. Propensity score inverse probability weighting was used to balance baseline maternal characteristics between fresh and FET cycles.