Cardiovascular safety of assisted reproductive technology: a meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: The increasing use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has raised concerns regarding its long-term cardiovascular safety due to potential hormonal imbalances and pro-thrombotic states. This study aimed to assess the long-term cardiovascular risk associated with fertility treatments in women.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed) from inception to January 2024.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the male reproductive tract: insights from semen analysis and cryopreservation.

Purpose: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, affects multiple organs, including the male reproductive system. While viral infections can harm male fertility through cytokine storms, the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on fertility are still unclear. Thus, this study aimed to examine the persistence of viral RNA and inflammatory responses in semen following SARS-CoV-2 infection and the safety of conventional freezing and vitrification techniques.

Rate of testicular histology failure in predicting successful testicular sperm extraction.

Background: The management of Non-Obstructive (NOA) Azoospermia or Obstructive Azoospermia (OA) patients relies on testicular sperm extraction (TESE) followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In NOA patients the sperm recovery is successful in only 50% of cases and therefore the ability to predict those patients with a high probability of achieving a successful sperm retrieval would be a great value in counselling the patient and his partner. Several studies tried to suggest predictors of a positive TESE (e.

Assisted reproductive technology outcomes in women with congenital uterine anomalies: a systematic review.

Purpose: The present systematic review aimed to assess the fecundity of women with congenital uterine anomalies (CUAs) undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Methods: The present systematic review of the literature was reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus, from database inception to 17th October 2023.

Predicting the pregnancy outcome: Uncovering the link between β-hCG, patient factors and live birth in IVF.

Objective: The objectives of the study were to correlate live birth rate with the initial level of β-hCG in all patients undergoing embryo transfer and develop a predictive model of live birth based on patients' and assisted reproductive technology (ART) characteristics.

Study Design: Single-center retrospective cohort study, including a total of 7587 positive first serum β-hCG from women who performed fresh and frozen embryo transfer. Twenty-one variables related to patient characteristics and treatment modalities were analyzed by step-wise univariate analysis followed by multivariate analysis.

Untangling the independent effect of endometriosis, adenomyosis, and ART-related factors on maternal, placental, fetal, and neonatal adverse outcomes: results from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Women with endometriosis may constitute a group at a particularly increased risk of pregnancy-related complications. Furthermore, women selected for assisted reproductive technology (ART) are exposed to additional endocrinological and embryological factors that have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective And Rationale: This study aimed to investigate the independent effect of endometriosis, adenomyosis, and various ART-related factors on adverse maternal, placental, fetal, and neonatal outcomes.

Efficacy and safety of follitropin delta for ovarian stimulation in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Follitropin delta is a novel recombinant follicle stimulating hormone preparation uniquely expressed in a human fetal retinal cell line by recombinant DNA technology. To date, no systematic review was available about the safety and the efficacy of the follitropin delta. The objective of this study was systematically reviewing the available literature and to provide updated evidence regarding the efficacy-safety profile of follitropin delta when compared to other gonadotropin formulations for ovarian stimulation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.

Reproductive and obstetric outcomes in TESE-ICSI cycles: A comparison between obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.

Purpose: Comparison of intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles with testicular sperm extraction in obstructive azoospermia and non-obstructive azoospermia are limited, and few studies have addressed obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Design: This study analyzed couples who underwent testicular sperm extraction-intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles for obstructive azoospermia and non-obstructive azoospermia to determine whether impaired spermatogenesis in non-obstructive azoospermia patients would lead to worse reproductive outcomes and higher rates of pregnancy complications and fetal anomalies. This study is a retrospective, single-center analysis of all testicular sperm cycles performed between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2020.

Steps forward in embryo transfer technique: a retrospective study comparing direct versus afterload catheters at different time frames.

Purpose: To assess whether embryo transfer (ET) technique can influence the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and its correlation with the embryo transfer difficulty.

Design: This single center retrospective cohort analysis of fresh and frozen single blastocyst transfers performed between January 2016 and December 2021 included fresh and frozen single blastocyst transfers performed during the study timeframe. Direct technique was the only one used from January 2016 to September 2017.

Implementing preconception expanded carrier screening in a universal health care system: A model-based cost-effectiveness analysis.

Purpose: The limited evidence available on the cost-effectiveness (CE) of expanded carrier screening (ECS) prevents its widespread use in most countries, including Italy. Herein, we aimed to estimate the CE of 3 ECS panels (ie, American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics [ACMG] Tier 1 screening, "Focused Screening," testing 15 severe, highly penetrant conditions, and ACMG Tier 3 screening) compared with no screening, the health care model currently adopted in Italy.

Methods: The reference population consisted of Italian couples seeking pregnancy with no increased personal/familial genetic risk.

A Monocentric Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial to Compare Single- and Double-Lumen Needles in Oocyte Retrieval Procedure in Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

The purpose was to determine any difference in outcomes, primarily in terms of number of retrieved oocytes per procedure, between two different needles used for oocytes retrieval procedure in Assisted Reproductive Technologies: the single-lumen needle (SLN) versus the double-lumen needle (DLN) with follicle flushing after aspiration. This randomized controlled trial included oocyte retrieval (OR) cycles for IVF and ICSI performed in 18 to 42-year-old women between March 2019 and January 2021 at a tertiary-care Fertility Center. A total of 200 ORs were randomized, 100 in each group.

Why are they not coming back? A single-center follow-up study on oncological women oocyte's storing for fertility preservation.

Introduction: Oocyte cryopreservation is a valid option for female cancer patients to preserve fertility. The number of patients undergoing fertility preservation (FP) cycles has increased over the past years. Nevertheless, the rates of patients returning to use their cryopreserved material have shown to be considerably low, ranging from 5-8%, but significant data regarding the reasons of such low return rates are scarce.

Sperm human papillomavirus infection and risk of idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss: insights from a multicenter case-control study.

Objective: To test the hypothesis claiming an association between human papilloma virus (HPV) sperm infection and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

Design: Multicenter retrospective case-control study.

Setting: Three university hospitals.

Ectopic pregnancy risk factors in infertile patients: a 10-year single center experience.

The present retrospective study included both intrauterine insemination and in vitro assisted reproductive technologies (ART) procedures performed from January 2009 to December 2018 at a tertiary-care Fertility Centre. The purpose was to assess the incidence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) in infertile population who undergoes ART and to identify any risk factor impacting the occurrence of EP after ART. Among 27,376 cycles, 7352 pregnancies were achieved, of which 132 were EPs, the 1.

Monozygotic twin rate among ART centers: a multicenter analysis of data from 18 Italian units.

Purpose: The risk of monozygotic twins (MZTs) is increased in couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments. Several systematic reviews have investigated the possible determinants linked to ART, but results obtained have not been conclusive. The study aims to investigate whether the incidence of MZT differed among ART centers.

The actual impact of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic on IVF activity: a survey across Italian ART centers.

Purpose: Since the end of February 2020, SARS-CoV-2 dramatically spread in Italy. To ensure that most of National Health System (NHS) resources were employed to control the pandemic, non-urgent medical procedures (including IVF) were suspended in March 2020. Here, we aimed at assessing the impact of the restrictive measures on Italian IVF activity.

Luteinizing hormone supplementation in women with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism seeking fertility care: Insights from a narrative review.

The management of infertile women affected by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) or conditions mimicking it is particularly challenging. In the present narrative review, we aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the benefit (if any) of exogenous luteinizing hormone (LH) supplementation in this group of patients. Available data support LH supplementation in women with organic or functional HH.

Different actors for the same play: the impact of the embryologist performing the embryo transfer.

Research Question: Does the embryologist performing the embryo transfer impact the cycle outcome, in terms of ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR)?

Design: This single-centre retrospective study analysed the results, corrected for main confounders, from 28 embryologists and 32 physicians who performed respectively 24,992 and 24,669 fresh embryo transfers (either at cleavage or blastocyst stage) during a 20-year period from January 2000 to December 2019, in a university-affiliated tertiary care assisted reproductive technology (ART) centre. Primary outcome was OPR, defined as the number of viable pregnancies that had completed at least 12 weeks of gestation on the total number of embryo transfers performed. The study also assessed whether the embryologist's experience, measured in terms of number of embryo transfers performed prior to the day of the procedure, had an impact on their performance.

Oxidative Stress and Human Ovarian Response-From Somatic Ovarian Cells to Oocytes Damage: A Clinical Comprehensive Narrative Review.

Basic scientific research on human reproduction and oxidative damage has been extensively performed; however, a more clinical view is still lacking. As a result, exhaustive data on the influence of oxidative stress on human ovarian response and, consequently, on fertility are still lacking. This narrative review aims at summarizing the role of oxidative stress in different conditions associated to female infertility and to list some of the main antioxidant agents.

Impact of Thyroid Autoimmunity on Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes and Ovarian Reserve Markers: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) has a high prevalence among women of reproductive age. Investigating its possible impact on ovarian function and fertility is, thus, of utmost relevance. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to elucidate the effect of TAI on both assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes and ovarian reserve.

Obstetric and perinatal outcomes following programmed compared to natural frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Study Question: Is there an association between the different endometrial preparation protocols for frozen embryo transfer (FET) and obstetric and perinatal outcomes?

Summary Answer: Programmed FET protocols were associated with a significantly higher risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), pre-eclampsia (PE), post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) and cesarean section (CS) when compared with natural FET protocols.

What Is Known Already: An important and growing source of concern regarding the use of FET on a wide spectrum of women, is represented by its association with obstetric and perinatal complications. However, reasons behind these increased risks are still unknown and understudied.

Is the lack of prior exposure to sperm antigens associated with worse neonatal and maternal outcomes? A 10-year single-center experience comparing ICSI-TESE pregnancies to ICSI pregnancies.

Background: Nowadays, pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE) is still unknown. Among the different etiological hypotheses, some authors proposed that it might be because of an abnormal immunologic response to a foreign fetal antigen derived from the father's spermatozoa. Indeed, the fetus is considered a semi-allograft, being one half paternally derived in its antigenicity, and the first pathogenic insult of PE may be an abnormal maternal immune response toward this semi-allogenic implant.