Importance of a 5- versus 7-day pill-free interval in a GnRH antagonist protocol using corifollitropin alfa: a prospective cohort study in oocyte donors.

In this prospective cohort study, oocyte donors were recruited prospectively and assigned to receive corifollitropin alfa: 5 days after pill discontinuation (group D5; 42 donors), or 7 days after pill discontinuation (group D7; 50 donors) in a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol. Fixed additional daily doses of 200 IU recombinent FSH (rFSH) were started after 7 days of corifollitropinalfa, until triggering. No significant differences in basal characteristics were observed between both groups.

Is AMH useful to reduce low ovarian response to GnRH antagonist protocol in oocyte donors?

We aimed to establish the reference values of Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in our oocyte donor population and correlate them with the ovarian response to an antagonist stimulation protocol and to study the predictive capacity of AMH for poor response (PR). Normal AMH curves were obtained for 172 candidates. AMH levels decreased with age although they showed great heterogeneity and spread in absolute values at any age range.

Vitrified blastocysts from Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) as a source for human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) derivation.

Embryos diagnosed as abnormal in Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) cycles are useful for the establishment of human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC) lines with genetic disorders. These lines can be helpful for drug screening and for the development of new treatments. Vitrification has proved to be an efficient method to preserve human blastocysts.

Triggering ovulation with 250 μg or 500 μg of r-hCG in oocyte donors treated with antagonist protocol has no effect on the number of mature oocytes retrieved: a randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this study is to compare two r-hCG doses to trigger ovulation (250 μg vs. 500 μg of r-hCG) in an oocyte donation program. A prospective, randomized study was conducted in 118 oocyte donors.

Correlation between embryological factors and pregnancy rate: development of an embryo score in a cryopreservation programme.

Purpose: To establish which embryo parameters, in frozen thawed embryo transfers, have the highest prognosis value in the establishment of pregnancy. The relative importance of different embryo parameters is used to develop an embryo score.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the implantation rate in 356 frozen/thawed single embryo transfers.

Analysis of factors associated with multiple pregnancy in an oocyte donation programme.

The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with multiple pregnancy in an oocyte donation programme. A retrospective study (2000-2007) of 945 synchronous cycles was performed. Two embryos were transferred in all cycles on day 2 after oocyte retrieval.

Derivation of human embryonic stem cells at the Center of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona.

We report here the legislative issues related to embryo research and human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research in Spain and the derivation of nine hESC lines at the Center of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona. You can find the information for obtaining our lines for research purposes at blc@cmrb.eu.

Ovulation induction treatment and risk of borderline ovarian tumors.

Aim: Research has suggested an association between the use of ovulation induction drugs and the risk of ovarian cancer. It has also been proposed that there may be pre-cancerous alterations in the ovary which themselves are the cause of infertility. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the use of ovulation induction drugs and the appearance of borderline ovarian tumors.

Developmental prognosis for zygotes based on pronuclear pattern: usefulness of pronuclear scoring.

Purpose: To relate pronuclear patterns (PN) and zygote cytoplasmic appearance and embryo morphology.

Methods: The usefulness of PN classification described by Tesarik et al. 1999 (patterns p0-5) and Scott et al.

Outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in relation to the meiotic pattern in patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome in a selected group of patients with oligoasthenozoospermia in relation to the results obtained from their meiotic analysis.

Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Setting: An assisted reproduction service and a university department.

Spermatogenic patterns and early embryo development after intracytoplasmic sperm injection in severe oligoasthenozoospermia.

Purpose: Evaluate the influence of different baseline spermatogenic patterns [meiotic pattern (normal or abnormal), sperm concentration (> 1 x 10(6)/mL or < or = 1 x 10(6)/mL), and the combined meiosis-sperm concentration pattern] on early embryo development in severe oligoasthenozoospermia.

Methods: Embryo outcomes (fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and 4-cell stage embryo division rate on day 2) after IVF-ICSI in 75 oligoasthenozoospermia and 79 normozoospermic males.

Results: The embryo division rate was significantly lower in oligoasthenozoospermia compared to normozoospermia (50.

A confocal microscopy analysis of the spindle and chromosome configurations of human oocytes cryopreserved at the germinal vesicle and metaphase II stage.

Background: Routine oocyte cryopreservation remains an elusive technique in the wide range of assisted reproductive technologies available. This study examines the effect of a cryopreservation protocol on the spindle and chromosome configurations of human oocytes cryopreserved at the germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) stage.

Methods: GV oocytes were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (i) control oocytes matured in vitro to MII stage (n = 156); (ii) oocytes cryopreserved at the GV stage and then matured in vitro (n = 90); (iii) oocytes cryopreserved at the MII stage (n = 147).