Arabian Peninsula ethnicity is associated with lower ovarian reserve and ovarian response in women undergoing fresh ICSI cycles.

Purpose: Recent studies have demonstrated that ethnicity can be an independent determinant of assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. In this context, we investigate whether ART outcomes differ between Arabian Peninsula and Caucasian women.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing fresh intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-embryo transfer (ET) cycles for male factor infertility.

Association between ABO blood type and live-birth outcomes in single-embryo transfer cycles.

Objective: To investigate the association between ABO blood type and live-birth outcomes in patients undergoing IVF with day 5 single-embryo transfer (SET).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: University-affiliated center.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist trigger increases the number of oocytes and embryos available for cryopreservation in cancer patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation.

Objective: To compare the oocyte and embryo yield associated with GnRH-agonist triggers vs. hCG triggers in cancer patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) for fertilization preservation.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Random Start Ovarian Stimulation for Oocyte or Embryo Cryopreservation in Women Desiring Fertility Preservation Prior to Gonadotoxic Cancer Therapy.

Background: Women of reproductive age diagnosed with cancer are often interested in preserving gametes or reproductive tissue that would allow for future genetic parenthood. Preservation of fertility is often accomplished in young cancer patients via ovarian stimulation followed by oocyte or embryo cryopreservation. Conventional stimulation protocols, however, require 2-4 weeks to complete ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval and possible fertilization.

Combined GnRH-agonist and human chorionic gonadotropin trigger improves ICSI cycle outcomes in patients with history of poor fertilization.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of a combined GnRH-agonist (GnRH-a) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger in improving ICSI cycle outcomes in patients with poor fertilization history after standard hCG trigger in prior ICSI cycles.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Patients with a fertilization rate of <20% in at least two prior ICSI cycles who subsequently underwent another ICSI cycle with hCG trigger were compared to those who underwent another ICSI cycle with a combined GnRH-a and hCG trigger.

Impact of FMR1 Pre-Mutation Status on Blastocyst Development in Patients Undergoing Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis.

Background/aims: The study aimed to investigate the impact of fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) pre-mutation status on blastocyst development in patients undergoing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

Methods: Case-control study of patients <40 years undergoing PGD at blastocyst stage for FMR1 pre-mutation status. Age-matched patients undergoing PGD for other single gene disorders were considered controls.

Temporal trends in minimally invasive myomectomy before and after the US Food and Drug Administration recommendation against electric morcellation.

Objective: To investigate the temporal trends in minimally invasive myomectomy at one reproductive medicine center before and after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation against electric morcellation.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was undertaken of patients undergoing minimally invasive myomectomy between April 1, 2012, and April 30, 2016, at a center in New York. Temporal trends in laparoscopic myomectomy (LM), robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy (RAM), and laparoscopically assisted myomectomy (LAM), and intraoperative and postoperative outcomes before and after the April 2014 recommendation were compared.

Perinatal Risks Associated with Early Vanishing Twin Syndrome following Transfer of Cleavage- or Blastocyst-Stage Embryos.

. To investigate whether the perinatal risks associated with early vanishing twin (VT) syndrome differ between cleavage- or blastocyst-stage embryo transfers (ET) in fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. .

Increased odds of live birth in fresh in vitro fertilization cycles with shorter ovarian stimulation.

Objective: To investigate the impact of prolonged ovarian stimulation on pregnancy outcomes in IVF cycles with fresh day 3 ET.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: University-affiliated center.

Abdominal ectopic pregnancy with undetectable serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin 9 days following blastocyst transfer.

With the availability of the highly sensitive β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) assays, all pregnancies, including ectopic pregnancies (EP), are expected to have detectable serum β-hCG at 4 weeks' gestation or 9 days following blastocyst transfer. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a woman who underwent in vitro fertilization, had undetectable serum β-hCG 9 days after blastocyst transfer, and was then diagnosed with a ruptured abdominal EP and intra-abdominal bleeding 19 days later. This case highlights that the rise in serum β-hCG might be delayed in abdominal EP compared to intrauterine pregnancy.

Early spontaneous multiple fetal pregnancy reduction is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in in vitro fertilization cycles.

The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether early spontaneous multiple fetal pregnancy reduction, also known as vanishing twin syndrome, is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in fresh in vitro fertilization cycles. This is a retrospective cohort study of women with live singleton births with and without an early vanishing twin after fresh in vitro fertilization. Characteristics compared included incidence of preterm birth, overall birth weight, overall low birth weight, overall very low birth weight, and term low birth weight.

Adjuvant gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist trigger with human chorionic gonadotrophin to enhance ooplasmic maturity.

This study investigates whether an adjuvant gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) trigger with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) improves fresh intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle outcomes in patients with poor fertilization history after standard HCG trigger alone. This study compared 156 patients with <40% fertilization rate in a prior ICSI cycle with standard HCG trigger who underwent another ICSI cycle with a combined 2 mg GnRHa and 1500 IU HCG ovulatory trigger. There was no difference in the baseline demographics, ovarian stimulation outcomes or sperm parameters of the groups.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Gynecologic Procedures prior to and during the Utilization of Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Systematic Review.

The use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has increased steadily. There has been a corresponding increase in the number of ART-related procedures such as hysterosalpingography (HSG), saline infusion sonography (SIS), hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, oocyte retrieval, and embryo transfer (ET). While performing these procedures, the abdomen, upper vagina, and endocervix are breached, leading to the possibility of seeding pelvic structures with microorganisms.

Is anti-Müllerian hormone associated with IVF outcomes in young patients with diminished ovarian reserve?

Aim: To investigate whether anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is associated with IVF cycle outcomes in young patients with diminished ovarian reserve.

Materials & Methods: Retrospective study of patients <35 years of age undergoing fresh IVF who had at least two 8-cell, day-3 embryos transferred with grades 1, 1.5 or 2.

Human Papillomavirus Infection, Infertility, and Assisted Reproductive Outcomes.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection common among men and women across all geographic and socioeconomic subgroups worldwide. Recent evidence suggests that HPV infection may affect fertility and alter the efficacy of assisted reproductive technologies. In men, HPV infection can affect sperm parameters, specifically motility.

Does the time interval between hysteroscopic polypectomy and start of in vitro fertilization affect outcomes?

Objective: To investigate whether the time interval between hysteroscopic polypectomy and the start of IVF-ET cycles affect IVF cycle outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Academic center.

Surgical Management of Endometrial Polyps in Infertile Women: A Comprehensive Review.

Endometrial polyps are benign localized lesions of the endometrium, which are commonly seen in women of reproductive age. Observational studies have suggested a detrimental effect of endometrial polyps on fertility. The natural course of endometrial polyps remains unclear.

Routine Monitoring of Liver, Renal, and Hematologic Tests After Single- or Double-Dose Methotrexate Treatment for Ectopic Pregnancies After In Vitro Fertilization.

Study Objective: To investigate the trends in liver function tests (LFTs), renal function tests (RFTs), and complete blood count (CBC) between day 1 and day 7 after single- or double-dose methotrexate (MTX) treatment for sonographically confirmed ectopic pregnancies.

Design: Single center, retrospective chart review (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

Setting: University-affiliated center.