To curette or not to curette; efficiency of oocyte retrieval technique.

Purpose: Follicular curetting is the gentle and rapidly rotating movement of the aspiration needle in a clockwise and counterclockwise fashion. The aim of our study is to assess this retrieval technique comparing cycle and pregnancy outcomes between curetting and non-curetting.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of 817 patients that underwent oocyte retrieval at our fertility center from January 1st, 2016 until August 31st, 2019.

Assessment of uterine receptivity by endometrial and sub-endometrial blood flow using SlowflowHD in hormone prepared frozen embryo transfer cycles: a pilot study.

Purpose: Utilizing SlowflowHD as a measurement of endometrial and sub-endometrial blood flow in women with infertility undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles and correlation with pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: A prospective pilot study of 99 women undergoing hormone replacement FET cycles. Ultrasounds were performed with Voluson E8 at 3-time points: day 15, day of transfer, and 11 days post transfer (T + 11).

Changing gender gap and practice patterns in reproductive endocrinology and infertility subspecialists in the United States: a Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility report.

Objective: To identify changes in current practice patterns, salaries, and satisfaction by gender and by years in practice among board-certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) subspecialists in the United States.

Design: Cross-sectional web-based survey including 37 questions conducted by the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Setting: Not applicable.

Patterns of Bariatric Surgeries Among U.S. Women Diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

To examine patterns and outcomes of bariatric surgeries, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), among women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Retrospective cohort study using 1998-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample data. A total of 52,668 hospital discharge records met eligibility criteria among PCOS women, 18-49 years.

Gynecologic Surgery: Preoperative Assessment With Ultrasound.

Ultrasonography, especially 3D, is essential in the diagnosis and preoperative evaluation of gynecologic surgeries and is important in surgical planning and counseling of patients. In addition, it is useful during hysteroscopic procedures, particularly difficult Asherman syndrome cases, resection of transverse vaginal septum, and treatment of hematometria. 3D ultrasound is especially helpful for fibroid mapping as the simultaneous visualization of the endometrium and myometrium with the coronal view is possible, it can be done by the gynecologist and at a lower cost than an magnetic resonance imaging.

ICSI outcomes in men undergoing TESE for azoospermia and impact of maternal age.

This retrospective study compared clinical outcomes in men with obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia after ICSI following testicular sperm extraction and the influence of maternal age. Fertilisation rates, embryo quality, pregnancy rates, miscarriage rates and live birth rates were evaluated. Men with obstructive azoospermia (OA) had significantly higher rates of diploid fertilisation and clinical pregnancy than men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), but miscarriage rates and live birth rates were not significantly different.

Progesterone vaginal ring for luteal support.

Progesterone supplementation is universally used and has been shown to be beneficial in supplementation of the luteal phase in IVF. There are multiple options and the most commonly used include intramuscular and vaginal progesterone. A progesterone vaginal ring is a novel system for luteal support with advantages of controlled release with less frequent dosing.

Impact of serum estradiol levels on the implantation rate of cleavage stage cryopreserved-thawed embryos transferred in programmed cycles with exogenous hormonal replacement.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of late follicular phase serum estradiol (E2) levels on implantation and pregnancy outcomes of cleavage stage cryopreserved/thawed embryos transferred in programmed cycles with exogenous hormonal replacement.

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of IVF patients with transfer of cryopreserved-thawed day-3 embryos in E2 and progesterone (P4) supplemented cycles (n = 208 cycles).

Main Outcome Measures: implantation and pregnancy rates according to late follicular phase serum E2 levels and early secretory phase E2/P4 ratios.

Progesterone vaginal ring versus vaginal gel for luteal support with in vitro fertilization: a randomized comparative study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of luteal phase support in IVF with a progesterone (P) vaginal ring or gel (VR or VG).

Design: Prospective, randomized, single-blind, multicenter, phase III clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00615251).

Patterns of use of insulin-sensitizing agents among diabetic, borderline diabetic and non-diabetic women in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study based on the 2001-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is to examine demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and reproductive characteristics that may distinguish users and non-users of insulin sensitizing agents among the US diabetic, borderline diabetic and non-diabetic women. Use of insulin-sensitizing agents was evaluated among 19,579 (3882 diabetic, 387 borderline diabetic and 15,310 non-diabetic) women. Overall, 2% of women in the study sample were users of insulin-sensitizers, including metformin, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone.

Does the degree of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian recovery after oral contraceptive pills affect outcomes of IVF/ICSI cycles receiving GnRH-antagonist adjuvant therapy in women over 35 years of age?

Purpose: To evaluate if the degree of recovery of serum gonadotropins after oral contraceptive pills (OCP) pretreatment has an impact on ovarian response in GnRH-antagonist IVF cycles in women of advanced maternal age.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included 98 women 35-42 years undergoing their first IVF cycle receiving gonadotropins and a fixed GnRH-antagonist adjuvant protocol. Data analysis was carried out according to changes in serum FSH, LH and estradiol (E(2)) levels (basal and post-OCP) divided in quartiles, and also according to absolute levels.

A study of the cost, accuracy, and benefits of 3-dimensional sonography compared with hysterosalpingography in women with uterine abnormalities.

Objectives: We conducted a prospective blinded study to evaluate the costs, accuracy, risks, and benefits of 3-dimensional (3D) transvaginal sonography compared to hysterosalpingography.

Methods: A total of 101 women aged 26 to 44 years with evidence of uterine anomalies were enrolled. All participants had routine hysterosalpingography as part of their infertility evaluation as well as 3D transvaginal sonography as part of the study.

Relationship of obesity-related disturbances with LH/FSH ratio among post-menopausal women in the United States.

Objectives: Although luteinizing hormone to follicular stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio is a controversial criterion for identifying a sub-group of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and abnormalities at the level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, an elevated LH/FSH ratio is frequently observed in PCOS cases. Obesity and insulin resistance are highly prevalent among PCOS women. To date, no studies have examined the associations of LH/FSH ratio with these co-morbid conditions outside the context of pre- and peri-menopausal PCOS women.

Timing of oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer with pregnancy duration.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that assisted reproductive technology (ART) may be associated with a shorter pregnancy duration, possibly due to various aspects of the ART procedure. The purpose of this study was to examine whether pregnancy duration is affected by timing of oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer with respect to the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) among pregnancies achieved through in vitro fertilization with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at an academic center in Norfolk, Virginia, with analyses based on 294 ART cycles.

Gonadotrophin ovulation induction and enhancement outcomes: analysis of more than 1400 cycles.

Ovulation induction (OI) or ovulation enhancement (OE) with gonadotrophins can be a reasonable treatment option for patients with a variety of infertility diagnoses. It must be used with extensive monitoring and management given the risk of multiple pregnancy,especially high-order multiples. This retrospective study evaluated per cycle outcomes of a large cohort of 1452 gonadotrophin OI/OE cycles at an academic infertility centre, and the efficacy of specific guidelines in limiting multiple pregnancy.

Successful extracorporeal mature oocyte harvesting after laparoscopic oophorectomy following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for the purpose of fertility preservation in a patient with borderline ovarian tumor.

Purpose: To report the successful extracorporeal recovery of mature oocytes after laparoscopic oophorectomy following ovarian hyperstimulation for the purpose of fertility preservation in a patient with recurrent serous borderline ovarian tumor.

Methods: A 25-year-old nulligravida woman presented with recurrence of a borderline serous adenocarcinoma in the right ovary after been treated conservatively with left oophorectomy for the same.

Result(s): The patient underwent ovarian stimulation followed by a laparoscopic oophorectomy and ex-vivo retrieval of oocytes.

Live birth from a frozen-thawed pronuclear stage embryo almost 20 years after its cryopreservation.

Objective: To report a live birth after transfer of cryopreserved pronuclear embryos in cryostorage for almost 20 years.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Academic IVF center.

Anti-Müllerian hormone serum levels predict response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation but not embryo quality or pregnancy outcome in oocyte donation.

The objective of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to evaluate the value of basal serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels as a predictor of ovarian response and pregnancy outcome in a donor egg program. The study showed that AMH was superior to other biomarkers of ovarian reserve in predicting low and high response in young women selected as oocyte donors, but that it was not predictive of embryo morphology or pregnancy outcome in the recipient population.

The impact of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist on gonadotropin ovulation induction cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective randomized study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist Ganirelix on gonadotropin ovulation induction (OI) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Academic infertility center.

Pubertal development of the first cohort of young adults conceived by in vitro fertilization in the United States.

Objective: To characterize pubertal development of the first generation of young adults born as a result of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Demographic, clinical, and body size characteristics were examined regarding developmental milestones.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Impact of male age on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology cycles using donor oocytes.

This study assessed the influence of the age of the male partner on the outcome of oocyte donation cycles. A total of 408 couples participating in 519 consecutive anonymous oocyte donation cycles were examined. Main outcome measures were fertilization rate, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage and live birth rates, as well as the total reproductive potential, which estimates the outcome from fresh and cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfers.

A cross-sectional evaluation of the first cohort of young adults conceived by in vitro fertilization in the United States.

Objective: To assess the quality of life and susceptibility for chronic disease development of the oldest generation of young adults conceived by IVF in the U.S.

Design: Cross-sectional.