Does elevated human chorionic gonadotropin alone trigger spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?

Objective: To test whether elevated hCG alone triggers spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (sOHSS).

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: Departments of obstetrics and gynecology and of medical genetics in an academic medical center.

Similar outcome for cryopreserved embryo transfer following GnRH-antagonist/GnRH-agonist, GnRH-antagonist/HCG or long protocol ovarian stimulation.

The pregnancy rates after triggering of final oocyte maturation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist in GnRH-antagonist ovarian stimulation protocols are lower than those following triggering with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). Furthermore, lower pregnancy rates following GnRH-antagonist protocols compared with long GnRH-agonist protocols have been reported. The differences might be due to an impact on oocyte number and quality or on the endometrium.

Lidocaine-prilocaine (EMLA) cream as analgesia for hysterosalpingography: a prospective, randomized, controlled, double blinded study.

Background: The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of applying lidocaine 25 mg-prilocaine-25 mg/G cream (EMLA 5%) on the uterine cervix for pain relief when performing hysterosalpingography (HSG).

Methods: Eighty-two patients undergoing HSG as part of infertility evaluation were randomized into groups receiving EMLA (42) or placebo cream (40) in a double-blinded prospective study from which four women were later excluded. The cream was applied to the uterine cervix by means of a cervical cup 30 min before the HSG.