Maternal body mass index is not associated with assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

The effects of body mass index (BMI) on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes such as ovarian dysfunction, poor ovum quality, and endometrial dysfunction have been studied; however, many aspects remain controversial. Therefore, we retrospectively investigated the relationship between BMI and ART outcomes. For 14,605 oocyte retrieval cycles at our hospital between January 2016 and December 2020, BMI was divided into five groups (< 18.

Impact of paternal age on IVF and pregnancy outcomes with only normal sperm parameters.

Objective: Previous reports on advanced paternal age effects on assisted reproductive technology (ART) vary considerably and those on frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) are rare. We investigated whether paternal age affects in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and FET pregnancy outcomes.

Materials And Methods: 1657 IVF cycles performed from January 2014 to May 2018 were retrospectively investigated excluding cases of poor semen parameters.

Aging increases oxidative stress in semen.

Purpose: As age increases, oxidative stress increases, sperm motility decreases, and DNA fragmentation increases. To date, reports of age-related effects on semen have focused on reactive oxygen species (ROS) or total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as indicators of oxidative stress. However, assessments of ROS and TAC must be considered within a more comprehensive context in order to correctly evaluate oxidative stress and interpret findings.

Circulating steroids and mood disorders in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Aberrant androgen metabolism is a characteristic feature of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Various androgens as well as their precursors and metabolites can accumulate in the blood of PCOS patients. Although these steroids include neuroactive steroids, such as allopregnanolone and androstenedione (Δ4A), it remains unknown whether altered blood steroid levels contribute to the high risk of mood disorders in PCOS.

Clinical outcomes of microdissection testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in Japanese men with Y chromosome microdeletions.

Purpose: We investigated the clinical results of Japanese men with Y chromosome microdeletions.

Methods: This study retrospectively examined 2163 azoospermic or severe oligozoospermic patients. We investigated the frequency of azoospermia factor (AZF) deletions and sperm retrieval rate (SRR) by microTESE in patients with these deletions, then analyzed the ICSI outcomes.

Analysis of 122 triplet and one quadruplet pregnancies after single embryo transfer in Japan.

Research Question: What is the prevalence of triplet and quadruplet pregnancies after single embryo transfer (SET) in Japan.

Design: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 274,605 pregnancies after 937,848 SET cycles in registered assisted reproductive technology (ART) data from the Japanese ART national registry database between 2007 and 2014. A questionnaire survey of ART centres was also conducted.

Clinical outcomes of transfer of frozen and thawed single blastocysts derived from nonpronuclear and monopronuclear zygotes.

Purpose: In assisted reproductive technology, normal zygotes are bipronuclear (2PN) during fertilization confirmation; however, sometimes, nonpronuclear zygotes (0PN) and monopronuclear zygotes (1PN) are found during routine observations.

Methods: To elucidate the clinical usefulness of -fertilized embryos, we investigated the rates of clinical pregnancy, live birth, miscarriage, and congenital abnormality after transfer of frozen-thawed 1PN- and 0PN-derived single blastocysts at Denentoshi Ladies Clinic, Kanagawa, Japan.

Results: The rates of pregnancy and live birth for 1PN-derived blastocysts obtained by conventional fertilization were 37.

Distinctive subpopulations of the intestinal microbiota are present in women with unexplained chronic anovulation.

Research Question: Do gut microbiota associate with the ovulatory cycle in women showing normogonadotrophic anovulation? In humans, the gut microbiota affects diverse physiological functions and dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) may lead to pathological syndromes. However, there is comparatively little information on the relevance of gut microbiota to reproductive functions in women. Here, a group of women with idiopathic chronic anovulation were examined, who do not exhibit any apparent endocrinological disorder, as they are suitable for investigating the relationship between intestinal bacteria and ovulatory disorders.

Parental age and gene expression profiles in individual human blastocysts.

The epigenetic status of the genome changes dynamically from fertilization to implantation. In addition, the physiological environment during the process of gametogenesis, including parental age, may affect the epigenome of the embryo after fertilization. It is important to clarify the influence of parental age on gene expression in the embryo in terms of transgenerational epigenetics to improve the techniques currently used in assisted reproductive medicine.

The significance of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in patients over age 40 in first IVF treatment.

Purpose: Although studies of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in predicting ovarian reserve are numerous, many studies utilized patients under age 40. However, the assessment of ovarian reserve is especially critical in older infertile women. This study evaluates the significance of AMH level in patients over age 40 at the time of their first in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Clinical outcome of frozen blastocyst transfer; single vs. double transfer.

Purpose: Frozen embryo transfer has been established as an indispensable ART procedure for both the effective use of surplus embryos and the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The frequency of frozen embryo transfer is increasing in our clinic, and we report that frozen embryo transfer is effective for patients with repeat failures. We present our clinical outcome of frozen blastocyst transfer (FBT).

Mild stimulation with clomiphene citrate in combination with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist and its influence on serum estradiol level and pregnancy rate.

The mild ovarian stimulation protocol for fertilization (IVF) is carried out to minimize adverse side-effects as well as cost. While performing mild ovarian stimulation with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, the pregnancy rate was examined in cases that exhibited a serum estradiol (E2) drop down. In this study, 174 patients who requested mild ovarian stimulation for IVF began clomiphene citrate on day 3 and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on day 5 of their menstrual cycles.

The decrease of serum luteinizing hormone level by a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist following the mild IVF stimulation protocol for IVF and its clinical outcome.

Purpose: While performing the mild ovarian stimulation protocol with a GnRH antagonist, the pregnancy rate was compared between the groups, which were divided by the degree that the luteinizing hormone (LH) level decreased.

Materials And Methods: Patients aged 27 to 42years (36.1 +/- 3.

Location of endometrial polyp and pregnancy rate in infertility patients.

Objective: To assess endometrial polyp location and abnormal endometrial findings and their impact on pregnancy rate.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Reproductive clinic in Kanagawa, Japan.

Monozygotic multiple gestation following in vitro fertilization: analysis of seven cases from Japan.

We present a series of monozygous multiple gestations achieved following in vitro fertilization (IVF): one case of monochorionic triplet pregnancy and six cases of dizygotic triplet pregnancy. From September 2000 to December 2006, all patients achieving clinical pregnancy by ART were reviewed (n = 2433). A 37 year-old woman who delivered a healthy singleton after IVF returned two years later for FET, and a single blastocyst was transferred.

Clinical outcomes of two different endometrial preparation methods for cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in patients with a normal menstrual cycle.

To compare the clinical outcomes of cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer among patients with a normal menstrual cycle who had natural or hormone-replacement cycles. From January 2004 to June 2006, cryopreserved embryos following conventional fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were thawed and transferred in a total of 720 natural cycles and 136 hormone-replacement cycles. Cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in patients who had a natural or hormone-replacement cycle resulted in clinical pregnancy in 43.

Serum steroids concentration might be used for monitoring the growth of follicles in friendly fertilization.

Steroid levels have been used as the predictive parameters for oocyte maturation and embryo development. In the present study, estradiol and progesterone concentrations in the follicular fluid and serum were evaluated in conventional fertilization (IVF; follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and/or human menopausal gonadotropin [hMG] after pituitary desensitization) and friendly IVF (no stimulation, clomiphene citrate, small dose of FSH or hMG without pituitary desensitization). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the differences in steroid distribution between conventional and friendly IVF.

High concentrations of lactoferrin in the follicular fluid correlate with embryo quality during in vitro fertilization cycles.

Objective: To investigate the level of lactoferrin (LF) in follicular fluid (FF), as well as the correlation between the LF concentration of FF, fertilization rate, and embryo quality.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: In vitro fertilization program at the Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Elective single embryo transfer: Comparison of blastocyst and cleavage-stage embryo transfer.

Blastocysts are reportedly suitable for preventing multiple pregnancies as a result of the high implantation rate per embryo. The present study compared clinical results for elective single embryo transfer (ET) between blastocysts and cleavage-stage embryos in order to ascertain the usefulness of blastocyst culturing in single ET. Between January 2002 and December 2004, conventional fertilization ET and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection was carried out for single ET in 86 cycles, to prevent multiple pregnancies (for medical reasons or because of patient wishes).

Five cases of dizygotic triplet pregnancy following assisted reproductive techniques.

Of 816 patients who became clinically pregnant by assisted reproductive techniques between September 2000 and August 2004, we experienced 10 cases (1.2%) of monozygotic twinning, and in five of these 10 cases, implantation of another embryo resulted in dizygotic triplets. Here, we report these five cases of dizygotic triplets.