Personal interest and attitudes towards oocyte donation practice: a cross-sectional survey among Dutch-speaking young women in Belgium.

Purpose: This survey aimed to assess the public's knowledge and opinions on oocyte donation (OD) among a large, unselected cohort of young Belgian women, and to explore aspects that could be enhanced to promote future OD programs.

Methods: We conducted a quantitative, epidemiological, cross-sectional web-based survey from February 2023 to April 2023. A private questionnaire was distributed to young women (21-30 years) living in Belgium via a digital link.

Impact of diagnosis and surgical treatment of early stage borderline ovarian tumours on distress, anxiety, and psychosexual health.

Women diagnosed with gynecological cancer are likely to face additional consequences beyond those common to all cancer patients leading to significant physical and psychological morbidity. Longitudinal studies addressing the prevalence of psychological distress, anxiety, or psychosexual health during follow-up in patients diagnosed with borderline ovarian tumors are lacking. This study explores this prevalence compared with controls who underwent comparable surgical treatment for benign ovarian tumors.

Clinical pregnancy rates after blastocyst culture at a stable temperature of 36.6°C versus 37.1°C: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Study Question: Is there a difference in clinical pregnancy rates (CPRs) in good prognosis patients after single embryo transfer (SET) on Day 5, in case of stable culture at 36.6°C or 37.1°C?

Summary Answer: CPR (with heartbeat at 7 weeks) after blastocyst transfer do not differ after culturing at 36.

Oocyte donors' experience and expectations in a non-profit fertility care setting.

Purpose: In this survey, we aimed to provide the description of previous oocyte donors' profile in a Belgian tertiary fertility hospital clinic. The research question is as follows: could certain aspects be changed or improved, according to previous oocyte donors? The final purpose is to boost adherence to future oocyte donation (OD) programs, given the large gap between supply and demand.

Methods: We set up an observational cross-sectional study of oocyte donors who were recruited in a tertiary referral hospital.

Perspectives on sperm donor anonymity: insights from donor-conceived adults in Belgium.

Study Question: Are donor-conceived adults in Belgium interested in obtaining donor information, and do these interests vary based on their family backgrounds?

Summary Answer: Donor-conceived adults express a significant interest in obtaining donor-related information, with the highest interest reported by offspring from heterosexual couples compared to those from lesbian couple-parented or single-parent families.

What Is Known Already: In Belgium, sperm donation is mainly anonymous, but the rise of direct-to-consumer genetic testing challenges this anonymity.

Study Design, Size, Duration: This was a cross-sectional study involving an online nationwide survey conducted from July 2022 to October 2023.

Optimized sperm selection: a highly efficient device for the isolation of progressive motile sperm with low DNA fragmentation index.

Purpose: To identify the sperm preparation procedure that selects the best sperm population for medically assisted reproduction.

Methods: Prospective observational study comparing the effect of four different sperm selection procedures on various semen parameters. Unused raw semen after routine diagnostic analysis was split in four fractions and processed by four different methods: (1) density gradient centrifugation (DGC), (2) sperm wash (SW), (3) DGC followed by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS), and (4) using a sperm separation device (SSD).

Circadian serum progesterone variations on the day of frozen embryo transfer in a modified natural cycle protocol.

Study Question: Is there a circadian variation of serum progesterone (P) on the day of frozen embryo transfer (FET) in a modified natural cycle (mNC)?

Summary Answer: There is a statistically significant diurnal variation of serum P on the day of a FET in an mNC protocol.

What Is Known Already: In recent years, the proportion of FET cycles has increased dramatically. To further optimize pregnancy outcomes after FET, recent studies have focused on serum luteal P levels in both natural and artificially prepared FET cycles.

Reproductive outcomes in women opting for fertility preservation after fertility-sparing surgery for borderline ovarian tumors.

Purpose: What are the reproductive outcomes of women who had fertility preservation (FP) using either oocyte or embryo vitrification after fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) for a borderline ovarian tumor (BOT)?

Methods: A retrospective, single-center cohort study was conducted between January 2013 and December 2021. Patients with BOT who resorted to FP by vitrifying oocytes or embryos were included. Both clinical and reproductive parameters were reviewed.

Overview of the current situation of embryo donation in Belgian fertility centers.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to survey the current situation in Belgium regarding embryo donation (ED) practices and to explore the potential reasons for not offering this treatment option.

Study Design: A questionnaire was sent to all fertility centers in Belgium that are allowed to perform IVF regarding whether or not they perform ED for third parties, their overall experience with ED and the possible reasons for not doing it. The questionnaire was divided into three different sections, depending on whether the center currently performs ED for third parties, has never performed it or once performed it but no longer does.

Progestin primed ovarian stimulation using dydrogesterone from day 7 of the cycle onwards in oocyte donation cycles: a longitudinal study.

Research Question: Does a progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocol with dydrogesterone from cycle day 7 yield similar outcomes compared with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol in the same oocyte donors?

Design: This retrospective longitudinal study included 128 cycles from 64 oocyte donors. All oocyte donors had the same type of gonadotrophin and daily dose in both stimulation cycles. The primary outcome was the number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) retrieved.

Children born after assisted reproduction more commonly carry a mitochondrial genotype associating with low birthweight.

Children conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have an elevated risk of lower birthweight, yet the underlying cause remains unclear. Our study explores mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants as contributors to birthweight differences by impacting mitochondrial function during prenatal development. We deep-sequenced the mtDNA of 451 ART and spontaneously conceived (SC) individuals, 157 mother-child pairs and 113 individual oocytes from either natural menstrual cycles or after ovarian stimulation (OS) and find that ART individuals carried a different mtDNA genotype than SC individuals, with more de novo non-synonymous variants.

Does dual oocyte retrieval with continuous FSH administration increase the number of mature oocytes in low responders? An open-label randomized controlled trial.

Study Question: Is there an increase in the total number of metaphase II (MII) oocytes between a conventional ovarian stimulation (OS) and a double uninterrupted stimulation?

Summary Answer: There is no increase in the total number of MII oocytes when comparing one conventional OS to a continuous stimulation with double oocyte aspiration.

What Is Known Already: Based on the concept of multiple follicular waves, the combination of two stimulations in the same ovarian cycle has gained interest in patients with a low ovarian reserve. This so-called dual stimulation approach is usually characterized by a discontinuation of FSH administration for ∼5 days and appears to have a favourable impact on the number of retrieved oocytes without affecting the embryo quality or ploidy status.

A 10-year follow-up of reproductive outcomes in women attempting motherhood after elective oocyte cryopreservation.

Study Question: Which reproductive treatment outcomes are observed in women who underwent elective oocyte cryopreservation (EOC) and who returned to the clinic with a desire for a child?

Summary Answer: Whether to warm oocytes or to first use fresh own oocytes for ART depends on age upon returning, but both strategies result in favorable reproductive outcomes.

What Is Known Already: Most affluent countries have observed a trend toward postponement of childbearing, and EOC is increasingly used based on the assumption that oocytes cryopreserved at a younger age may extend a woman's reproductive lifespan and mitigate her age-related fertility decline. Although most follow-up studies after EOC have focused on women who requested oocyte warming, a substantial proportion of women who do not conceive naturally will embark on fertility treatment without using their cryopreserved oocytes.

Oral dydrogesterone versus micronized vaginal progesterone for luteal phase support: a double-blind crossover study investigating pharmacokinetics and impact on the endometrium.

Study Question: How do plasma progesterone (P) and dydrogesterone (D) concentrations together with endometrial histology, transcriptomic signatures, and immune cell composition differ when oral dydrogesterone (O-DYD) or micronized vaginal progesterone (MVP) is used for luteal phase support (LPS)?

Summary Answer: Although after O-DYD intake, even at steady-state, plasma D and 20αdihydrodydrogesterone (DHD) concentrations spiked in comparison to P concentrations, a similar endometrial signature was observed by histological and transcriptomic analysis of the endometrium.

What Is Known Already: O-DYD for LPS has been proven to be noninferior compared to MVP in two phase III randomized controlled trials. Additionally, a combined individual participant data and aggregate data meta-analysis indicated that a higher pregnancy rate and live birth rate may be obtained in women receiving O-DYD versus MVP for LPS in fresh IVF/ICSI cycles.

Circadian serum progesterone variations on the day of frozen embryo transfer in artificially prepared cycles.

Research Question: What is the intra-day variation of serum progesterone related to vaginal progesterone administration on the day of frozen embryo transfer (FET) in an artificial cycle?

Design: A prospective cohort study was conducted including 22 patients undergoing a single blastocyst artificial cycle (AC)-FET from August to December 2022. Endometrial preparation was achieved by administering oestradiol valerate (2 mg three times daily) and consecutively micronized vaginal progesterone (MVP; 400 mg twice daily). A blastocyst FET was performed on the 6th day of MVP administration.

Enzymatic tissue processing after testicular biopsy in non-obstructive azoospermia enhances sperm retrieval.

Study Question: What is the added value of enzymatic processing of testicular biopsies on testicular sperm retrieval (SR) rates for patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA)?

Summary Answer: In addition to mechanical mincing, enzymatic digestion increased SR rates in testicular biopsies of NOA patients.

What Is Known Already: Many studies focus on the surgical approach to optimize recovery of testicular sperm in NOA, and in spite of that, controversy still exists about whether the type of surgery makes any difference as long as multiple biopsies are taken. Few studies, however, focus on the role of the IVF laboratory and the benefit of additional lab procedures, e.

IVF with reception of oocytes from partner in lesbian couples: a systematic review and SWOT analysis.

The growing utilization of assisted reproductive technology (ART) by the LGBTQ+ community, especially among lesbian couples, challenges societal norms and promotes inclusivity. The reception of oocytes from partner (ROPA) technique enables both female partners to have a biological connection to their child. A systematic review was conducted of the literature on ROPA IVF to provide the latest data and a SWOT analysis was subsequently performed to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with ROPA IVF.

Spermatogenesis after gonadotoxic childhood treatment: follow-up of 12 patients.

Study Question: What is the long-term impact of presumed gonadotoxic treatment during childhood on the patient's testicular function at adulthood?

Summary Answer: Although most patients showed low testicular volumes and some degree of reproductive hormone disruption 12.3 (2.3-21.

Clinical pregnancy rate for frozen embryo transfer with HRT: a randomized controlled pilot study comparing 1 week versus 2 weeks of oestradiol priming.

Research Question: Does a frozen-embryo transfer in an artificially-prepared endometrium (FET-HRT) cycle yield similar clinical pregnancy rate with 7 days of oestrogen priming compared to 14 days?

Design: This is a single-centre, randomized, controlled, open-label pilot study. All FET-HRT cycles were performed in a tertiary centre between October 2018 and January 2021. Overall, 160 patients were randomized, with a 1:1 allocation, into two groups of 80 patients each: group A (7 days of E2 prior to P4 supplementation) and group B (14 days of E2 prior to P4 supplementation).

Electronic witnessing in the medically assisted reproduction laboratory: insights and considerations after 10 years of use.

Study Question: What have we learnt after 10 years of electronic witnessing?

Summary Answer: When applied correctly, an electronic witnessing system can replace manual witnessing in the medically assisted reproduction lab to prevent sample mix-up.

What Is Known Already: Electronic witnessing systems have been implemented to improve the correct identification, processing, and traceability of biological materials. When non-matching samples are simultaneously present in a single workstation, a mismatch event is generated to prevent sample mix-up.

Lineage segregation in human pre-implantation embryos is specified by YAP1 and TEAD1.

Study Question: Which processes and transcription factors specify the first and second lineage segregation events during human preimplantation development?

Summary Answer: Differentiation into trophectoderm (TE) cells can be initiated independently of polarity; moreover, TEAD1 and YAP1 co-localize in (precursor) TE and primitive endoderm (PrE) cells, suggesting a role in both the first and the second lineage segregation events.

What Is Known Already: We know that polarity, YAP1/GATA3 signalling and phospholipase C signalling play a key role in TE initiation in compacted human embryos, however, little is known about the TEAD family of transcription factors that become activated by YAP1 and, especially, whether they play a role during epiblast (EPI) and PrE formation. In mouse embryos, polarized outer cells show nuclear TEAD4/YAP1 activity that upregulates Cdx2 and Gata3 expression while inner cells exclude YAP1 which upregulates Sox2 expression.

Individualized luteal phase support using additional oral dydrogesterone in artificially prepared frozen embryo transfer cycles: is it beneficial?

Research Question: Does additional supplementation with oral dydrogesterone improve reproductive outcomes in patients with low serum progesterone concentrations on the day of frozen embryo transfer (FET) after artificial (HRT) endometrial preparation?

Design: Retrospective, single-centre cohort study including 694 unique patients performing single blastocyst transfer in an HRT cycle. For luteal phase support, intravaginal micronized vaginal progesterone (MVP, 400 mg twice daily) was administered. Serum progesterone concentrations were assessed prior to FET and outco-mes were compared among patients with normal serum progesterone (≥8.