Perinatal outcomes of progesterone in natural frozen-thawed embryo transfer pregnancies: insights from two randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To explore whether progesterone supplementation during luteal phase and early pregnancy following a natural frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle (NC-FET) affects perinatal outcomes.

Design: A secondary data analysis study based on two randomized control trials taking place during 2008-2011 and 2013-2018 at two university hospitals in Sweden.

Subjects: A total of 923 women undergoing a natural FET cycle.

Preimplantation genetic testing and child health: a national register-based study.

Study Question: Is preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) associated with adverse perinatal outcome and early childhood health?

Summary Answer: Children born after PGT had comparable perinatal outcomes to children born after IVF/ICSI and comparable findings regarding early childhood health.

What Is Known Already: PGT is offered to couples affected by monogenic disorders (PGT-M) or inherited chromosomal aberrations (PGT-SR), limiting the risk of transferring the disorder to the offspring. PGT, an invasive technique, requires genetic analysis of one or up to ten cells from the embryo and is combined with IVF or ICSI.

Progesterone supplementation in natural cycles improves live birth rates after embryo transfer of frozen-thawed embryos-a randomized controlled trial.

Study Question: Does supplementation with vaginal tablets of progesterone after frozen-thawed embryo transfer in natural cycles improve the live birth rate?

Summary Answer: Supplementation with vaginal tablets of progesterone after frozen-thawed embryo transfer in natural cycles significantly improves the number of live births.

What Is Known Already: Progesterone supplementation during luteal phase and early pregnancy may improve the number of live births after frozen-thawed embryo transfer. However, due to the limited number of previous studies, being mainly retrospective, evidence is still limited.

National survey of donor-conceived individuals who requested information about their sperm donor-experiences from 17 years of identity releases in Sweden.

Study Question: What characterizes the group of donor-conceived (DC) individuals who request information about their identity-release sperm donor in Sweden, and what are their experiences of disclosure, information receipt and donor contact?

Summary Answer: Following three decades of identity-release donation in Sweden, few DC individuals have requested donor information with varying experiences of information receipt and donor contact.

What Is Known Already: In 1985, Sweden was the first country worldwide to enact legislation that gave DC individuals the right to obtain identifying information about their donor. Since then, identity-release gamete donation has become available in many countries but there is limited knowledge about the individuals who request donor information.

Physical and Sedentary Activities in Association with Reproductive Outcomes among Couples Seeking Infertility Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of physical activity (PA) with assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment and pregnancy outcomes among couples seeking infertility treatment.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was carried out among 128 infertile individuals (64 couples), entering the infertility clinic for ART procedures. Baseline PA (before entering any treatment) was assessed using accelerometry for both women and men.

Investigating the effect of lifestyle risk factors upon number of aspirated and mature oocytes in in vitro fertilization cycles: Interaction with antral follicle count.

Introduction: There is evidence demonstrating that certain lifestyle factors have a detrimental effect on fertility. Since such factors often coexist, possible synergistic effects merit further investigation. Thus we aimed to examine the cumulative impact of lifestyle factors on in vitro fertilization (IVF) early reproductive treatment outcomes and their interaction with measures of ovarian reserve.

A prospective study of women and girls undergoing fertility preservation due to oncologic and non-oncologic indications in Sweden-Trends in patients' choices and benefit of the chosen methods after long-term follow up.

Introduction: In Scandinavian countries, programs for fertility preservation are offered free of charge at tertiary-care university hospitals to all patients facing treatments with risk of subsequent sterility. In this prospective study we aimed to investigate trends in female patients' choices after counseling and fertility preservation outcomes during follow up in relation to benign vs malignant indications.

Material And Methods: Data on 1254 females including 1076 adults and 178 girls who received fertility preservation counseling for either oncologic (n = 852) or benign indications (n = 402) at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, between 1 October 1998 and 1 December 2018 were analyzed.

Attitudes toward surrogacy among doctors working in reproductive medicine and obstetric care in Sweden.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes and opinions towards surrogacy among physicians working within obstetrics and reproductive medicine in Sweden.

Material And Methods: Physicians working within medically assisted reproduction (MAR), antenatal care and obstetrics were invited to participate in a cross-sectional nationwide survey study. The study-specific questionnaire measured attitudes and experiences in three domains: attitudes towards surrogacy, assessment of prospective surrogate mothers, and antenatal and obstetric care for surrogate mothers.

Anxiety and depression symptoms among sub-fertile women, women pregnant after infertility treatment, and naturally pregnant women.

Background: Infertility has been associated with psychological distress, but whether these symptoms persist after achieving pregnancy via assisted reproductive technology (ART) remains unclear. We compared the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms between women seeking for infertility treatment and women who conceived after ART or naturally.

Methods: Four hundred and sixty-eight sub-fertile non-pregnant women, 2972 naturally pregnant women and 143 women pregnant after ART completed a questionnaire in this cross-sectional study.

Survey shows that Swedish healthcare professionals have a positive attitude towards surrogacy but the health of the child is a concern.

Aim: In February 2016, Sweden upheld its ban on surrogacy following a Government enquiry. This survey investigated attitudes towards surrogacy among primary health professionals working with children and their experiences of working with families following surrogacy abroad.

Methods: From April to November 2016, nurses, physicians and psychologist working in primary child health care in four counties in Sweden were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey about surrogacy.

Compliance to the recommended use of folic acid supplements for women in Sweden is higher among those under treatment for infertility than among fertile controls and is also related to socioeconomic status and lifestyle.

: Folate has been discussed in relation to fertility among women, but studies on women under treatment for infertility are lacking. : The objective of this study was to investigate folic acid supplement use and folate status among women under treatment for infertility (hereafter infertile) and fertile women also in regard to socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. : Lifestyle and dietary habits, and use of dietary supplements were assessed using a questionnaire.

Do subfertile women adjust their habits when trying to conceive?

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate lifestyle habits and lifestyle adjustments among subfertile women trying to conceive.

Materials And Methods: Women (n = 747) were recruited consecutively at their first visit to fertility clinics in mid-Sweden. Participants completed a questionnaire.

Histidine-rich glycoprotein derived peptides affect endometrial angiogenesis in vitro but has no effect on embryo development.

Unlabelled: Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is an abundant plasma protein involved in multiple biological processes including immunology, vascularisation, and coagulation. These processes are of importance in regulating embryo development and implantation. A specific polymorphism in the HRG gene, HRG C633T, has an impact on various aspects of fertility, such as oocyte quality, endometrial receptivity, and possibly the capacity of the embryo itself to implant.

Exploratory study of the association of steroid profiles in stimulated ovarian follicular fluid with outcomes of IVF treatment.

Steroid concentrations in stimulated follicular fluid (sFF) samples have been linked to the quality of oocytes used in IVF treatments. Most of the published studies focused on evaluating the association of the IVF outcomes with only a few of the steroids, measured by immunoassays (IA). We performed a treatment outcome, prospective cohort study using stimulated FF sampled from 14 infertile women undergoing IVF treatment; single oocyte was used per IVF cycle.

Physical activity, fatness, educational level and snuff consumption as determinants of semen quality: findings of the ActiART study.

In this study, the association between physical activity and other potential determinants, objectively measured by accelerometry, was examined. Sixty-two men attending an infertility clinic participated in the study. Obese men (body mass index ≥ 30) and those with a waist circumference 102 cm or more had lower semen volume than the other men (P < 0.

Folic acid supplementation and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene variations in relation to in vitro fertilization pregnancy outcome.

Objective: To study folic acid intake, folate status and pregnancy outcome after infertility treatment in women with different infertility diagnoses in relation to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T, 1298A>C and 1793G>A polymorphisms. Also the use of folic acid supplements, folate status and the frequency of different gene variations were studied in women undergoing infertility treatment and fertile women.

Design: Observational study.

Attitudes toward embryo donation among staff at in vitro fertilization clinics.

Objective: To examine attitudes towards embryo donation among staff at in vitro fertilization clinics in Sweden.

Design: Descriptive questionnaire study.

Setting: University-based in vitro fertilization clinic.

Folic acid supplementation and IVF pregnancy outcome in women with unexplained infertility.

Folic acid supplements are commonly used by infertile women which leads to a positive folate status. However, the effect of folic acid supplements on pregnancy outcome in women with unexplained infertility has not been well investigated. This study evaluated folic acid supplement use and folate status in women with unexplained infertility in relation to IVF pregnancy outcome.

Attitudes towards embryo donation in Swedish women and men of reproductive age.

Background: When performing in-vitro fertilization (IVF), more embryos than needed are often derived. These embryos are usually frozen and stored, but as ruled by Swedish law they have to be discarded after 5 years. In other countries it is legal to donate the excess embryos to other infertile couples who for different reasons cannot undergo the procedure of IVF.

Attitudes towards embryo donation among infertile couples with frozen embryos.

Study Question: What are the attitudes towards different aspects of embryo donation among Swedish infertile couples who have surplus cryopreserved embryos?

Summary Answer: Nearly three-quarters of infertile couples with surplus embryos were in favour of embryo donation. A majority of respondents were also in favour of embryos being donated for research.

What Is Known Already: Currently, embryo donation to other infertile couples is prohibited by law in Sweden.

Proteomic analysis of human blastocoel fluid and blastocyst cells.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocyst and can differentiate into any cell type in the human body. These cells hold a great potential for regenerative medicine, but to obtain enough cells needed for medical treatment, culture is required on a large scale. In the undifferentiated state, hESCs appear to possess an unlimited potential for proliferation, but optimal, defined, and safe culture conditions remain a challenge.

Protein and steroid profiles in follicular fluid after ovarian hyperstimulation as potential biomarkers of IVF outcome.

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation is performed to assist with generation of multiple mature oocytes for use in in vitro fertilization (IVF). The goal of our study was to evaluate differences in protein and steroid profiles in ovarian follicular fluid (hFF) samples obtained during oocyte retrieval from women undergoing IVF treatment and to identify physiological pathways associated with the proteins. The hFF samples were depleted of abundant proteins, fractionated by ultrafiltration, digested, and analyzed by nano-LC-QTOF.

N-glycans of human protein C inhibitor: tissue-specific expression and function.

Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a serpin type of serine protease inhibitor that is found in many tissues and fluids in human, including blood plasma, seminal plasma and urine. This inhibitor displays an unusually broad protease specificity compared with other serpins. Previous studies have shown that the N-glycan(s) and the NH₂-terminus affect some blood-related functions of PCI.

Tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitors TFPI and TFPI2 in human secretory endometrium--possible link to female infertility.

The aim of this study was to investigate tissue factor (TF) and its inhibitors TFPI and TFPI2 in secretory endometrium of fertile women and in women with unexplained infertility in relation to endometrial receptivity. In addition, common variation in the regulatory area of TF and TFPI genes was studied. Immunostaining of TF and TFPI, together with the appearance of pinopodes, revealed similar expression pattern in fertile endometrium throughout the secretory phase, being highest at the time of implantation.