Incidence of Septate Uterus in Reproductive-Aged Women With and Without Endometriosis.

Study Objective: To compare the incidence of a uterine septum in women with and without endometriosis and if such incidence correlates with the stage of endometriosis Although a correlation between obstructive Mullerian anomalies and endometriosis has been well established, its link with non-obstructive anomalies remains controversial. To elucidate whether there is a correlation between endometriosis and non-obstructive Mullerian anomalies, we conducted this prospective study on all patients admitted to our Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility surgical service from February 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012. All patients underwent both hysteroscopy and laparoscopy.

The impact of robotics on the mode of benign hysterectomy and clinical outcomes.

Background: The impact of robotics on benign hysterectomy surgical approach, clinical outcomes, and learning curve is still unclear.

Methods: Review of abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic, or robotic cases in 156 US hospitals in the Premier Research Database.

Results: Of 289 875 hysterectomies, abdominal cases decreased from 2005-2010 (60-33%) and minimally invasive approaches increased (40-67%).

Contrast ultrasonography for tubal patency.

Evaluation of tubal patency is an essential part of a fertility workup. Laparoscopy with chromopertubation in conjunction with hysteroscopy is the gold standard in evaluation of tubal patency and the uterine cavity. In this review article we describe a newer method for evaluation of the uterus and fallopian tubes, that is, hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy).

Effect of surgery for endometrioma on ovarian function: a different point of view.

Recent evidence in the literature suggests that surgical excision of the endometrioma wall may reduce ovarian reserve, which may have a negative effect on subsequent reproductive function. However, because of inconsistent results and methodologic flaws of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) as a marker of ovarian reserve, antral follicle count may be a more accurate noninvasive marker than AMH. Evaluating ovarian reserve using antral follicle count rather than AMH may yield different conclusions insofar as postsurgical damage to the ovary.

Management of female infertility from hormonal causes.

Hormonal causes of female infertility involve ovulatory dysfunctions that may result from dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, peripheral endocrine glands, nonendocrine organs, or metabolic disorders. It is important to think of anovulation not as a diagnosis but as a symptom of a metabolic or endocrine disorder that requires a thorough diagnostic evaluation to identify the specific cause and to implement effective therapies that assure the best possible pregnancy outcome and avoid long-term adverse health consequences. In most instances, the medical history points to the underlying dysfunction, which can usually be confirmed with laboratory or imaging tests.

Management of endometriosis-related pain: an update.

Endometriosis is a chronic and recurrent condition affecting 6-10% of women of a reproductive age. It results from implantation of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. It is associated with pelvic pain and infertility.

Can hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography replace hysterosalpingography in confirming tubal blockage after hysteroscopic sterilization and in the evaluation of the uterus and tubes in infertile patients?

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the accuracy of hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) in establishing tubal patency or blockage and evaluating the uterine cavity by comparing it with hysteroscopy laparoscopy (HLC) or hysterosalpingography (HSG).

Study Design: This study was a chart review evaluating infertility patients and patients who had undergone hysteroscopic sterilization who underwent both HyCoSy and HLC or HyCoSy and HSG at private offices associated with university hospitals. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of HyCoSy were calculated.

Myomectomy.

Uterine leiomyomas are common, monoclonal tumors affecting 25% to 45% of reproductive age women. Although frequently asymptomatic, leiomyomas may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure or pain, and infertility. Myomectomy, which is indicated in symptomatic women who wish to preserve their reproductive function, may be performed by hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or laparotomy, according to their size, location, number, and the experience of the surgeon.

Adhesion reformation after laparoscopic adhesiolysis: where, what type, and in whom they are most likely to recur.

Study Objective: To assess if the severity or extent of adhesions, the organs involved, or presence of endometriosis predict recurrence or de novo adhesion formation.

Design: Comparison of adhesion scores at initial operative laparoscopy and at second-look laparoscopy using the revised American Fertility Society adhesion classification system (Canadian Task Force classification I).

Setting: A university-affiliated reproductive endocrinology and infertility center.

Safe technique for laparoscopic entry into the abdominal cavity.

Study Objective: To evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of a new method to enter the abdominal cavity at laparoscopy.

Design: (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Referral center for reproductive surgery in a teaching hospital affiliated with a university-based residency program.

Enhancement of bovine oocyte fertilization in vitro with a bovine oviductal specific glycoprotein.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a partially purified bovine oviductal glycoprotein (bOGP) on fertilization rates of bovine oocytes. The effect of albumin (control protein) or bOGP at 100 micrograms ml-1 during the 16-18 h fertilization period was evaluated in a standard IVF system using a sperm concentration between 0.5 and 0.

Established cell lines and their conditioned media support bovine embryo development during in-vitro culture.

These experiments were conducted to evaluate the ability of different somatic-cell monolayers or conditioned medium from somatic cells for supporting bovine embryo development in vitro. In the first experiment, bovine embryos (2- to 4-cells) were allocated randomly to a control (medium 199 with 10% fetal bovine serum and antibiotics) group or co-cultured with bovine oviduct epithelial (BOEC), buffalo rat liver (BRL), Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) or African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells. In the second experiment, bovine embryos (1-cell) were allocated randomly to the following groups: control medium or conditioned medium from BOEC, BRL, MDBK and Vero monolayers.