Assisted reproductive technologies in Africa: The African Network and Registry for ART, 2018 and 2019.

Research Question: What were the utilization, practices and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Africa in 2018 and 2019?

Design: Cycle-based data (CBD) and retrospective summary data were collected cross-sectionally from voluntarily participating ART centres.

Results: During 2018, 43,958 ART procedures were reported by 67 centres in 16 countries, increasing to 45,185 procedures reported by 70 centres in 18 countries in 2019. Autologous fresh procedures predominated at 70%, whereas autologous frozen embryo transfers (FET) increased from 21.

The impact of religion and culture on medically assisted reproduction in the Middle East and Europe.

Infertility is a medico-socio-cultural problem associated with gender-based suffering. Infertility treatment, including assisted reproductive technology (ART), is a human right. Culture and religion were among the stumbling blocks to early acceptance of ART, particularly in the Middle East and to a lesser extent in Europe.

Human-stimulated oocyte extract induces genetic and mitochondrial reprogramming of mesenchymal stromal cells.

Summary: Reprogramming autologous adult cells to pluripotent cells allows for relatively safe cell replacement therapy. This can be achieved by nuclear transfer, cell fusion, or induced pluripotent stem cell technology However, the epigenetic memory of the cell is considered as a great challenge facing the complete reprograming of cells by these methods. Introducing oocyte-specific factors into differentiated cells may present a promising approach by mimicking cellular reprogramming during fertilization.

Triple-arm trial of pH (Tri-pH) effect on live birth after ICSI in Egyptian IVF facilities: protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: One potential stressor that can affect preimplantation and postimplantation embryonic growth after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the pH of the human embryo culture medium, but no evidence exists to indicate which pH level is optimal for IVF. Based on anecdotal evidence or mouse models, culture media manufacturers recommend a pH range of 7.2 to 7.

Oocyte Aging: The Role of Cellular and Environmental Factors and Impact on Female Fertility.

Female aging is one of the most important factors that impacts human reproduction. With aging, there is a natural decline in female fertility. The decrease in fertility is slow and steady in women aged 30-35 years; however, this decline is accelerated after the age of 35 due to decreases in the ovarian reserve and oocyte quality.

Characterization of embryonic cells obtained from multifetal reduction.

The multifetal reduction (MFR) procedure is usually reserved for high-order multiple pregnancies, and aspirated tissues are typically discarded. In this study, cells obtained from MFR tissue (termed multifetal reduction embryonic cells (MFR-ECs)), were characterized by genotypic and phenotypic analyses and tested by injection under the kidney capsule of nude mice. MFR-ECs were highly proliferative in culture and showed a normal karyotype by microarray CGH.

International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology: world report on assisted reproductive technology, 2011.

Objective: To report the utilization, effectiveness, and safety of practices in assisted reproductive technology (ART) globally in 2011 and assess global trends over time.

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional survey on the utilization, effectiveness, and safety of ART procedures performed globally during 2011.

Setting: Sixty-five countries and 2,560 ART clinics.

The use of laser assisted hatching of frozen/thawed embryos versus laser assisted hatching of fresh embryos in human intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Unlabelled: Cryopreservation of human embryos has become an essential part of assisted reproduction. It limits the number of embryo transferred while supernumerary embryos can be transferred in subsequent cycles, however, it is associated with zonal hardening, which lowers the success rate in the majority of (ICSI) centres, associated with decreased implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rates. Assisted hatching has been used to induce microdissection of the zona pellucida.

Cairo consensus on the IVF laboratory environment and air quality: report of an expert meeting.

This proceedings report presents the outcomes from an international Expert Meeting to establish a consensus on the recommended technical and operational requirements for air quality within modern assisted reproduction technology (ART) laboratories. Topics considered included design and construction of the facility, as well as its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; control of particulates, micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within critical areas; safe cleaning practices; operational practices to optimize air quality while minimizing physicochemical risks to gametes and embryos (temperature control versus air flow); and appropriate infection-control practices that minimize exposure to VOC. More than 50 consensus points were established under the general headings of assessing site suitability, basic design criteria for new construction, and laboratory commissioning and ongoing VOC management.

International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies world report: Assisted Reproductive Technology 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Study Question: What were utilization, outcomes and practices in assisted reproductive technology (ART) globally in 2008, 2009 and 2010?

Summary Answer: Global utilization and effectiveness remained relatively constant despite marked variations among countries, while the rate of single and frozen embryo transfers (FETs) increased with a concomitant slight reduction in multiple birth rates.

What Is Known Already: ART is widely practised in all regions of the world. Monitoring utilization, an approximation of availability and access, as well as effectiveness and safety is an important component of universal access to reproductive health.

International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology: world report on assisted reproductive technology, 2005.

Objective: To analyze information on assisted reproductive technology (ART) performed worldwide and trends in outcomes over successive years.

Design: Cross-sectional survey on access, effectiveness, and safety of ART procedures performed in 53 countries during 2005.

Setting: A total of 2,973 clinics from national and regional ART registries.

Intrauterine injection of human chorionic gonadotropin before embryo transfer significantly improves the implantation and pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a prospective randomized study.

Objective: To investigate the value of intrauterine injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) before embryo transfer (ET).

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: The Egyptian IVF-ET Center.

A simple and relatively painless technique for hysterosalpingography, using a thin catheter and closing the cervix with the vaginal speculum: a pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate the use of a thin catheter for hysterosalpingography (HSG) for reducing the pain experienced during the procedure.

Methods: Infertile women undergoing tubal patency tests were randomised into two groups. In the study group (n=66) a thin catheter originally designed for intrauterine insemination was used to inject the dye.

Success of frozen embryo transfer: Does the type of gonadotropin influence the outcome?

Objectives: To determine whether there is a difference in outcome between different ovulation-induced cycles after frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET).

Methods: We searched the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group's trials register in May 2009, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2008), ISI Web of Knowledge (1985 to August 2009), and reference lists of articles. Relevant conference proceedings were hand-searched and researchers in the field were contacted.

Effect of urinary versus recombinant FSH on clinical outcomes after frozen-thawed embryo transfers: a systematic review.

Recent randomized trials, systematic reviews and cost-effectiveness analyses have demonstrated the relative efficacy,and in some cases superiority, of urinary gonadotrophins (uFSH, human menopausal gonadotrophin) compared with recombinant FSH (rFSH). However, the effectiveness of frozen-embryo transfers (FET) following ovarian stimulation with uFSH versus rFSH in the fresh cycle has not been well investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether there are differences in clinical outcomes in women undergoing FET according to the type of gonadotrophin used during ovarian stimulation.

The impact of vanishing fetuses on the outcome of ICSI pregnancies.

Vanishing fetal twins occurred in 9% (264 out of 2,829) intracytoplasmic sperm injection pregnancies and are associated with a lower fetal loss rate in the first trimester. The live birth rate was higher in pregnancies associated with vanishing fetuses.

Electrical activation of oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a controlled randomized study.

Objective: To evaluate the electrical activation of oocytes in patients with previously failed or limited fertilization after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in patients with possible failure of fertilization.

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: A private IVF center in Egypt.

The impact of spermatozoa preincubation time and spontaneous acrosome reaction in intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a controlled randomized study.

Objective: To determine the optimum time interval between semen processing and incubation before intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and correlate it with the acrosomal reaction rate.

Design: Controlled randomized study.

Setting: The Egyptian IVF-ET Center.

Among women undergoing embryo transfer, is the probability of pregnancy and live birth improved with ultrasound guidance over clinical touch alone? A systemic review and meta-analysis of prospective randomized trials.

Objective: To investigate the theory that ultrasound guidance during ET improves clinical outcomes.

Design: Systematic review of prospective, randomized, controlled trials comparing ultrasound with clinical touch methods of embryo catheter guidance.

Setting: Infertility centers.