Blastocyst Morphology Holds Clues Concerning The Chromosomal Status of The Embryo.

Background: Embryo morphology has been proposed as an alternative marker of chro- mosomal status. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the association between the chromosomal status on day 3 of embryo development and blas- tocyst morphology.

Materials And Methods: A total of 596 embryos obtained from 106 cycles of intra- cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) followed by preimplantation genetic aneuploidy screening (PGS) were included in this retrospective study.

The Impact of Pituitary Blockage with GnRH Antagonist and Gonadotrophin Stimulation Length on The Outcome of ICSI Cycles in Women Older than 36 Years.

Background: The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate whether the length of pituitary blockage with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists or the stimulation period influence intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes in patients older than 36 years of age.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 138 couples with maternal age >36 years undergoing ICSI with an antagonist protocol were included. The influences of stimulation and suppression length on the response to ovarian stimulation and ICSI outcomes were investigated.

The developmental competence of oocytes retrieved from the leading follicle in controlled ovarian stimulated cycles.

Background: This study compares the developmental capacity of gametes retrieved from the largest follicle with small follicles of a cohort in controlled ovarian stimulated cycles.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study performed in a private assisted fertilization center included 1016 follicles collected from 96 patients who underwent intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). After follicular aspiration, oocytes were assigned to two groups according to the diameter of the derived follicle.

Sperm organelle morphologic abnormalities: contributing factors and effects on intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles outcomes.

Objective: To (1) analyze possible relationships between motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) and sperm chromatin status, aneuploidy incidence, and patient's age; (2) determine the effects of sperm morphologic abnormalities on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes; and (3) identify the benefits of intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) in patients with high DNA fragmentation rate.

Methods: The study was performed in 50 patients undergoing ICSI cycles. The MSOME, sperm DNA fragmentation, and sperm aneuploidy incidence were performed in 200 sperm cells of each patient.

Prognostic value of triploid zygotes on intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic significance of triploidy incidence on the outcomes of embryos derived from normally fertilized oocytes from the same cohort.

Methods: This study included 1500 ICSI cycles. Logistic regression models were used to study the influence of abnormal fertilization on the development and clinical outcomes of embryos derived from normally fertilized oocytes from the same cohort

Results: We observed a negative influence of the percentages of triploid zygotes on fertilization (75.

Varicocelectomy does not impact pregnancy outcomes following intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures.

There are many studies in the literature suggesting an acquired, apparently progressive infertility due to varicocele. In fact, varicocelectomy has become the most commonly performed male infertility surgery. Assisted reproductive technologies such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are also important for couples with male factor infertility associated with varicocele.

Oocyte yield and dysmorphisms as indicators of biological efficiency in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles.

The aim of the study was to examine whether oocyte yield could be an indicator of morphological oocyte quality and biological competency in patients younger than 36 years undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). Three hundred and thirty-five intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures were arbitrarily subdivided into five groups according to the number of retrieved oocytes. Patients' demographic characteristics and treatment success were compared among the groups.

Effect of acupuncture on assisted reproduction treatment outcomes.

Background: Acupuncture has recently been used as a complementary technique in the management of infertility. It has physiological and psychological effects and may be considered an alternative for stress reduction in women undergoing infertility treatments.

Objective: To examine the hypothesis that acupuncture treatment may increase the pregnancy rate in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles.

Blastomere multinucleation: Contributing factors and effects on embryo development and clinical outcome.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to discover which intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle parameters could influence the presence of multinucleated blastomeres (MNBs) and how ICSI outcomes are influenced by this event.

Material And Methods: Embryos derived from normally fertilised oocytes were divided into two groups: embryos that had only mononucleated blastomeres (NBs group n = 2818) and embryos that had at least one multinucleated blastomere (MNB group, n = 404). The effects of ICSI cycle factors on multinucleation were investigated and embryo development was compared between the groups.

Physical activity, obesity and eating habits can influence assisted reproduction outcomes.

Objective: To determine if eating habits, physical activity and BMI can influence assisted reproduction outcomes.

Material And Methods: This study analyzed 436 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. Patients answered a questionnaire and regression analysis examined the relationship between lifestyle and BMI with the intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles outcomes.

Assisted reproductive technology outcomes in azoospermic men: 10 years of experience with surgical sperm retrieval.

An azoospermic man suffers from an absence of sperm in the ejaculate and this condition is present in about 10% of infertile men. Obstructive azoospermia (OA) is characterized by an occlusion or partial absence of the reproductive tract with the presence of normal spermatogenesis. On the other hand, non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is characterized by impaired spermatogenesis.

Contribution of in-vitro maturation in ovarian stimulation cycles of poor-responder patients.

This cohort study evaluated whether rescue spontaneous maturation (RSM) could be a valid method to increase the number of embryos available for transfer and whether transfers with RSM-derived embryos would contribute to clinical outcomes of poor-responder patients in ovarian stimulation cycles. The study included 440 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles in which fewer than five metaphase II (MII) oocytes and at least one immature oocyte were retrieved after follicle aspiration. Patients were allocated into two groups based on the injected oocytes' nuclear maturation status: MII group (n=330), in which only embryos derived from MII oocytes were transferred, and RSM group (n=110), in which at least one embryo derived from an RSM oocyte was transferred.

Zona pellucida birefringence in in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes.

Objective: To evaluate zona pellucida birefringence (ZPB) in immature and mature oocytes collected after controlled ovarian stimulation and to assess the influence of ZPB on oocyte development.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting(s): Private assisted reproduction centre.

Metaphase II human oocyte morphology: contributing factors and effects on fertilization potential and embryo developmental ability in ICSI cycles.

Morphologic abnormalities in the oocyte are relevant for determining its developmental fate and could be related to controlled ovarian stimulation protocols and ovarian response. The contributing factors of oocyte dysmorphism incidence and its effects on fertilization potential and embryo development are the object of discussion in this study.

Outcome of ICSI using zona pellucida-bound spermatozoa and conventionally selected spermatozoa.

This study aimed to investigate whether the spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding test is able to select spermatozoa with higher fertilization potential and higher rate of successful embryo development. This prospective study was performed with metaphase II (MII) oocytes retrieved from couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. For each patient, half of the MII oocytes were injected using a routine ICSI method (control group, n = 194) while the other half were injected with previously zona pellucida-bound spermatozoa (ZP-binding group, n = 194).

Predictive factors of repeat sperm aspiration success.

Objectives: To evaluate the outcomes of repeated testicular sperm aspirations (TESAs) and to investigate whether the interval between TESA procedures, success in the first attempt, and patient age might influence the results.

Methods: The patient population in the present study consisted of couples undergoing TESA for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Of these, 189, 46, 42, and 19 male patients underwent 1, 2, 3, and 4 sperm retrievals, respectively.

Deciding the fate of supernumerary frozen embryos: parents' choices.

Embryo cryopreservation is a routine procedure in assisted reproductive technologies. Although couples have been informed about all potential procedures, some of them face the dilemma of what to do with surplus frozen embryos. The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate the attitude of patients toward their surplus cryopreserved embryos.

Poor ovarian response in patients younger than 35 years: is it also a qualitative decline in ovarian function?

Objective: To investigate whether poor response to controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) is due to a qualitative decline in ovarian function.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 436 patients younger than 35-years old, undergoing COS for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Patients with four or fewer MII oocytes after COS (poor-responder group, PR, n = 52) were age-matched with normoresponder patients (NR, n = 364).

Supplementation with a recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin microdose leads to similar outcomes in ovarian stimulation with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone using either a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist or antagonist for pituitary suppression.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of protocols for ovarian stimulation with recombinant hCG microdose, with GnRH agonists and antagonists for pituitary suppression.

Design: Prospective nonrandomized clinical trial.

Setting: A private assisted reproduction center.

Artificial oocyte activation with calcium ionophore A23187 in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles using surgically retrieved spermatozoa.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of artificial oocyte activation (AOA) on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles using surgically retrieved sperm.

Design: Laboratory study.

Setting: Fertility/assisted fertilization center.

A comparison of post-thaw results between embryos arising from intracytoplasmic sperm injection using surgically retrieved or ejaculated spermatozoa.

Objective: To study the effect of freeze-thaw on embryos derived from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using surgically retrieved and ejaculated spermatozoa.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Private IVF center.