Isabelle Cédrin-Durnerin, Isis Carton, Nathalie Massin, Nicolas Chevalier, Sophie Dubourdieu, Bettina Bstandig, Xénia Michelson, Seydou Goro, Camille Jung, Anne Guivarc'h-Lévêque
{"title":"Pretreatment with luteal estradiol for programming antagonist cycles compared to no pretreatment in advanced age women stimulated with corifollitropin alfa: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Isabelle Cédrin-Durnerin, Isis Carton, Nathalie Massin, Nicolas Chevalier, Sophie Dubourdieu, Bettina Bstandig, Xénia Michelson, Seydou Goro, Camille Jung, Anne Guivarc'h-Lévêque","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae167","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae167","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>Does luteal estradiol (E2) pretreatment give a similar number of retrieved oocytes compared to no-pretreatment in advanced-aged women stimulated with corifollitropin alfa in an antagonist protocol?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>Programming antagonist cycles with luteal E2 gave similar number of retrieved oocytes compared to no-pretreatment in women aged 38-42 years.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Programming antagonist cycles with luteal E2 pretreatment is a valuable tool to organize the IVF procedure better and is safe without any known impact on cycle outcome. However, variable effects were observed on the number of retrieved oocytes depending on the treated population. In advanced-age women, recruitable follicles tend to decrease in number and to be more heterogeneous in size but it remains unclear if estradiol pretreatment could change the oocyte yield through its negative feed-back effect on FSH intercycle rise.</p><p><strong>Study design, size, duration: </strong>This non-blinded randomized controlled non-inferiority trial was conducted between 2016 and 2022 with centrally computerized randomization and concealed allocation. Participants were 324 women aged 38-42 years undergoing IVF treatment. The primary endpoint was the total number of retrieved oocytes. Statistical analysis was performed with one-sided alpha risk of 2.5% and 95% confidence interval (CI) with the non-inferiority of E2 pretreatment proved by a P value <0.025 and a lower delta margin of the CI within two oocytes compared to no pretreatment. Secondary endpoints were duration and total dosage of recombinant FSH, cancellation rate, percentage of oocyte pick-up (OPU) on working days, total number of metaphase II oocytes and obtained embryos, fresh transfer live birth rate, and cumulative live birth rate.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials, setting, methods: </strong>This multicentric study enrolled women with regular cycles, weight >50 kg and body mass index <32, IVF cycle 1-2. According to randomization, micronized estradiol 2 mg twice a day was started on days 20-24 and continued until Wednesday beyond the onset of menses followed by administration of corifollitropin alfa on Friday, i.e. stimulation (S)1 or from D1-3 of a natural cycle in unpretreated patients. GnRH antagonist was started at S6 and additional FSH at S8.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>Basal characteristics were similar in patients randomized in E2 pretreated (n = 164) and non-pretreated (n = 160) groups (intended to treat (ITT) population). A total of 291 patients started treatment (per protocol (PP) population), 147 in E2 pretreated group with a mean number [SD] of pre-treatment days 9.8 [2.6] and 144 in the non-pretreated group. Despite advanced age, oocyte yields ranged from 0 to 29 in both groups with a median number of 6 retrieved oocytes in accordance with a mean anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level above 1.2 ng/ml.","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141619867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J D Asseler, I de Nie, F B van Rooij, T D Steensma, D Mosterd, M O Verhoeven, M Goddijn, J A F Huirne, N M van Mello
{"title":"Transgender persons' view on previous fertility decision-making and current infertility: a qualitative study.","authors":"J D Asseler, I de Nie, F B van Rooij, T D Steensma, D Mosterd, M O Verhoeven, M Goddijn, J A F Huirne, N M van Mello","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae155","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae155","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>How do adult transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people, who are infertile due to prior gender-affirming treatment, view their current infertility and their reproductive decisions made in the past?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>In a time where sterilization was mandatory, transgender adolescents prioritized gender-affirming treatment over their future fertility and would make the same choice today despite emotional challenges related to infertility experienced by some.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Under transgender law in the Netherlands, sterilization was required for legal gender recognition until 2014, resulting in permanent infertility. The long-term consequences of this iatrogenic infertility in transgender adolescents who have now reached adulthood remain underexplored.</p><p><strong>Study design, size, duration: </strong>Qualitative study design based on 21 in-depth one-on-one semi-structured interviews.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials, setting, methods: </strong>TGD people in a stage of life where family planning may be a current topic were eligible for participation. They all received gender-affirming treatment in adolescence prior to the legislation change in 2014. A purposeful sampling technique was used from participants of another ongoing study. Eleven people assigned female at birth and ten people assigned male at birth were included. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed using a modified version of Braun and Clarke's six steps theory.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>Six main themes were generated: (i) personal considerations regarding fertility and fertility preservation in the past; (ii) external considerations regarding fertility and fertility preservation in the past; (iii) current vision on past considerations and decisions; (iv) Current experiences and coping with infertility; (v) future family building; (vi) advice regarding fertility and fertility preservation decision-making.</p><p><strong>Limitations, reasons for caution: </strong>Selection, recall, and choice supportive bias may play a role in interpreting our results.</p><p><strong>Wider implications of the findings: </strong>This study highlights the importance of tailored counselling and comprehensive information on fertility preservation for transgender individuals, especially adolescents, undergoing gender-affirming treatment.</p><p><strong>Study funding/competing interest(s): </strong>N/A.</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>N/A.</p>","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11373325/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141619869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Duke Appiah, Julie Sang, Olumakinwa E Olayemi, Eric K Broni, Buse Baykoca-Arslan, Imo A Ebong, Catherine Kim
{"title":"Infertility treatments and cyanotic congenital heart defects among livebirths in the USA: findings from a contemporary cohort.","authors":"Duke Appiah, Julie Sang, Olumakinwa E Olayemi, Eric K Broni, Buse Baykoca-Arslan, Imo A Ebong, Catherine Kim","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae161","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>Is there an elevated risk of cyanotic congenital heart defects (CCHD) among livebirths following infertility treatments?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>In this population-based study of single livebirths, infertility treatment (either ART or non-ART) was associated with a higher prevalence of CCHD among livebirths.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>The use of infertility treatment has been on the rise over the past few decades. However, there are limited studies assessing the risk of major cardiac defects following infertility treatments.</p><p><strong>Study design, size, duration: </strong>A retrospective cohort study of livebirth data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) was conducted, comprising of 9.6 million singleton livebirths among first-time mothers aged 15-49 years from 2016 to 2022.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials, setting, methods: </strong>Information on infertility treatment use and CCHD was obtained from the health and medical information section of birth certificates, which was completed by healthcare staff after reviewing medical records. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI. Entropy balancing weighting analysis and probabilistic bias analysis were also performed.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>The proportion of births following infertility treatment increased from 1.9% (27 116) to 3.1% (43 510) during the study period. Overall, there were 5287 cases of CCHD resulting in a prevalence of 0.6 per 1000 livebirths. The prevalence was 1.2 per 1000 live births among infertility treatment users (ART: 1.1 per 1000 livebirths; non-ART: 1.3 per 1000 livebirths) while that for naturally conceived births was 0.5 per 1000 livebirths. Compared to naturally conceived births, the use of any infertility treatment (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.82-2.33), either ART (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.73-2.36) or other infertility treatments (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.74-2.33), was associated with higher odds of CCHD after adjusting for maternal and paternal age, race and ethnicity, and education, as well as maternal nativity, marital status, source of payment, smoking status, and pre-pregnancy measures of BMI, hypertension and diabetes. This association did not differ by the type of infertility treatment (ART versus other infertility treatments) (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.82-1.33, P = 0.712), and was robust to the presence of exposure and outcome misclassification bias and residual confounding.</p><p><strong>Limitations, reasons for caution: </strong>The findings are only limited to livebirths. We did not have the capacity to examine termination data, but differential termination by mode of conception has not been supported by previous studies designed to consider it. Infertility treatment use was self-reported, leading to the potential for selection bias and misclassification for infertility treatment and CCHD. However, the association persist","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141619865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bei Xu, Dirk Geerts, Jiaying Yuan, Mengting Wang, Zhou Li, Qiaohong Lai, Yu Zheng, Si Liu, Shulin Yang, Guijin Zhu, Lei Jin
{"title":"A modified flexible GnRH antagonist protocol using antagonist early cessation and a gonadotropin step-down approach improves live birth rates in fresh cycles: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Bei Xu, Dirk Geerts, Jiaying Yuan, Mengting Wang, Zhou Li, Qiaohong Lai, Yu Zheng, Si Liu, Shulin Yang, Guijin Zhu, Lei Jin","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae145","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae145","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>Can pregnancy outcomes following fresh elective single embryo transfer (eSET) in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocols increase using a gonadotropin (Gn) step-down approach with cessation of GnRH antagonist on the day of hCG administration (hCG day) in patients with normal ovarian response?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>The modified GnRH antagonist protocol using the Gn step-down approach and cessation of GnRH antagonist on the hCG day is effective in improving live birth rates (LBRs) per fresh eSET cycle.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Currently, there is no consensus on optimal GnRH antagonist regimens. Studies have shown that fresh GnRH antagonist cycles result in poorer pregnancy outcomes than the long GnRH agonist (GnRHa) protocol. Endometrial receptivity is a key factor that contributes to this phenomenon.</p><p><strong>Study design, size, duration: </strong>An open label randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed between November 2021 and August 2022. There were 546 patients allocated to either the modified GnRH antagonist or the conventional antagonist protocol at a 1:1 ratio.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials, setting, methods: </strong>Both IVF and ICSI cycles were included, and the sperm samples used were either fresh or frozen from the partner, or from frozen donor ejaculates. The primary outcome was the LBRs per fresh SET cycle. Secondary outcomes included rates of implantation, clinical and ongoing pregnancy, miscarriage, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), as well as clinical outcomes of ovarian stimulation.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>Baseline demographic features were not significantly different between the two ovarian stimulation groups. However, in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population, the LBRs in the modified antagonist group were significantly higher than in the conventional group (38.1% [104/273] vs. 27.5% [75/273], relative risk 1.39 [95% CI, 1.09-1.77], P = 0.008). Using a per-protocol (PP) analysis which included all the patients who received an embryo transfer, the LBRs in the modified antagonist group were also significantly higher than in the conventional group (48.6% [103/212] vs. 36.8% [74/201], relative risk 1.32 [95% CI, 1.05-1.66], P = 0.016). The modified antagonist group achieved significantly higher implantation rates, and clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates than the conventional group in both the ITT and PP analyses (P < 0.05). The two groups did not show significant differences between the number of oocytes retrieved or mature oocytes, two-pronuclear zygote (2PN) rates, the number of embryos obtained, blastocyst progression and good-quality embryo rates, early miscarriage rates, or OHSS incidence rates (P > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Limitations, reasons for caution: </strong>A limitation of our study was that the subjects were not blinded to the treatment allocation in the RCT tria","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141467613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tao Zhu, Yian Zhao, Xiaocheng Bi, Peikai Zhao, Teng Liu, Yuxuan Li, Shumin Li, Shigang Zhao, Shaozhuang Liu, Xin Huang
{"title":"The impact of type 2 diabetes on polycystic ovary syndrome in patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy.","authors":"Tao Zhu, Yian Zhao, Xiaocheng Bi, Peikai Zhao, Teng Liu, Yuxuan Li, Shumin Li, Shigang Zhao, Shaozhuang Liu, Xin Huang","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae159","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>Does the concurrent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) aggravate the features and prognosis of PCOS in patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy (SG)?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>For patients undergoing SG with obesity, concurrent T2DM is associated with aggravated metabolic but milder reproductive features of PCOS and did not attenuate the resumption of regular menstruation for up to 1 year after surgery.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Women with T2DM have an increased risk of PCOS. However, whether concurrent T2DM further increases the disease burden and treatment difficulty of PCOS in patients with obesity requires further investigation.</p><p><strong>Study design, size, duration: </strong>This was a single-center, two-arm, prospective, cohort study enrolling a total of 329 women with PCOS and scheduled for SG because of obesity at an university-affiliated hospital between January 2020 and August 2023, with a 1-year follow-up after surgery.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials, setting, methods: </strong>Comparisons were made between patients with T2DM (PCOS+T2DM) and without (PCOS) to examine the impact of T2DM on the metabolic, reproductive, and psychological features of PCOS. The follow-up data of weight loss and menstruation were analyzed to determine the impact of T2DM on PCOS prognosis for up to 1 year after SG.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>After controlling for confounders, patients in the PCOS+T2DM group (n = 98) showed more severe insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (NAFLD activity score 4.31 ± 1.15 versus 3.52 ± 1.42, P < 0.001) than those in the PCOS group (n = 149). In addition, the PCOS+T2DM group had a lower level of total testosterone (1.63 ± 0.69 versus 1.82 ± 0.76, P = 0.045), a lower ratio between luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone (median 1.48 versus 1.68, P = 0.030), and a lower proportion of patients with polycystic ovarian morphology (88% versus 96%, P = 0.022) than the PCOS group. As a result, the two groups differed significantly in terms of the Rotterdam classification of PCOS (P = 0.009). No significant difference was detected by group in the psychological features of PCOS except a lower degree of emotional eating in the PCOS+T2DM group (P = 0.001). Although the PCOS+T2DM group took longer to resume regular menstruation after SG (P = 0.037), the two groups had similar proportions of patients with regular menstruation (85% versus 87%, P = 0.758) 1 year after SG, which was further confirmed by subgroup analyses by body mass index.</p><p><strong>Limitations, reasons for caution: </strong>The prognosis of PCOS after SG mainly focused on the results of menstruation rather than a complete evaluation of the remission of the disease.</p><p><strong>Wider implications of the findings: </strong>Our study showed that, for patients with obesity, concurrent T2DM is","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141619868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Moonshot. Long shot. Or sure shot. What needs to happen to realize the full potential of AI in the fertility sector?","authors":"Gerard Letterie","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae144","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae144","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quality healthcare requires two critical components: patients' best interests and best decisions to achieve that goal. The first goal is the lodestar, unchanged and unchanging over time. The second component is a more dynamic and rapidly changing paradigm in healthcare. Clinical decision-making has transitioned from an opinion-based paradigm to an evidence-based and data-driven process. A realization that technology and artificial intelligence can bring value adds a third component to the decision process. And the fertility sector is not exempt. The debate about AI is front and centre in reproductive technologies. Launching the transition from a conventional provider-driven decision paradigm to a software-enhanced system requires a roadmap to enable effective and safe implementation. A key nodal point in the ascending arc of AI in the fertility sector is how and when to bring these innovations into the ART routine to improve workflow, outcomes, and bottom-line performance. The evolution of AI in other segments of clinical care would suggest that caution is needed as widespread adoption is urged from several fronts. But the lure and magnitude for the change that these tech tools hold for fertility care remain deeply engaging. Exploring factors that could enhance thoughtful implementation and progress towards a tipping point (or perhaps not) should be at the forefront of any 'next steps' strategy. The objective of this Opinion is to discuss four critical areas (among many) considered essential to successful uptake of any new technology. These four areas include value proposition, innovative disruption, clinical agency, and responsible computing.</p>","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141534319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction: Placental structural adaptation to maternal physical activity and sedentary behavior: findings of the DALI lifestyle study.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae173","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae173","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11373336/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141792334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C Calhaz-Jorge, J Smeenk, C Wyns, D De Neubourg, D P Baldani, C Bergh, I Cuevas-Saiz, Ch De Geyter, M S Kupka, K Rezabek, A Tandler-Schneider, V Goossens
{"title":"Survey on ART and IUI: legislation, regulation, funding, and registries in European countries-an update.","authors":"C Calhaz-Jorge, J Smeenk, C Wyns, D De Neubourg, D P Baldani, C Bergh, I Cuevas-Saiz, Ch De Geyter, M S Kupka, K Rezabek, A Tandler-Schneider, V Goossens","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae163","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>How are ART and IUI regulated, funded, and registered in European countries, and how has the situation changed since 2018?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>Of the 43 countries performing ART and IUI in Europe, and participating in the survey, specific legislation exists in only 39 countries, public funding varies across and sometimes within countries (and is lacking or minimal in four countries), and national registries are in place in 33 countries; only a small number of changes were identified, most of them in the direction of improving accessibility, through increased public financial support and/or opening access to additional subgroups.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>The annual reports of the European IVF-Monitoring Consortium (EIM) clearly show the existence of different approaches across Europe regarding accessibility to and efficacy of ART and IUI treatments. In a previous survey, some coherent information was gathered about how those techniques were regulated, funded, and registered in European countries, showing that diversity is the paradigm in this medical field.</p><p><strong>Study design, size, duration: </strong>A survey was designed using the SurveyMonkey tool consisting of 90 questions covering several domains (legal, funding, and registry) and considering specific details on the situation of third-party donations. New questions widened the scope of the previous survey. Answers refer to the situation of countries on 31 December 2022.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials, settings, methods: </strong>All members of the EIM were invited to participate. The received answers were checked and initial responders were asked to address unclear answers and to provide any additional information considered relevant. Tables resulting from the consolidated data were then sent to members of the Committee of National Representatives of ESHRE, requesting a second check. Conflicting information was clarified by direct contact.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>Information was received from 43 out of the 45 European countries where ART and IUI are performed. There were 39 countries with specific legislation on ART, and artificial insemination was considered an ART technique in 33 of them. Accessibility is limited to infertile couples only in 8 of the 43 countries. In 5 countries, ART and IUI are permitted also for treatments of single women and all same sex couples, while a total of 33 offer treatment to single women and 19 offer treatment to female couples. Use of donated sperm is allowed in all except 2 countries, oocyte donation is allowed in 38, simultaneous donation of sperm and oocyte is allowed in 32, and embryo donation is allowed in 29 countries. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)-M/SR (for monogenetic disorders, structural rearrangements) is not allowed in 3 countries and PGT-A (for aneuploidy) is not allowed in 10; surrogacy is accepted in 15 countries.","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11373472/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141751542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giulia Mattei, Marco Reschini, Letizia Li Piani, Gianfranco Fornelli, Paola Vigano, Ludovico Muzii, Paolo Vercellini, Edgardo Somigliana
{"title":"Unexplained infertility and age-related infertility: indistinguishable diagnostic entities but different IVF prognosis.","authors":"Giulia Mattei, Marco Reschini, Letizia Li Piani, Gianfranco Fornelli, Paola Vigano, Ludovico Muzii, Paolo Vercellini, Edgardo Somigliana","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae140","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>Is IVF indicated for couples with age-related infertility?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>IVF may be of doubtful utility for age-related infertility.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>A diagnosis of unexplained infertility is drawn when the diagnostic work-up fails to identify any patent cause. Although typically managed uniformly, unexplained infertility is likely to comprise a wide range of conditions, including age-related infertility (at least in older women). Unfortunately, no validated tests for the identification of age-related infertility exist and these women are typically treated as unexplained cases. However, homologous ART may be less effective for these women because these techniques may be unable to treat the detrimental effects of ageing on oocyte competence.</p><p><strong>Study design, size, duration: </strong>Women aged 18-42 years who underwent IVF procedures between January 2014 and December 2021 were selected retrospectively. In the first part of the study, we aimed to assess whether the proportion of women with unexplained infertility (i.e. without patent causes of infertility) increased with age. In the second part of the study, women with unexplained infertility were matched 1:1 by age, study period, and duration of infertility, to those with a patent cause of infertility. If our hypothesis is valid, the first part of the study should highlight an increase in the proportion of unexplained infertility with age. Moreover, in the second part of the study, one should observe a sharper decrease in the rate of IVF success of the procedure with age in women with an unremarkable work-up compared to those with a definite cause of infertility.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials, setting, methods: </strong>Women were included if: they had been trying to conceive for more than 2 years, they had retrieved more than three oocytes, and had not undergone previous IVF attempts. We exclude couples with severe male factor (criptozoospermia), chronic anovulation, untreated hydrosalpinx, or intracavitary diseases. The first part of the study aimed at investigating the relative proportion of unexplained infertility with age. The outcome of the second part was the distribution of the live births between unexplained versus explained infertility, in women younger or older than 35 years. Only the results of the first IVF cycle were considered (including both fresh and frozen cycles). The live birth rate corresponded to the cumulative chance of a live birth per oocyte retrieval.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>One thousand five hundred and thirty-five women were selected for the first part of the study; 742 of them had unexplained infertility (48%). The frequency of this diagnosis was lower among women aged <35 years (40%) compared to those ≥35 years (52%) (P < 0.001). A clear gradient emerged when considering smaller intervals of age (P < 0.001). A total of 1134 wo","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141436778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Antonio Capalbo, Danilo Cimadomo, Giovanni Coticchio, Christian Simon Ottolini
{"title":"An expert opinion on rescuing atypically pronucleated human zygotes by molecular genetic fertilization checks in IVF.","authors":"Antonio Capalbo, Danilo Cimadomo, Giovanni Coticchio, Christian Simon Ottolini","doi":"10.1093/humrep/deae157","DOIUrl":"10.1093/humrep/deae157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>IVF laboratories routinely adopt morphological pronuclear assessment at the zygote stage to identify abnormally fertilized embryos deemed unsuitable for clinical use. In essence, this is a pseudo-genetic test for ploidy motivated by the notion that biparental diploidy is required for normal human life and abnormal ploidy will lead to either failed implantation, miscarriage, or significant pregnancy complications, including molar pregnancy and chorionic carcinoma. Here, we review the literature associated with ploidy assessment of human embryos derived from zygotes displaying a pronuclear configuration other than the canonical two, and the related pregnancy outcome following transfer. We highlight that pronuclear assessment, although associated with aberrant ploidy outcomes, has a low specificity in the prediction of abnormal ploidy status in the developing embryo, while embryos deemed abnormally fertilized can yield healthy pregnancies. Therefore, this universal strategy of pronuclear assessment invariably leads to incorrect classification of over 50% of blastocysts derived from atypically pronucleated zygotes, and the systematic disposal of potentially viable embryos in IVF. To overcome this limitation of current practice, we discuss the new preimplantation genetic testing technologies that enable accurate identification of the ploidy status of preimplantation embryos and suggest a progress from morphology-based checks to molecular fertilization check as the new gold standard. This alternative molecular fertilization checking represents a possible non-incremental and controversy-free improvement to live birth rates in IVF as it adds to the pool of viable embryos available for transfer. This is especially important for the purposes of 'family building' or for poor-prognosis IVF patients where embryo numbers are often limited.</p>","PeriodicalId":13003,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141751541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}