F&S reviewsPub Date : 2021-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.09.004
Astrid de Bantel-Finet, E. Arbo, M. Colombani, B. Darné, V. Gallot, V. Grzegorczyk-Martin, S. Languille, T. Fréour
{"title":"Does Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) improve live birth rate when compared to conventional in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in non-male factor infertility? A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Astrid de Bantel-Finet, E. Arbo, M. Colombani, B. Darné, V. Gallot, V. Grzegorczyk-Martin, S. Languille, T. Fréour","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.09.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43086808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F&S reviewsPub Date : 2021-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.04.002
Paul Pirtea M.D. , Claus Yding Andersen Ph.D. , Dominique de Ziegler M.D. , Jean Marc Ayoubi M.D., Ph.D.
{"title":"Rooted in pre-assisted reproductive technology times menotropins are still used today: a narrative review of literature","authors":"Paul Pirtea M.D. , Claus Yding Andersen Ph.D. , Dominique de Ziegler M.D. , Jean Marc Ayoubi M.D., Ph.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span><span><span>Human menopausal gonadotropins (hMGs) had been developed long before the advent of </span>assisted reproductive technology (ART) for the induction of </span>ovulation<span> in women suffering from hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The advent of ART offered a new application for hMGs, for inducing multiple follicular ovarian stimulation (OS) in generally normally ovulating women. The advent of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) preparations obtained by </span></span>genetic recombination<span> techniques in the early 1990s, recombinant FSH<span>, was originally seen as an imminent death knell for hMG preparations obtained from menopausal urine. Yet, 25 years later, hMG preparations—now in a highly purified form—are still part of our treatment options for OS in ART.</span></span></p><p>Over the years, meta-analyses have generally shown a similar or slight advantage in terms of ART outcomes (implantation, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth rates) for hMG preparations, albeit small in magnitude. Yet, recently, mounting evidence has indicated that certain women whose endogenous luteinizing hormone<span> (LH) levels are low, who are older, and/or who are prone to hyper-respond to OS are likely to benefit from receiving hMGs for OS. Today, hMG preparations gain their LH bioactivity from human chorionic gonadotropin obtained from a pituitary or chorionic source, with higher numbers of matured metaphase-II oocytes obtained in the latter case.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.04.002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43186089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F&S reviewsPub Date : 2021-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.06.001
Nadia A. du Fossé M.D. , Marie-Louise P. van der Hoorn M.D., Ph.D. , Nina H. Buisman B.Sc. , Jan M.M. van Lith M.D., Ph.D. , Saskia le Cessie Ph.D. , Eileen E.L. O. Lashley M.D., Ph.D.
{"title":"Paternal smoking is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss in a dose-dependent manner: a systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Nadia A. du Fossé M.D. , Marie-Louise P. van der Hoorn M.D., Ph.D. , Nina H. Buisman B.Sc. , Jan M.M. van Lith M.D., Ph.D. , Saskia le Cessie Ph.D. , Eileen E.L. O. Lashley M.D., Ph.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>To study the association between paternal lifestyle factors in the preconception period and the risk of pregnancy loss.</p></div><div><h3>Evidence Review</h3><p>The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analysis were followed. PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to August 2020. Original articles in English language addressing the relation between paternal exposure status in the preconception period and pregnancy loss were included. The paternal lifestyle factors examined were smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index. Studies that only examined exposure status during pregnancy (and not in the preconception period) and those that solely focused on pregnancy outcome after artificial reproductive technology were excluded. The qualitative risk of bias assessments was performed. Meta-analysis using a random-effects model was performed if sufficient data were available, with the risk of pregnancy loss as the primary outcome.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The systematic search included 3,386 articles, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria. In a meta-analysis of 8 studies, paternal smoking of >10 cigarettes per day in the preconception period was found to be associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss, after adjustment for maternal smoking status (1–10 cigarettes per day, 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97–1.06; 11–19 cigarettes per day, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.08–1.16; ≥20 cigarettes per day, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17–1.29). No clear association was found between paternal alcohol consumption and pregnancy loss, based on 5 available studies. No studies were identified evaluating the association between paternal body mass index and spontaneous pregnancy loss.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Awareness of the association between paternal smoking in the preconception period and the risk of pregnancy loss should be raised. More well-designed studies are needed to further investigate the effects of other paternal lifestyle factors on the risk of pregnancy loss.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.06.001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47735416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F&S reviewsPub Date : 2021-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.03.003
Yufeng He M.D. , Xing Jin Ph.D. , Haojue Wang M.D. , Hongyan Dai B.D. , Xianyi Lu B.D. , Jianxin Zhao Ph.D. , Hao Zhang M.D. , Wei Chen Ph.D. , Gang Wang Ph.D.
{"title":"The emerging role of the gut microbiome in polycystic ovary syndrome","authors":"Yufeng He M.D. , Xing Jin Ph.D. , Haojue Wang M.D. , Hongyan Dai B.D. , Xianyi Lu B.D. , Jianxin Zhao Ph.D. , Hao Zhang M.D. , Wei Chen Ph.D. , Gang Wang Ph.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>Polycystic ovary syndrome<span><span> (PCOS) is a widespread endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Recent studies have demonstrated a close association between the </span>gut microbiome<span> and PCOS. Their microbial diversity may not significantly change, and the crucial role of </span></span></span><span><em>Bacteroides</em></span><span><span> spp. has been demonstrated in human PCOS. Furthermore, animal models of PCOS exhibit gut microbiome features different from those of humans with PCOS. The gut microbiome may differ in patients<span> with PCOS because it can be affected by multiple PCOS-related factors. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome may trigger PCOS symptoms via an underlying mechanism that may involve microbial metabolites, including </span></span>bile acids<span><span><span>, short-chain fatty acids, and lipopolysaccharides. The manipulation of the gut microbiome can affect PCOS phenotypes, and </span>prebiotic or </span>probiotic therapy has the potential to improve PCOS symptoms. Future mechanistic studies are required to identify the causative role of these microbes and their metabolites in the pathogenesis of PCOS.</span></span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.03.003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49277867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Are we approaching automated assisted reproductive technology? Sperm analysis, oocyte manipulation, and insemination","authors":"Valentina Casciani Ph.D. , Daniela Galliano M.D., Ph.D. , Jason M. Franasiak M.D. , Giulia Mariani M.D. , Marcos Meseguer Ph.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures are mostly performed manually and require meticulous attention to details and precision in handling and timing. Automation of ART procedures would allow achieving standardization and reducing performance variability, the cost of medical treatment, and the risk of human error.</p><p><span>Some ART diagnostic devices are already available and offer objective tools of evaluation. However, automation of the entire spectrum of ART procedures is yet to come and can only be imagined as a platform capable of integrating all the separate technologies, successfully interconnecting them to guarantee a continued chain of custody of the gametes and embryos. The present update seeks to review the current potential for automation within the in vitro fertilization laboratory, with attention to sperm and oocyte manipulation and selection and to oocyte </span>insemination<span><span> with standard in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. An electronic search of PubMed was performed to identify articles in English that addressed automation in ART. Studies were classified in categories as </span>randomized controlled trials, prospective controlled trials, prospective noncontrolled trials, retrospective studies, and experimental studies. Research and development data from the authors are included.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.03.002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44174712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F&S reviewsPub Date : 2021-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.05.001
Tia Jackson-Bey M.D., M.P.H. , Jerrine Morris M.D., M.P.H. , Elizabeth Jasper Ph.D. , Digna R. Velez Edwards Ph.D., M.S. , Kim Thornton M.D. , Gloria Richard-Davis M.D. , Torie Comeaux Plowden M.D., M.P.H.
{"title":"Systematic review of racial and ethnic disparities in reproductive endocrinology and infertility: where do we stand today?","authors":"Tia Jackson-Bey M.D., M.P.H. , Jerrine Morris M.D., M.P.H. , Elizabeth Jasper Ph.D. , Digna R. Velez Edwards Ph.D., M.S. , Kim Thornton M.D. , Gloria Richard-Davis M.D. , Torie Comeaux Plowden M.D., M.P.H.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>To conduct a comprehensive review of racial and ethnic health disparities in infertility care and treatment.</p></div><div><h3>Evidence Review</h3><p>Systematic literature searches were performed in PubMed and Embase from inception to April 2021. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were original research performed in humans, observational study design, focused on circumstances contributing to infertility, access to infertility care, or outcomes of infertility treatment, and provided relevant information on racial or ethnic groups. Titles and abstracts were reviewed independently by two reviewers to identify pertinent articles. In addition, references of included articles were screened.</p></div><div><h3>Result(s)</h3><p>The PubMed search yielded 2,113 articles. An additional 2,301 articles were found in the Embase search. In total, 4,414 articles were screened on the basis of title and, where necessary, abstract. Thirty-four were found to meet the inclusion criteria and included in this review. Three additional studies were found from searching references of the included articles, resulting in 37 articles for discussion: 26 retrospective cohort studies, 2 prospective cohort studies, and 9 cross-sectional studies. The overall consensus in the literature is that reproductive health disparities on the basis of race and ethnicity impact fertility, access to care, and fertility treatment outcomes.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion(s)</h3><p>Racial and ethnic differences in access to full-spectrum reproductive care, including infertility evaluation and treatment, remain. Despite access to infertility treatment, disparate treatment outcomes persist. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as the institutionalization of racism and discrimination within medicine, remain influential in the diagnosis, care, and treatment outcomes of individuals with infertility. To address these inequities, we should mitigate provider bias, fund high-quality health disparity research, improve patient reproductive health knowledge, and advocate for increased access to treatment for all.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.05.001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42314428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Shared genetics between nonobstructive azoospermia and primary ovarian insufficiency","authors":"Lauren Verrilli M.D. , Erica Johnstone M.D., M.H.S. , Kristina Allen-Brady Ph.D., M.S.P.H, M.P.T. , Corrine Welt M.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Primary ovarian insufficiency<span><span><span> (POI) and nonobstructive azoospermia<span><span> (NOA) both represent disease states of early, and often complete, failure of gametogenesis. Because </span>oogenesis and </span></span>spermatogenesis share the same conserved steps in meiosis I, it is possible that inherited defects in meiosis I could lead to shared causes of both POI and NOA. Currently, known genes that contribute to both POI and NOA are limited. In this review article, we provide a </span>systematic review of genetic mutations in which both POI and NOA phenotypes exist.</span></p></div><div><h3>Evidence Review</h3><p>A PubMed literature review was conducted from January 1, 2000, through October 2020. We included all studies that demonstrated human cases of POI or NOA due to a specific genetic mutation either within the same family or in separate families.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>We identified 33 papers that encompassed 10 genes of interest with mutations implicated in both NOA and POI. The genes were all involved in processes of meiosis I.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Mutations in genes involved in processes of meiosis I may cause both NOA and POI. Identifying these unique phenotypes among shared genotypes leads to biologic plausibility that the key error occurs early in gametogenesis with an etiology shared among both male and female offspring. From a clinical standpoint, this shared relationship may help us better understand and identify individuals at a high risk of gonadal failure within families and suggests that clinicians obtain the history of opposite-sex family members when approaching a new diagnosis of POI or NOA.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.04.001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40385274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F&S reviewsPub Date : 2021-04-01DOI: 10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.01.002
Ilan Tur-Kaspa M.D. , Tomer Tur-Kaspa , Grace Hildebrand B.A. , David Cohen M.D.
{"title":"COVID-19 may affect male fertility but is not sexually transmitted: a systematic review","authors":"Ilan Tur-Kaspa M.D. , Tomer Tur-Kaspa , Grace Hildebrand B.A. , David Cohen M.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>To determine if SARS-CoV-2, which has led to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 global pandemic, is sexually transmitted. Since the putative receptor for the virus is identified in reproductive organs, it is also important to examine if COVID-19 may affect human fertility.</p></div><div><h3>Evidence Review</h3><p>A systematic review of English publications was conducted up to December 11, 2020 in PubMed, NIH iCite COVID-19 portfolio, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases, searching for SARS-CoV-2 in the testes; seminal, prostatic, and vaginal fluids; and cervical smears. A total of 1,997 records were identified, duplicates were removed, and 1,490 records were reviewed for eligibility by examining titles and abstracts. Subsequently, 202 full-text relevant articles were reviewed by 2 independent reviewers. Forty-seven studies (literature reviews, editorials, and guidelines) were assessed qualitatively, and 23 studies that tested the male and female reproductive tracts of patients with COVID-19 for SARS-CoV-2 were quantitatively analyzed.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>No epidemiological investigations to date have described evidence suggesting that COVID-19 is an STD. While angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor is found in the reproductive organs, the lack of co-expression of the TMPRSS2 modulatory protein, required for SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, in testicular cells, sperm, or oocytes, argues against the hypothesis that gametes transmit SARS-CoV-2. Molecular detection studies of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the male and female reproductive tracts were summarized: 98.0% (293/299) of the seminal fluids, 16/17 testicular biopsies, all 89 prostatic fluids, 98.3% (57/58) of the vaginal fluids, all 35 cervical smears, and all 16 oocyte samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. None of the studies confirmed sexual transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Nonetheless, COVID-19 may have detrimental effects on male reproduction by inducing orchitis and/or decreasing testosterone levels, sperm counts, and motility.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>On the basis of the current worldwide published information, COVID-19 is not an STD. This information is important for clinicians, proposed guidelines for public health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines for gamete and tissue donor eligibility, and fertility treatments. Universal precautions, currently practiced worldwide, are adequate and sufficient at this time to prevent the transmission of known or unknown viral infections. We suggest that recovered patients of COVID-19, especially those with infertility, should be evaluated for their ovarian and testicular function.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.01.002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25349155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F&S reviewsPub Date : 2021-04-01DOI: 10.1016/j.xfnr.2020.12.002
Jennifer R. Hughes Ph.D. , Sandra Soto-Heras Ph.D. , Charles H. Muller Ph.D. , David J. Miller Ph.D.
{"title":"Phthalates in albumin from human serum: implications for assisted reproductive technology","authors":"Jennifer R. Hughes Ph.D. , Sandra Soto-Heras Ph.D. , Charles H. Muller Ph.D. , David J. Miller Ph.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2020.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2020.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>Albumin, a vital protein in cell culture systems, is derived from whole blood or blood products. The culture of human gametes and developing embryos for </span>assisted reproductive technology<span> (ART) uses albumin of human origin. Human serum albumin<span> (HSA) is derived from expired blood obtained from blood banks. This blood has been stored in polyvinyl chloride bags made clear and flexible with di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). However, DEHP can leach from the bags into stored blood and cofractionate with HSA during albumin isolation. DEHP and its metabolite, mono-ethylhexyl phthalate, are known endocrine disruptors that are reported to have negative effects when directly supplemented in media for in vitro fertilization using gametes from a variety of animals. Therefore, the contamination of ART media with DEHP and mono-ethylhexyl phthalate through HSA supplementation may affect the outcomes of ART procedures. Although the embryology laboratory is strictly monitored to prevent a wide variety of contaminations, phthalate contamination of HSA has not been broadly examined. This review outlines the function of HSA in ART procedures and the production of HSA from whole blood. Finally, the review highlights the effects of acute phthalate exposures on gametes during in vitro procedures. Phthalates found in human serum albumin are present in media used for ART at levels that impair developmental endpoints in model species.</span></span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.xfnr.2020.12.002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40648485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Barriers to fertility care for racial/ethnic minority groups: a qualitative systematic review","authors":"Abirami Kirubarajan B.H.Sc., M.Sc , Priyanka Patel M.Sc., M.D , Shannon Leung B.H.Sc., M.P.H , Theebhana Prethipan B.H.Sc , Sony Sierra M.Sc., M.D","doi":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>To characterize patient-reported barriers to equitable fertility care for racial/ethnic minority groups</p></div><div><h3>Evidence Review</h3><p><span>We conducted a systematic review of the following 6 databases based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines: Ovid Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, </span><span>ClinicalTrials.Gov</span><svg><path></path></svg><span>, and PsycInfo. Citations of full-text articles were also manually searched in the Scopus database. Original research studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported patient-reported outcomes regarding racial/ethnic equity or cultural competence in fertility care. All racial and ethnic groups, including Black, Hispanic, South/East Asian, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous groups, were eligible for inclusion. Screening, extraction, and appraisal were completed in duplicate by 2 independent reviewers. The Risk of Bias Instrument for Cross-Sectional Surveys of Attitudes and Practices and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research were used to assess the risk of bias and methodological quality.</span></p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Of 2,921 original database citations, we included 17 studies, which encompassed 3,743 patients from racial/ethnic minority and immigrant/refugee groups. The key patient-reported barriers included stigmatization of fertility care, lack of infertility knowledge, language barriers, discrimination, and lack of institutional trust. These barriers can create psychological distress for patients as well as prevent help-seeking for infertility. As such, the different approaches for equitable care included provision of multilingual services, involvement of physicians of diverse backgrounds, incorporation of preferred traditional healers, awareness of religious beliefs, and screening for psychosocial services. However, it is important to ensure that fertility providers do not inadvertently stereotype patients or rely on blanket assumptions. An open-ended approach to cultural humility is recommended.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>It is important for healthcare providers to consider the unique barriers for fertility care for racial and ethnic minority groups. This review describes a number of implementable solutions for equitable fertility care.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":73011,"journal":{"name":"F&S reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.xfnr.2021.01.001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"113382138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}