Human reproduction openPub Date : 2023-01-13eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoac062
Álvaro Martínez-Moro, Ismael Lamas-Toranzo, Leopoldo González-Brusi, Alba Pérez-Gómez, Ester Padilla-Ruiz, Javier García-Blanco, Pablo Bermejo-Álvarez
{"title":"Reply to: Technical specificities of the study of the mitochondrial genome.","authors":"Álvaro Martínez-Moro, Ismael Lamas-Toranzo, Leopoldo González-Brusi, Alba Pérez-Gómez, Ester Padilla-Ruiz, Javier García-Blanco, Pablo Bermejo-Álvarez","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoac062","DOIUrl":"10.1093/hropen/hoac062","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 1","pages":"hoac062"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2023-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/93/b8/hoac062.PMC9838313.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10604156","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}
Edwin-Amalraj Raja, Siladitya Bhattacharya, Abha Maheshwari, David J McLernon
{"title":"A comparison of perinatal outcomes following fresh blastocyst or cleavage stage embryo transfer in singletons and twins and between singleton siblings.","authors":"Edwin-Amalraj Raja, Siladitya Bhattacharya, Abha Maheshwari, David J McLernon","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoad003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoad003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>Are perinatal outcomes following fresh blastocyst versus fresh cleavage stage embryo transfer (ET) different in singletons, twins, and between singleton siblings?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>Singleton babies conceived following fresh blastocyst, versus cleavage stage, ET are less likely to be small for gestational age (SGA) or to have a congenital anomaly (a result confirmed by comparing singleton siblings), while singletons born following fresh blastocyst ET were at a higher risk of being large for gestational age (LGA) than their sibling born following fresh cleavage stage ET.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Blastocyst stage transfer is now the preferred strategy in most IVF units. Previous studies have suggested that babies conceived through blastocyst transfer are at increased risk of preterm birth and LGA.</p><p><strong>Study design size duration: </strong>A national population-based retrospective cohort study was performed using linked Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) data on 130 516 IVF and ICSI livebirths occurring from 103 062 women between 2000 and 2017.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials setting methods: </strong>We included women who had at least one singleton livebirth resulting from IVF/ICSI fresh embryo treatment, using their own eggs and partner's sperm. A linked HFEA dataset was analysed using a multilevel framework, which accommodated repeated IVF cycles resulting in livebirths in the same woman. A population-averaged robust Poisson model was used for binary outcomes and a multinomial logistic regression model was used for categorical outcomes. Unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) (95% CI) were calculated.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>There were 130 516 livebirths in 103 062 women, including 86 630 singletons, 43 886 twin births, and 5384 pairs of singleton siblings. In comparison with fresh cleavage stage ET, fresh blastocyst stage transfer in singletons was associated with a lower risk of low birthweight (aRR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.86, 0.99), lower risk of being SGA (0.83; 0.78, 0.89), and lower risk of congenital anomaly (0.79; 0.71, 0.89). This analysis did not show an increase in risk associated with preterm birth (1.00; 0.94, 1.06), high birthweight (0.99; 0.93, 1.06), LGA (0.99; 0.93, 1.05), and the chance of healthy singleton baby (1.00; 1.00, 1.02). Twins resulting from fresh blastocyst stage ET were at slightly higher risk of preterm birth (1.05; 1.02, 1.10) compared with twins conceived following fresh cleavage stage ET. There was insufficient evidence for an association with the other perinatal outcomes. Singleton siblings born following fresh blastocyst stage ET were at a higher risk of being LGA (1.57; 1.01, 2.46) and at lower risk of having a congenital anomaly (0.52; 0.28, 0.97) compared to their singleton siblings born following cleavage stage ET. There was some evidence of excess risk of preterm birt","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 2","pages":"hoad003"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9995092/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9096003","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":"Conventional outcome reporting per IVF cycle/embryo transfer may systematically underestimate chances of success for women undergoing ART: relevant biases in registries, epidemiological studies, and guidelines.","authors":"Georg Griesinger, Per Larsson","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoad018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoad018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pre-conception counselling and management of expectations about chance of success of IVF/ICSI treatments is an integral part of fertility care. Registry data are usually used to inform patients about expected success rates of IVF/ICSI treatment, as these data should best represent real-world populations and clinical practice. In registries, the success rate of IVF/ICSI treatments is conventionally reported per treatment cycle or per embryo transfer and estimated from data for which several treatment attempts per subject have been pooled (e.g. repetitive IVF/ICSI attempts or repetitive attempts of cryotransfer). This, however, may underestimate the true mean chance of success per treatment attempt, because treatment attempts of women with a poor prognosis will usually be over-represented in a pool of treatment cycle data compared to treatment events of women with a good prognosis. Of note, this phenomenon is also a source of potential bias when comparing outcomes between fresh transfers and cryotransfers, since women can undergo a maximum of only one fresh transfer after each IVF/ICSI treatment, but potentially several cryotransfers. Herein, we use a trial dataset from 619 women, who underwent one cycle of ovarian stimulation and ICSI, a Day 5 fresh transfer and/or subsequent cryotransfers (follow-up of all cryotransfers up to 1 year after the start of stimulation), to exemplify the underestimation of the live birth rate, when not accounting for repeated transfers in the same woman. Using mixed-effect logistic regression modelling, we show that the mean live birth rate per transfer per woman in cryocycles is underestimated by the factor 0.69 (e.g. live birth rate per cryotransfer of 36% after adjustment versus 25% unadjusted). We conclude that the average chance of success of treatment cycles of women of a given age, treated in a given centre, etc., when conventionally calculated per cycle or per embryo transfer from a pool of treatment events, do not apply to an individual woman. We suggest that patients are, especially at the outset of treatment, systematically confronted with mean estimates of success per attempt that are too low. Live birth rates per transfer from datasets encompassing multiple transfers from single individuals could be more accurately reported using statistical models accounting for the correlation between cycle outcomes within women.</p>","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 2","pages":"hoad018"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/9d/37/hoad018.PMC10214861.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9545715","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":"Dietary fat and fatty acid consumptions and the odds of asthenozoospermia: a case-control study in China.","authors":"Jun-Qi Zhao, Xiao-Bin Wang, Xu Leng, Yi-Fan Wei, Dong-Hui Huang, Jia-Le Lv, Qiang Du, Ren-Hao Guo, Bo-Chen Pan, Qi-Jun Wu, Yu-Hong Zhao","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoad030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoad030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>Are dietary fat and fatty acid (FA) intakes related to the odds of asthenozoospermia?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>Plant-based fat consumption was associated with decreased asthenozoospermia odds, while the consumption of animal-based monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) was positively related to asthenozoospermia odds.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Dietary fat and FA are significant ingredients of a daily diet, which have been demonstrated to be correlated to the reproductive health of men. However, to date, evidence on fat and FA associations with the odds of asthenozoospermia is unclear.</p><p><strong>Study design size duration: </strong>The hospital-based case-control study was performed in an infertility clinic from June 2020 to December 2020. Briefly, 549 asthenozoospermia cases and 581 controls with normozoospermia were available for final analyses.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials setting methods: </strong>We collected dietary data through a verified food frequency questionnaire of 110 food items. Asthenozoospermia cases were ascertained according to the World Health Organization guidelines. To investigate the correlations of dietary fat and FA consumptions with the odds of asthenozoospermia, we calculated the odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% CIs through unconditional logistic regression models.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>Relative to the lowest tertile of consumption, the highest tertile of plant-based fat intake was inversely correlated to the odds of asthenozoospermia (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.50-0.91), with a significant dose-response relation (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.75-0.97, per standard deviation increment). Inversely, animal-based MUFA intake (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.04-2.14) was significantly correlated to increased odds of asthenozoospermia, and an evident dose-response relation was also detected (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.05-1.45, per standard deviation increment). Subgroup analyses showed similar patterns of associations to those of the primary results. Moreover, we observed significant interactions on both multiplicative and additive scales between animal-based MUFA and cigarette smoking.</p><p><strong>Limitations reasons for caution: </strong>Selection bias and recall bias were unavoidable in any of the observational studies. As we failed to obtain the information of trans-fatty acid (TFA) consumption, the relation of TFA intake and asthenozoospermia odds was unclear.</p><p><strong>Wider implications of the findings: </strong>This study indicated that different sources of fat and FAs might exert different effects on the etiology of asthenozoospermia, and cigarette smoking could exacerbate the adverse effect of high animal-based MUFA intake on asthenozoospermia. Our findings provide novel evidence pertaining to the fields of prevention of asthenozoospermia through decreasing animal-derived fat and FA consumptions and smoking cessation.<","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 3","pages":"hoad030"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10403433/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9950617","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 Spinella, F Bronet, F Carvalho, E Coonen, M De Rycke, C Rubio, V Goossens, A Van Montfoort
{"title":"ESHRE PGT Consortium data collection XXI: PGT analyses in 2018.","authors":"F Spinella, F Bronet, F Carvalho, E Coonen, M De Rycke, C Rubio, V Goossens, A Van Montfoort","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoad010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoad010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>What are the trends and developments in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in 2018 as compared to previous years?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>The main trends observed in this 21st dataset on PGT are that the implementation of trophectoderm biopsy with comprehensive whole-genome testing is most often applied for PGT-A and concurrent PGT-M/SR/A, while for PGT-M and PGT-SR, single-cell testing with PCR and FISH still prevail.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Since it was established in 1997, the ESHRE PGT Consortium has been collecting and analysing data from mainly European PGT centres. To date, 20 datasets and an overview of the first 10 years of data collections have been published.</p><p><strong>Study design size duration: </strong>The data for PGT analyses performed between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018 with a 2-year follow-up after analysis were provided by participating centres on a voluntary basis. Data were collected using an online platform, which is based on genetic analysis and has been in use since 2016.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials setting methods: </strong>Data on biopsy method, diagnostic technology, and clinical outcome were submitted by 44 centres. Records with analyses for more than one PGT for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) and/or PGT for chromosomal structural rearrangements (PGT-SR), or with inconsistent data regarding the PGT modality, were excluded. All transfers performed within 2 years after the analysis were included, enabling the calculation of cumulative pregnancy rates. Data analysis, calculations, and preparation of figures and tables were carried out by expert co-authors.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>The current data collection from 2018 covers a total of 1388 analyses for PGT-M, 462 analyses for PGT-SR, 3003 analyses for PGT for aneuploidies (PGT-A), and 338 analyses for concurrent PGT-M/SR with PGT-A.The application of blastocyst biopsy is gradually rising for PGT-M (from 19% in 2016-2017 to 33% in 2018), is status quo for PGT-SR (from 30% in 2016-2017 to 33% in 2018) and has become the most used biopsy stage for PGT-A (from 87% in 2016-2017 to 98% in 2018) and for concurrent PGT-M/SR with PGT-A (96%). The use of comprehensive, whole-genome amplification (WGA)-based diagnostic technology showed a small decrease for PGT-M (from 15% in 2016-2017 to 12% in 2018) and for PGT-SR (from 50% in 2016-2017 to 44% in 2018). Comprehensive testing was, however, the main technology for PGT-A (from 93% in 2016-2017 to 98% in 2018). WGA-based testing was also widely used for concurrent PGT-M/SR with PGT-A, as a standalone technique (74%) or in combination with PCR or FISH (24%). Trophectoderm biopsy and comprehensive testing strategies are linked with higher diagnostic efficiencies and improved clinical outcomes per embryo transfer.</p><p><strong>Limitations reasons for caution: </strong>The findings apply to the data submitted ","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 2","pages":"hoad010"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/47/fb/hoad010.PMC10121336.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9742132","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}
E Koert, T S Hartwig, G M Hviid Malling, L Schmidt, H S Nielsen
{"title":"'You're never pregnant in the same way again': prior early pregnancy loss influences need for health care and support in subsequent pregnancy.","authors":"E Koert, T S Hartwig, G M Hviid Malling, L Schmidt, H S Nielsen","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoad032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoad032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>What are couples' needs for health care and support in a subsequent pregnancy after prior early pregnancy loss (PL) and how do needs change across the pregnancy?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>Couples described unmet needs for pregnancy care in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and were more satisfied with the care provided during the remainder of the pregnancy.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Despite early PL being common (∼25% of pregnancies), there is a paucity of research to guide practice to optimize treatment and support future pregnancies. There has been low priority for the issue in research and a pervasive acceptance that couples should 'just try again' after experiencing PL. Women with prior PL report increased anxiety during the first trimester of pregnancy compared to those without previous PL. No longitudinal studies explore what couples' needs are throughout the pregnancy and how these needs shift across time.</p><p><strong>Study design size duration: </strong>This was a qualitative longitudinal dyadic (joint) interview study. In total, 15 couples who were pregnant after a prior PL were interviewed four times over their pregnancy. Couples were recruited from the Copenhagen Pregnancy Loss Cohort Research Programme. Interviews were held in person at the hospital or university, or online. Interviews ranged from 20 to 91 min (mean = 54 min).</p><p><strong>Participants/materials setting methods: </strong>Inclusion criteria included couples with one to two prior early PL(s) who self-reported a new pregnancy and were willing to be interviewed together and in English. Couples were interviewed four times: after a positive pregnancy test and once in each trimester. Interviews were transcribed and data were analysed using thematic analysis to compare and contrast needs of the couples at each of the four time periods in the pregnancy and across the entire pregnancy. One same-sex couple and 14 heterosexual couples participated.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>Couples' needs were categorized into two main longitudinal themes across the pregnancy, divided by the 20-week scan. Within each longitudinal theme, there were two themes to represent each time period. In the longitudinal theme '<i>The first 20 weeks: a 'scary' gap in care</i>' there were two themes: <i>Positive pregnancy test: 'Tell them it's not the same pregnancy'</i> and <i>First trimester: 'We craved that someone was taking care of us'.</i> The standard pregnancy care offered in the public healthcare system in Denmark includes a scan at 12 and 20 weeks. While all couples wished for additional access to scans and monitoring of the foetus in early pregnancy to provide reassurance and detect problems early, they described considerable variation in the referrals and care they were offered. Both partners expressed a high degree of worry and anxiety about the pregnancy, with pregnant women in particular descr","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 3","pages":"hoad032"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10412407/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10000059","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":"Association between maternal <i>MTHFR</i> C677T/A1298C combination polymorphisms and IVF/ICSI outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Yong-Jie Lu, Qin Li, Li-Xue Chen, Tian Tian, Jia Kang, Yong-Xiu Hao, Jian-Suo Zhou, Yuan-Yuan Wang, Li-Ying Yan, Rong Li, Liang Chang, Jie Qiao","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoac055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoac055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>What are the roles of maternal 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (<i>MTHFR</i>) C677T/A1298C combination polymorphisms on the embryological and clinical outcomes of IVF/ICSI?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>Our study reveals for the first time that the oocyte maturation potential gradually decreases with a reduction of maternal MTHFR activity determined by combined C677T/A1298C polymorphisms, while embryo quality was worse in women with intermediate MTHFR activity.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Although many previous studies have explored the association between <i>MTHFR</i> polymorphisms and IVF/ICSI outcomes, the results remain contradictory due to inadequate samples, no adjustment for potential confounders and/or the study of C677T and A1298C separately. Few studies have systematically investigated the exact role of MTHFR activity determined by combined C677T/A1298C polymorphisms on the embryological and clinical outcomes of IVF/ICSI.</p><p><strong>Study design size duration: </strong>This is a retrospective cohort study investigating 1160 women who were referred for <i>MTHFR</i> genotyping and IVF/ICSI treatment at Peking University Third Hospital from May 2017 to May 2020.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials setting methods: </strong>Women who were referred for <i>MTHFR</i> genotyping and their first IVF/ICSI treatment at our hospital were included and those undergoing preimplantation genetic testing cycles were excluded. The included women were divided into different cohorts according to their C677T, A1298C and combined C677T/A1298C genotypes. The embryological outcomes, including oocytes retrieved, metaphase II oocytes, oocyte maturation rate, normal fertilization rate and transplantable embryo rate, were evaluated by generalized linear regression models. The clinical outcomes, including biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate, were evaluated by log-binomial regression models. All outcomes were adjusted for potential confounders.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>Women with the combined 677TT/1298AA genotype (hereafter abbreviated as TT/AA, as with other combined genotypes), whose enzyme activity was the lowest, had a lower oocyte maturation rate compared with those with the wild-type genotype (<i>P </i>=<i> </i>0.007). Moreover, the oocyte maturation rate decreased linearly with the decline in MTHFR enzyme activity determined by combined C677T/A1298C genotypes (<i>P</i>-trend = 0.001). The combined CC/AC, CC/CC&CT/AA and CT/AC genotypes with intermediate enzyme activity were associated with a lower transplantable embryo rate (<i>P </i>=<i> </i>0.013, 0.030 and 0.039, respectively). The differences in clinical outcomes between women with wild-type genotype and combined C677T/A1298C variant genotypes were not significant.</p><p><strong>Limitations reasons for caution: </strong>Our study population had comparable embry","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 1","pages":"hoac055"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9749479/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10392077","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}
Paul Pirtea, Dominique de Ziegler, James Toner, Richard Scott, Jean-Marc Ayoubi
{"title":"Hiding in plain sight.","authors":"Paul Pirtea, Dominique de Ziegler, James Toner, Richard Scott, Jean-Marc Ayoubi","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoad015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoad015","url":null,"abstract":"We read with interest the article by Melo et al. regarding progesterone levels and ART outcomes in all regimens used for priming frozen embryo transfers (FET) (Melo et al., 2022). This article follows a slew of publications on the topic and a metaanalysis conducted by these very authors (Melo et al., 2021). According to the mustered studies, lower serum progesterone levels on, or near, the day of embryo transfer (ET) in women receiving vaginal progesterone are associated with poorer FET outcomes (Melo et al., 2021). The present article by Melo et al. is new in that it studies the links between serum progesterone levels and the outcomes in all forms of treatment used for priming FET (Melo et al., 2022). This also includes the situation when subcutaneous progesterone (LubionR ) 25 mg BID is used exclusively (Melo et al., 2022). In this particular case, the study shows a biphasic relationship between serum progesterone levels and FET outcome with a sharp decrease in outcome when serum progesterone exceeds 16.3 ng/ml on the day of ET (Melo et al., 2022). Based on their observation, the authors suggest that serum levels of progesterone that exceed this mark exert a counterproductive effect on embryo implantation. Aside from the weaknesses of their study—for instance, there is no indication as to why patients were prescribed HRT using exclusively subcutaneous progesterone rather than other regimens, and despite limited evidence for biological plausibility and a relatively small cohort (n1⁄4 57)—Melo et al. conclude that this regimen can harm FET implantation (Melo et al., 2022), which could potentially be misleading for patient and medical care providers. Melo et al. (2022) also stress the fact that their present study is the first on the topic that uses a prospective (though not randomized) design. Yet all studies—retrospective or prospective—rely, for the quality of their conclusion, on the data coming in. Melo et al.’s current study, while prospective, is indeed rather complex (Melo et al., 2022). Aside of being prospective and multicentric, it mixes several different protocols for timing FET without indicating the reasons retained by clinicians for choosing a particular approach. Furthermore, it combines single and multiple embryo transfers and, for HRT regimens, limited information on the use or not of prior pituitary desensitization. Specifically, for the topic that attracted our attention, the link between serum progesterone levels and FET outcome in the 57 women primed with subcutaneous progesterone 25 mg BID, the authors do not tell us the motives that led them to opt for this HRT regimen option in these patients. Melo et al.’s findings of FET outcomes when timed with subcutaneous progesterone (LubionR ) 25 mg BID (Melo et al., 2022) are extremely puzzling with respect to long established knowledge on progesterone levels and implantation. In the natural cycle, Filicori et al. have reported that plasma progesterone reaches 35 ng/ml in the lutea","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 3","pages":"hoad015"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10234701/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9576470","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}
Meng Wu, Qingqing Zhu, Yibao Huang, Weicheng Tang, Jun Dai, Yican Guo, Jiaqiang Xiong, Jinjin Zhang, Su Zhou, Fangfang Fu, Mingfu Wu, Shixuan Wang
{"title":"Ovarian reserve in reproductive-aged patients with cancer before gonadotoxic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Meng Wu, Qingqing Zhu, Yibao Huang, Weicheng Tang, Jun Dai, Yican Guo, Jiaqiang Xiong, Jinjin Zhang, Su Zhou, Fangfang Fu, Mingfu Wu, Shixuan Wang","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoad024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoad024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract STUDY QUESTION Does cancer itself, before any gonadotoxic treatment, affect ovarian function in reproductive-aged patients? SUMMARY ANSWER Our study revealed that women with cancer may have decreased ovarian reserve markers even before cancer therapy. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY With the field ‘oncofertility’ improving rapidly, cancer therapy-mediated ovarian damage is well characterized. However, there is a controversy about whether cancer itself affects ovarian function before gonadotoxic treatment. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We conducted a systematic meta-analysis investigating the association between cancer and ovarian function prior to gonadotoxic treatment. Titles or abstracts related to ovarian reserve (e.g. anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), or basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) combined with titles or abstracts related to the exposure (e.g. cancer*, oncolog*, or malignan*) were searched in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to 1 February 2022. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We included cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies in English that examined ovarian reserve in reproductive-aged patients (18–45 years) with cancer compared to age-matched controls before cancer treatment. The quality of the included studies was assessed by ROBINS-I. Fixed or random effects were conducted to estimate standard or weighted mean difference (SMD or WMD, respectively) and CI. Heterogeneity was assessed by the Q test and I2 statistics, and publication bias was evaluated by Egger’s and Begg’s tests. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The review identified 17 eligible studies for inclusion. The results showed that cancer patients had lower serum AMH levels compared to healthy controls (SMD = −0.19, 95% CI = −0.34 to −0.03, P = 0.001), especially women with hematological malignancies (SMD = −0.62, 95% CI = −0.99 to −0.24, P = 0.001). The AFC was also decreased in patients with cancer (WMD = −0.93, 95% CI = −1.79 to −0.07, P = 0.033) compared to controls, while inhibin B and basal FSH levels showed no statistically significant differences. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Serum AMH and basal FSH levels in this meta-analysis showed high heterogeneity, and the small number of studies contributing to most subgroup analyses limited the heterogeneity analysis. Moreover, the studies for specific cancer subtypes may be too small to draw conclusions; more studies are needed to investigate the possible impact of cancer type and stage on ovarian function. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study confirmed the findings that cancer per se, especially hematological malignancies, negatively affects serum AMH level, and AFC values of reproductive-aged women. However, the lower AMH levels and AFC values may also be due to the changes in ovarian physiology under oncological conditions, rather than actual lower ovarian reserves. Based on the meta-analysis, clinicians should raise awareness abo","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 3","pages":"hoad024"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10266964/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9657334","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":"Phytochemical consumption and the risk of teratozoospermia: findings from a hospital-based case-control study in China.","authors":"Jun-Qi Zhao, Jia-Le Lv, Xiao-Bin Wang, Yi-Fan Wei, Ren-Hao Guo, Xu Leng, Qiang Du, Dong-Hui Huang, Qi-Jun Wu, Bo-Chen Pan, Yu-Hong Zhao","doi":"10.1093/hropen/hoad025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoad025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Study question: </strong>Are dietary phytochemicals associated with the risk of teratozoospermia?</p><p><strong>Summary answer: </strong>Dietary intake of carotene, including total carotene, α-carotene, β-carotene as well as retinol equivalent, and lutein + zeaxanthin, were inversely correlated with the risk of teratozoospermia.</p><p><strong>What is known already: </strong>Phytochemicals are natural plant derived bioactive compounds, which have been reported to be potentially associated with male reproductive health. To date, no study has investigated the association between phytochemical intake and the risk of teratozoospermia.</p><p><strong>Study design size duration: </strong>This hospital-based case-control study, which included 146 newly diagnosed teratozoospermia cases and 581 controls with normozoospermia from infertile couples, was conducted in a hospital-based infertility clinic in China, from June 2020 to December 2020.</p><p><strong>Participants/materials setting methods: </strong>Dietary information was collected using a validated semi-quantitative 110-item food frequency questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression was applied to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between phytochemical (i.e. phytosterol, carotene, flavonoid, isoflavone, anthocyanidin, lutein + zeaxanthin, and resveratrol) intake and the risk of teratozoospermia.</p><p><strong>Main results and the role of chance: </strong>We observed a decreased risk of teratozoospermia for the highest compared with the lowest tertile consumption of total carotene (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.21-0.77), α-carotene (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.30-0.93), β-carotene (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.25-0.88), retinol equivalent (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.24-0.90), and lutein + zeaxanthin (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.19-0.66), with all of the associations showing evident linear trends (all <i>P</i> trend <0.05). In addition, significant dose-response associations were observed between campestanol and α-carotene consumption and the risk of teratozoospermia. Moreover, there was a significant multiplicative interaction between BMI and lutein + zeaxanthin intake (<i>P</i> interaction <0.05).</p><p><strong>Limitations reasons for caution: </strong>The cases and controls were not a random sample of the entire target population, which could lead to admission rate bias. Nevertheless, the controls were enrolled from the same infertility clinic, which could reduce the bias caused by selection and increase the comparability. Furthermore, our study only included a Chinese population, therefore caution is required regarding generalization of our findings to other populations.</p><p><strong>Wider implications of the findings: </strong>Dietary phytochemicals, namely carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, might exert a positive effect on teratozoospermia. These phytochemicals are common in the daily diet and dietary supplements, and thus may provide a preventive intervention for ","PeriodicalId":73264,"journal":{"name":"Human reproduction open","volume":"2023 3","pages":"hoad025"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/19/07/hoad025.PMC10279649.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9710258","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}