Purpose The objective of this systematic review and metaanalysis was to examine if the probability of pregnancy after ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF), using GnRH analogues and gonadotrophins is associated with serum estradiol level (Ε2) on the day of triggering final oocyte maturation with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Methods Twenty-one studies were eligible for this systematic

The impact of social media on the practice of ART is rapidly increasing, heralding great promise, but also significant risks. Since social media are likely here to stay, providers should familiarize themselves with this rapidly emerging phenomenon and decide how to best use it for their practice.

Objective To assess the causes of infertility and artificial reproductive technology (ART) outcomes in women of African descent living in the Caribbean and Bermuda. Design Cross-sectional study composed of a questionnaire administered to providers who care for women undergoing ART in the Caribbean and Bermuda. Material and methods A questionnaire from the Deerfield Institute was adapted to meet the

Purpose The decision to undergo preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) entails a variety of personal and societal variables. Although PGT technology is widely accepted and used, few studies have queried the motives and concerns of PGT users; moreover, in-depth qualitative data regarding the PGT experience is scant. Methods In order to explore and analyze the experience, concerns, expectations, and attitudes

A recent study by Munné et al. portrayed a protocol to retrieve in vivo produced blastocysts after IUI and uterine lavage for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) purposes. The authors claimed this protocol might represent a reasonable future perspective for patients who do not want to undergo IVF, but still want to be informed about their embryos’ genetic/chromosomal defects. Although the intent

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effect of the detail type of chromosomal polymorphisms (1/9/16qh+/−, D/G group polymorphisms, and inv(9)) on the IVF-ET outcomes. Methods A total of 1335 infertile couples undergoing IVF/ICSI were enrolled and comprehensively analyzed the correlation between three detail types of chromosomal polymorphisms (1/9/16qh+/−, D/G group polymorphisms, and inv(9))

PURPOSE There is controversy whether teratospermia is associated with poorer IVF outcomes and if ICSI may overcome this deficit. The debate likely lies in study heterogeneity, poor adjustment for confounders, and inter-observer variation in sperm morphology assessment. Given the current literature, a shift in practice was implemented at our center in February 2017, whereby teratospermia was no longer

The original article unfortunately has a missing acknowledgement.

PURPOSE To explore the whole-chromosome status, origins, and mechanisms of chromosomal abnormalities in good-quality cleavage embryos using multiple annealing and looping-based amplification cycle (MALBAC) sequencing. METHODS The embryos studied came from7 patients (maternal aged 26-35) who had healthy birth from the same IVF cycles. These 21 frozen day 3 good-quality embryos were thawed and disaggregated

The current treatment for Asherman syndrome is limited and not very effective. The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent evidence for stem cells in the treatment of Asherman syndrome. The advent of stem cell therapy has propagated experimentation on mice and humans as a novel treatment. The consensus is that the regenerative capacity of stem cells has demonstrated improved outcomes in

PURPOSE To study whether members of the miR-290-295 cluster in spent culture medium (SCM) of embryos are correlated with morphokinetics and apoptosis. METHODS Cryopreserved 1-cell stage mouse embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage, development was monitored by time-lapse, 59 SCM were collected, and miR-291a and miR-294 were detected with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Blastocysts were immuno-stained

PURPOSE In this study, we aimed to compare the changes in the number, yield, and the percentage of karyotyping indications of the invasive prenatal diagnostic tests between the periods before and after cell-free fetal DNA was introduced to clinical use. METHOD The number of invasive prenatal diagnostic procedures such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, indication percentages and karyotype

PURPOSE To evaluate reproductive outcomes of artificial insemination and IVF with donor sperm (AID or IVF-D) for male-factor couples with a history of unsuccessful ICSI attempt. METHODS This retrospective cohort includes couples with severe male-factor infertility who failed ICSI treatment, and subsequently underwent semen donation treatment. We report the following outcomes: (1) live birth rates in

OBJECTIVE To assess whether receiving information about twin pregnancy in the form of oral presentation given by a physician could affect the acceptance of single embryo transfer (SET) by couples undergoing IVF. STUDY DESIGN Prospective interventional study. SETTING University hospital IVF unit. PATIENTS One hundred and forty patients (70 couples) undergoing IVF. INTERVENTIONS A questionnaire to measure

PURPOSE To explore the effects of traditional vs. intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) insemination method on the outcome of high-quality blastocyst development in a split sibling oocyte cohort. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed 62 ICSI/IVF split cycles. Sibling oocytes were randomly assigned to ICSI or IVF insemination. Two hundred thirty-four ICSI-only cycles and 152 IVF-only

PURPOSE Approximately 50% of men reporting to clinics for assisted reproduction have abnormal sperm parameters; we therefore considered whether they differ from fertile males in terms of the frequency of KIR and HLA-C genes, suggesting the involvement of NK cells and some T cells in the inflammatory reaction that can occur in the testes, vas deferens, or epididymis. METHOD We tested a total of 1064

PURPOSE To compare fertility preservation (FP) outcomes among adolescent transgender males with those of cisgender females. METHODS This retrospective cohort study included nine adolescent transgender males and 39 adolescent cisgender females who underwent FP between January 2017-April 2019 and September 2013-April 2019, respectively. The transgender males were referred before initiating testosterone

To assess whether morphokinetic features at the cleavage stage together with specific gene expression in cumulus cells (CCs) may be used to predict whether human embryos are able to achieve the expanded blastocyst stage on day 5. Eighty-one embryos were cultured using the Geri plus® time-lapse system. Twenty-seven embryos progressing to the expanded blastocyst stage (BL group) were compared with thirty-five

OBJECTIVE This study was performed to investigate the effect of hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) after cold storage (CS) on ovarian transplantation. METHODS Rats aged 8-10 weeks were used as the donors and recipients for allotransplantation. Eighteen donor rats were divided into three groups: the fresh control (n = 6), cold storage (CS; n = 6), and hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP; n = 6) groups

OBJECTIVE Combination of transcriptomic and retrospective clinical data, to assess anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) functionality at a cumulus cell level and evaluate AMH potential as a suitable marker for IVF outcomes (oocytes retrieved, number of day 3 embryos, gestation outcomes). DESIGN Raw RNA-sequencing data of cumulus cells sourced from younger (n = 10) patient group (group A) (age 29 (1 year of

PURPOSE To evaluate the trends in prenatal diagnosis over 26 years in a tertiary referral hospital. METHODS A retrospective analysis of invasive prenatal procedures performed between 1991 and 2016. Maternal characteristics, indications for invasive diagnosis, and percentage of abnormal karyotypes were compared between periods according to guidelines implemented nationally and locally. RESULTS A total

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to analyse the expression and cellular localization of FOXO3, pFOXO3 and PTEN throughout human ovary development both before and after birth. METHODS Foetal, pubertal and adult paraffin-embedded ovarian samples were analysed by immunohistochemistry for cellular localization of FOXO3, pFOXO3 and PTEN proteins. Protein and mRNA expression were analysed by western

PURPOSE The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare fetal growth during the second and third trimesters for ovulation induction with intrauterine insemination (IUI), fresh embryo transfer (ET), frozen embryo transfer (FET), and spontaneous conception following infertility. METHODS Three hundred ninety-five women with viable pregnancies confirmed at a single academic fertility center

PURPOSE This study aims to describe the motives and considerations of couples carrying a structural chromosomal abnormality deciding on preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). METHODS A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using semi-structured dyadic interviews with 13 couples (N = 26) carrying a structural chromosomal abnormality. All couples had an informative consultation in our PGT centre

PURPOSE To characterize the likelihood of cryopreserving enough oocytes for 50%, 60%, or 70% estimated live birth rate (eLBR) with 1-2 planned oocyte cryopreservation (Pl-OC) cycles. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study utilizing all patients completing ≥ 1 Pl-OC cycle from 2016 to 2018 at a large single-center OC program. Subjects were categorized by age at retrieval and number of cycles

PURPOSE The purpose was to investigate the association between embryonic development or implantation and the content of interleukin-6 and 10 (IL-6, IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in single-blastocyst conditioned medium (SBCM). METHODS Thirty-eight SBCM samples (SBCMs) were collected from blastocysts with different morphological scores. IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α concentration in 38 SBCMs was

PURPOSE This study aimed to explore the aneuploidy of blastocysts derived from single pronuclear (1PN) zygotes, almost 75% of which were regarded as diploid, using array CGH and examine the pregnancy outcomes. METHODS Embryonic aneuploidy screening of sixteen embryos from 1PN zygotes and sixteen embryos from 2PN zygotes was performed using array CGH in study 1. In addition, the reproductive outcome

The recent publication of a study into the contribution of embryo chromosomal abnormalities in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) affords the opportunity to revisit the hypothesis that women with an aneuploid pregnancy loss have a better chance of a successful pregnancy next time than women with a chromosomally normal loss. A previous miscarriage with an abnormal karyotype (unrelated to a parental chromosome

PURPOSE Improving access to care is an issue at the forefront of reproductive medicine. We sought to describe how one academic center, set in the background of a large and diverse metropolitan city, cares for patients with extremely limited access to reproductive specialists. METHODS The NYU Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Fellowship program provides a "fellow-run clinic" within Manhattan's

PURPOSE To explore the possible influence of sperm quality, as assessed by prewash total sperm count (TSC), on cumulative success rates in assisted reproduction cycles. METHODS Retrospective study carried out in private IVF centre. Seven hundred sixty-five couples undergoing complete ICSI cycles, i.e. whose all embryos were transferred or disposed of. Couples were characterised by male infertility

PURPOSE To determine the impact of accelerated telomere shortening on the fertility parameters and treatment outcomes of a woman with dyskeratosis congenita (DKC). METHODS A case study of the clinical data, blood, discarded oocytes, and arrested embryos of a woman with DKC and donated cryopreserved embryos from unaffected patients. Mean telomere length in blood cells was analyzed by flow cytometry-fluorescence

PURPOSE Our aim was to evaluate the frequency and SNP-SNP interactions between factor V Leiden (FVL) G1691A, prothrombin G20210A mutation, and C677T MTHFR and PAI-1 4G/5G gene polymorphisms in female IVF patients with unexplained infertility (UI) by using a multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) model analysis. METHODS A total of 225 subjects were enrolled in the study. There were 105 females in

PURPOSE To characterize small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) in infertile males RESEARCH QUESTION: Are molecular cytogenetic methods still relevant for the identification and characterization of sSMC in the era of next-generation sequencing? METHODS In this paper, we report five males with oligoasthenozoospermia or azoospermia with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss in partnership in four

PURPOSE The aim of the study is to investigate presence and role of the gene encoding the maternally contributed nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors with a pyrin domain (PYD)-containing protein 9 (NLRP9) in human and mouse ovaries, respectively, and in preimplantation mouse embryo development by knocking down Nlrp9b. METHODS Expression levels of NLRP9 mRNA in human follicles

PURPOSE Worldwide publications follow the gold standard method-the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-for detecting Y-chromosome microdeletions; however, markers are frequently variable between the studies. Can we detect the deletions by another molecular method with more genomic coverage? The Y chromosome harbors several different genes responsible for testicular development and spermatogenesis, and

The original article unfortunately contained a mistake. The name of the author should be Lusine Aghajanova instead of Aghajanova Lusine.

PURPOSE To examine fertility-related social media accounts and influencers on two social media platforms. METHODS The search function of Twitter (TW) and Instagram (IG) was used to generate a list of accounts with the terms: fertility, infertility, ttc, egg freezing, ivf, endometriosis, and reproductive. Accounts not in English, in private, with no posts in > 1 year, or with content unrelated to search

Fragile X and fragile X-associated tremor-ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) are caused by mutations of the FMR1 gene. The mutations causing FXTAS can expand in a generation to a "full mutation" causing fragile X syndrome. The mutations causing FXTAS and the phenotype, fragile X-associated premature ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI), are referred to as the FMR1 premutation (PM). The objective of this paper was to

PURPOSE Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as imatinib are commonly used chemotherapeutics, but the effects of long-term treatments on reproductive outlook for cancer survivors are unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long-term imatinib treatments on follicle development and embryo quality. Since prospective studies are not possible in healthy humans, we have incorporated

PURPOSE To evaluate whether mtDNA content at the blastocyst stage differs between embryos derived from fresh or vitrified sibling oocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed between March 2017 and September 2018, including 504 blastocysts from 94 couples undergoing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A), using fresh oocytes together with previously vitrified

OBJECTIVE To characterize the clinical features of a female patient with isolated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) deficiency and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of FSH inactivation. METHODS The proband was a 29-year-old woman with primary amenorrhea, impaired pubertal development, and infertility. Subsequently, reproductive endocrine was screened. DNA sequencing was conducted for the identification

PURPOSE Little is known about the role of the superior ovarian nerve (SON) in follicular development during the estrus cycle. The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of neural signals arriving through the SON at the ovaries in the regulation of follicular development and ovarian steroid secretion in diestrus 1 of cyclic rats. METHODS Cyclic rats were subjected to left, right, or bilateral

PURPOSE To investigate the clinical efficacy of a "Universal Warming" protocol, based on subsequent steps with 1 M and 0.5 M concentration of extracellular cryoprotectant (ECCP), on shipped oocytes. Oocytes are vitrified using different brands of ready-to-use kits which recommend that the use of their own warming kit and combining different vitrification/warming kits may have legal consequences for

PURPOSE To investigate the between-laboratory reproducibility of embryo selection/deselection effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative time-lapse parameters. METHODS A systematic search was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library (up to February 2020) without restriction on date, language, document type, and publication status. Measuring outcomes included implantation, blastulation

PURPOSE To develop a new protocol for whole-ovary decellularization for the production of a 3D bioscaffold suitable for in vitro/ex vivo studies and for the reconstruction of a bioengineered ovary. METHODS Porcine ovaries were subjected to the decellularization process (DECELL; n = 20) that involved a freeze-thaw cycle, followed by sequential incubations in 0.5% SDS for 3 h, 1% Triton X-100 for 9 h

PURPOSE To examine the expression of MUC16 in the endometrium peri-implantation period in three different cohort studies. METHODS This was a retrospective observational cohort study. A total of 245 participants were recruited in three separate cohort studies: (1) women with recurrent miscarriage (n = 50) and fertile controls (n = 29); (2) women who had high (n = 20) or normal (n = 20) progesterone

OBJECTIVE Breast cancer susceptibility gene 1/2 (BRCA1/2) is the most important susceptibility gene associated with hereditary ovarian cancer (HOC). We aimed to screen BRAC1 and BRAC2 gene mutations in a member of a hereditary ovarian cancer family in China, and to analyze the structure and function of the mutant protein. METHODS A typical HOC family was selected. Blood samples and pathological tissue

PURPOSE The purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to determine whether delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and THC metabolites (11-OH THC and THC-COOH) can be detected in semen. METHODS Twelve healthy men aged 18-45 years who identified as chronic and heavy users of inhaled cannabis were recruited. THC and THC metabolite levels were measured in serum, urine, and semen of the participants. Semen

PURPOSE Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) analysis can be challenging for couples who carry more than one genetic condition. In this study, we describe a new PGD strategy to select which embryo(s) to transfer for two clinically challenging cases. Both cases lack essential family members for linkage analysis including de novo mutation combined with reciprocal translocation. METHODS Diverging from

Treatment for cancer has the potential to significantly diminish fertility and, further, to negatively impact the obstetrical outcomes of pregnancies that do occur. Cancer survivors have decreased rates of fertility and increased rates of pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth and low birth weight, after exposure to chemotherapy. To date, research on the impact of chemotherapy and radiotherapy

PURPOSE Metformin is the most commonly prescribed drug in the management of metabolic disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and gestational diabetes in women of reproductive age. Insulin-sensitizing effect of metformin helps in improving from PCOS features such as hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and infertility. However, its ability to cross placental barrier raises concern about safety

BACKGROUND Asthenoteratospermia with multiple morphological abnormalities in the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a significant cause of male infertility. WDR19 is a core component in the IFT-A complex and has a critical role in intraflagellar transport. However, the role of WDR19 mutations in male infertility has yet to be examined. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) for 65 asthenoteratospermia

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the levels of hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-H) secreted from balanced and unbalanced human embryos. METHODS Single-step culture media samples from 155 good quality embryos, derived from 90 good prognosis patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), were collected on the fifth day of embryo cultivation. All embryos were

PURPOSE To establish a mathematical model for assessing the true ovarian reserve based on the predicted probability of poor ovarian response (POR). METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 1523 GnRH-antagonist cycles in 2017 were firstly analyzed. The ovarian responses were calculated based on the number of retrieved oocytes. The continuous variables were converted into categorical variables

PURPOSE Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2 (ADGRG2) have been identified as the main pathogenic genes in congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD), which is an important cause of obstructive azoospermia. This study aimed to identify the disease-causing gene in two brothers with CBAVD from a Chinese consanguineous family

Purpose Oocyte activation is a fundamental event at mammalian fertilization. In mammals, this process is initiated by a series of characteristic calcium (Ca2+) oscillations, induced by a sperm-specific phospholipase C (PLC) termed PLCzeta (PLCζ). Dysfunction/reduction/deletion of PLCζ is associated with forms of male infertility where the sperm is unable to initiate Ca2+ oscillations and oocyte activation

Purpose Binovular follicles including a pair of conjoined oocytes within a common zona pellucida or their fusion in the zonal region gained some attentions due to its possible role in dizygotic twins. Although some cases in the literature been reported in which two conjoined oocytes arising from binovular follicles were mature, and injected with two separated sperm, no available evidence reported for