Background Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) treatment has transformed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from a fatal neoplasm to a chronic disease with normal life expectancies. Indeed, half of CML patients are able to discontinue TKI without relapse. However, it seems clearly demonstrated that exposure to TKI may result in fetal malformations. Regarding its effects on fertility, preclinical studies and

Examine good tissue practices as relates to in vitro fertilization, biopsying, and vitrificationto compare current knowledge of ova, sperm, and embryos as vectors for disease transmission as it relates to our current knowledge regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Unknown risks relating to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and sperm, ova, and embryos necessitate a reexamining of how human IVF is performed. Over the last

Purpose The fertility of women decreases with age because of factors such as an increased incidence of aneuploidies and—possibly—decreased mitochondrial activity in oocytes. However, the relationship between maternal aging and mitochondrial function of their embryos remains unknown. Here, we assessed the relationship between maternal age and mitochondrial functions in their oocytes and embryos Methods

Table 1 of the original version of this article unfortunately was incorrectly formatted in the pdf version, making it unclear for readers.

Purpose Housekeeping genes (HKGs), reference or endogenous control genes, are vital to normalize mRNA levels between different samples. Since using inappropriate HKGs can lead to unreliable results, selecting the proper ones is critical for gene expression studies. To this end, normal human ovaries, as well as those from patients diagnosed with ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma (OEA), ovarian mucinous

Objective To characterize the clinical features of a female with P450 oxidoreductase (POR) deficiency and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of POR inactivation. Methods The proband was a 35-year-old woman with primary infertility and menstrual irregularity. The reproductive endocrine profile was evaluated. DNA sequencing was conducted for the identification of POR gene mutation. RT-PCR was performed

Purpose To compare assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes among transgender men with those of fertile cisgender women. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 12 transgender men, six with no testosterone exposure and six after testosterone treatment, and 12 cisgender women (oocyte donors) who underwent ART in our institution between June 2017 and December 2019. Statistical analyses

Purpose Exposure to environmental contaminants is to be taken into account in preventive healthcare in general and particularly in the field of reproduction according to the increasing amount of evidence data being published. The aim of this study is to evaluate the practices and interest in and basic knowledge of environmental health, by the professionals of the ART process: doctor, embryologist,

Purpose “Omics” techniques have been used to understand and to identify biomarkers of male infertility. We report on the first metabonomics models created to diagnose varicocele and infertility among men with varicocele. Methods We recruited 35 infertile men with varicocele (VI group), 21 fertile men with varicocele (VF group) and 24 fertile men without varicocele (C group). All men underwent standard

Letrozole is a targeted aromatase inhibitor which has primarily been used in post-menopausal women with breast cancer. Recently, it has been utilized in infertile pre-menopausal women because of its ability to enhance FSH production for ovulation induction. However, the ovarian follicle’s response to FSH is only a part of the endocrine events occurring in a developing follicle. The health of the small

Purpose To investigate if human ovarian grafting with pure virgin human recombinant collagen type-1 from bioengineered plant lines (CollPlant™) or small intestine submucosa (SIS) yields better implantation results for human ovarian tissue and which method benefits more when combined with the host melatonin treatment and graft incubation with biological glue + vitamin E + vascular endothelial growth

Purpose To explore the relationship between mitochondrial DNA quantity and heteroplasmy and early embryonic loss. Methods A total of 150 villous samples from patients with spontaneous abortion (SA, n = 75) or induced abortion (IA, n = 75) were collected. qPCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were used to test mitochondrial DNA quantity and heteroplasmy. Missense mutations with a CADD score > 15

Purpose To compare the effectivity of flexible-start medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) co-treatment ovarian stimulations (OS) with flexible-start gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) co-treatment OS, in blastocyst freeze-all IVF cycles. Method This matched cohort study was performed at a single IVF center. Study cycles were extracted from freeze-all IVF cycles performed between February

Purpose To establish blastocyst freezing criteria for day 7 blastocyst (day 7 BL) for single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (SVBT) by examining the diameter of blastocysts. Methods Patients who underwent day 7 BL transfer cycles (1143 cycles, mean age: 38.5 ± 3.5) and randomly selected patients after 1:1 matching who underwent day 6 BL transfer cycles and day 2-single-embryo transfer (SET) cycles

Purpose Microgravity has severe effects on cellular and molecular structures as well as on metabolic interactions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of microgravity (μg) exposure on human frozen sperm samples. Methods Sibling samples from 15 normozoospermic healthy donors were frozen using glycerol as cryoprotectant and analyzed under microgravity and ground conditions. Microgravity

Purpose miRNAs have been suggested as biomarkers of embryo viability; however, findings from preliminary studies are divergent. Furthermore, the presence of other types of small RNA molecules remains to be investigated. The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of small non-coding RNA levels in spent and unconditioned embryo culture media, along with miRNA levels in blastocoelic

Purpose Embryo genotyping in IVF clinics aims to identify aneuploid embryos, and current methodologies rely on costly, invasive and time-consuming approaches such as PGT-A screening. MALDI-ToF-based mass spectral analysis of embryo culture has been demonstrated to be a non-invasive, affordable and accurate technique that is able to capture secretome profiles from embryo culture media extremely quick

The incorporation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing into patient care algorithms has been proposed to mitigate risk. However, the two main professional societies for human reproduction (ESHRE and ASRM) appear divergent on their clinical utility and whether they should be adopted. In this opinion paper, we review the currently available tests and discuss the strengths

Purpose Our purpose was to identify human ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM) components that would support in vitro culture of human ovarian tissue and be compatible with possible future clinical applications. We characterized ovarian expression of laminins and selected three laminin tripeptides for culture experiments to be compared with Matrigel, an undefined and animal-based mixture of ECM components

Purpose Does controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and progesterone (P) luteal supplementation modify the vaginal and endometrial microbiota of women undergoing in vitro fertilization? Methods Fifteen women underwent microbiota analysis at two time points: during a mock transfer performed in the luteal phase of the cycle preceding COS, and at the time of fresh embryo transfer (ET). A vaginal swab and

Various fertility scientific societies have published pathways and recommendations for COVID-19 screening during fertility treatments. As there is currently very limited research evidence on how to best deliver this screening, it is not surprising that there are noticeable differences between their recommendations. This paper compares the screening pathways recommended by these guidelines, in the light

Over the past years, the assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have been accompanied by constant innovations. For instance, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), time-lapse monitoring of the embryonic morphokinetics, and PGS are innovative techniques that increased the success of the ART. In the same trend, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques is being intensively researched whether

Purpose To study the effector mechanism against pathogens of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and macrophages, called ETosis, involving the release of extracellular traps (ETs) in patients with acute epididymitis. To assess the different ET phenotypes present in semen samples and to identify correlations between ETosis and clinical parameters. Materials and methods Samples from patients diagnosed

Purpose We investigated whether expression of activator proteins that control follicle reserve and growth change after ovarian tissue vitrification and re-transplantation. Moreover, we assessed whether inhibition of mTOR signaling pathway by rapamycin would protect primordial follicle reserve after ovarian tissue freezing/thawing and re-transplantation. Methods Fresh control, frozen/thawed, fresh-transplanted

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, about 22 nucleotides, non-coding RNAs which regulate a wide range of gene expression during post-transcriptional stage. They are released into intra- and extracellular microenvironments and play vital roles in different physiological and pathological pathways. Due to easy accessibility, detection of extracellular miRNAs in body fluids, e.g. serum, plasma, cerebrospinal

Purpose Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), which commonly causes male infertility, is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder. This study aimed to investigate the clinical manifestations and screen mutations associated with the dynein axonemal assembly factor 2 (DNAAF2) gene in a Han Chinese family with PCD. Methods A three-generation family with PCD was recruited in this study. Eight family members

Purpose Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased ovarian responsiveness to exogenous recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) but also have high rates of obesity, which is known to affect serum FSH concentrations following exogenous injection. The purpose of this study was to compare rFSH absorption and ovarian response between lean and overweight/obese PCOS subjects and

Purpose This study evaluated the potential viability of embryos with low mosaicism level (< 50%) by comparing the clinical outcomes of single mosaic versus euploid blastocyst transfer. In addition, the live birth outcomes for various types of mosaicism with respect to abnormalities in chromosome structure and content were analyzed. Methods This study included patients who underwent in vitro fertilization

Purpose To evaluate if preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) improves the odds of a healthy live birth amongst recipients of fresh donor oocytes. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study including in vitro fertilization cycles of women using fresh donor oocytes reported to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System, between 2013 and 2015. Cycles were categorized

The family history is the cornerstone of the genetic risk assessment. Taking a detailed family history helps ensure that important genetic information is not overlooked and that any appropriate testing and/or information is provided to the patient prior to pregnancy. Guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) suggest a review of personal and family history of genetic disease

Purpose The age-associated decline in female fertility is largely ascribable to the decrease in oocyte quality. The subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) is a multiprotein complex essential for early embryogenesis and female fertility and functionally conserved across mammals. The present work evaluated expression dynamics of its components during folliculogenesis in relation to maternal age in sheep

The references of the original version of this article unfortunately were missing.

Purpose The state of limited resource settings that Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created globally should be taken seriously into account especially in healthcare sector. In oncofertility, patients should receive their fertility preservation treatments urgently even in limited resource settings before initiation of anticancer therapy. Therefore, it is very crucial to learn more about oncofertility

Molar pregnancies are benign trophoblastic diseases associated with a risk of malignant transformation. If aetiology remains mostly unknown, the risk of recurrent molar pregnancy is around 1.5% after one molar pregnancy and around 25% after 2 molar pregnancies. In the later situation, genetic mutations have been described, increasing hugely this risk. In case of mutations, probability to obtain a normal

Research question To investigate whether patient factors influence the decision to freeze a blastocyst with low implantation potential. Design This experimental study assessed 170 practicing embryologists from a variety of countries who were recruited via an online survey. Participants were currently practicing embryologists, who grade blastocysts as part of this role. The survey presented decision-making

Purpose Intracytroplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) is a common procedure used to improve reproductive results, even among couples without male factor infertility. However, the evidence available is still uncertain on the possible advantages and deficiencies that this procedure may have in patients with no formal indication for ICSI. Methods A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis

Purpose To evaluate the association of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour before and during in vitro fertilization (IVF) with controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and pregnancy outcomes. Methods This longitudinal study involved 107 infertile women undergoing IVF treatment. PA and sedentary behaviour were measured for 14 consecutive days using accelerometry as follows:

Purpose To evaluate the effect of non-cavity-distorting intramural leiomyomas on the placental histopathology pattern and perinatal outcome in singleton live births resulting from in vitro fertilization treatment. Methods The study population included all singleton live births following in vitro fertilization treatment with autologous oocytes during the period from 2009 to 2017. Primary outcomes included

Purpose Changes in DNA methylation modifications have been associated with male infertility. With the development of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), abnormal DNA methylation in sperm, especially in imprinted genes, may impact the health of offspring and requires an in-depth study. Methods In this study, we collected abnormal human semen samples, including asthenospermic, oligospermic, oligoasthenospermic

Following the horrific events surrounding the death of George Floyd, we aim to shed some light on our perceptions of the pervasive issue of racism in America and how it impacts the work we do as reproductive endocrinologists. This issue is deeply rooted, and tackling it will involve a multifaceted approach. Ultimately, we are interested in starting this conversation and hope that our colleagues will

Purpose To identify gender differences in leadership and academic rank within academic reproductive endocrinology (REI) programs with fellowships in the USA. Methods Official institutional websites of the 2017–2018 American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG)-accredited reproductive endocrinology fellowship programs were reviewed, and gender representation at each leadership position and academic

Purpose Patients with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) who receive assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment often experience poor pregnancy rates due to decreased fertilization, cleavage, and implantation rates and even an increased miscarriage rate. Mounting evidence from recent studies has shown that various technological advances and approaches could facilitate the success of ART treatment for

Purpose This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare pregnancy outcomes between immediate frozen embryo transfer (FET) performed within the first menstrual cycle after oocyte retrieval and delayed FET following subsequent cycles. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched for eligible studies through January 2020. The main outcome measures were clinical pregnancy rate (CPR)

The current article presents a brief historical perspective on Professor John D Biggers, PhD, DSc. who died on 7 April, 2018. His interests covered reproductive physiology, embryo culture, cryobiology, sperm preservation, statistics and experimental design, and the history and ethics of human reproductive biology. Emphasis is placed on John Biggers’ approach to the development of media for the culture

Purpose To report the first live birth after frozen-thawed ovarian transplantation in Turkey and the second case for an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivor in the world. Methods A 19-year-old patient underwent ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) before cord blood transplantation in 2010. She was diagnosed as ALL with a bone marrow biopsy revealing 90% blast ALL-L2 type, and karyotype analyses

Purpose Empty follicle syndrome (EFS) refers to the inability to obtain mature oocytes after appropriate ovarian stimulation during the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, the specific cause and mechanism of action underlying EFS remain to be further explored. Herein we aimed to investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of EFS. Methods After data were collected in an infertile

Objective To investigate the correlation between endometriosis and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotype, as well as the predictive power of certain SNPs in reproductive outcomes in a Chinese Han population. Methods A case-control study was conducted in which 125 endometriosis patients and 124 controls were recruited from an academic fertility center

Purpose Cell therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of Asherman’s syndrome (AS), but the origin of these cells and injection route influence the therapeutic effect and complications of cell therapy. Herein, we compared the effects of systemic or local intrauterine injection of bone marrow or adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs/AMSCs) on the endometrium in a rat model of AS. Methods

Purpose Despite the increasing use of GnRHa to trigger final oocyte maturation in segmented IVF cycles, the effects of trigger modality on chromosomal competence and embryo quality remain controversial. Hence, the purpose of this study was to compare euploidy rates and pregnancy outcomes among hyper-responding women using hCG versus GnRHa trigger. Methods This retrospective study included 333 hyper-responders

Purpose To report a live birth after transfer of a vitrified-warmed blastocyst produced by assisted sperm fusion insemination (ASFI). Methods Oocyte retrieval and in vitro fertilization (IVF) were performed on a 37-year-old woman. Six hours after IVF, an oocyte exhibited a single polar body and so was defined as an unfertilized oocyte. A motile sperm was collected from the zona pellucida of the unfertilized

Purpose We aimed to identify novel variants in TUBB8 and corresponding new abnormal phenotypes in oocytes/fertilization/ embryonic development responsible for female infertility. Methods Sanger sequencing of TUBB8 was performed in infertile women with abnormalities in oocyte maturation or embryonic development. The effects of the variants were evaluated in patients’ oocytes by morphological observations

Purpose Higher serum estradiol levels occur in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) owing to ovarian stimulation. Here, we investigated the association between maternal serum estradiol levels and the intellectual development of offspring conceived with ART. Methods A total of 204 singletons born after fresh embryo transfer were recruited for this cohort study. Among them, 102 children

Purpose The study aimed to investigate the relationship between elevated maternal body mass index (BMI) and foetal chromosomal aberrations by performing single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array-based genetic testing on products of conception (POC). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data for 1068 assisted reproductive technology (ART)-conceived POC originated from 1068 patients with early spontaneous

Based on national registry reports, after age 42, the number of IVF cycles utilizing autologous oocytes is very small; after age 43, autologous oocyte use in US IVF cycles is almost non-existent. We here argue that the in vitro fertilization (IVF) field has created a self-fulfilling prophecy by basically abandoning the utilization of autologous oocytes after ages 42–43 years. This not only resulted

Purpose To perform complex preimplantation genetic tests (PGT) for aneuploidy screening, Robertsonian translocation, HLA-matching, and X-linked hyper IgM syndrome (XHIGM) caused by a novel mutation c.156 G>T of CD40LG gene. Methods Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing were carried out to confirm the causative variant of CD40LG gene in the proband and parents. Day 5 and D6 blastocysts

Purpose To investigate whether women with unexplained infertility (UI) demonstrate different demographic and IVF characteristics compared to those with other causes of infertility. Methods Data on 245 couples that underwent a total of 413 IVF/ICSI cycles were analyzed (UI 114 cycles, 73 women; anovulation (PCO/PCOS) 83 cycles, 51 women; tubal factor 85 cycles, 47 women; male factor 131 cycles, 74 women)

Research question How is ovarian reserve affected by chemotherapy in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) who undergo fertility preservation (FP)? Methods A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing medical records of 105 HL patients referred to the FP unit before starting adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy. Ovarian reserve was evaluated before chemotherapy