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A Balen

Publications and source records attributed to A Balen.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparison of natural with clomiphene citrate-stimulated cycles in in vitro fertilization: a prospective, randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of natural with clomiphene citrate (CC)-stimulated cycles in IVF. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center for assisted conception. SUBJECTS: Thirty patients randomized to receive either no treatment (n = 14) or CC, 100 mg, from days 2 to 6 (n = 16). INTERVENTIONS: Daily ultrasound (US) scan and measurements of serum LH and E2. Ovarian morphology was assessed on baseline US scan. Human chorionic gonadotrophin was administered when the mean diameter of the dominant follicle reached 17 mm. Transvaginal US-directed oocyte recovery was performed 35 hours later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of patients reaching oocyte recovery; numbers of oocytes collected, fertilized and embryos transferred; and clinical pregnancy and multiple pregnancy rates (PRs) were recorded. RESULTS: Ten cycles in the natural cycle group were abandoned before oocyte recovery compared with none in the CC group. There were significantly more follicles > 14 mm (2.4 +/- 0.3 [SE] compared with 0.9 +/- 0.2) and higher peak levels of E2 (375 +/- 67 pg/mL (1,378 +/- 247 pmol/L) compared with 204 +/- 17 pg/mL (748 +/- 61 pmol/L)) in those receiving CC compared with those receiving no drug. All 16 patients treated with CC had oocyte retrieval (mean, 1.8 +/- 0.3 oocytes) compared with only 4 in the natural cycle group (1 oocyte each). The oocyte recovery rate was 95%. Two patients conceived in the CC group (PR per ET, 18%) compared with none in the natural cycle group. Patients with polycystic ovaries developed more large follicles than those with normal ovaries. No patient developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing natural cycle IVF are more likely to have abandoned cycles, produce fewer follicles and oocytes, and are less likely to reach ET than patients treated with CC alone. Clomiphene citrate should be considered for use in the context of a conventionally organised IVF-ET program if a mild degree of ovarian stimulation is desired.

Adult↗

A controlled study comparing patients with and without polycystic ovaries undergoing in-vitro fertilization.

The outcome of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) was compared in 76 patients with polycystic ovaries (PCO) diagnosed on pre-treatment ultrasound scan, and 76 control patients who had normal ovaries and were matched for age, cause of infertility and stimulation regimen. Despite receiving significantly less human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG), patients with PCO, as compared with controls, had significantly higher serum oestradiol levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration (5940 +/- 255 versus 4370 +/- 240 pmol/l, P < 0.001), developed more follicles (14.9 +/- 0.7 versus 9.8 +/- 0.6, P < 0.001) and produced more oocytes (9.3 +/- 0.6 versus 6.8 +/- 0.5, P = 0.003). However, fertilization rates were reduced in the PCO patients (52.8 +/- 3.4% versus 66.1 +/- 3.4%, P = 0.007). There was no significant difference in cleavage rates. The pregnancy rate/embryo transfer was 25.4% in the PCO group and 23.0% in the group with normal ovaries. There were three high order multiple pregnancies in the PCO group compared with none in the group with normal ovaries. Of the PCO patients, 10.5% developed moderate/severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) compared with none of the controls (P = 0.006). Patients with and without PCO undergoing IVF have comparable pregnancy and livebirth rates. However, it is important to diagnose PCO before ovarian stimulation is initiated as these patients are more likely to develop moderate or severe OHSS following IVF-ET.

Adult↗

Maternity services.

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Emergency Medical Services↗

Transvaginal peritoneal oocyte and sperm transfer for the treatment of nontubal infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if peritoneal oocyte and sperm transfer (POST) performed transvaginally is an effective treatment for nontubal infertility. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Prospective study of 18 patients (4 with unexplained infertility, 13 with failed donor insemination, and 1 with male factor infertility) having 20 cycles of transvaginal POST in a specialist infertility unit. INTERVENTIONS: Ovarian stimulation was achieved with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) alone, hMG and clomiphene citrate, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist with hMG. Oocyte recovery was performed transvaginally under ultrasound guidance, the pouch of Douglas rinsed repeatedly and an embryo transfer catheter used to transfer 4 x 10(6) progressively motile sperm in 1 mL and up to four oocytes into the pouch of Douglas. Luteal support was provided with human chorionic gonadotropin injections given 2 and 5 days later. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 32.65 +/- 5.0, and the mean length of infertility 5.07 +/- 2.32 years. The mean number of oocytes transferred was 3.53 +/- 0.87. Three pregnancies were achieved in the failed donor insemination group and 1 each in those with unexplained and male factor infertility, giving overall clinical pregnancy and live birth rates of 25% and 20% per initiated cycle. All pregnancies were achieved in those who had three or four oocytes transferred. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal POST is a useful assisted conception technique for the treatment of nontubal infertility.

Adult↗

A prospective randomized study of the optimum timing of human chorionic gonadotropin administration after pituitary desensitization in in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is an optimum time for the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) after pituitary desensitization with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) has been achieved before ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF). DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. PATIENTS: Two hundred forty-seven patients undergoing an IVF treatment cycle who were randomly divided into three groups. INTERVENTIONS: All patients were administered subcutaneously buserelin acetate 500 micrograms/d from day 1 of the menstrual cycle. After pituitary desensitization had been achieved at least 14 days later, ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotropin was commenced. Ovarian stimulation, cycle monitoring, oocyte recovery, and IVF and embryo transfer (ET) techniques were identical in all three groups. Patients in group 1 (n = 79) had hCG administered when the mean diameter of the largest follicle had reached 18 mm, at least two other follicles were greater than 14 mm, and serum estradiol (E2) levels were consistent with the number of follicles observed on ultrasound. Patients in groups 2 (n = 84) and 3 (n = 84) had hCG administered 1 day and 2 days, respectively, after the above criteria had been reached. RESULTS: The mean day of hCG administration (P less than 0.01), maximum serum E2 concentration (P = 0.06), number of days of serum E2 rise (P = 0.03), and mean diameter of the largest follicle (P less than 0.0001) were significantly different. There were, however, no significant differences in the mean number of preovulatory and medium size follicles, number of oocytes recovered or embryos transferred. There were also no significant differences in the oocyte recovery, fertilization and cleavage rates, in the number of embryos frozen, or in the pregnancy rates per initiated cycle and per ET. CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant advantage in the precise timing of hCG administration after pituitary desensitization with GnRH-a.

Adult↗

The administration of glucocorticoids for the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in in vitro fertilization: a prospective randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the administration of glucocorticoids reduced the rate of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in high-risk patients after ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF). DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. PATIENTS: Thirty-one patients who were stimulated with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) after pituitary desensitization by gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and who developed greater than 20 follicles greater than 12 mm and/or had a serum estradiol (E2) level of greater than 10,000 pmol/L on the day of administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Those who were randomized to receive glucocorticoids (group A) (n = 17) were administered intravenous hydrocortisone, 100 mg, immediately after ultrasound (US)-directed oocyte recovery. Prednisolone, 10 mg three times per day, was given for 5 days starting on the day of oocyte recovery followed by prednisolone 10 mg two times a day for 3 days and 10 mg/d for 2 days. Those in group B (n = 14) did not receive any glucocorticoid treatment. In both groups, luteal support was provided by intramuscular injections of gestone 100 mg/d. RESULTS: The two groups of patients were comparable in terms of age, duration of infertility, and total dose of hMG used. All had polycystic ovaries on US examination. On the day of hCG administration, the mean number of follicles in the two groups were 26.76 +/- 2.49 and 25.93 +/- 1.44 and the serum E2 concentration 13,404 +/- 710 and 13,915 +/- 901 pmol/L, respectively. There were no significant differences in the number of oocytes collected or in the fertilization, cleavage, and implantation rates in the two groups. The pregnancy rates per initiated cycle were 41.18% and 35.71%, respectively. Seven of the 17 patients (41.2%) who received glucocorticoids developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome compared with 6 of the 14 patients (42.9%) who did not receive glucocorticoids. CONCLUSIONS: Administrations of glucocorticoids to high risk patients did not reduce the rate of OHSS after ovarian stimulation for IVF.

Adult↗

Results of ovulation induction using human menopausal gonadotropin or purified follicle-stimulating hormone in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare ovarian performance and hormonal levels, after ovulation induction, in patients with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, using two different gonadotropin drugs. DESIGN: Patients were treated during consecutive cycles, using the same stimulation protocol, with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) in the first treatment cycle and purified follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the second one. SETTING: Specialist Reproductive Endocrine Unit. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Nine patients with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Duration of stimulation, number of leading follicles, serum estradiol (E2) concentration and endometrial thickness at the time of human chorionic gonadotropin administration, and the occurrence of ovulation. RESULTS: Compared with hMG, treatment with purified FSH required significantly more ampules of drug (P less than 0.04) but resulted in a significant reduction in the number of leading follicles (P less than 0.05), serum E2 concentrations (P less than 0.002), endometrial thickness (P less than 0.02) and the occurrence of ovulation (P less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study in isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism patients is consistent with the two-cell two-gonadotropin hypothesis, that both gonadotropins are required to accommodate their synergistic action for appropriate steroidogenesis. In treating this group of patients, the superior efficacy of hMG compared with purified FSH preparation is beyond question.

Adult↗

Polycystic ovary syndrome and cancer.

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disturbance affecting women, but disagreements in diagnostic criteria make it difficult to compare epidemiological studies on long-term health risks such as cancer. The association between PCOS and endometrial adenocarcinoma has been reported for many years. Although the degree of risk has not been clearly defined, it is generally accepted that for women with PCOS who experience symptoms of amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea, the induction of artificial withdrawal bleeds to prevent endometrial hyperplasia is prudent management. Studies examining the relationship between PCOS and breast carcinoma have not always identified a significantly increased risk, although one recent study examined the standardized mortality rate (SMR) calculated for patients with PCOS compared with the normal population and found that the SMR for all neoplasms was 0.91 (95% CI 0.60-1.32) and for breast cancer 1.48 (95% CI 0.79-2.54). Few studies have addressed the possibility of an association between polycystic ovaries and ovarian cancer, and the results are conflicting and generally reassuring.

Adenocarcinoma↗