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Health-related quality of life and need for IVF in 1000 Italian infertile couples.

BACKGROUND: A specific and still poorly investigated issue in the field of infertility is represented by the impact that the need for IVF techniques may have on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: A total of 1000 consecutive couples (1000 women and 1000 men) were invited to complete the Health Survey Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire separately, prior to initiating their first IVF attempt in our unit. Patients were also invited to report about demographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 1936 (96.8%) agreed to participate. Male SF-36 scores were higher than those reported by women. Duration of infertility and previous IVF attempts significantly influenced HRQoL (P < 0.01). When scores were plotted in relation to the normative source of the Italian general population stratified by gender, corresponding age and geographical area, the subjective health profile did not significantly differ from the normative sample for both women and men. CONCLUSION: The need for IVF did not seem to markedly influence subjective health status. Conversely, duration of infertility and failure to achieve a pregnancy through IVF might have a negative impact.

Adult↗

Steroid receptor expression in late follicular phase endometrium in GnRH antagonist IVF cycles is already altered, indicating initiation of early luteal phase transformation in the absence of secretory changes.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian stimulation for IVF profoundly alters the early luteal phase endometrial development. It has been hypothesized that this process has already started in the late follicular phase, as the endometrium has already been exposed to high steroid concentrations since that phase. The aim of the present study was to prospectively investigate the effect of multi-follicular ovarian stimulation for IVF on the late follicular phase endometrium histology and the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR). METHODS: In a cross-over study, 11 infertile women with normal ovulatory function, participating in an IVF programme and treated with GnRH antagonist/recombinant FSH ovarian stimulation, were enrolled in the study. Endometrial biopsies were taken in a natural cycle on the day of the onset of the surge of the LH, and in a subsequent stimulation cycle on the day of hCG administration for final oocyte maturation. Endometrial histological dating was carried out according to Noyes' criteria. Immunohistochemistry was performed, using commercially available antibodies for ER and PR endometrial expression. The immunohistochemical signal was recorded in 1000 epithelial cells in each compartment (glands and stroma). Endometrial expression for each of the two receptors was graded on a scale of 0-3, based on the intensity of nuclear staining. Then a score range between 0 and 3000 was recorded, and expressed as a mean score per 1000 stroma or glandular cells per sample (range: 0-3). RESULTS: Histological examination of biopsies both in natural and stimulated cycles showed no secretory changes. However, in stimulated cycles, PR expression was significantly up-regulated compared to natural cycles in both glands (1.67 versus 1.34, P < 0.05) and stroma (1.98 versus 1.62, P < 0.05), whereas ER was down-regulated in glands (1.15 versus 1.43, P < 0.05). In IVF cycles, the progesterone measurements, although within normal values (range 0.8-1.4 microg/l), were significantly higher than in natural cycles (0.99 vs 0.63 microg/l, respectively, P = 0.008). An ongoing pregnancy rate of 37.5% was achieved in the stimulated cycles. DISCUSSION: Although the current study found no early secretory transformation in stimulated endometria before hCG administration, the ER and PR expression in these endometria is similar to the one described during the first days of the luteal phase in natural cycles. Supraphysiological concentrations of estradiol and subtle progesterone rises in the late follicular phase might be responsible for this modulated steroid receptor profile. This phenomenon indicates accentuated maturation of the endometrium in IVF cycles from the pre-ovulatory phase onwards.

Adult↗

Serum and follicular fluid levels of soluble Fas, soluble Fas ligand and apoptosis of luteinized granulosa cells in PCOS patients undergoing IVF.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data about the levels of soluble apoptotic factors and their modulation with therapeutic regimens in IVF cycles. The aim of the current study was to determine follicular fluid, and serum levels of soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) in PCOS patients undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles; also to investigate the effects of metformin on these factors and on apoptosis of luteinized granulosa cells. METHODS: We investigated the serum and follicular fluid levels of sFas and sFasL in patients with PCOS (n = 28) and compared them with those of the patients with infertility due to male factor (n = 12) undergoing IVF cycles. Effects of metformin therapy on these parameters and apoptosis of luteinized granulosa cells were also investigated among the patients with PCOS. RESULTS: Serum levels of sFas were significantly lower in the PCOS group compared to those in women with infertility due to male factor. Metformin therapy in PCOS patients preceding IVF cycles increased serum levels of sFas and decreased follicular fluid levels of sFasL compared to those on placebo. Follicular fluid from PCOS patients demonstrated luteinized granulosa cell DNA fragmentation in agarose gel, whereas a similar pattern was not observed among PCOS patients undergoing metformin therapy. CONCLUSION: Decreased serum levels of sFas and luteinized granulosa cell DNA fragmentation is observed in patients with PCOS undergoing IVF cycles. Metformin therapy preceding IVF demonstrates an antiapoptotic effect with increased serum levels of sFas, decreased follicular fluid levels of sFasL and prevention of luteinized granulosa cell DNA fragmentation.

Adult↗

Hormonal stimulation for IVF treatment positively affects the CD56bright/CD56dim NK cell ratio of the endometrium during the window of implantation.

The effects of hormone stimulation for IVF treatment on endometrial receptivity remain controversial. Since CD56(bright) natural killer (NK) cells in the endometrium positively contribute to implantation and decidualization whereas CD56(dim) NK cells are negatively associated with reproduction, shifts in the balance between those cells will affect receptivity. Therefore, we compared the leukocyte composition in the endometrium of IVF women (n=20) with non-pregnant women (n=18) in a natural cycle, as a parameter for endometrial quality. Biopsies were obtained 7 days after ovulation. Histological dating of the endometrium showed no increased endometrial advancement after IVF treatment as compared to the control group. Flow cytometric analysis of leukocyte subsets showed that hormonal stimulation positively affected the CD56(bright)/CD56(dim) ratio in the endometrium by a relative decrease in the cytotoxic CD56(dim)CD16(+) NK cell numbers. The relative number of T-cells remained unaffected, while the number of non-T and non-NK cells (i.e. B-cells and macrophages) was higher in the IVF group. These effects were restricted to the endometrium and not observed in peripheral blood. Within the CD56(bright) population we could identify a distinct subset of NK cells (CD56(superbright)) that was unique for the endometrium. We conclude that hormonal stimulation for IVF treatment positively affects the CD56(bright)/CD56(dim) ratio of the endometrium during the window of implantation and does not affect endometrial advancement.

Adult↗

One year's experience with programmed oocyte retrieval for IVF.

We have previously described a simplified form of ovulation stimulation for IVF in which the day of presumed oocyte retrieval is determined several weeks in advance. This paper retrospectively analyses this technique in 296 unselected patients over a one year period to assess if the method is suitable for routine use in an IVF programme. Oocyte retrieval was performed on the predetermined day in 70% of patients commencing stimulation. In the remainder, the presumptive day of oocyte retrieval was modified, or the cycle was cancelled. Compared with 356 patients undergoing a comparable classically monitored IVF stimulation during the same period, there was no significant difference in the cancellation rate of cycles prior to oocyte recovery, in the numbers of oocytes or embryos obtained or in the pregnancy rate between the two populations. It is concluded that programmed oocyte retrieval does not have a deleterious effect on the success rate of IVF compared with classical clomiphene citrate/HMG stimulation and it considerably facilitates the administration of an IVF programme.

Clomiphene↗

Prognostic value of an automated sperm analysis in IVF or insemination therapy.

During the course of sterility treatment semenograms of 271 IVF and 316 insemination patients were carried out by two automated semen analysers. The parameters of these analyses were correlated to pregnancies resulting from the treatment. Semen samples were analysed in the ejaculate and after swim-up preparation. In addition, the swim-up suspension of IVF patients was measured again 18 h after sperm preparation. Patients were divided into three groups: (1) couples who achieved a pregnancy, (2) couples who did not achieve a pregnancy, and (3) IVF patients with no fertilization of the oocytes. Because of large standard deviations in the quality of ejaculates, the results in the IVF group show no significant differences in the semen parameters of husbands of pregnant and non-pregnant women. In contrast husbands of women with no fertilization have a significantly lower sperm motility. After swim-up preparation these differences no longer occur. A further measurement, taken 18 h later, reveals that there are no differences in the sperm parameters between the pregnant and non-pregnant group. However, the semen quality in the group with no fertilization is significantly reduced. The results of the insemination patients are similar to those of the IVF group. Thus, the results from automated sperm analysers cannot replace either the microscopic or biochemical analysis of an ejaculate and, moreover, cannot be used as prognosis for the fertilization capacity of sperms or a following pregnancy.

Autoanalysis↗

Different culture media requirements of IVF and nuclear transfer bovine embryos.

Important differences exist between in vitro fertilized (IVF) and nuclear transfer (NT) bovine embryos. Studies have shown that although in vitro development is comparable, post-implantation survival is greatly reduced in NT embryos. In this study, we compare serum and bovine serum albumin (BSA) supplementation during oocyte maturation and embryo culture of IVF and NT embryos. In experiment 1, oocytes and embryos were randomly distributed into different treatment groups consisting of synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) medium supplemented with either serum, fatty acid-free BSA (FAF) or fraction V BSA during maturation and/or culture to assess IVF embryo development. In experiment 2, oocytes were matured in SOF + serum or SOF + FAF and reconstructed embryos were cultured in SOF + FAF to assess NT embryo development. Among the IVF treatment groups, a greater number of blastocysts were observed in the steer serum (SER) group (IVM and IVC in SOF + serum) on day 6; however, no significant differences were seen in blastocyst development from day 8 onwards. Hatching frequencies on days 8 and 9 were significantly greater in groups with serum, with the exception of FAF (IVM and IVC in SOF + FAF) on day 9. For the NT treatment groups, the presence of serum during IVM resulted in a higher proportion of MII oocytes and increased blastocyst development and hatching rates were compared with supplementation of FAF. These results indicate that both serum and FAF provide comparable embryo development for IVF but not for NT bovine embryos.

Animals↗

A prospective comparative study on IVF outcomes with either purified FSH or human menopausal gonadotrophin in downregulated normogonadotrophic women.

OBJECTIVE: In compare the use of purified follicle-stimulating hormone with that of a preparation containing follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in infertile females undergoing IVF. DESIGN: Open-labelled prospective controlled single-center study. SETTING: Nile Badrawy IVF unit. PARTICIPANTS: 153 infertile females undergoing their first cycle of IVF divided into 2 groups. INTERVENTIONS: Ovarian stimulation was done with either highly purified FSH for group 1 (n = 75) or human menopausal gonadotrophin group 2 (n = 78) after pituitary desensitization commenced in the midluteal phase of the preceding cycle. Monitoring was performed by ultrasound transvaginal oocyte retrieval followed by IVF and transfer of three embryos. OUTCOMES: Number of oocytes >18 mm at day of hCG, fertilization rate, embryo transfer rate, clinical pregnancy rate and incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. RESULTS: The response to ovarian hyperstimulation was similar in both groups. The number of follicles >18 mm achieved at day of hCG was 12.3 +/- 0.9 (mean +/- SEM) following stimulation with 38.3 +/- 0.9 ampoules of Fostimon The Menogon-treated group needed 39.1 +/- 0.8 ampoules to produce 11.6 +/- 0.7 follicles. Fertilization rate (2PN/cell) was 58.6 vs. 64.2% in the Fostimon and Menogon group, respectively (p > 0.05). The number of embryos transferred per woman was 3.1 +/- 0.1 in the Fostimon group and 3.6 +/- 0.1 in the Menogon group. The pregnancy rate per woman was 33.3 vs. 25.6% in the Fostimon- and Menogon-treated groups, respectively (p > 0.05). Miscarriage rate was 16 vs 20%, respectively. However, the incidence of multiple pregnancies was significantly higher in the Fostimon-treated group (32%) vs. 10% only in the Menogon-treated group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Purified FSH yields similar clinical outcome to hMG in terms of oocytes retrieved and clinical pregnancies in a standard IVF regimen.

Adult↗

Monitoring of IVF birth outcomes in Finland: a data quality study.

BACKGROUND: The collection of information on infertility treatments is important for the surveillance of potential health consequences and to monitor service provision. STUDY DESIGN: We compared the coverage and outcomes of IVF children reported in aggregated IVF statistics, the Medical Birth Register (subsequently: MBR) and research data based on reimbursements for IVF treatments in Finland in 1996-1998. RESULTS: The number of newborns were nearly equal in the three data sources (N = 4331-4384), but the linkage between the MBR and the research data revealed that almost 40% of the reported IVF children were not the same individuals. The perinatal outcomes in the three data sources were similar, excluding the much lower incidence of major congenital anomalies in the IVF statistics (157/10 000 newborns) compared to other sources (409-422/10 000 newborns). CONCLUSION: The differences in perinatal outcomes in the three data sets were in general minor, which suggests that the observed non-recording in the MBR is most likely unbiased.

Adult↗

The role of DNA strand breaks in human spermatozoa used for IVF and ICSI.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of spermatozoa with DNA strand breaks in four clinically different groups of infertile couples, and to correlate DNA damage with other semen analysis parameters, as well as fertilization rates and IVF outcome. METHODS: One group consisted of 75 men where the female partners had a tubal obstruction, Group A. Fifty sperm samples were collected from men in unexplained infertile couples, Group B. Fifty men with oligozoospermia and IVF made up Group C. Finally, 61 men with oligozoospermia and where ICSI was performed made up Group D. Sperm samples were assessed according to the WHO manual and for the presence of DNA strand breaks in spermatozoa. The study was blinded for the technician involved in the assessment of DNA strand breaks. IVF was carried out according to a long down regulation protocol using GnRH, FSH and hCG. Embryos were transferred on day 2 after fertilization with a maximum of three embryos. RESULTS: This study demonstrated a negative correlation between the proportion of spermatozoa having DNA strand breaks and the proportion of oocytes fertilized after IVF (p<0.01). Furthermore, the number of spermatozoa with DNA strand breaks was important for the pregnancy rate in the group of unexplained infertile couples. After ICSI no association was found between spermatozoa with DNA strand breaks and fertilization rates (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: DNA strand breaks in human spermatozoa impairs fertilization in both unexplained infertile couples and those with oligozoospermia and IVF. However, after ICSI, this impact of DNA strand breaks were not seen. This creates a specific indication and treatment for this new diagnosed group of otherwise unexplained infertile men.

Adult↗

[Application of IVF in women with endometriosis].

Application of IVF at women with endometriosis after pharmacological and surgical therapy hold out hopes to possession of child. Endometriosis occurs three times more often in the patients with primary sterility than in patients with secondary sterility. The presence of a small endometriosis does not reduce the success of the IVF therapy. The women with endometriosis who undergo IVF treatment have similar prospect in compensate with women with tubal sterility. IVF improve fertility in women with mild or minimal endometriosis. But at women after IVF the presence of endometriomas is associated with increased rates of early pregnancy losses. Women with endometriosis marking often antinuclear antibodies and antiphospholipid antibodies than women without endometriosis. To evaluate the 15% of infertile women have endometriosis.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

[Reproductive endocrinology and infertility in the light of 20 years of IVF experience].

In vitro fertilization (IVF)'s results have continuously improved over the past 20 years, making IVF part of routine services offered by most medical communities. The simplification of medical (ultrasound guided oocyte aspirations) and biological techniques (ready made media) contributed to the widespread development of IVF in the private sector, including in Switzerland. This challenges the needs of maintaining academic based IVF programs in the French speaking Switzerland. We believe however that IVF should remain part of academic gynecology because it also brings widespread collateral benefits that serve Gynecology notably, for teaching. Yet, the restricted size the French speaking Switzerland calls for creative approaches.

Endocrinology↗

Stress in IVF workers.

Workers in new and personally exacting health services face particular challenges which are not evident in more traditional areas. IVF workers are involved in such an innovative service. Their perception of workplace stressors has not previously been addressed in the literature. Fifty-nine IVF workers and 32 non-IVF workers (in routine obstetrics and gynaecology) completed a battery of standardized psychological questionnaires on the symptomatology of stress and in addition answered questions on workplace problems and work satisfaction. Reported stress was highest among scientific/technical workers who varied significantly from the control group scores. IVF medical staff showed elevated stress scores, but were not significantly separated from controls, except on state anxiety. Work satisfaction scores were generally high for all IVF professions, except for pay and promotion satisfaction scores which were depressed among nurses and scientific/technical staff. It was concluded that this initial survey had revealed important information about the impact of a new scientific and clinical enterprise upon staff and should promote closer examination of the reasons for such reported stress.

Adult↗

Psychological issues in IVF.

The role of psychological factors in IVF is complex. Psychological issues intertwine with physical ones, often with additive effects. The very diagnosis of infertility is likely to cause stress. In addition, the many investigations and procedures may have compounded distress. There are probably a small number of patients in whom psychological factors may induce infertility. But in the majority, psychological factors may exacerbate infertility and influence the patient's and partner's responses. Mental, sexual, marital and social adjustment may all be affected. The procedure of IVF is likely to have a further impact. A pilot study of couples entering an IVF programme revealed the women to be highly anxious and to conform strongly to feminine stereotypes. Many had received psychiatric help in the past. The idiopathic group appeared to cope less well with stress and had higher anxiety and neuroticism scores. Follow-up revealed that IVF had a profound impact on many of the women. Most had received no counselling in the interim. In those who completed questionnaires at follow-up, a differential effect was observed between the organic and idiopathic groups. State anxiety fell in the idiopathic group but so did marital adjustment. The clinician is advised to incorporate consideration of the psychological aspects of IVF into every aspect of the programme. The addition of a psycho-social team may assist the gynaecologist in this and help the couple to make an optimal adjustment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Outcome of pregnancy in IVF-ET cycle at Ramathibodi Hospital.

As assisted reproductive technology is being developed, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) are the treatments of choice for many infertility problems. The outcome of pregnancies achieved by IVF-ET is different from that of spontaneous pregnancies. In this retrospective study, the outcome of pregnancies from 400 IVF treatment cycles performed from October 1991 to October 1994 were reported. There were 80 pregnancies (20% per oocyte retrieval, 21.9% per embryo transfer) with an increased rate of abortion (30%), multiple pregnancy (20%), ectopic pregnancy (6.25%), heterotopic pregnancy (1.25%), preterm delivery (11.8%), low birth weight (35.8%) and cesarean section (62.7%). This study shows that the complication rate of pregnancies from IVF-ET cycles was higher than that found in spontaneous pregnancies. Some complications such as multiple pregnancies may be prevented by limiting the number of transferred embryos. From this study, all IVF-ET pregnancy should be considered as high risk pregnancies.

Adult↗

Incidence of sex chromosome abnormalities in spermatozoa from patients entering an IVF or ICSI protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was the determination of sex chromosome aneuploidy frequency in spermatozoa from patients included in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) protocol. METHODS: Spermatozoa from nineteen patients, including patients with normal seminal parameters according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and patients exhibiting abnormal seminal parameters, were analyzed by dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for aneuploidies of the X and Y chromosomes. Our technique, using only probes for sex chromosomes and not for autosomes, does not discriminate between hyperhaploid and diploid sperm nuclei. The results were analyzed in two different ways: in relation to the semen status, denoted normal or abnormal and with regard to the ability of the sperm to fertilize oocytes when IVF or ICSI was performed. RESULTS: Abnormal semen showed a significant increase in the overall rate of sperm nuclei with XY, XX and YY sex chromosome complements, 1.59% compared to normal semen, 0.78% (p<0.02). Semen shown to be able to fertilize oocytes only by ICSI showed a higher incidence of XY-bearing spermatozoa, 1.26%, compared to semen able to fertilize oocytes by conventional IVF, 0.37% (p<0.001). The incidence of XX-or YY-bearing sperm nuclei was also significantly elevated in the ICSI group (0.25% XX, 0.50% YY) (p<0.02) as compared to the IVF group (0.06% XX, 0.16% YY). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that infertile men requiring ICSI treatment showed a higher incidence of sex chromosome aneuploidy, due to meiosis I and II nondisjunction, in their spermatozoa as compared to men requiring IVF for reasons of predominantly female infertility.

Aneuploidy↗

Cornual pregnancy after IVF-ET. A report of three cases.

BACKGROUND: Ectopic pregnancy is a well-known complication of in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Although ectopic pregnancy after IVF-ET in patients with prior bilateral salpingectomy is uncommon, it can occur and may be a cornual implantation. Because of the possibility of early rupture with severe hemorrhage, special attention to cornual pregnancy after IVF-ET is warranted. CASES: Three cases of cornual pregnancy occurred after IVF-ET. Two of these patients had prior bilateral salpingectomy, whereas another had prior tuboplasty for tubal disease. CONCLUSION: Patients who had prior salpingectomy or tuboplasty with cornual patency undergoing IVF-ET are at risk for cornual pregnancy. Close monitoring of pregnancies in these patients is important to prevent a deleterious delay in treatment of a cornual pregnancy.

Adult↗

Maternal serum screening for fetal Down syndrome in IVF pregnancies.

To assess the influence of in vitro fertilization (IVF) on maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the maternal serum hCG and AFP values were studied in 67 IVF pregnancies and compared with the results of a control group of 4732 spontaneously conceiving patients. Maternal serum hCG was significantly higher and AFP significantly lower in the IVF group. Possible explanations and implications for prenatal diagnosis in IVF pregnancies are discussed.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗