Reproductive BioMedicine Online
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 338-343 , September 2010

Treatment with oxytocin antagonists before embryo transfer may increase implantation rates after IVF

Received 1 November 2009 ,Revised 12 March 2010 ,Accepted 7 April 2010.

References 

  1. Bossmar T, Akerlund M, Fantoni G, Szamatowicz J, Melin P, Maggi M. Receptors for and myometrial responses to oxytocin and vasopressin in preterm and term human pregnancy: effects of the oxytocin antagonist atosiban. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1994;171:1634–1642
  2. Brouard R, Bossmar T, Fournié-Lloret D, Chassard D, Åkerlund M. Effect of SR 49059, an orally active vasopressin V1a receptor antagonist, in the prevention of dysmenorrhoea. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 2000;107:614–619
  3. Ekstroem P, Akerlund M, Forsling M, Kindahl H, Laudanski T, Mrugacz G. Stimulation of vasopression release in women with primary dysmenorrhoea and after oral contraceptive treatment-effect on uterine contractility. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 1992;99:680–684
  4. European Medicines Agency, 2005. Tractocile-European Public Assessment Report. Available from: <http://www.emea.eu.int/humandocs/Humans/EPAR/tractocile.htm>.
  5. Fanchin R, Righini C, Olivennes F, Taylor S, de Zieglar D, Frydman R. Uterine contractions at the time of embryo transfer alter pregnancy rates after in-vitro fertilization. Hum. Reprod. 1998;13:1968–1974
  6. Frydman R. Impact of embryo transfer techniques on implantation rates. J. Gynecol. Obstet. Biol. Reprod. 2004;33:36–39
  7. Fuchs AR, Behrens O, Maschek H, Kupsch E, Einspanier A. Oxytocin and vasopressin receptors in human and uterine myomas during menstrual cycle and early pregnancy. Hum. Reprod. Update. 1998;4:594–604
  8. Ghazzawi IM, Al-Hasani S, Karaki R, Souso S. Transfer technique and catheter choice influence the incidence of transcervical embryo expulsion and the outcome of IVF. Hum. Reprod. 1999;14:677–682
  9. Giorgetti C, Terriou P, Auquier P, et al. Embryo score to predict implantation after in vitro fertilization based on 957 single embryo transfers. Hum. Reprod. 2000;10:2427–2431
  10. Goodwin TM, Millar L, North L, Abrams LS, Weglein RC, Holland ML. The pharmacokinetics of the oxytocin antagonist atosiban in pregnant women with preterm uterine contractions. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1995;173:913–917
  11. Groutz A, Lessing JB, Wolf Y, Yovel I, Azem F, Amit A. Cervical dilation during ovum pick-up in patients with cervical stenosis: effect on pregnancy outcome in an in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer program. Fertil. Steril. 1997;67:909–911(4, 677–682)
  12. Husslein P, Roura LC, Dudenhausen WJ, Helmer H, Frydman R, Rizzo N, et al. Atosiban versus usual care for the management of preterm labor. J. Perinat. Med. 2007;35:305–313
  13. Hearns-Stokes RM, Miller BT, Scott L, Creuss D, Chakraborty PK, Segars JH. Pregnancy rates after embryo transfer depend on the provider at embryo transfer. Fertil. Steril. 2000;74:80–86
  14. Ijland MM, Evers JLH, Dunselman GAJ, Van KAtwijk C, Lo CR, Hoogland HJ. Endometrial wavelike movements during menstrual cycle. Fertil. Steril. 1996;65:746–749
  15. Kimura T, Tanizawa O, Mori K, Brownstein M, Okayama H. Structure and expression of a human oxytocin receptor. Nature. 1992;356:526–529
  16. Leeton J, Trounson A, Jessup D, Wood C. The technique for human embryo transfer. Fertil. Steril. 1982;38:156–161
  17. Lemaster JW, Seals RC, Hopkins FM, Schrick FN. Effects of administration of oxytocin on embryonic survival in progestogen supplemented cattle. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 1999;57:259–268
  18. Letterie GS, Marshall L, Angle M. A new coaxial catheter system with an echodense tip for ultrasonographically guided embryo transfer. Fertil. Steril. 1999;72:266–268
  19. Lundin S, Forman A, Rechberger T, Svane D, Andersson KE. Immunoreactive oxytocin and vasopressin in the non-pregnant human uterus and oviductal isthmus. Acta Endocrinol. 1989;120:239–244
  20. Matorras R, Mendoza R, Expósito A, Rodriguez-Escudero FJ. Influence of the time interval between embryo catheter loading and discharging on the success of IVF. Hum. Reprod. 2004;19:2027–2030
  21. Moon HS, Park HS, Lee JO, Kim KS, Joo BS. Treatment with piroxicam before embryo transfer increases the pregnancy rate after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil. Steril. 2004;82:816–820
  22. Moutquin, J.-M., The worldwide atosiban versus beta-agonists survey group, 2001. Effectiveness and safety of the oxytocin antagonist atosiban versus beta-adrenergic agonists in the treatment of preterm labour. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 108, 133–142.
  23. Nabi A, Awonuga A, Birch H, Barlow S, Stewart B. Multiple attempts at embryo transfer: does this affect in-vitro fertilization treatment outcome?. Hum. Reprod. 1997;12:1188–1190
  24. Pasqualini RS, Quintans CJ. Clinical practice of embryo transfer. Reprod. Biomed. Online. 2002;4:83–92
  25. Pierzynski P, Reinheimer TM, Kuczynski W. Oxytocin antagonists may improve infertility treatment. Fertil. Steril. 2007;88:19–22
  26. Pierzynski P, Gajda B, Smorag Z, Rasmussen A, Kuczynski W. Effect of Atosiban on rabbit embryo development and human sperm motility. Fertil. Steril. 2007;87:1147–1152
  27. Pinheiro OL, Cavagna M, Baruffi RL, Mauri AL, Petersen C, Franco JG. Administration of beta2-adrenergic agonists during the peri-implantation period does not improve implantation or pregnancy rates in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. J. Assist. Reprod. Genet. 2003;20:513–516
  28. Practice Committee of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, 2006. Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Guidelines on number of embryos transferred. Fertil. Steril. 86 (Suppl. 5), 51–52.
  29. Richter ON, Kübler K, Schmolling J, et al. Oxytocin receptor gene expression of estrogen-stimulated human myometrium in extracorporeally perfused non-pregnant uteri. Mol. Hum. Reprod. 2004;10:339–346
  30. Romero R, Sibai BM, Sanchez-Ramos L, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of an oxytocin-receptor antagonist (Antocin) in the treatment of preterm labor. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2000;182:1173–1183
  31. Royal Collage of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2002. Tocolytic drugs for women in preterm labour. Clinical Guideline No. 1(B).
  32. Serradeil-Le Gal C, Valette G, Foulon L, et al. SSR126768A (4-chloro-3-[(3R)-(+)-5-chloro-1-(2,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-methyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-3-yl]-N-ethyl-N-(3-pyridylmethyl)-benzamide, hydrochloride): a new selective and orally active oxytocin receptor antagonist for the prevention of preterm labor.. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2004;309:414–424
  33. Steinwall M, Hansson S, Bossmar T, Larsson I, Pilka R, Åkerlund M. Oxytocin mRNA content in the endometrium of non-pregnant women. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 2004;111:266–270
  34. Spandorfer SD, Goldstein J, Navarro J, Veeck L, Davis OK, Rosenwaks Z. Difficult embryo transfer has a negative impact on the outcome of in vitro fertilization. Fertil. Steril. 2003;79:654–655
  35. Tahara A, Tsukada J, Tomura Y, et al. Pharmacologic characterization of the oxytocin receptor in human uterine smooth muscle cells. Br. J. Pharmacol. 2000;129:131–139
  36. Tsatsaris V, Carbonne B, Cabrol D. Atosiban for preterm labour. Drugs. 2004;64:375–382
  37. Van Royen E, Mangelschots K, De’Neubourg D, et al. Characterization of a top quality embryo, a step towards single embryo transfer. Hum. Reprod. 1999;14:2345–2349
  38. Vedernikov, Y., Betancourt, A., Shi, S., Shi, L., Reinheimer, T., Garfield, R., 2006. Oxytocin antagonistic effect of barusiban and atosiban in isolated uterine artery from late pregnant rats. In: Presentation at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Toronto, Canada.
  39. Woolcott R, Stanger J. Potentially important variables identified by transvaginal ultrasound-guided embryo transfer. Hum. Reprod. 1997;12:963–966

 Dr Ozlem Moraloglu obtained her MD degree in 1992 from the Medical School, University of Ankara, Turkey. Since 1997 she has specialized in obstetric gynaecology. Dr Moraloglu is currently employed at Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Hospital in the Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF Department. Her research interests focus on assisted reproduction treatments and reproductive endocrinology. She has published 14 scientific articles in national and international journals.

PII: S1472-6483(10)00218-X

doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.04.009

Reproductive BioMedicine Online
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 338-343 , September 2010