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Association between leukaemia inhibitory factor gene polymorphism and pregnancy outcomes after assisted reproduction techniques
Certain gene polymorphisms are associated with implantation failure and pregnancy loss. Studies of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) gene polymorphisms are scarce. The LIF single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) thymine (T)/guanine (G) (rs929271) was studied in women to determine whether an association existed with pregnancy outcomes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); 411 women who underwent ICSI were recruited. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood, and the LIF gene SNP T/G (rs929271) was genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Past performance of assisted reproduction technologies as a model to predict future progress: a proposed addendum to Moore’s law
The ultimate goal of IVF is to achieve healthy, single, live births following each single-embryo transfer. A timeline for this eventuality has never been defined. National implantation rates from 2003–2010 provided by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) in the USA were evaluated. Regression analysis was applied to the annual trends. A high correlation was noted showing a linear increase from year to year ranging between 0.3% and 1.5% when maternal age was not higher than 42.History of endometriosis may adversely affect the outcome in menopausal recipients of sibling oocytes
Due to the known adverse effect of endometriosis on gamete quality, it has always been difficult to demonstrate a direct effect of endometriosis on implantation. In order to eliminate these confounding effects, this prospective comparative study studied a population of menopausal recipients with and without endometriosis sharing sibling oocytes coming from the same donor. The aim was to understand the impact of endometriosis on implantation, pregnancy and live birth rates in menopausal recipients.Serum HCG measured in the peri-implantation period predicts IVF cycle outcomes
The current study assessed the relationship between serum concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) measured in the peri-implantation period and various outcome measures following blastocyst transfer in IVF cycles. The study group included 767 autologous IVF cycles, each with the transfer of two fresh blastocysts in a 6-year study period, ending 31 December 2009. Outcome measures were ectopic pregnancy, biochemical pregnancy loss, ongoing pregnancy, spontaneous abortion and multiple pregnancy.Oocyte vitrification technology has made egg-sharing donation easier in China
When infertile women undergoing IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have more than 20 mature oocytes retrieved, at least 15 oocytes are inseminated by their husband’s spermatozoa. The extra oocytes are cryopreserved by vitrification. If the patients became pregnant and have healthy live births, the patients are encouraged to donate their remaining cryopreserved oocytes. Forty-seven egg-sharing donors were recruited after having normal deliveries and they donated their remaining oocytes, totalling 395 cryopreserved oocytes, to 75 recipients.
