Free Access Articles
Adenomyosis: a life-cycle approach
The life-cycle approach to endometriosis highlighted unexpected features of the condition; the same approach was therefore applied to gain insight into the clinical features of adenomyosis and to draw a comparison with endometriosis. This is possible today thanks to new imaging techniques enabling non-invasive diagnosis of adenomyosis. The specificity and sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging and transvaginal ultrasound remain uncertain. Unlike endometriosis, little information is available on the presence of classic adenomyosis in adolescents, except for rare cystic forms that may not represent the true disease.Clinical implications of congenital uterine anomalies: a meta-analysis of comparative studies
The clinical implications of congenital uterine anomalies (CUA), and the benefits of hysteroscopic resection of a uterine septum, were evaluated. Studies comparing reproductive and obstetric outcome of patients with and without CUA and of patients who had and had not undergone hysteroscopic resection of a uterine septum, were evaluated. Meta-analysis of studies indicated that the pregnancy rate was decreased in women with CUA (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.00; marginally significant finding, P = 0.05).Aspirin and heparin to improve live birth rate in IVF for unexplained implantation failure?
The data concerning use of aspirin and/or heparin in IVF failure patients is reviewed. A number of methodological and biological problems are identified. A strategy to achieve reliable conclusions is explained.Reproductive hormone concentrations in pregnancy and neonates: a systematic review
Although much research focuses on hormones during gestation, little is known about the actual hormone concentrations within the fetal surroundings. The aim of this study was to combine all available oestrogen, androgen, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin, gonadotrophin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) concentrations during gestation and post partum into graphical representations reporting weighted mean hormone values. A systematic search was performed in Pubmed and Embase from inception to March 2012.Aspirin and heparin as adjuvants during IVF do not improve live birth rates in unexplained implantation failure
This study tested the hypothesis that using aspirin and/or heparin as adjuvants in IVF improves the treatment outcome. This retrospective cohort–control study recruited 234 consecutive subjects aged ⩽44 years who had previously had one or more unsuccessful IVF cycle. All underwent IVF using conventional protocols. The study group received aspirin and/or heparin post embryo transfer until the day of pregnancy test or until 12 weeks of pregnancy. The control group did not receive adjuvant treatment.IVF versus ICSI for the fertilization of in-vitro matured human oocytes
Traditional dogma suggests that intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) should be performed to ensure successful oocyte fertilization in an in-vitro maturation (IVM) cycle. This study postulated that there would be no difference in the fertilization rate when ICSI was compared with IVF. This hypothesis was tested in a randomized trial of IVF versus ICSI in IVM. A total of 150 immature oocytes were collected in eight cycles of IVM for patients diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Patients were primed with minimal FSH before transvaginal oocyte aspiration.Impact of obesity on reproductive outcomes after ovarian ablative therapy in PCOS: a collaborative meta-analysis
Obesity is known to interfere with reproductive outcomes in polycystic ovary syndrome. There is no consensus regarding the impact of obesity on reproductive outcomes after ovarian ablative therapy (OAT) and there is no level I evidence to answer this question. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the strength of the association between obesity and ovulation or pregnancy rates after OAT. MEDLINE and several other databases were searched from 2000 to September 2011 for studies reporting on OAT and reproductive outcomes.Elevated progesterone during ovarian stimulation for IVF
There is an ongoing debate regarding the impact of premature progesterone rise on the IVF outcome. The objective of this review is to assess evidence of poorer ongoing pregnancy rate in IVF cycles with elevated serum progesterone at the end of follicular phase in ovarian stimulation. It also explores the origin of the progesterone rise, potential modifying factors and possible methods to prevent its rise during ovarian stimulation. This review draws on information already published from monitoring progesterone concentrations at the end of follicular phase in ovarian stimulation.
