Crinone® vaginal gel, a natural progesterone supplementation approved by the U.S. FDA for women undergoing assisted reproduction, has better tolerability and comparable effectiveness to intramuscular progesterone (IMP) for luteal phase support during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles, according to the findings of a prospective randomized trial published in the online issue of the journal, Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

A team of researchers has developed a breakthrough embryo screening technique termed molecular preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which uses a PCR-based protocol for analyzing translocations. The new approach, having the potential to identify more viable embryos for transfer, utilizes multiplexed short tandem repeat (STR) markers that are positioned on both segments of the translocated chromosomes during translocation analysis. The findings of the study have been published in the journal, Molecular Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is reported to be high in infertile women. Despite this, its management remains controversial owing to the lack of proven treatment benefits. Now, a recent prospective, randomized trial has highlighted the importance of levothyroxine (LT4) supplementation for achieving clinical pregnancies in women with SH opting for IVF-ICSI. The findings of the study have been published in the recent issue of Endocrine Practice. Continue Reading

In a recent prospective cohort study, a team of Danish researchers have reported that singleton IVF/ICSI pregnancies have a >4-fold enhanced risk of stillbirths compared to spontaneous conceptions. The results have been published in the recent issue of Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

A recent prospective clinical study reports that a reduction in the proportion of CD4⁺CD25 (high) regulatory T cells (Treg) and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) expression in the peripheral blood and decidua could play a role in the pathogenesis of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions (URSA). The findings of the study are published in the recent issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

Previous studies have provided substantial evidence to directly correlate thyroid auto-immunity (TAI) with the etiology of diverse reproductive disorders, including recurrent miscarriage and unexplained infertility. Also, the presence of antithyroid antibodies (ATA), particularly anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, is significant in causing adverse IVF outcome even in euthyroid patients. Now, a retrospective analysis published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology reports that the outcome of IVF treatment in ATA+ euthyroid patients could be improved with levothyroxine (LT), acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA), and prednisolone (P) adjuvant treatment. Continue Reading

Hypertensive disorders, such as pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and pre-eclampsia (PE), are usually associated with several negative maternal and perinatal outcomes. Some researchers have suggested that low-dose aspirin could affect placentation and prevent or defer the development of these disorders. A recent prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial has provided further evidence that the incidence of hypertensive complications are substantially lower with the administration of low-dose aspirin during IVF procedure and the first trimester of pregnancy. The findings of the study have been published in the recent issue of the journal, Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), affecting around 5-10% of all reproductive-aged women, is one of the most common causes of anovulation. The identification of the role of insulin resistance in women with PCOS, who are also commonly resistant to clomiphene citrate (CC), resulted in the use of insulin sensitizers. The use of metformin, an insulin-sensitizing agent, in PCOS patients undergoing IVF or ovulation induction has been extensively researched, but with divergent results. Now, a new study reports that metformin significantly reduces the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and miscarriage, while positively affecting the oocyte and embryo quality in CC-resistant PCOS women undergoing IVF. The results of the randomized controlled study have been published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Continue Reading

Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) is based on the hypothesis that the analysis of blastomeres extracted from a preimplantation embryo can represent the entire chromosomal constitution. Now, a recent randomized controlled study published in the journal Human Reproduction, highlights the potential of PGS in detecting genetically abnormal embryos, but the technique was not effective for evaluating their exact chromosomal constitution. Continue Reading

Miscarriage occurs in 10%-25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies, with around <5% of women reporting 2 consecutive miscarriages and nearly 1% women experiencing ≥3 recurrent episodes of pregnancy loss. The etiology of miscarriage is unexplained in approximately 50%-75% of couples with recurrent pregnancy loss. Now a randomized controlled study, published in the recent issue of Human Reproduction, reports the potential of subcutaneous administration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) as an effective strategy to improve the pregnancy outcome in patients with idiopathic recurrent miscarriages. Continue Reading