Anette Lindhard

Progesterone supplementation during early gestation after in vitro fertilization has no effect on the delivery rate

OBJECTIVEnTo compare the delivery rate with IVF or ICSI in women who did and did not receive progesterone supplementation in the first 3 weeks after a positive hCG test result.nnnDESIGNnRetrospective study.nnnSETTINGnFertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.nnnPATIENT(S)n200 pregnant women who did not receive progesterone (intervention group) and 200 pregnant women who received progesterone for 3 weeks after a positive hCG result.nnnINTERVENTION(S)nIn the study group, vaginal progesterone therapy was withdrawn on the day of positive hCG result. In the control group, treatment with progesterone, 600 mg/d, was continued for 3 weeks after a positive hCG result. Both groups received 600 mg of progesterone starting on the day of embryo replacement until testing positive for pregnancy 14 days after embryo transfer.nnnMAIN OUTCOME MEASURESnDelivery rate.nnnRESULT(S)nThe number of deliveries was 126 in the study group and 128 in the control group.nnnCONCLUSION(S)nThe delivery rate was the same in pregnant women who received and those who did not receive progesterone for 3 weeks after a positive hCG result. Progesterone supplementation for more than 2 weeks after embryo transfer may therefore yield no benefit in terms of pregnancy.

Human leukocyte antigen-G in the male reproductive system and in seminal plasma

One of the non-classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class Ib proteins, HLA-G, is believed to exert important immunoregulatory functions, especially during pregnancy. The presence of HLA protein in paternal seminal fluid has been suggested to have an influence on the risk of developing pre-eclampsia. We have investigated whether HLA-G protein is present in human seminal plasma and in different tissue samples of the male reproductive system. Western blot technique and a soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) assay were used to detect sHLA-G in human seminal plasma samples. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue samples. We detected sHLA-G protein in seminal plasma, and HLA-G expression in normal testis and in epididymal tissue of the male reproductive system but not in the seminal vesicle. Furthermore, the results indicated a weak expression of HLA-G in hyperplastic prostatic tissue. In summary, several of the findings reported in this study suggest an immunoregulatory role of HLA-G in the male reproductive system and in seminal plasma.

Anti‐Müllerian hormone levels in salpingectomized compared with nonsalpingectomized women with tubal factor infertility and women with unexplained infertility

To investigate the consequence of salpingectomy on ovarian reserve by measuring anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels before in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in salpingectomized women compared with nonsalpingectomized women with tubal factor infertility, women with unexplained infertility and fertile control women, and to evaluate whether AMH levels could predict IVF outcome.

Soluble Human Leukocyte Antigen-G in Seminal Plasma is Associated with HLA-G Genotype: Possible Implications for Fertility Success

We have previously shown that human seminal plasma contains immunomodulatory soluble HLA‐G (sHLA‐G). We investigated whether sHLA‐G levels in seminal plasma are associated with a specific 14 base pair (bp) insertion/deletion (ins/del) polymorphism in the 3′‐untranslated region of the HLA‐G gene and/or with the outcome of assisted reproduction treatments (ART) in couples attending a fertility clinic.

A Wallace malleable stylet for difficult embryo transfer in an in vitro fertilization program: a case-control study

Background. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of using a Wallace malleable stylet in combination with an Edwards–Wallace embryo replacement catheter in case of difficult embryo transfer (ET).