Camille Sylvestre

Chronic endometritis in women with recurrent pregnancy loss and recurrent implantation failure: prevalence and role of office hysteroscopy and immunohistochemistry in diagnosis

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of chronic endometritis (CE) in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) after IVF and unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). DESIGN Prospective observational study between November 2012 and March 2015. SETTING University-affiliated private IVF clinic. PATIENT(S) Women with RIF after IVF (group 1) and unexplained RPL (group 2). INTERVENTION(S) Office hysteroscopy followed by an endometrial biopsy was performed as part of the workup for RIF and RPL. The diagnosis of CE was histologically confirmed using immunohistochemistry stains for syndecan-1 (CD138). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The prevalence of CE in each group and the sensitivity/specificity of office hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of CE. RESULT(S) Ninety-nine patients were included (46 in group 1 and 53 in group 2). The mean age was 36.3 ± 4.9 years in group 1 and 34.5 ± 4.9 years in group 2. Five biopsies were uninterpretable (three in group 1 and two in group 2) because of insufficient specimen. The prevalence of CE was 14% (6/43) in group 1 and 27% (14/51) in group 2. The sensitivity and specificity of office hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of CE were 40% (8/20) and 80% (59/74), respectively. CONCLUSION(S) We found a high prevalence of immunohistochemically confirmed CE in women with RIF and RPL. Office hysteroscopy is a useful diagnostic tool but should be complemented by an endometrial biopsy for the diagnosis of CE. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NO NCT01762098.

450 IU versus 600 IU gonadotropin for controlled ovarian stimulation in poor responders: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE To compare the outcomes of controlled ovarian stimulation/in vitro fertilization cycles using 450 IU and 600 IU gonadotropin per day in women at risk of poor ovarian response. DESIGN Prospective randomized controlled nonblinded study. SETTING University-affiliated private IVF center. PATIENT(S) Women considered to be at risk of poor ovarian response: aged <41 years with basal FSH >10 IU/L, antimüllerian hormone <1 ng/mL, antral follicle count ≤ 8, or a previous IVF cycle with ≥ 300 IU/d gonadotropin that resulted in a cancellation, <8 follicles, or <5 oocytes. INTERVENTION(S) A total of 356 patients underwent a microdose GnRH agonist flare-up IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection protocol with a fixed daily dose of either 450 IU FSH (n = 176) or 600 IU FSH (n = 180) equally divided between Menopur and Bravelle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Number of mature oocytes retrieved. RESULT(S) The two groups were similar in terms of age, ovarian reserve, cause of infertility, duration of stimulation, and cycle cancellation rate. There were no significant differences in the number of metaphase II oocytes retrieved (4 [range 0-6] vs. 4 [range 2-7]), fertilization rate (62.4% vs. 57.0%), biochemical pregnancy rate (20.5% vs. 22.9%), clinical pregnancy rate (16.4% vs. 18.3%), and implantation rate (29.8% vs. 30.4%) between the 450 IU and 600 IU groups, respectively. CONCLUSION(S) Gonadotropin of 600 IU/d does not improve outcome of IVF cycles compared with 450 IU/d in women at risk of poor ovarian response. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT00971152.

Obesity and Reproduction

OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive review and evidence-based recommendations for the delivery of fertility care to women with obesity. OUTCOMES The impact of obesity on fertility, fertility treatments, and both short and long-term maternal fetal outcomes was carefully considered. EVIDENCE Published literature was reviewed through searches of MEDLINE and CINAHL using appropriate vocabulary and key words. Results included systematic reviews, clinical trials, observational studies, clinical practice guidelines, and expert opinions. VALUES The Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society (CFAS) is a multidisciplinary, national non-profit society that serves as the voice of reproductive specialists, scientists, and allied health professionals working in the field of assisted reproduction in Canada. The evidence obtained for this guideline was reviewed and evaluated by the Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) Committee of the CFAS under the leadership of the principal authors. BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS The implementation of these recommendations should assist clinicians and other health care providers in counselling and providing reproductive care to women with obesity. VALIDATION This guideline and its recommendations have been reviewed and approved by the membership, the CPG Committee and the Board of Directors of the CFAS. SPONSORS Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society. RECOMMENDATIONS Twenty-one evidence based recommendations are provided. These recommendations specifically evaluate the impact of obesity on natural fertility, fertility treatments, and maternal-fetal outcomes. Strategies to lose weight and BMI cut-offs are also addressed.

Timing therapeutic donor inseminations in natural cycles: human chorionic gonadotrophin administration versus urinary LH monitoring

This cohort study assessed whether timing therapeutic donor sperm inseminations (TDI) in natural cycles (NC) using ultrasound monitoring and ovulation trigger with human chorionic gonadotrophin (US/HCG) improves cumulative live birth rates (LBR) compared with detection of LH surge with urinary kits (u-LH). It included 232 normo-ovulatory women aged ≤40 years, undergoing 538 TDI in NC between 2011 and 2014. In the u-LH group (113 women, 267 cycles), TDI was performed the day following a positive test. In the US/HCG group (119 women, 271 cycles), ovulation was triggered with HCG when a follicle ≥17 mm was noted, and TDI performed 36 h later. The first three cycles were analysed per patient. Groups were comparable for baseline characteristics. Cumulative LBR were comparable between u-LH and US/HCG groups (31.47% versus 23.11%, respectively) (log-rank test). A generalized estimating equation analysis was performed to compare outcomes per cycle. The LBR per started cycle was comparable between the u-LH and US/HCG groups (12.4% versus 9.2%, respectively). Cancellation rate was significantly higher with u-LH (19.1% versus 11.4%, P = 0.011), but did not impact overall outcomes. In conclusion, urinary LH monitoring is as effective as ultrasound monitoring and ovulation trigger with HCG in TDI performed in NC.

Clomiphene Citrate versus Letrozole for Ovarian Stimulation in Therapeutic Donor Sperm Insemination

Aim: To compare clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole for ovarian stimulation (OS) in therapeutic donor sperm insemination (TDI) cycles. Methods: Retrospective cohort study between January 2011 and June 2014 at a University-affiliated private IVF clinic in Montreal, Canada. 257 normo-ovulatory women ≤40 years of age with no history of infertility undergoing 590 TDI cycles in the absence of a male partner (single women and same-sex couples) or azoospermia were included. Patients received 100 mg CC daily (145 women, 321 cycles) or letrozole 5 mg daily (112 women, 269 cycles), from days 3 to 7. Only the first 3 cycles were included per patient. Our main outcome measure was cumulative live birth rates (LBR). Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. There were no differences in LBR per cycle (16.5% (53/321) vs. 11.5% (31/269), p = 0.08) and cumulative LBR (36.6% (53/145) vs. 27.7% (31/112), p = 0.13), between CC and letrozole, respectively. Multiple pregnancy rate (11.6% (8/69) vs. 8.7% (4/46), p = 0.6) and miscarriage rate (21.7 vs. 21.7%, p = 1) were also comparable between CC and letrozole, respectively. Conclusion: In normo-ovulatory women undergoing TDI, OS with CC or letrozole resulted in similar live birth and twin pregnancy rates.