Gudvor Ertzeid

Impact of Insulin Resistance on Pregnancy Complications and Outcome in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The aim of the study was to determine the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH)/pre-eclampsia in a cohort of pregnant women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and known insulin sensitivity status. Pregnancies and neonatal outcome were recorded in a prospective cohort study comprising 29 non-insulin-resistant PCOS women, 23 insulin-resistant PCOS women and a control group of 355 women who had conceived after assisted reproduction. Hypertension, pre-eclampsia and GDM were recorded as well as pregnancy duration, method of delivery and birth weight. The frequency of hypertension was significantly elevated in PCOS women (11.5%) compared to controls (0.3%), p < 0.01. However, the frequency of pre-eclampsia was significantly elevated only in the insulin resistant PCOS women (13.5%) compared to controls (7.0%), p < 0.02. GDM was significantly more frequent in PCOS women (7.7%) than controls (0.6%), p < 0.01. Insulin resistance prior to pregnancy, determined by continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment (CIGMA) test, did not further increase the frequency of GDM. Newborns from PCOS pregnancies were significantly more often delivered by Caesarean section than controls (40.3 vs. 27.3%, p < 0.05) and transferred to neonatal intensive care unit more often than controls (19.2 vs. 9.0%, p < 0.01). Thus we show that the frequencies of pre-eclampsia and GDM are increased in PCOS pregnancies.

In vitro fertilization is a successful treatment in endometriosis-associated infertility

OBJECTIVE To assess success rates of IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in women with various stages of endometriosis. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Reproductive medicine unit in a university hospital. PATIENT(S) Infertile women (n = 2,245) with various stages of endometriosis or tubal factor infertility. INTERVENTION(S) IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Dose of FSH, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, implantation rate, pregnancy rate (PR), live birth/ongoing PR. RESULT(S) Women with endometriosis had similar pregnancy and live birth/ongoing PR as did women with tubal factor infertility, but the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) stage I and II endometriosis patients had a lower fertilization rate, and stage III and IV patients required more FSH and had fewer oocytes retrieved. Splitting the stage III and IV groups into patients with and without endometriomas showed that the endometrioma group required more FSH and had a significantly lower pregnancy and live birth/ongoing PR. CONCLUSION(S) With the exception of patients with endometrioma, infertile women with various stages of endometriosis have the same success rates with IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection as patients with tubal factor. This contrasts with the systematic review on which the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology bases its recommendations.

Clinical Outcome of Day 2 Versus Day 3 Embryo Transfer Using Serum-Free Culture Media: A Prospective Randomized Study

Purpose:The objective was to evaluate whether extending the embryo culture period from 2 to 3 days would yield a more optimal selection of viable embryos, thereby increasing the implantation and live birth rates.Methods:Patients undergoing in vitro fertilization with at least one oocyte fertilized were prospectively randomized to 2 or 3 days of embryo culture in serum-free media. On the basis of their morphology and cleavage rate, a maximum of three embryos was selected for transfer.Results:Embryos transferred on day 2 or day 3 were similar morphologically, however, a higher proportion of retarded embryos was observed on day 3. The implantation rate was 15.8 and 14.3% for day 2 and day 3 transfers, respectively. The increase in live birth rate from 18.5 to 22.6%, possibly suggesting a better embryo selection on day 3, was not statistically significant.Conclusions:Extending the embryo culture period from 2 to 3 days had no effect on implantation and live birth rates.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in unexplained and stage I endometriosis-associated infertility after fertilization failure with in vitro fertilization (IVF)

AbstractPurpose: To investigate possible differences between unexplained and stage I endometriosis-associated infertility in ICSI cycles conducted after low fertilization (<20%) in preceding IVF cycles with normal semen parameters. Methods: Retrospective cohort study consisting of patients with unexplained (n=48) and stage I endometriosis-associated infertility (n=43) with a minimum of one IVF cycle with <20% fertilized oocytes and normal semen quality, treated with ICSI from January 1997 to January 2006. Age matched male factor infertility patients (n=91) were used as controls. Results: Diploid fertilization rate was significantly lower in the stage I endometriosis-associated infertility group compared to the unexplained infertility group. Score of the transferred embryos, implantation rate, pregnancy rate and outcome were similar in the two groups. Conclusions: ICSI appears to be an efficient treatment option after fertilization failure with IVF in unexplained and stage I endometriosis-associated infertility.

Human chorionic gonadotropin levels in successful implantations after assisted reproduction techniques

To assess successful implantation and early post-implantation embryonic development in assisted reproduction techniques, serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels in early gestation in pregnancies with a singleton live birth as the outcome were evaluated. The study was performed as a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or artificial insemination by husband (AIH) following ovarian stimulation. Serum hCG levels on days 14, 16, 20 and 27 following ovulation induction with hCG were examined. Serum hCG values were significantly lower in early gestation in IVF compared with AIH, but no difference in hCG doubling times was observed. No difference in serum hCG values between IVF treatment with or without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) was observed. Significantly lower hCG values but no difference in doubling times in early gestation in IVF compared with AIH may be explained by late but successful implantation in IVF. The mechanism for this assumed late implantation is not clear. Altered endometrial receptivity or factors of embryonic origin might explain the observed variation in hCG values and the assumed late implantation.

The impact of insulin resistance on the outcome of laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery in infertile women with the polycystic ovary syndrome.

In this study we assessed how insulin resistance affects pregnancy rates in infertile women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treated with laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery. Sixty-four PCOS women were included in the study in a consecutive fashion. Following the CIGMA (continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment) test, 28 women were classified as insulin resistant and 36 women as non-insulin resistant. After the ovarian electrocautery patients were observed for 12-18 months. If pregnancy did not ensue, they were referred for one or more cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Following ovarian electrocautery the non-insulin-resistant women more frequently achieved a regular menstrual cycle and ovulation than the insulin-resistant PCOS women. Consequently 18 (50%) of the non-insulin-resistant PCOS women achieved a pregnancy versus only five (18%) of women in the insulin-resistant PCOS group. Following treatment with both ovarian electrocautery and IVF, 27 (75%) of the non-insulin resistant PCOS women achieved a successful pregnancy, while 13 (46%) of the insulin-resistant PCOS group achieved this. In conclusion, insulin resistance may be an important marker of a poor outcome of treatment in PCOS infertility. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible effect of treatment alternatives to alleviate the unfavorable influences of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia on ovulation induction in PCOS women.

Cycle Characteristics of Day 3 Embryo Transfers with 4-Cell Embryos Only

AbstractPurpose: Patient and cycle characteristics of day 3 transfers with developmentally lagging 4-cell embryos only were analyzed and related to the outcome of a live birth. Methods: Day 3 transfers with either 4-cell embryos only (study group; n = 138) or 8-cell embryos only (control group; n = 282) were compared retrospectively. Results: The total dose of FSH per treatment was higher, while the number of oocytes, zygotes, and transferred embryos was lower in the study group cycles compared to controls. The implantation, pregnancy, and live birth rates were dramatically lower in the study group compared to the control group. In the study group, the few cycles resulting in a live birth were characterized by a normal ovarian response to stimulation, similar to that of control group cycles with- or without a live birth. Conclusions: In cycles characterized by intensive ovarian stimulation, but poor response, the chance for a live birth is extremely low after day 3 transfer of 4-cell embryos.