L. Gregory

A comparison of intrauterine insemination, intraperitoneal insemination, and natural intercourse in superovulated women*

In a prospective comparison of IP, IUI, and natural intercourse following superovulation in couples diagnosed as having unexplained infertility, semen factors, or sperm antibodies, pregnancy rates were found to be significantly higher after IP. Pregnancy rates were also higher in the unexplained infertility group when compared with those with semen factors. It was concluded that IP in combination with superovulation offered a simple, inexpensive, safe alternative to GIFT.

Relationship between ovarian cortisol:cortisone ratios and the clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF‐ET)

Previously, we have reported an association between low levels of intraovarian cortisol metabolism, mediated by 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD), and the establishment of pregnancies by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF‐ET). The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the clinical outcome of IVF‐ET and the intraovarian concentrations of cortisol and cortisone and the cortisol:cortisone ratios in random samples of ovarian follicular fluid (FF).

Peri-Follicular Vascularity: A Marker of Follicular Heterogeneity and Oocyte Competence and a Predictor of Implantation in Assisted Conception Cycles

Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels, has been described as a foeto-oncogenic event, being a feature of foetal development and associated with the development of tumours. Controlled, cyclical angiogenesis is however, uniquely expressed in the adult female reproductive tract. Angiogenesis in the female tract is expressed in the ovary and endometrium. In the ovary peri-follicular angiogenesis develops with the progression of the follicle to the antral stage, it continues after ovulation with the development of the corpus luteum (CL) and, in the absence of pregnancy, ceases with the regression of the corpus luteum. The cessation of angiogenic events at one site on the ovary, however, is followed by the initiation of angiogenic events at another site in conjunction with the development of new follicles. Angiogenesis in the endometrium follows implantation of the embryo. Here too it is a programd event leading to the development of the placenta but regressing in the event of early pregnancy failure.

Peripheral blood platelet counts in the management of very early pregnancy failure following gamete intrafallopian transfer

Early pregnancy-associated thrombocytopenia has been described previously in the peripheral blood of in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients and is evaluated here in 26 women undergoing gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). No consistent fall in platelets was seen in ongoing pregnancies. It is suggested that a fall in peripheral blood platelets in the early luteal phase may be observed only in pregnancies where more than one embryo is present.