Pinar Caglar Aytac

Can calcium ionophore “use” in patients with diminished ovarian reserve increase fertilization and pregnancy rates? A randomized, controlled study

OBJECTIVE To determine whether calcium ionophore solution can improve the fertilization rate in patients with diminished ovarian reserve whose partners have normal sperm parameters. DESIGN Between January 2014 and August 2014, patients with diminished ovarian reserve were randomized to make artificial oocyte activation with calcium ionophore solution. SETTING University hospital. PATIENT(S) A total of 296 patients who had diminished ovarian reserve and partners with normal sperm parameters were included in the study. INTERVENTION(S) Metaphase 2 oocytes were treated with calcium ionophore solution (GM508 Cult-Active) for 15 minutes just after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Fertilization rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate. RESULT(S) Fertilization, implantation, pregnancy, and ongoing pregnancy rates for the calcium ionophore and control groups were 60.7% and 55.4%, 12.8% and 10.7%, 21% and 12.8%, and 10.9% and 6.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION(S) This is the first prospective, randomized, controlled study to analyze the effect of calcium ionophore solution on fertilization rate in patients with diminished ovarian reserve. We did not observe any differences in fertilization, clinical pregnancy, or ongoing pregnancy rates between the groups. We propose that fertilization ratios could not be increased by artificial oocyte activation via application of calcium ionophore solution in patients with diminished ovarian reserve. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02045914.

First trimester maternal lipid levels and serum markers of small- and large-for-gestational age infants

Abstract Objective: To investigate if first trimester lipids, sonographic parameters and serum markers are related to small- and large-for-gestational age (SGA, LGA) infants. Methods: This study was conducted at Baskent University Adana Research Center between December 2009 and July 2011 and enrolled 433 women. Blood samples were drawn to measure fasting blood glucose, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, fβ-hCG and pregnancy associated protein-A (PAPP-A) at the first trimester. Crown rump length and nuchal translucency were measured as suggested by the fetal medicine foundation. Results: LGA group was significantly taller (p = 0.016) and SGA group had significantly greater BMI (0.025). SGA fetuses were born at a significantly earlier gestational age (p = 0.001). Univariate analysis revealed that LGA group had significantly lower cholesterol (p = 0.038) and LDL levels (p = 0.041). PAPP-A was significantly lower in SGA Group compared with LGA Group (0.027). After controlling for age, parity, height, pre-pregnant BMI, weight gain during pregnancy and fasting blood sugar, none of the lipids, serum markers or sonographic parameters was related to LGA. PAPP-A was the only parameter significantly associated with SGA after multivariate analysis (p = 0.008). Conclusion: PAPP-A was significantly associated with SGA after controlling for confounders.

Addition of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist for luteal phase support in in-vitro fertilization: an analysis of 2739 cycles.

OBJECTIVE Luteal phase is defective in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, and many regimens were tried for the very best luteal phase support (LPS). Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist use, which was administered as an adjunct to the luteal phase support in IVF cycles, was suggested to improve pregnancy outcome measures in certain randomized studies. We analyzed the effects of addition of GnRH agonist to standard progesterone luteal support on pregnancy outcome measures, particularly the live birth rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study, including 2739 IVF cycles. Long GnRH agonist and antagonist stimulation IVF cycles with cleavage-stage embryo transfer were included. Cycles were divided into two groups: Group A included cycles with single-dose GnRH agonist plus progesterone LPS and Group B included progesterone only LPS. Live birth rates were the primary outcome measures of the analysis. Miscarriage rates and multiple pregnancy rates were the secondary outcome measures. RESULTS Live birth rates were not statistically different in GnRH agonist plus progesterone (Group A) and progesterone only (Group B) groups in both the long agonist and antagonist stimulation arms (40.8%/41.2% and 32.8%/34.4%, p<0.05 respectively). Moreover, pregnancy rates, implantation rates, and miscarriage rates were found to be similar between groups. Multiple pregnancy rates in antagonist cycles were significantly higher in Group A than those in Group B (12.0% and 6.9%, respectively). CONCLUSION A beneficial effect of a single dose of GnRH agonist administration as a luteal phase supporting agent is yet to be determined because of the wide heterogeneity of data present in literature. Well-designed randomized clinical studies are required to clarify any effect of luteal GnRH agonist addition on pregnancy outcome measures with different doses, timing, and administration routes of GnRH agonists.

Direct aspiration versus follicular flushing in poor responders undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomised controlled trial

To compare follicle flushing three times with direct follicular aspiration in poor responders. Our hypothesis was that follicle flushing three times in poor responders would result in similar oocyte yield compared with direct aspiration in poor responders.

Pathological assessment of follicular loss in laparoscopic endometrioma excision: Effects of cyst size and surgeon's experience

We planned to histologically demonstrate unintentional ovarian harm caused by excision of endometriomas.

The effect of preserving prepared sperm samples at room temperature or at 37 °C before intrauterine insemination (IUI) on clinical pregnancy rate

Objective: The comparison of the effect of preserving prepared sperm samples at room temperature or at 37 °C before intrauterine insemination (IUI) on clinical pregnancy rate. Materials and Methods: Retrospective clinical research. University hospital, infertility clinic. Patients with one or two follicles, between the ages of 20 and 40, whose infertility period was less than 6 years and the injected total motile sperm count was more than 10 million. Preserving sperm samples prepared for IUI at 37 ºC or at room temperature before IUI. The clinical pregnancy rate of IUI cycles between 1st of January 2004 and 1st of December 2011 in which prepared sperm samples were preserved at 37 ºC and the clinical pregnancy rate of IUI cycles between 1st of December 2011 and 31st of May 2014 in which prepared sperm samples preserved at room temperature. Results: Clinical pregnancy rates were similar in IUI cycles in which prepared sperm samples were preserved at 37 ºC and at room temperature (9.3% vs. 8.9%). Clinical pregnancy rates in IUI cycles with 2 follicles were higher than IUI cycles with 1 follicle (10.8% vs. 7.6%) (p=0.002). Further statistical analysis after splitting data according to the number of the follicles revealed that there was no statistical difference between clinical pregnancy rates after IUI cycles in which prepared sperm samples were preserved at 37 ºC or at room temperature in both one follicle (7.6% vs. 7.6%), and two follicle cycles (11.5% vs. 10.1%). Conclusions: Preserving prepared sperm samples at room temperature had no negative effect on clinical pregnancy rates when compared with reserving prepared sperm samples at 37 ºC during IUI cycles.

Reproductive outcomes of office hysteroscopic metroplasty in women with unexplained infertility with dysmorphic uterus

Objective: The correlation between dysmorphic uterus and infertility still remains enigmatic. We evaluated the reproductive outcomes of metroplasty via office hysteroscopy in unexplained infertile women with dysmorphic uteri. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, metroplasty via office hysteroscopy using a bipolar system was performed to 272 women with unexplained infertility with dysmorphic uteri from January 2013 to January 2016. Of all the patients, 162 had primary infertility, and 110 had secondary infertility. Results: In the primary infertility group, the clinical pregnancy rate was 45.68% (74/162) and the live birth rate was 38.9% (63/162), and in the secondary infertility group, the clinical pregnancy rate was 55.45% (61/110) and the live birth rate was 49% (54/110) after metroplasty. In the secondary infertility group, the miscarriage rate and especially the ectopic pregnancy rate declined dramatically [from 84.5% (93/110) to 9.8% (6/61) and from 15.5% (17/110) to 1.6% (1/61), respectively] (p<0.01). Conclusion: Reproductive outcome can be impaired by Müllerian anomalies, hence, infertile women with dysmorphic uteri should undergo hysteroscopy to improve reproductive outcomes. Our study demonstrated that office hysteroscopic metroplasty of a dysmorphic uterus might improve fertility, particularly in patients with unexplained infertility with dysmorphic uteri, which was an ignored factor previously. Office hysteroscopy is an alternative option in terms of non-invasive procedure.

Effect of pigtail catheter application on obstetric outcomes in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection pregnancies following hyperstimulation syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the effects of percutaneous pigtail catheter drainage on the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) pregnancies following moderate or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 189 patients hospitalized for OHSS following ICSI treatment in a tertiary in vitro fertilization unit between 2006 and 2014. Pigtail catheters were applied in 63 patients; the other 126 patients did not need that treatment. The obstetric reports of 173 patients could be accessed and were examined to investigate the pregnancy outcomes of those with and without catheters. Results: No complications such as infection or vascular or intra-abdominal organ trauma were observed related to the pigtail application. There were no differences in abortus, preterm labor, gestational diabetes mellitus, and preeclampsia ratio between the pigtail and control groups (p>0.05). The rate of readmission to hospital for OHSS was lower in the pigtail group than in the control group although not statistically significant (p=0.08). Conclusion: Pigtail application is a safe and effective method for draining ascites in patients with OHSS after ICSI treatment. The use of pigtail catheters had no adverse effects on the perinatal outcomes of patients hospitalized with OHSS who became pregnant after ICSI treatment. In addition, the percutaneous drainage of ascites via a pigtail catheter helped prevent the readmission of patients with moderate or severe OHSS.

Outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection after preinstillation of a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist in the uterine cavity just before embryo transfer

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) injection prior to embryo transfer on implantation and pregnancy rate. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy with and without GnRHa preinstallation into the uterine cavity just before embryo transfer between January 2012 and March 2013 in a single IVF center of a university hospital. Patients were evaluated based upon implantation, pregnancy, live birth, and miscarriage rates. Results: GnRHa was injected into the uterine cavity of 108 patients prior to embryo transfer which were regarded as study group. One thousand forty-seven patients who were not injected GnRHa were regarded as the control group. Pregnancy rates were 44.4% and 41.7% in the GnRHa and control groups, respectively. Live birth rates were 27.8% and 26.1%, miscarriage rates were 15.7% and 15.7%, and implantation rates were 31% and 30%, respectively and there were no difference between groups statistically (p>0.05). Conclusion: No statistically significant differences in implantation, pregnancy, live birth, or miscarriage rates were observed in patients treated with GnRHa prior to embryo transfer, relative to the controls. Therefore, GnRHa injection into the uterine cavity prior to embryo transfer is not recommended as a means of increasing implantation or pregnancy rates in IVF. However, prospective randomized controlled studies are needed to clarify the effect of GnRHa instillation in the uterine cavity for embryo implantation in IVF.

A novel approach for congenital absence of the uterine cervix: Office hysteroscopic versapoint canalization using real-time trans-abdominal sonography guidance

Herein, we report a novel technique for cervical agenesis via office hysteroscopy using Versapoint using real-time trans-abdominal sonography guidance. Fourteen days after the canalization procedure, a second hysteroscopy was performed to remove the silicone catheter and insert a Cupper T380a intrauterine device, which aimed to prevent a neocervical canal occlusion. This is the first case report of a patient with congenital cervical agenesis undergoing canalization with Versapoint in an office hysteroscopy; laparoscopy was not performed for assistance.