ABSTRACT
Background: both oral contraceptive pills [OCPs] and estradiol valerate [E2] have been used to schedule a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist in vitro fertilization [IVF] cycles. Since the suppression of follicle-stimulating hormone by OCPs can stay 5-7 days after stopping the pills, it seems that starting the gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH] after 6 days of pre-treatment discontinuation may be important in IVF outcomes
Objective: the aim of the present study was to determine the number of mature oocyte and pregnancy rate of three pretreatment methods for fresh embryo transfer cycles
Materials and Methods: in this randomized controlled trial, two-hundred ten women [18-35 yr and less than 2 previous IVF attempts] undergoing IVF with the GnRH antagonist protocol were randomized to the OCP, E2, and no pretreatment arms. OCP group [n=53] received OCP [ethinyl estradiol30 micro g and levonorgestrel150 micro g], E2 group [n=63] received 4 mg/day oral E2 [17beta?E2] for 10 days from day 20 of the previous cycle and GnRH antagonist stimulation was started 6 days after the interruption of OCP and E2. The control group [n =70] did not receive any pretreatment
Results: no significant difference was observed in the mean number of the mature oocyte, endometrial thickness, and embryo quality. The pregnancy rate in E2 group was higher than the two other groups [42.9% vs 39.6% and 34.3% in OCP and control group, respectively], but the difference was not statistically significant [p=0.59]
Conclusion: it seems OCP or E2 pretreatment could not improve the fresh IVF-embryo transfer outcomes
ABSTRACT
Background: Human and experimental studies suggest that the sympathetic regulatory drive in the ovary may be unbalanced [hyperactivity] in polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS]. Dysfunctional secretion of interleukin [IL] -1 [alpha and beta] or related cytokines may thus be related to abnormal ovulation and luteinization
Objective: The aim of this study was the evaluation of cytokines' pattern in PCOS women and discussion about the explanation of cross-talk between two super systems: sympathetic and immune systems and explanation sympatho-excitation and relationship with interleukins
Materials and Methods: In this study, 171 PCOS women aged between 20-40 years were studied. Their body mass index was <28. The patients were divided into two groups: study group [n=85, PCOS women] and control group [n=86 normal women]. The blood sample was obtained on the 3rd day of menstruation cycle. IL-17, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] concentrations were determined in both groups
Results: The median serum level of IL-1alpha in the PCOS group was higher than the control group [293.3 and 8.0, respectively, p<0.001]. Also, the median serum level of IL-1beta was higher than the control group [5.9 and 3.1 respectively]. But the median serum of level IL-17 in women with PCOS was significantly lower than the control group [p<0.001]
Conclusion: Our results confirm that PCOS is a low-level chronic inflammation