ABSTRACT
Background: Kisspeptin [KP] is a neuropeptide that causes the release of the gonadotropin releasing hormone, which controls hypothalamo pituitary ovarian axis and exerts a number of peripheral effects on reproductive organs. The primary objective of this study was to compare baseline KP levels in females with different types of infertility and identify possible correlations with risk of failure to conceive, preclinical abortion and pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI]
Materials and Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was carried out from August 2014 until May 2015 by recruiting 124 female patients undergoing ICSI, after obtaining ethical approval from the Australian Concept Infertility Medical Center. Cause of infertility due to male, female and unexplained factors was at a frequency of 32 [24%], 33 [31%] and 59 [45%] among the individuals respectively. KP levels were measured by ELISA assay before the initiation of the ICSI treatment protocol. Outcome of ICSI was categorized into three groups of non-pregnant with beta-human chorionic gonadotropin [beta-hCG]<5-25 mIU/ml, preclinical abortion with beta-hCG>25 mIU/ml and no cardiac activity, and clinical pregnancy declared upon confirmation of cardiac activity. Results based on cause of infertility and outcome groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA
Results: Females with unexplained infertility had significantly lower levels of KP when compared with those with male factor infertility [176.69 +/- 5.03 vs. 397.6 +/- 58.2, P=0.001]. Clinical pregnancy was observed in 28 [23%] females of which 17 [71%] had a female cause of infertility. In the non-pregnant group of 66 [53%] females, common cause of infertility was unexplained 56[85%]. A weak positive correlation of KP levels with fertilized oocytes and endometrial thickness was observed [P=0.04 and 0.01 respectively]
Conclusion: Deficiency of KP in females with unexplained infertility was associated with reduced chances of implantation after ICSI
ABSTRACT
Objective: Anti Mullerian hormone [AMH] is gaining place as ovarian marker, chiefly in infertility assistance
We explored its correlation with oocytes retrieval after long GnRH agonist protocol for stimulation, in younger and older infertile population
Methods: This retrospective analysis compiled data of 166 females, receiving ICSI treatment from June 2014 to March 2015. Serum FSH, LH, Estadiol, AMH and antral follicle count were assessed. Outcomes were measured as good [5 to 19 oocytes] and bad responders
Results: Higher discriminatory power of AMH [AUROC; 0.771; p < 0.05] was seen in comparison to FSH [0.692; p < 0.05] and AFC [0.690; p < 0.01]. AMH reported strongest association with oocyte retrieved [odds ratio of 15.06]
Subgroup analysis reported 68.6 % risk of bad response with AMH levels of less than 1.37ng/ ml. This association was observed more significant in young infertile patients <35 year of age [=0.245; p=0.012] versus older population >35 year [r=0.169; p>0.05
Conclusion: Our study reaffirms that serum AMH correlates well with oocytes retrieved, particularly in females younger than 35 years. We suggest incorporation of AMH in baseline assessment of infertile females, who are falsely advised to postpone interventions based on their age and normal FSH levels
ABSTRACT
Background: The measurement of follicular output rate [FORT] has been proposed as a good indicator for evaluating follicular response to the exogenous recombinant folliclestimulating hormone [rFSH]. This places FORT as a promising qualitative marker for ovarian function. The objective of the study was to determine FORT as a predictor of oocyte competence, embryo quality and clinical pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI]
Materials and Methods: This prospective study was carried out on a group of infer- tile females [n=282] at Islamabad Clinic Serving Infertile Couples, Islamabad, Pakistan, from June 2010 till August 2013. Downregulated females were stimulated in injection gonadotropins and on ovulation induction day, pre-ovulatory follicle count [PFC] was determined using transvaginal ultrasound scan [TVUS], and FORT was determined as a ratio of PFC to antral follicle count [AFC]×100. Group I consisted of females with a negative pregnancy test, while group II had a positive pregnancy test that was confirmed with the appearance of fetal cardiac activity. Linear regression analyses of categorical variables of clinical pregnancy along with other independent variables, including FORT, were performed using SPSS version 15.0
Results: Pregnancy occurred in 101/282 women who were tested, recording a clinical pregnancy rate of about 35.8%. FORT values were higher in group II as compared to group I females [P=0.0001]. In multiple regression analysis, 97.7, 87.1, 78.2, and 83.4% variations were explained based on the number of retrieved oocytes per patients, number of metaphase II oocytes retrieved, number of fertilized oocytes, and number of cleaved embryos, respectively, indicating FORT as an independent predictor
Conclusion: FORT is a predictor of oocyte competence in terms of a number of retrieved, mature and fertilized oocytes. It also gives information about the number of cleaved embryos and clinical pregnancy rate