effect of bromocriptine-rebound method on ongoing pregnancy and live birth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles: a randomized clinical trial

To assess whether bromocriptine-rebound method [BRM] can improve pregnancy outcomes compared to long protocol after intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles [ICSIs]. A total of 114 women underwent ICSI. Pregnancy outcomes and hormonal data were compared between two groups, i.e. long protocol and BRM. Ovulatory women with normal serum prolactin levels were assigned to either BRM [n = 57 cycles] or long protocol [n = 57 cycles]. Both procedures were carried out in a similar way. However, a group of patients were given bromocriptine daily from the 4[th] day of the preceding cycle until 7 days before gonadotropin stimulation. There were no significant differences in the numbers of developed follicles, total retrieval oocytes, transferred embryo and embryos with superior morphology between the two groups. Also, the values of chemical, clinical and ongoing pregnancies and live births were not significantly different [36.8%, 35.1%, 28.1%, 28.1% in BRM group and 43.9%, 38.6%, 21.1% and 19.3% in long protocol, respectively]. Ongoing pregnancy and live birth were significantly higher in chemical pregnancy in the BRM group [P = .04 and P = .035, respectively]. This prospective study demonstrated that BRM might lead to higher ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates compared to the long protocol in women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles

effect of exercise in PCOS women who exercise regularly

To determine the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] in women who exercise regularly. All women under age 45 from an industrial company who had past history of exercising more than 6 months enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Prevalence of PCOS and comparison of BMI between PCOS and non-PCOS subgroups was done. The diagnosis of PCOS was based on the revised 2003 Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM consensus criteria and exclusion of related disorders. The prevalence of PCOS in was 8.8%; 95% CI; 8.5%- 9.1%. In obese subjects, mean BMI differed significantly between PCOS and non-PCOS women [29.3 +/- 3.3 kg/m[2] vs. 27.8 +/- 2 kg/m[2], P=0.03]. In lean subjects, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of BMI between PCOS and non-PCOS women [21.4 +/- 1.9 kg/m[2] vs. 21.2 +/- 2 kg/ m[2], P>0.05]. Obese PCOS patients show more difficulty in losing weight by exercise than lean PCOS patients. The role of hormonal alterations and PCOS per se in the responsiveness of weight loss to exercise remains to be determined

Psychometric properties of sexual function questionnaires: evaluation of an Iranian sample

Female sexual dysfunction [FSD] is a real problem that affects 25-63% of women. There is no valid Persian version of sexual function questionnaire [FSQ]. The aim of this study was to test the reliability and validity of Persian version of sexual function questionnaire. In this cross-sectional study, 547 women were questioned by Persian version of SFQ. Factor analysis produced five domains of female sexual function. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and discriminant validity were calculated. Five-factor structure accounted for 63% of the variance. Arousal-orgasm domain was as same as arousal-sensation, arousal-lubrication, and orgasm domains of the original version. Enjoyment-desire domain was similar to enjoyment and desire domains except one question. Pain and partner domains were consistent with original domains. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and discriminant validity were reasonable in Persian version of SFQ. Persian version of SFQ is almost valuable and reliable to use for Iranian population with exception of one question. Results of the omitted question from enjoyment domain should interpret separately as unusual sex domain

effect of L-carnitine on sperm parameters in patients candidated for intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Background: The etiologic cause in near one third of male factor infertility is unknown. The percentage of men with idiopathic infertility who have been successfully treated by the empirical therapeutic modalities is not high

Objective: The aim of this study was to assay the effect of L-carnitine on sperm parameters in patients who needs intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] as a method for infertility treatment

Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 65 men [mean age +/- SD: 34.4 +/- 6.07] presenting with primary infertility due to idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. L-carnitine was prescribed Igram orally every 8 hours for 3 months. Before and after the ending of the L-carnitine treatment, semen analysis was performed

Results: The proportion of patients who had motile and grade C sperms rose significantly after treatment. Percentile of abnormal shaped sperms decreased significantly after treatment. In approximately 22%, complete asthenozoospermia changed to relative asthenozoospermia

Conclusion: Appearing motile sperms will potentially improve the technique of ICSI. The magnitude of the elevation in normal morphology is not clinically obvious, but it seems that it can be important in obtaining normal-shaped sperms for intracytoplasmic injection. Designing a study on selected patients with complete asthenozoospermia who have not other abnormalities in semen parameters can reveal the real effect of carnitine therapy in this category