Comparison between conventional blind embryo transfer and embryo transfer based on previously measured uterine length

Embryo transfer [ET] is one of the most important steps in assisted reproductive technology [ART] cycles and affected by many factors namely the depth of embryo deposition in uterus. In this study, the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] cycles after blind embryo transfer and embryo transfer based on previously measured uterine length using vaginal ultrasound were compared. This prospective randomised clinical trial included one hundred and forty non-donor fresh embryo transfers during January 2010 to June 2011. In group I, ET was performed using conventional [blind] method at 5-6 cm from the external os, and in group II, ET was done at a depth of 1-1.5 cm from the uterine fundus based on previously measured uterine length using vaginal sonography. Appropriate statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test and Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The software that we used was PASW statistics version 18. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Chemical pregnancy rate was 28.7% in group I and 42.1% in group II, while the difference was not statistically significant [p=0.105]. Clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates for group I were 21.2%, 17.7%, and 12.8%, while for group II were 33.9%, 33.9%, and 22.1, respectively. In group I and group II, abortion rates were 34.7% and 0%, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference [p<0.005]. No ectopic pregnancy occurred in two groups. The use of uterine length measurement during treatment cycle in order to place embryos at depth of 1-1.5 cm from fundus significantly increases clinical and ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates, while leads to a decrease in abortion rate [Registration Number: IRCT2014032512494N1]

Nifedipine compared to magnesium sulfate for treating preterm labor: a randomized clinical trial

Preterm labor is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality so it may be necessary to administer tocolytics for treatment of it. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of magnesium sulfate and nifedipine in the management of preterm labor. 100 women with documented preterm labor were randomly assigned to receive magnesium sulfate [n=50] and nifedipine [n=50] as tocolytic therapy. Before tocolysis, patient did not receive any sedation. After tocolysis, if patient continued to have contractions, they received other tocolytic agents. The main outcome variables examined were days gain in utero, success rate and side effects of tocolysis. Both drugs were equally effective in prevention of labor and delaying delivery >7 days, 56% vs. 64% in the nifedipine and magnesium sulfate groups, and the days gain in utero was no statistically different in two groups. 6% of nifedipine group and 2% of magnesium sulfate group required drug discontinuation due to severe symptoms. There were also no significant differences in maternal characteristics between two groups. The total success rate and side effects were similar in two groups. Oral nifedipine could be a suitable alternative for magnesium sulfate with the same efficacy and side effects in the management of preterm labor

Comparison of leptin concentrations between infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome and fertile women

Some studies propose that changes in leptin concentrations [above or under the normal range] result in infertility. Therefore, we investigated serum and follicular fluid leptin concentrations in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS]. To study serum and follicular fluid leptin concentrations in infertile women with PCOS. We conducted a case-control study. The case group consisted of 30 infertile women with PCOS who were admitted to the Infertility Department of Imam Khomainy Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. The control group consisted of 30 healthy fertile women adjusted for age and body mass index [BMI] with the case group. On day 14 of the menstrual cycle, 5 ml of blood was obtained from subjects in both groups. Serum and follicular fluid leptin concentrations were determined by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. A Biovendor kit was used for the measurement of leptin concentrations. All data were analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences [SPSS] software [version 17.0, Nie, Bent and Hull, USA]. There was a significant correlation between BMI and serum leptin concentrations in both the control [p=0.005, r=0.516] and case groups [p=0.006, r=0.547]. In the case group, serum leptin concentrations were consistent with follicular fluid leptin concentrations [p<0.001, r=0.839]. Comparison of serum leptin concentrations between the case and control groups revealed no significant difference [p=0.56]. Infertility among women with PCOS was not a consequence of changes in leptin concentrations

Prevalence of HBsAg, HCV and HIV antibodies among infertile couples in Ahvaz, South-West Iran

Without doubt the problem of infertility is important not just for the individual couple, but in many cases it has a wider effect on human life which may lead to social disorganization if not addressed in the future if not addressed in the future. Since the screening of the hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg], hepatitis C virus [HCV] and human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] antibodies of infertile couples has not been studied in our area; this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HBsAg, HCV and HIV antibodies among infertile couples. This was a retrospective cross sectional study and its setting was an in vitro fertilization [IVF] ward. The population study included all of the couples [712] admitted to the infertility center of Ahvaz Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2007-2008 [12 month period]. Intervention was an analysis of the data containing the patients' demographic characteristics and included their HBsAg, HCV and HIV serostatus, which were routinely screened during this period. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of HBsAg, HCV and HIV antibodies among the infertile couples referred to the infertility center. The age range of the men and women was 18 to 62 years and 16 to 46 years respectively. 11 [0. 77%] of the infertile couples, including 6 [0. 8] women and 5 [0. 7%] men were HBsAg positive. 9 [0. 63%] infertile couples, 6 [0. 8] women and 3 [0.4%] men were HCV antibody positive. No cases of HIV were observed in this study. Although the frequencies of hepatitis B and C infections found in this study were small, it still seems logical from the statistical analysis to screen for both viruses as well as for HIV, while a future study using a larger sample size of infertile couples is also recommended.

influence of sperm morphology, total motile sperm count of semen and the number of motile sperm inseminated in sperm samples on the success of intrauterine insemination

The present study aimed to analyze the prognostic value of sperm morphology, total motile sperm count [TMSC] and the number of motile sperm inseminated [NMSI] on the outcome of intrauterine insemination [IUI]. This cross sectional study was carried out 445 women undergoing 820 IUI cycles. All of the patients underwent controlled ovarian hyper stimulation with clomiphen citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin [HMG] followed by intrauterine insemination with the husband's sperm. Pregnancy rate [PR] per cycle in correlation to sperm morphology, TMSC and NMSI was obtained. Statistical analysis of the data was done by the SPSS version 13 [Chicago, USA]. A total of 81 clinical pregnancies were obtained for a pregnancy rate per cycle of 9.9%. When the TMSC was 5x10[6] to <10x10[6], the PR per cycle was significantly higher than the subgroups <1x10[6], 1x10[6] to <5x10[6] and >/= 10x10[6] [15%, 5.6%, 5.1%, 10.8%, respectively]. Sperm morphology was in itself a significant factor that affected the likelihood of IUI success. Nonetheless, the most significant difference of the PR per cycle with sperm morphology was in the subgroup <5% [2.1% vs. 97.9%].When the NMSI was >/= 10x10[6], the PR per cycle was significantly higher than the subgroups<5x10[6] and 5x10[6] to< 10x10[6] [11.2%, 4.1%, 5.2%, respectively]. The study showed that TMSC 5x10[6] to < 10x10[6] and normal sperm morphology >/= 5% and NMSI >/= 10x10[6] are useful prognostic factors of IUI cycles