Attitudes towards family formation among men attending fertility counselling.

Men and women are increasingly postponing childbearing until an age where fertility has decreased, meaning that they might have difficulties in achieving their desired family size. This study explored childless men's attitudes towards family formation. Data were collected through semi-structured qualitative interviews with 21 men attending the Fertility Assessment and Counselling Clinic in Copenhagen or Horsens, Denmark. Data were analysed using content analysis. The men envisioned a nuclear family with their own biological children, but they experienced doubts and ambivalence about parenthood and feeling 'ready'. Their lack of readiness was linked to their awareness of the sacrifices and costs involved with parenthood, and their belief that they could safely delay parenthood. The men did not consider that they may be unable to have their own biological children. This study highlights the importance of considering men's attitudes and preferences towards family formation when understanding couples' decision-making. Contrary to common understanding, the findings show that men are as concerned with the planning and timing of parenthood as women, but their knowledge of the age-related decline in fertility is poor. Men need to gain more awareness of the limitations of fertility and the impact of female and male age on the ability to achieve parenthood aspirations.

Reproductive outcome using a GnRH antagonist (cetrorelix) for luteolysis and follicular synchronization in poor responder IVF/ICSI patients treated with a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol.

To investigate the possible beneficial effect of a new stimulation protocol (termed 'CRASH') on the outcome of poor responder patients, a multicentre, prospective longitudinal study including a total of 36 women undergoing 72 IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with patients serving as their own controls, was conducted. A poor responder patient was defined as a patient with four or fewer oocytes extracted from five or fewer follicles and with a total FSH consumption exceeding 2000 IU in a preceding long agonist down-regulation protocol. The CRASH protocol included 3 mg of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist cetrorelix given in the late luteal phase on cycle day 23. Stimulation with recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) started on cycle day 2, followed by a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol. The results showed significantly more follicles (5.4 versus 3.5), oocytes (4.3 versus 2.4) and transferable embryos (1.8 versus 0.8) with the CRASH protocol as compared with the preceding long protocol (P < 0.005 in all cases). The implantation rate and pregnancy rate per transfer was 18.4 and 38.5% respectively, approaching the clinical outcome of normal responder patients. The CRASH protocol thus may constitute an attractive alternative to conventional protocols for low responder patients, improving their clinical outcome.

Assisted hatching improves implantation rates on cryopreserved-thawed embryos. A randomized prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Focus on the hatching process has so far been in the field of fresh embryos. Cryopreserved-thawed embryos have a lower rate of pregnancy than fresh embryos, which might be due to hardening of the zona pellucida. METHODS: During a 2 year period, a prospective randomized study enrolling 253 cryopreserved-thawed cycles was performed on day 2 embryos. Pseudorandomization to assisted hatching or a control group was done on the basis of even and odd dates for thawing. One hour before embryo transfer, hatching was carried out using acidic Tyrode's solution. RESULTS: Among 136 embryos exposed to assisted hatching, 11.4% (30) were implanted compared with only 5.8% (13) of 117 embryos not exposed to assisted hatching (P<0.05, chi(2) test). No difference in the rate of clinical pregnancy and positive serum HCG was observed between the two groups. Very few women >38 years old were included in the study, and no significant difference according to age could be found between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that assisted hatching using acidic Tyrode's solution increases the implantation rate of cryopreserved-thawed embryos (P<0.05).

High ratings of satisfaction with fertility treatment are common: findings from the Copenhagen Multi-centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI) Research Programme.

BACKGROUND: The aims were: (i). to identify gender differences in evaluation of medical and patient-centred (psychosocial) care in fertility clinics and (ii). to identify predictors of satisfaction. METHODS: An epidemiological prospective study based on questionnaire responses among all new couples attending five fertility clinics. The response rate at the 12 month follow-up was 87.7% and included a total of 1934 patients. RESULTS: During the follow-up period about two-thirds had achieved a pregnancy and about a third became parents. The participants were satisfied with both the medical and patient-centred (psychosocial) services. There were no sex differences in the evaluation of treatment except that women were more satisfied than men with how the staff had performed their medical examinations. Satisfaction with medical and patient-centred services was positively associated with a treatment-related pregnancy/delivery and the report of marital benefits resulting from the infertility experience. Lower social class was a significant predictor for satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Both men and women in fertility treatment had high ratings on medical and patient-centred care. It seemed that satisfaction with the psychosocial services was higher than in earlier studies from other countries.

Patients' attitudes to medical and psychosocial aspects of care in fertility clinics: findings from the Copenhagen Multi-centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI) Research Programme.

BACKGROUND: The aims were (i) to identify gender differences in motivations to seek assisted reproduction and gender differences in expectations about medical and psychosocial services and (ii) to examine factors that predict the perceived importance of, and intention to use, psychosocial services among infertile people. METHODS: We conducted an epidemiological study based on questionnaires among all new couples attending five fertility clinics with a response rate of 80.0% and a total of 2250 patients. RESULTS: The vast majority of both men and women considered a high level of medical information and patient-centred care as important. Fewer respondents (women 10.0-20.8%, men 4.1-8.9%) felt that professional psychosocial services were important and/or had the intention to use these services. The main predictor of perceived importance of patient-centred care and professional psychosocial services for both men and women was high infertility-related stress in the marital, personal and social domain. CONCLUSIONS: A supportive attitude from medical staff and the provision of both medical and psychosocial information and support should be integral aspects of medical care in fertility clinics. Although only a minority of the participants perceived professional psychosocial services as important, they should be available for patients whose infertility causes them much strain, especially for patients whose marital relationship suffered much because of infertility.

Progesterone supplementation during early gestations after IVF or ICSI has no effect on the delivery rates: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to study whether prolongation of luteal support during early pregnancy influences the delivery rate after IVF. METHODS: Dual centre study including 303 women who achieved pregnancy after IVF or ICSI was used. All were treated with the long protocol using GnRH agonists and given luteal support with 200 mg vaginal progesterone three times daily during 14 days from the day of transfer until the day of a positive HCG test. The study group (n = 150) withdrew vaginal progesterone from the day of positive HCG. The control group (n = 153) continued administration of vaginal progesterone during the next 3 weeks of pregnancy. RESULTS: The number of miscarriages prior to and after week 7 of gestation was seven (4.6%) and 15 (10.0%) in the study group and five (3.3%) and 13 (8.5%) in the control group respectively. The number of deliveries was 118 (78.7 %) in the study group and 126 (82.4 %) in the control group. The differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Prolongation of progesterone supplementation in early pregnancy has no influence on the miscarriage rate, and thus no effect on the delivery rate. Progesterone supplementation can safely be withdrawn at the time of a positive HCG test.

Birth of a healthy girl after ICSI with ejaculated spermatozoa from a man with non-mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome.

Klinefelter's syndrome is a major contributor to male infertility. Recent reports of births after ICSI with especially testicular spermatozoa from infertile men with this syndrome are promising. The birth of a healthy girl after ICSI treatment with ejaculated spermatozoa from a man with non-mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome is reported. The non-mosaic karyotype was confirmed by chromosome analysis of both peripheral blood leukocytes and fibroblasts from a skin biopsy. In conclusion, in a very few cases, men with apparently non-mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome have ejaculated spermatozoa that can result in a birth of a healthy child following ICSI.

A Danish national cohort of 730 infants born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) 1994-1997.

This national cohort study included all clinical pregnancies obtained after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) registered in Denmark between January 1994 and July 1997 at five public and eight private fertility clinics. Laboratory and clinical data were obtained from the fertility clinics. The couples answered a questionnaire regarding the pregnancy and the health of the child (response rate 94%). Data validation was carried out through discharge charts. The mean age of the women was 32.1 years. In 84.2% of couples, male factor was the main reason for performing ICSI, and in 4.8% epididymal spermatozoa were used. The mean number of embryos replaced was 2.3 (range 1-3) and in 95% of cases fresh embryos were transferred. Only 183 women (28.5%) underwent prenatal diagnosis, resulting in 209 karyotypes with seven (3.3%) chromosome aberrations. Six major chromosomal abnormalities (2.9%) and one inherited structural chromosome aberration (0.5%) were found, but no sex chromosome aberrations. The frequency of multiple birth, Caesarean section rate, gestational age, preterm birth, and birth weight were comparable with previous studies. The perinatal mortality rate was 13.7 per 1000 children born with a gestational age of 24 weeks or more. In 2.2% (n = 16) of the liveborn infants, and in 2.7% (n = 20) of all infants, major birth defects were reported by the parents. Minor birth defects were found in nine liveborn infants (1.2%). In conclusion, the results of this study on outcome of ICSI pregnancies are in line with earlier reports, except that no sex chromosome abnormalities were found.

Zinc supplementation during pregnancy: a double blind randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether zinc supplementation during pregnancy improves maternal and fetal outcome. DESIGN: Controlled clinical trial started at registration until discharge of mother and child from hospital. Two thousand volunteer mothers were randomly assigned to receive zinc supplementation or placebo in a double blind trial. PATIENTS: Women less than 20 weeks pregnant at the first visit who agreed to take part in the study. One thousand two hundred and six mothers were available for study. INTERVENTIONS: Volunteers were randomly selected to receive two tablets of zinc (44 mg zinc in total) or two placebo tablets containing inert substances, indistinguishable in appearance and taste from the zinc tablets. OUTCOME MEASURE: Large for gestational age (LGA), small for gestational age (SGA), premature rupture of the membrane (PROM), preterm labor (PL), preeclampsia and bleeding in the second or third trimester. RESULTS: There were no differences between mothers given zinc supplementation concerning the outcome parameters and those given placebo. CONCLUSION: Zinc supplementation in pregnancy in a normal healthy middle class population in Denmark does not seem to offer any benefits to the mother or her fetus.

Laparoscopic removal of intrauterine devices with retracted threads.

Sixteen women had intrauterine devices (IUDs) with retracted threads. If an IUD with retracted thread is located within the uterus or intramurally, hysteroscopic removal is advisable. If it is located intraabdominally, laparoscopic removal is recommended.

PIP: From 1980-1985, 16 women between the ages of 24 and 47 years old were referred to the gynecology department of Saint Maria Hospital in Vejle, Denmark, because their IUDs could not be seen on cervical inspection; the threads had become retracted, and attempts by their physicians to remove the IUDs had failed. 7 of the devices were Multiloads, 7 were Nova Ts, and 2 were Gravigards. Ultrasonic scanning resulted in correct identification of the IUD in 12 patients. In the 4 cases in which the IUD was not visible on scanning, roentgenograms of the whole abdomen in 2 planes were obtained, and the IUD was easily identified. In 2 patients, the IUD was removed when dilation and curettage was carried out. In 9 cases the IUD could be removed with hysteroscopy, in 4 with laparoscopy, and in 1 with laparotomy. 2 of the IUDs were found intramurally, and 7 were in the uterine cavity. If an IUD with retracter thread is located within the uterus of intramurally, hysteroscopic removal is advisable; if it is located intraabdominally, laparoscopic removal in recommended.

Diagnostic accuracy of outpatient endocervical curettage using conventional and Vabra curettage of the cervix.

With the object of examining the diagnostic accuracy of and pain reaction to endocervical curettage (ECC) either by using a new instrument, Vabra mc cervix, or with a conventional 3 mm metal curette, 298 patients with histologically verified cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cytological suspicion have been involved in a consecutive prospective randomized trial. One hundred and forty-eight patients underwent curettage with the Vabra instrument (vabrasio) followed by conventional curettage; 150 underwent the same procedure, but in reverse order. In 114 patients, CIN was ascertained in one or both trials. Vabra mc cervix found normal histology in 23 of these patients (20%), whereas conventional curettage showed normal histology in 58 patients (51%). Quantitatively, Vabra mc cervix extracted significantly more tissue material than did conventional curettage. The pain intensity when using of Vabra mc cervix was less severe. The present study showed diagnostic accuracy of Vabra mc cervix to be 80% (95% confidence limits: 63.38-80.73), compared with 49% (95% confidence limits: 35.17-54.35) when using conventional curettage.

Prostaglandin vaginal suppositories in non pregnant women requiring cervical dilatation prior to hysteroscopy.

A randomized doubleblind investigation of prostaglandin vaginal suppositories prior to hysteroscopy was undertaken in 30 non-pregnant women. PGE2 in 14 of 15 treated patients we found a softening and a dilatation of the cervical canal, but with a relatively high frequency of side effects-nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. No serious bleeding or side effects were observed.

[Sterilization performed in connection with induced abortion]. / Sterilisation foretaget i forbindelse med abortus provocatus.

PIP: Of 76 cases of sterilization undertaken via minilaparotomy, the intervention was undertaken in 38% simultaneously with pregnancy termination. No increased risk of complications was encountered in those patients who underwent the procedures simultaneously.^ieng