Which factors affect the likelihood of miscarriage after single euploid blastocyst transfer?

RESEARCH QUESTION: Which parameters affect the likelihood of miscarriage after single euploid frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer (FBT)? DESIGN: In this retrospective study, clinical and laboratory data from 1051 single euploid FBTs were evaluated. Exclusion criteria were endocrine or systemic pathologies, uterine anomalies or pathologies, unilateral or bilateral hydrosalpinx, karyotypic abnormalities (either maternal or paternal) or thrombophilia. Patients were divided into two groups according to pregnancy outcome: live birth and miscarriage. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) (25.98 ± 0.5 versus 24.36 ± 0.21, P = 0.019), duration of infertility (6.62 ± 0.54 versus 4.92 ± 0.18, P = 0.006) and number of previous miscarriages (1.36 ± 0.13 versus 0.79 ± 0.05, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the miscarriage group (n = 100) than in the live birth group (n = 589). Although the trophectoderm and inner cell mass (ICM) percentage scores were not statistically different among the miscarriage and live birth groups, the percentage of day-6 biopsied embryos was significantly higher in the miscarriage group. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI (OR 1.083, 95% CI 1.013 to 1.158, P = 0.02) and number of previous miscarriages (OR 1.279, 95% CI 1.013 to 1.158, P = 0.038) were independent factors for miscarriage. Patients with elevated BMI and a higher number of miscarriages were at increased risk of miscarriage. CONCLUSION: After a single euploid FBT, BMI and number of previous miscarriages are predictors of miscarriage. Lifestyle interventions before FBT may decrease miscarriage rates.

Changes in lifestyle upon diagnosis of cancer or other chronic illnesses: A Turkish Oncology Group study.

Cancer, like other chronic illnesses, changes the patients' way of living significantly. Although some may think, for instance, that religiousness would increase with the diagnosis of cancer, no previous studies have been performed in the Turkish society to confirm this. We, as the Turkish Oncology Group, conducted a survey in seven different oncology centres, representing a large majority of Turkey, to investigate how patients' lifestyles changed following a cancer diagnosis; we used dialysis patients as a chronic illness control group. The study findings showed how changes in spiritual practices are completely in line with what is observed in other chronic illnesses. These findings may help to address cancer patients' needs and facilitate resource allocation accordingly.