Socioeconomic status and fertility treatment outcomes in high-income countries: a review of the current literature.

The association between socioeconomic status and fertility is a subject that has received much attention. Yet, little is known as to whether the socioeconomic status has an impact on the outcomes of fertility treatment. This systematic review aims to assess any possible relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and treatment outcomes. A database search was conducted of all publications in this field up to March 2021. Eleven studies were identified and six of these specifically investigated the impact of socioeconomic status on fertility treatment outcomes. Children conceived following assisted conception are more likely to be born to mothers of a higher socioeconomic status than those conceived naturally. Of the few studies investigating the impact of socioeconomic status on fertility treatment outcomes and the results are conflicting, making it difficult to draw robust conclusions as to its effect. It is unknown which, if any, marker of socioeconomic status is the most significant for fertility patients: whether it is the characteristics of the individual or that of their surroundings. Further research is urgently needed.

Hormone replacement therapy - Current recommendations.

Menopause is a major life event that can affect women in several ways. Its onset marks the end of the reproductive life cycle, and its impact can be both short and long term. Menopause is often a gradual process, preceded by a transitional period known as perimenopause. The average age of menopause in the UK is 51. The clinical manifestations of menopause result from the eventual exhaustion of oocytes within the ovaries. This leads to a chronic hypo-estrogenic state, which in the short term causes menopausal symptoms and over a long term, has an impact on bone and cardiovascular health. There has been a steep drop in the prescription of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) following the publication of the Women's Health Initiative Study and the Million Women Study. It is currently estimated that approximately a million women in the UK are taking HRT for control of their menopausal symptoms. This review summarises the current recommendations for HRT use in menopausal women. The benefits of HRT in improving the symptoms of menopause are discussed as well as the potential role of HRT in managing long-term sequelae is covered. Evidence pertaining to the potential risks associated with HRT is also be reviewed.

Does the saltatory pattern on cardiotocograph (CTG) trace really exist? The ZigZag pattern as an alternative definition and its correlation with perinatal outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The saltatory pattern (SP) has been defined by guidelines as a uniformly increased bandwidth of >25 beats per min lasting for 30 min. However, previous research suggest that it is very unusual to observe such a "uniform" increase in the bandwidth persisting for >30 min. Baseline fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) on cardiotocography reflects the integrity of the central nervous system. During labor, in the presence of a gradually-evolving hypoxia associated with the onset of metabolic acidosis, FHRV may be reduced. However, if a fetus is exposed to rapidly-evolving hypoxia, it may not have sufficient time to release catecholamines and the perfusion of central organs can be impaired. In such cases, simultaneous increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system to obtain more oxygen as well as enhanced parasympathetic activity to reduce the myocardial workload can lead to autonomic instability. This exaggerated autonomic response can be seen frequently on the cardiotocograph as a rapid, irregular, abrupt "up and down" fluctuation across the baseline (amplitude >25 beats per min). The authors have termed this pattern as "ZigZag" when apparent for a minimum of 1 min. It differs from the SP in terms of duration and uniformity of the bandwidth. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of the SP during labor as well as a shorter and less uniform version of the SP newly called "ZigZag pattern" (ZZP). The intention was to correlate them with perinatal outcomes, taking into account the duration of the ZZP. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 500 consecutive cardiotocograph traces was performed to identify saltatory patterns and ZigZag patterns of 1 and 2 min of duration. Apgar scores, umbilical cord pH values and admission to the Neonatal Unit were evaluated and correlated with the cardiotocograph findings. RESULTS: Not a single case of the SP was observed. A ZZP of 1 min of duration (ZZP1) was identified in 30.1% of the CTG during the last hour prior to delivery; ZZP lasting for 2 min (ZZP2) were identified in 8.9% of cases during the same period. Apgar scores at 1 min of ≤7 were significantly more frequent in newborns where the ZZP was observed (36.7% in ZZP1 and 54.5% in ZZP2 versus 9.5% in fetuses without); similarly, the Apgar scores at 5 min of ≤7 were also more frequent when ZZP was observed (6.7% in ZZP1 and 13.6% in ZZP2 versus 1.1% in controls). Moderate acidosis (pH 7.0-7.10) was more common in fetuses with the ZZP (14.3% in ZZP1 and 15% in ZZP2) compared to those without (4.6 and 7.2%, respectively). Similarly, mild acidosis (pH 7.1-7.2) was more common with the ZZP (40.3% in ZZP1 and 35% in ZZP2 versus 27.6 and 31.7%, respectively without ZZP). The neonatal admission rate was significantly higher in fetuses with the ZZP (8.7% in ZZP1 and 11.4% in ZZP2 versus 1.1% in controls). CONCLUSIONS: In line with previous research, our study suggest that SP is an almost nonexistent phenomenon. Alternatively, the ZigZag pattern (ZZP) has been defined as an exaggerated, irregular, "up and down" fluctuation of the baseline variability with an amplitude of >25 beats per min, lasting for 1 min or longer. It represents autonomic instability during human labor and it differs from the SP in terms of uniformity and length. Newborns with a ZZP during active maternal pushing were found to have statistically-significant lower Apgar scores at the 1st and 5th min, moderate and mild acidosis in the umbilical artery and an 8.7-11.4-fold higher neonatal admission rate. Clinicians should stop oxytocin infusion and/or active maternal pushing to improve fetal oxygenation if the ZZP is observed.

A Randomized Trial of Endometrial Scratching before In Vitro Fertilization.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial scratching (with the use of a pipelle biopsy) is a technique proposed to facilitate embryo implantation and increase the probability of pregnancy in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: We conducted a pragmatic, multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled trial. Eligible women were undergoing IVF (fresh-embryo or frozen-embryo transfer), with no recent exposure to disruptive intrauterine instrumentation (e.g., hysteroscopy). Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either endometrial scratching (by pipelle biopsy between day 3 of the cycle preceding the embryo-transfer cycle and day 3 of the embryo-transfer cycle) or no intervention. The primary outcome was live birth. RESULTS: A total of 1364 women underwent randomization. The frequency of live birth was 180 of 690 women (26.1%) in the endometrial-scratch group and 176 of 674 women (26.1%) in the control group (adjusted odds ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 1.27). There were no significant between-group differences in the rates of ongoing pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, or miscarriage. The median score for pain from endometrial scratching (on a scale of 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse pain) was 3.5 (interquartile range, 1.9 to 6.0). CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial scratching did not result in a higher rate of live birth than no intervention among women undergoing IVF. (Funded by the University of Auckland and others; PIP Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12614000626662 .).