A Global Survey of Reproductive Specialists to Determine the Clinical Utility of Oxidative Stress Testing and Antioxidant Use in Male Infertility.

PURPOSE: The use of antioxidants is common practice in the management of infertile patients. However, there are no established guidelines by professional societies on antioxidant use for male infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using an online survey, this study aimed to evaluate the practice pattern of reproductive specialists to determine the clinical utility of oxidative stress (OS) testing and antioxidant prescriptions to treat male infertility. RESULTS: Responses from 1,327 participants representing 6 continents, showed the largest participant representation being from Asia (46.8%). The majority of participants were attending physicians (59.6%), with 61.3% having more than 10 years of experience in the field of male infertility. Approximately two-thirds of clinicians (65.7%) participated in this survey did not order any diagnostic tests for OS. Sperm DNA fragmentation was the most common infertility test beyond a semen analysis that was prescribed to study oxidative stress-related dysfunctions (53.4%). OS was mainly tested in the presence of lifestyle risk factors (24.6%) or sperm abnormalities (16.3%). Interestingly, antioxidants were prescribed by 85.6% of clinicians, for a duration of 3 (43.7%) or 3-6 months (38.6%). A large variety of antioxidants and dietary supplements were prescribed, and scientific evidence were mostly considered to be modest to support their clinical use. Results were not influenced by the physician's age, geographic origin, experience or training in male infertility. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the largest online survey performed to date on this topic and demonstrates 1) a worldwide understanding of the importance of this therapeutic option, and 2) a widely prevalent use of antioxidants to treat male infertility. Finally, the necessity of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines from professional societies is highlighted.

Cancer fertility preservation: a report from a Brazilian social program.

OBJECTIVE: To present clinical and laboratory data of a Brazilian social program for cancer fertility preservation. METHODS: We carried out a descriptive observational study between July 2011 and December 2018. 246 patients were included from a social program in a private assisted reproduction clinic in Santo André/Brazil for oocyte cryopreservation before starting oncological treatment. RESULTS: 246 cancer patients resorted to fertility preservation before initiating cancer treatment. These were diagnosed with 27 different types of cancer, and the breast type is the most prevalent. 2528 MII oocytes (mean of 10.3 oocytes per patient) were vitrified. Four patients thawed their oocytes to submit in vitro fertilization, three had embryos transferred and one achieved pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Preservation of fertility offers patients, especially at reproductive age, a viable way to perform their cancer treatment without compromising future gestation. It is important that professionals duly counsel oncological patients so, if they wish, they can have the possibility to guarantee her fertility preserved.

ICSI in late matured oocytes, is it worth it? Study with laboratory, clinical and genetic evaluation results.

OBJECTIVE: To compare laboratory results of embryo development from late matured oocytes in relation to mature oocytes in D+0. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study during the period from January to December 2018, in which we collected data through medical records analysis. 913 oocytes were collected and divided into 3 groups: group 1 - 643 MII oocytes; group 2 - 119 MI oocytes and; group 3 - 151 PI oocytes. These studied oocytes were from different maternal ages and infertility factors. The analyzed variables were fertilization rate, embryo cleavage, top quality embryos on the third day of development, blastocyst stage, top quality blastocysts, euploid blastocysts, top quality blastocysts and gestation. We documented the data, and performed the statistical analysis using the chi-square test (p<0.05). RESULTS: All MII oocytes were injected (643); 103/119 MI oocytes and 88/151 PI oocytes that matured late in D + 1, were also injected. The fertilization rate of the three groups did not present statistical difference. The oocytes of group 1 had a statistically proven better prognosis than oocytes from groups 2 and 3 when compared, respectively, embryo cleavage (p=0.000), top quality embryos on the third day of development (p=0.000) and blastocyst formation rate (p=0.004). In the LMO group, there were no euploid embryos and, therefore, there no embryo transfer. CONCLUSION: Although late matured oocytes have made blastocyst formation possible, even if in low rates, there were no viable embryos for transfer.

The impact of high progesterone levels on the day of HCG administration in assisted human reproduction treatments.

OBJECTIVE: Progesterone is a steroid hormone that acts on the endometrium. It is known for producing physical and mood-related side effects. Few studies have looked into how progesterone levels affect embryo development and quality. This study aimed to find a cutoff level for serum progesterone on the day of HCG administration from which embryo quality is impaired. METHODS: The study included 145 cycles, from which 885 oocytes and 613 embryos were obtained. All patients had their serum progesterone levels measured on the day of HCG administration. Data sets were collected from patient medical records. The chi-square test was used to assess qualitative variables and the Mann-Whitney test to evaluate quantitative variables. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that serum progesterone levels and reproductive variables were not significantly associated. In regards to oocyte maturity, however, when progesterone levels were greater than 1.3 ng/mL the probability of oocytes being immature increased by 12.7%. The fragmentation rate of embryos categorized as "top quality" in D3 increased proportionately to increases in progesterone levels (12.23%). CONCLUSION: High progesterone levels appeared to be correlated with increased embryo fragmentation rates, but high serum levels of the hormone on the day of HCG administration had no impact on reproductive variables and were not associated with impaired embryo development.