Perifollicular vascularity and its relationship with oocyte maturity and IVF outcome.

New markers of embryo ability to implant are pursued continuously. Understanding whether an oocyte is really "mature," that is, ready to be fertilized, would be of great help in choosing an embryo that will implant. It is usual to pay attention to the phase of meiosis, considering the extrusion of the polar body (metaphase II) to be the only sign of the maturity of the oocytes. Nevertheless, understanding more about how the cytoplasm contributes to an oocyte's competency also shows promise as a method of predicting which embryos will implant. Some studies about perifollicular vascularity have demonstrated that embryos originating from oocytes developed in well-vascularized follicles have a higher implantation rate than those originating from oocytes developed in follicles with poor vascularization. Here, we report our results from a preliminary study in which embryos were transferred according to the degree of vascularization of the follicle. Women who received embryos originating from oocytes developed in well-vascularized follicles had a statistically higher pregnancy rate than women who received embryos deriving from oocytes grown in more poorly vascularized follicles (34% vs. 13.7%).

Oocyte donation program: pregnancy and implantation rates in women of different ages sharing oocytes from single donor.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the importance of uterus age as regards of pregnancy, implantation, and abortion rates using the oocyte donation model. DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis of cases where recipients of different ages shared oocytes from single donor. SETTING: A tertiary infertility center. PATIENTS: One hundred fourteen women (21 to 49 years of age) undergoing a total of 114 cycles of oocyte donation were divided into two groups according to age (group A < = or 39 years: group B between 40 and 49 years). INTERVENTIONS: Hormonal replacement therapy was given using increasing doses of 17 beta-E2 (2, 4, and 6 or 8 mg) and either 100 mg of P in oil or 600 mg of micronized P through the vaginal route. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy, abortion, and implantation rates. RESULTS: Fifty-seven transfer cycles were performed per age group. Twenty-seven clinical pregnancies were achieved in Group A and 14 in group B, with pregnancy rates (PRs) of 47.3% and 24.5%, respectively. There were four abortions in group A and one in group B, resulting in abortion rates of 14.8% and 7%, respectively. Thirty-four of 137 transferred embryos in group A and 20 of 134 in group B implanted, resulting in implantation rates of 24.8% and 14.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study seems to suggest that there are differences in pregnancy and implantation rates in recipients of different ages because of uterine receptivity. Fertility therefore does not depend merely on oocyte age and quality but also on uterine age.

A new approach to gamete intra-fallopian transfer via hysteroscopy.

This study describes the technique and results of a new approach for the hysteroscopic catheterization of the Fallopian tube in order to transfer gametes (hysteroscopic GIFT). Ovarian stimulation was started on 51 patients. Three cycles were cancelled because of a failure of ovarian response. Forty-eight patients underwent hysteroscopic GIFT utilizing a technique completely different, easier, faster and more precise than that previously reported. Fourteen pregnancies were achieved (29.2%) of which five are ongoing, six patients have delivered and three have aborted. No ectopic pregnancies were observed.

Influence of spermatozoa characteristics on gamete intra-fallopian transfer procedures: analysis of results obtained utilizing normozoospermic, oligoasthenozoospermic and donor spermatozoa.

The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of the gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) procedure in relation to spermatozoa characteristics. A total of 268 infertile couples enlisted for GIFT were categorized into three groups on the basis of semen characteristics in the husband. These included oligoasthenozoospermic men in 88 retrieval cycles (group 1), normozoospermic men in 116 cycles (group 2) and azoospermic partners who needed donor semen in 86 cycles (group 3). All female patients had ovarian stimulation and laparoscopic GIFT. Pregnancy rates were significantly higher with donor spermatozoa than with oligoasthenozoospermic or normozoospermic spermatozoa, i.e. 51.1% versus 15.9% (P < 0.001), and 32.7% (P < 0.005). Implantation rates were significantly higher with donor spermatozoa than with normo- or oligoasthenozoospermic spermatozoa (P < 0.01). These data suggest that GIFT does not give good results with male factor infertility. Donor cryopreserved semen gives higher pregnancy and implantation rates than normozoospermic semen, and GIFT with donor spermatozoa gives a good chance of pregnancy to couples previously treated with artificial insemination using donor semen.

The role of gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and tubal embryo transfer (TET) in the treatment of patients with patent tubes associated with male infertility factor.

PURPOSE: The relative effectiveness of gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and tubal embryo transfer (TET) combined with superovulation in the treatment of infertile patients with patent tubes were compared. Four hundred fifty consecutive cycles were divided into two periods. During the first period (216 cycles), the only technique employed was GIFT, couples being divided into two groups: group A, couples with normospermic partners (118 cycles); and group B, couples with male infertility factor (98 cycles). During the second period (234 cycles), 140 cycles of GIFT were performed in couples with normospermic partners (group C). TET was utilized in 94 cycles (group D), in the case of couples with male infertility factor. RESULTS: Results demonstrate that the pregnancy rate with GIFT in the case of oligoasthenospermic partners (group B) is significantly lower than that of normospermic partners (groups A and C) (P = 0.0001) and than that with TET in the case of oligoasthenospermic partners (group D) (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The implantation rate is also significantly different between these groups (B vs A, P = 0.0001; B vs C, P = 0.0001; B vs D, P = 0.01).

Gamete intrafallopian transfer by hysteroscopy as an alternative treatment for infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and safety of the hysteroscopic cannulation by flexible catheter of the fallopian tubes for gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). DESIGN: We studied the pregnancy rate (PR) and the safety of this new technique. SETTING: All patients were enlisted for GIFT at our Reproductive Medicine Unit. PATIENTS: We treated 26 patients whose infertility causes were terminal tubal damage, male factors, unexplained factors, and endometriosis. Patients with uterine tubal ostia unsuitable for gamete transfer or cervical incontinence were not included in the group. INTERVENTIONS: The patients underwent ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval by transvaginal ultrasonically guided puncture. The gamete transfers were carried out by hysteroscopic procedure using a flexible catheter put through the operating channel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The efficacy was evaluated by the PR (25.9%). RESULTS: Seven clinical pregnancies were obtained, but two patients aborted during the first weeks of pregnancy. No ectopic pregnancies were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that hysteroscopic GIFT is an alternative, safe, effective, and not invasive technique for fertility problems.

Pregnancy after direct intraperitoneal insemination.

Direct intraperitoneal insemination (DIPI) and superovulation are simple procedures which may together represent a good alternative to gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) in infertile women with patent Fallopian tubes. In the present study, pregnancy occurred in 25 of 96 couples (26%) and six (24%) of these aborted. The pregnancy rate for all cycles was 19.6% and multiple pregnancies were found in six of 25 (24%) patients. We observed no ectopic pregnancy. The combination of these techniques is concluded to be useful in achieving pregnancy in infertile women with patient Fallopian tubes.