Beetroot, watermelon and ginger juice supplementation may increase the clinical outcomes of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To prove the hypothesis that beetroot, watermelon and ginger juice supplementation improves the endometrial receptivity and clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. METHODS: This prospective randomized study enrolled 436 female patients undergoing ICSI cycles from January/2018 to June/2021, in a private university-affiliated IVF center. Female patients were randomized in a 1:3 ratio to either Control (n=109) or Supplementation Group (n=327). All patients received nutritional orientation before the beginning of the treatment. Participants in the Supplementation Group were instructed to intake a daily dose of homemade juice, prepared with fresh beetroot, watermelon and ginger, from the day of embryo transfer until the day of pregnancy test, while patients in Control Group did not follow the juice protocol. Generalized Linear Models, adjusted for potential confounders (female age, body mass index - BMI, endometrial thickness upon embryo transfer, and number of transferred embryos), followed by Bonferroni post hoc test for the comparison of means between groups, were used to investigate the impact of juice supplementation on the clinical outcomes of ICSI. RESULTS: Patients and cycles characteristics were equally distributed among Supplementation and Control groups. Implantation rate (25.2% vs. 20.5%, p<0.001) and clinical pregnancy rate (41.0% vs. 22.0%, p=0.039) were significantly higher in the Supplementation compared to the Control group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of beetroot, watermelon and ginger juice may be considered a promising strategy for improving clinical outcomes in assisted reproductive technology (ART), without any side effects.

Time-lapse monitoring: An adjunct tool to select embryos for preimplantation genetic testing.

The goal for the present study was to investigate the effect of aneuploidy on embryo morphokinetics events in a time-lapse imaging (TLI) system incubator. This retrospective cohort study was performed in a private university-affiliated in vitro fertilization center, between 2019 March and December 2020. Kinetic data were analyzed in 935 embryos, derived from 316 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for aneuploidy, individually cultured in a TLI incubator until Day 5 of development. Timing of morphokinetic variables, the incidences of multinucleation, and Known Implantation Data Score (KIDScore)-Day 5 were compared between euploid (n = 352) and aneuploid embryos (n = 583). Aneuploid embryos showed significantly longer timing to complete specific morphokinetic parameters compared to euploidy embryos. Euploidy embryos also showed a significantly higher KIDScore when compared with the aneuploidy ones. Our evidence suggests that TLI monitoring may be an adjunct approach to select embryos for PGT; however, cautious investigation is still needed.

The effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on ICSI outcomes depending on oocyte quality.

BACKGROUND: Sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation is commonly encountered in spermatozoa, and the oocyte assumes responsibility for repairing sperm DNA fragmentation during the oocyte-embryo transition. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate whether the effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes depends on the incidence of oocyte dimorphisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the present cohort, 2942 fertilized oocytes from 525 patients submitted to intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles were assessed. The present study was conducted in a private in vitro fertilization center affiliated to a university from June 2016 to July 2019. Semen samples were divided into the following two groups depending on the sperm DNA fragmentation index: a low fragmentation index group (<30% sperm DNA fragmentation, n = 1468) and a high fragmentation index group (≥30% sperm DNA fragmentation, n = 486). In addition, mature oocytes were examined before sperm injection, and intracytoplasmic and extracytoplasmic defects were recorded. The effect of the sperm DNA fragmentation index on laboratory and clinical intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes (depending on the presence of oocyte defects) was evaluated. RESULTS: Significant increases in the rates of fertilization, high-quality embryo, implantation, and pregnancy were noted for cycles with <30% sperm DNA fragmentation than cycles with ≥30% sperm DNA fragmentation (regardless of the presence of oocyte dimorphisms). The presence of dimorphisms significantly impacted laboratory and clinical outcomes. The lowest fertilization and high-quality embryo rates were observed when a high sperm DNA fragmentation index was associated with the presence of dark cytoplasm, vacuoles, resistant membrane, and non-resistant membrane. The lowest implantation and pregnancy rates were observed when a high sperm DNA fragmentation index was associated with the presence of vacuoles, defective perivitelline space, and fragmented polar body. The effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on miscarriage rates was significantly influenced by the presence of centrally located cytoplasmic granulation, a defective perivitelline space and non-resistant membrane. CONCLUSION: A high sperm DNA fragmentation index increases the likelihood of miscarriage in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles, an effect that may potentially be magnified by the presence of oocyte dysmorphisms.

Crianças nascidas após vitrificação de oócitos em reprodução assistida em hospital público / Infants live born after oocytes vitrification in assisted reproduction public hospital

A criopreservação de oócitos contribuiu para o avanço das técnicas em reprodução humana nas últimas décadas. A metodologia tem sua aplicação na preservação da fertilidade, em programas de ovodoação, como estratégia para redução do número de embriões extranumerários criopreservados com manipulação de menor número de oócitos a fresco e para acúmulo de oócitos em ciclos com reduzida resposta ovariana. A partir do princípio de que todo cidadão tem direito a saúde, é dever do Estado garantir o acesso a todos os tipos de tratamento. O Centro de Referência da Saúde da Mulher ­ Hospital Pérola Byington implantou a técnica de vitrificação de oócitos em 2010, aprimora os protocolos continuamente e busca melhores taxas de sobrevida, fertilização, clivagem e gestação. Relatamos as duas primeiras gestações, com nascimento, obtidas a partir de oócitos vitrificados em nosso Centro, que comprovam a viabilidade da aplicação dessa técnica e oferecem, assim, atendimento ao público com equidade e gratuidade integral.(AU)

The oocytes cryopreservation contributed substantially to a breakthough in Assisted Human Reproduction techniques over the last three decades. The methodology has been applied in the fertility preservation, through oocyte donation programmes, as strategy to reduce the number of supernumerary embryos cryopreserved by manipulating the least amount of fresh oocytes, and in the accumulation of oocytes in cycles with poor ovarian responders. Assuming the principle that every citizen has the right to health, it is the duty of the State to ensure access to all types of treatment. The Woman's Health Reference Center ­ Pérola Byington Hospital has implemented the technique of oocytes vitrification since 2010, and has been improving our protocol continuously: aiming at improvements in the rates of survival, fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy. We reported the first two pregnancies, infants live born after oocytes vitrification, at our Center, proving the feasibility of the oocytes vitrification protocol applied, offering service to the public with equity and no cost for the patient.(AU)