The Prediction of IVF Outcomes with Autologous Oocytes and the Optimal MII Oocyte/Embryo Number for Live Birth at Advanced Maternal Age.

Background and Objectives: Delayed childbearing in advanced age might be associated with a low prognosis for achieving pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to establish a predictive tool that will optimize the likelihood of a live birth at advanced age. Material and Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at the Ferona Fertility Clinic in Novi Sad (Republic of Serbia), between January 2020 and May 2021. The survey included 491 women aged ≥35 who met the inclusion criteria and who were subjected to an IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatment cycle. Results: The average number of retrieved oocytes, MII (metaphase II) oocytes, and developed embryos significantly decreased in advanced age. Age was also found to have a significant adverse effect on pregnancy and live birth rates. In women aged ≥35, 10/12 MII oocytes or 10/11 embryos are required for reaching an optimal live birth rate/cumulative live birth rate. Optimal CLBR (cumulative live birth rate) per one oocyte was achieved when 9 MII oocyte were retrieved. Conclusions: The study indicates that the cut-off for increased risk is ≥42 year. However, despite low live birth rates, autologous IVF for these women is not futile. An increase in the number of retrieved mature oocytes and a generation of surplus cryopreserved embryos could reinforce LBR (live birth rate) and CLBR. Clinicians should be very cautious in counseling, as autologous IVF may only be applicable to women with good ovarian reserve.

The role of hysteroscopy in diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal bleeding.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Abnormal uterine bleeding is the most common problem which brings woman to the gynecologist during the postmenopausal period. The aim of this study was to define the significance of hysteroscopy as a diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of patients with postmenopausal bleeding, as well as to define it as a surgical procedure by which the cause of bleeding can be treated in most cases in the same sitting. METHODS: The study involved 148 female patients referred to the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics in Nis for postmenopausal bleeding in the period of 12 months. Hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy were performed in all the patients. Biopsy materials were directed to histological examination, and the hysteroscopic and histological findings were compared afterwards. Polyps and submucous miomas were hysteroscopically removed in the same sitting and also directed to histological examination. RESULTS: The success rate of the method was 95.1%, while complications occurred in 1.37% of the cases. The hysteroscopic findings were normal in almost 30% of the cases, and the most common pathological finding was endometrial polyp. The sensitivity of hysteroscopy in the detection of intrauterine pathology was 100%, the specificity 81%, the positive predictive value 92% and the negative predictive value 100%. In 69.7% of the patients the cause of bleeding was hysteroscopically removed. Hysteroscopy was performed in 58.1% of the patients in the same sitting, and in 11.6% of the patients after obtaining histological findings. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopy is a safe, highly sensitive diagnostic procedure, thus being an ideal method for evaluation of patients with postmenopausal bleeding. The application of hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy leads to accurate diagnosis. An adequate diagnosis is crucial for the selection of relevant treatment of postmenopausal bleeding and avoidance of unnecessary major surgical procedures. Except for being a diagnostic method hysteroscopy, is also an outpatient minimally invasive surgical procedure for treating the cause of bleeding in the majority of cases in the same sitting.

[The role and contribution of transvaginal endoscopy to diagnostics and treatment of infertility].

Transvaginal endoscopy (TVE) presents minimal invasive endoscopic method that involves hysteroscopy, transvaginal laparoscopy and salpingoscopy. It gives a new approach to both basic evaluation of marital infertility and its treatment. The role of TVE is a subject of controversies regarding its justification as standard infertility treatment. Another aspect is a role of TVE prior to methods of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The aim of this paper was to try, through the analysis of the available literature, to clarify the role of TVE in reproductive medicine, as well as to show our experience. The concept of one-day diagnostics, which is so-called one stop fertility clinic, is performed in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics on a daily basis. It consists of history, gynecology and ultrasound exam, spermiogram, hormone tests, and TVE. Patients are informed about results on the very same day and advised on the proper infertility treatment. By forming the infertility diagnostics protocols, which use the methods of TVE, we consider it possible to evaluate adequately and accurately the fertility within the shortest possible time. It replaced standard laparoscopy in certain indication fields; it eventually confirmed the necessity of its use in recurrent IVF implantation failure, raising the question of its routine use prior to the first IVF cycle that is a topic requiring further randomized trials.

Results and experiences after 2000 performed hysteroscopies.

INTRODUCTION: Hysteroscopy is one of the oldest endoscopic procedures which uses the cervix for introducing a telescope to place a camera into the uterine cavity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to present our experiences with this procedure during the long-term work starting from the time when hysteroscopic method of treatment was first introduced at this Clinic until today. METHODS: This prospective study involved 2000 female patients referred to the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics in Novi Sad from January 2005 till January 2011 for diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy. The following parameters were analyzed: the presence of minor and major pathology of the endometrium, type of anesthesia, technique of operative work, instruments and energy used during hysteroscopy and complications. RESULTS: Seventy-eight percent of all procedures were done under intravenous anesthesia. The most common operative procedure was polypectomy and the most complicated one was myomectomy. By histopathological examination of hysteroscopic biopsy specimens four endometrial carcinomas were revealed. The combination of mechanical instrument and bipolar energy were used in most of the cases, while the percentage of complications was extremely low. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopy is a safe, highly sensitive, precise diagnostic and operative endoscopic procedure. Our experiences and dilemmas open a field for discussion and offer salutations to everyday problems. The introduction of this procedure into out-patients conditions has contributed to the efficiency of the treatment of vaginal pathological processes, thus enabling that the method has become available to all gynecologists. This fact requires further study and new results.

[Results and experiences after 1000 IVF cycles at the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics in Novi Sad].

INTRODUCTION: Infertility affects 15-17% of reproductive age couples in our country, and 10-15% of couples worldwide. The aim of this paper was to present results and experience gained after the first 1000 cycles of the national In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) program, to offer professional standard of work in our country and to compare it with results obtained in Europe and worldwide. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study prospectively included 1000 women who had undergone national In Vitro Fertilization program from October 2006 until November 2009 at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad. RESULTS: The analysis included 1000 in vitro fertilization cycles. Male factor infertility was the leading cause (56.9%) followed by tubal factor (45.9%). The classic method of in vitro fertilization constituted 72.3% of all cycles, while intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) method was used in 27.7% of all cycles. The average number of embryos transferred was 2.67. The cycle cancellation rate was 14.10% and the aspiration rate was 94.40%. The clinical pregnancy and live birth rate were 33.41% and 26.78% per embryo transfer respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results in our study showed that in our setting there are far less intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles compared with the European average of 66.5% of all fresh cycles, and that we transferred more embryos on average. Our success rates are comparable with those in other European countries where the clinical pregnancy rates per aspiration and per transfer for in vitro fertilization were 29 and 32.4%, respectively in the period of observation. For intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the corresponding rates were 29.9 and 33%.