Sperm morphology from the actual inseminated sample does not predict clinical pregnancy following intrauterine insemination.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of sperm morphology from the specific sample used for intrauterine insemination (IUI) on clinical pregnancy rates (CPR). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic fertility clinic. PATIENTS: Couples undergoing IUI July 2016-January 2017. INTERVENTIONS: Morphology slides were prepared from the semen sample produced for IUI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: CPR was measured by detection of cardiac activity. Multiple logistic regression modeling was performed to determine the association of sperm morphology with CPR, controlling for age, antimüllerian hormone level, and post-wash total motile sperm count. RESULTS: Semen analyses, including Kruger strict criteria for morphology from the actual sample inseminated, were reviewed for 155 couples, comprising 234 total treatment cycles. The percent normal morphology significantly differed between the preliminary semen analysis and the IUI sample (-2.0% +3.7% (95% CI -2.55, -1.53). Of the total 234 treatment cycles, 8.6% resulted in clinical pregnancy. When categorized by strict morphology >4%, <4%, and <1%, the CPR was 6.6%, 9.8%, and 10.9%, respectively. In couples with otherwise normal semen parameters (isolated teratospermia), CPR by >4%, <4%, and <1% normal forms was 7.2%, 9.8%, and 11.1%, respectively. There was no significant association between the percent normal morphology and CPR in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluating the morphology of the actual inseminated sample did not find differences in CPR following IUI among couples with normal and abnormal sperm morphology, including severe teratospermia. Abnormal sperm morphology should not exclude couples from attempting IUI.

Serum omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid concentrations and natural fertility.

STUDY QUESTION: Are serum omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acid concentrations associated with the probability of conceiving? SUMMARY ANSWER: There is no strong association between serum concentrations of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and the probability of conceiving naturally. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid serum concentrations have been shown to play an important role in reproduction in animal models, while conflicting results have been reported in human studies of infertile women. It is unknown to what extent omega fatty acid serum concentrations impact natural fertility. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A nested, case-control study was conducted consisting of 200 participants [fertile: conceived within 3 cycles of attempt (n = 50), subfertile: conceived within 4 and 12 cycles of attempt (n = 100) and infertile: did not conceive within 12 cycles of attempt (n = 50)] randomly selected from the Time to Conceive cohort, a prospective time-to-pregnancy study (2008 to 2015). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: In the Time to Conceive study, women aged 30-44 years who were trying to conceive for <3 months and had no history of infertility were recruited and followed until the end of their pregnancy or ~1 year of pregnancy attempt. For this study, serum collected early in the woman's pregnancy attempt was analysed for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid concentrations by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The primary outcome was a positive home pregnancy test. The secondary outcomes were miscarriage and serum AMH level. A discrete-time Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the fecundability ratio. The odds ratios for miscarriage were calculated using logistic regression. The association between serum omega fatty acid concentrations and AMH level (natural log transformed) was analysed using Pearson's Correlation. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A total of 200 women provided 1321 cycles for analysis.Mean omega-3, omega-6 and omega-6:omega-3 ratios did not significantly differ between the fertile, subfertile and infertile groups. There were no associations (all fecundability ratios ~1.0) between pregnancy and individual omega-3 fatty acid concentrations, including alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, or omega-6 fatty acids, including linoleic acid (LA), dihommo-gamma linolenic acid and arachidonic acid. There was no significant association between any individual omega fatty acid serum concentration and the age-adjusted odds of miscarriage. No association was found between any serum omega fatty acid concentration and AMH. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study is limited by the sample size. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid concentrations were derived from serum provided at a single timepoint in the first cycle of enrollment. Serum concentrations may therefore not be representative of all critical timepoints in the menstrual cycle or throughout their attempts to conceive. Additionally, women enrolled in this study were 30 years of age and older, and therefore the findings may not apply to younger women. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: These data would suggest that omega-3 and omega-6 serum levels are not associated with natural fertility or risk of miscarriage. However, due to the above-mentioned limitations, future investigation is still needed to determine whether omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may benefit women planning to conceive naturally. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported by the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, by the NIH/NICHD (R21 HD060229-01 and R01 HD067683-01) and, in part, by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Z01ES103333). Dr. Jukic received vitamin D supplements for a research study from Theralogix, Inc. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to disclose. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Evidence of profound ovarian suppression on combined hormonal contraception resulting in dramatically different ovarian reserve testing and oocyte retrieval outcomes: case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case report and demonstrate that degree of ovarian suppression with continuous combined hormonal contraception (CHC) may be more profound than previously described and may present similarly as decreased ovarian reserve. DESIGN: Case report and review of the literature. SETTING: Private practice in vitro fertilization center. PATIENTS: A 36-year-old single gravida 0 presenting for oocyte cryopreservation on CHC. INTERVENTIONS: Discontinuation of vaginal ring combined hormonal contraceptive for 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antral follicle count, antimüllerian hormone, day 3 follicle-stimulating hormone, total oocytes, and mature oocytes retrieved before and after discontinuation of CHC. RESULTS: After a 6-month break from CHC, our patient's antimüllerian hormone level increased from undetectable levels to 3.45 ng/mL, day 3 follicle-stimulating hormone level decreased from 14.9 IU/mL-6.17 IU/mL, and antral follicle count improved from 0-28. In addition, the number of oocytes retrieved after a 4-month CHC break and 6-month break increased from 8 to 29, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients on long-term combined continuous hormonal contraception, profound ovarian suppression can result in a clinical picture of diminished ovarian reserve and extremely poor response to high-dose stimulation, which may be reversed by more time off from suppression.

Psychosocial Aspects of Fertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology.

Psychosocial aspects of fertility, infertility, and assisted reproductive technology (ART) can significantly impact patients' sense of self-identity and personal agency, mental well-being, sexual and marital relationships, reproductive efficiency, compliance with treatment, and pregnancy outcomes. Research is needed to understand how stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and psychotropic medications impact fertility and infertility treatment. The psychosocial implications of ART on our society include a shift toward older maternal age at conception, the complexities of third-party reproduction, and consideration for the psychological and socioeconomic barriers to receiving care. Clinicians must understand, screen for, and identify couples struggling with the psychological and social aspects of fertility and ART.

Patient and cycle characteristics predicting high pregnancy rates with single-embryo transfer: an analysis of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology outcomes between 2004 and 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors associated with high live birth rate and low multiple birth rate in fresh and frozen-thawed assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): The study population included 181,523 women undergoing in vitro fertilization with autologous fresh first cycles, 27,033 with fresh first oocyte donor cycles, 37,658 with fresh second cycles, and 35,446 with frozen-thawed second cycles. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Live birth rate and multiple birth rate after single-embryo transfer (SET) and double embryo transfer (DET) were measured, in addition to cycle characteristics. RESULT(S): In patients with favorable prognostic factors, including younger maternal age, transfer of a blastocyst, and additional embryos cryopreserved, the gain in the live birth rate from SET to DET was approximately 10%-15%; however, the multiple birth rate increased from approximately 2% to greater than 49% in both autologous and donor fresh and frozen-thawed transfer cycles. CONCLUSION(S): This study reports a 10%-15% reduction in live birth rate and a 47% decrement in multiple birth rate with SET compared with DET in the setting of favorable patient prognostic factors. Our findings present an opportunity to increase the rate of SET across the United States and thereby reduce the multiple birth rate and its associated poor perinatal outcomes with assisted reproductive technology pregnancies.

A model to predict risk of blood transfusion after gynecologic surgery.

BACKGROUND: A model that predicts a patient's risk of receiving a blood transfusion may facilitate selective preoperative testing and more efficient perioperative blood management utilization. OBJECTIVE: We sought to construct and validate a model that predicts a patient's risk of receiving a blood transfusion after gynecologic surgery. STUDY DESIGN: In all, 18,319 women who underwent gynecologic surgery at 10 institutions in a single health system by 116 surgeons from January 2010 through June 2014 were analyzed. The data set was split into a model training cohort of 12,219 surgeries performed from January 2010 through December 2012 and a separate validation cohort of 6100 surgeries performed from January 2013 through June 2014. In all, 47 candidate risk factors for transfusion were collected. Multiple logistic models were fit onto the training cohort to predict transfusion within 30 days of surgery. Variables were removed using stepwise backward reduction to find the best parsimonious model. Model discrimination was measured using the concordance index. The model was internally validated using 1000 bootstrapped samples and temporally validated by testing the model's performance in the validation cohort. Calibration and decision curves were plotted to inform clinicians about the accuracy of predicted probabilities and whether the model adds clinical benefit when making decisions. RESULTS: The transfusion rate in the training cohort was 2% (95% confidence interval, 1.72-2.22). The model had excellent discrimination and calibration during internal validation (bias-corrected concordance index, 0.906; 95% confidence interval, 0.890-0.928) and maintained accuracy during temporal validation using the separate validation cohort (concordance index, 0.915; 95% confidence interval, 0.872-0.954). Calibration curves demonstrated the model was accurate up to 40% then it began to overpredict risk. The model provides superior net benefit when clinical decision thresholds are between 0-50% predicted risk. CONCLUSION: This model accurately predicts a patient's risk of transfusion after gynecologic surgery facilitating selective preoperative testing and more efficient perioperative blood management utilization.

Prostate-Type Adenocarcinoma in Mature Cystic Ovarian Teratoma.

We report our experience with prostatic-type tissue in ovarian teratomas, and in particular we highlight a case of prostatic-type adenocarcinoma arising within a mature cystic ovarian teratoma in a 32-yr-old woman. On gross examination, the cyst consisted of typical features of a dermoid cyst. Closer examination revealed a single 1.5-cm solid nodule within the cyst. Microscopically, it was composed of a small cyst-like structure lined by urothelium and to one side glandular and stromal tissue consistent with prostate parenchyma. Within the prostatic-type tissue, there were malignant glands morphologically and immunohistochemically supportive of prostatic-type adenocarcinoma Gleason score 3+3=6. There were also areas consistent with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Although there are several reports in the literature of benign prostatic-type tissue arising within ovarian as well as testicular teratomas, to our knowledge, prostatic-type adenocarcinoma arising in a mature ovarian teratoma is an extremely rare phenomenon, with only 1 previous report in the literature.

Supraumbilical primary trocar insertion for laparoscopic access: the relationship between points of entry and retroperitoneal vital vasculature by imaging.

OBJECTIVES: Advances in laparoscopy have demonstrated that supraumbilical primary ports can be desirable in complex cases with large masses. This study evaluated distances to vital retroperitoneal vasculature that were encountered with 45- and 90-degree angle entry from the umbilicus and 2 commonly described supraumbilical entry points at 3 and 5 cm cephalad from the umbilicus. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of computed tomography scans of the abdomen and pelvis from 100 randomly selected women who were 18-50 years old with normal anatomy was performed. Three-dimensional models of sagittal sections were generated using IMPAX software. Measurements from the abdominal wall at the umbilicus and 3 and 5 cm cephalad with 45- and 90-degree angles to retroperitoneal structures were performed. RESULTS: With 90-degree angle entry, the abdominal wall thickness (AWT) was thinnest at the umbilicus; however, the thickness at 3 and 5 cm was similar. AWT increased at all sites with 45-degree angle entry, and the same pattern was observed. AWT and intraperitoneal distance positively correlated with body mass index and supraumbilical entry points. With 90-degree angle entry, the aorta was 1.9 cm (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-2.4) and 2.5 cm (95% CI, 2.0-2.9) farther away at 3 and 5 cm cephalad compared with umbilical entry. In one-third of the cases, regardless of port placement, a vascular structure other than the aorta was the most anterior vessel. With 45-degree angle entry at the umbilicus, no vessels were encountered. With 45-degree angle entry at 3 and 5 cm cephalad, the aorta was the most anterior vessel in 1% and 2% of cases, respectively, and was noted to be 1.0 cm (95% CI, 1.0-1.0) and 2.3 cm (95% CI, 1.2-3.3) farther away than with 90-degree angle entry. A vessel other than the aorta was encountered in 4% and 7% of cases at 3 and 5 cm, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to theoretic modeling, supraumbilical primary port placement can be implemented safely in laparoscopy. With supraumbilical entry, the distance to retroperitoneal vessels was greater than at the umbilicus. Compared with a 90-degree angle, with a 45-degree angle entry, it was uncommon to encounter vasculature, and all measured distances were greater.