International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Volume:19 Issue: 10, Oct 2021

Since progesterone alone does not seem to be enough for luteal phase support (LPS), especially in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles, so gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) is suggested as an adjuvant therapy in combination with progesterone for LPS.

To evaluate the effects of the administration of GnRH-a with vaginal progesterone compared to vaginal progesterone alone in luteal phase support of the frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.

In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 240 infertile women who were candidate for FET were evaluated into two groups (n = 120/each). Group I received 400 mg vaginal progesterone twice a day from the time of transfer. Second group received vaginal progesterone and also 0.1 mg diphereline on days 0, 3, and 6 of FET for LPS. Finally, the clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates, and the implantation, and spontaneous abortion rates were compared in two groups.

Results showed that there was no significant difference between the mean age of women and the duration of infertility (p = 0.78, p = 0.58, respectively). There were no significant differences between groups in the terms of implantation and spontaneous abortion rates (p = 0.19, p = 0.31, respectively). However, in terms of clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates, the significant differences were seen between groups (p = 0.008 and p = 0.005, respectively).

Co-administration of GnRH-a and vaginal progesterone in LPS may be superior to vaginal progesterone alone in women who underwent a frozen-selected embryo transfer cycle.

Lymphoid-tyrosine-phosphatase which is encoded by the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor 22 (PTPN22) gene plays a pivotal role in the regulation of immune responses by dephosphorylating several signaling intermediates of immune cells.

Since a balanced immune response has been shown to be important during pregnancy, the purpose of this research was to compare the frequency of the PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism in women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL) vs. in a control group for the first time.

Genomic DNA from 200 individuals with URPL and 200 individuals without URPL (the control group) at the infertility center in Yazd, Iran was isolated using the salting-out method. The PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism of the two groups was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Genotype frequencies in the women with URPL and the fertile control group were compared using the Chi-square test.

There were significant differences in the frequency of the PTPN22 1858T polymorphism in the URPL individuals vs. the healthy controls, i.e. 32.0% and 21.5%, respectively (p = 0.01).

Our findings suggest that the PTPN22 1858T polymorphism could play a role in recurrent pregnancy loss. Therefore, genotyping of the mentioned polymorphism can help clinicians to predict the probable risk of URPL.

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) and its treatment methods may affect subsequent fertility outcomes.

To compare methotrexate (MTX), laparoscopic salpingostomy, and salpingectomy methods of EP treatment and their effects on fertility outcomes.

This retrospective cohort study was performed on women receiving a definitive diagnosis of tubular EP from 2014 to 2017 at Arash Medical Center, Tehran, Iran. In total, 194 women were studied, of which 64 were treated with MTX, 52 underwent salpingostomy, and 78 underwent salpingectomy, depending on their clinical status. Basic information, obstetrics history, and major outcomes of the treatment after an 18-month follow-up, including recurrence of EP, miscarriage, and successful intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), were recorded and variables were compared among the three groups.

There was no significant difference in fertility outcomes among the three groups. Among the studied variables, predictors of successful IUP after EP treatment were multiparity (Hazard Ratio (HR): 1.37; 95%CI: 1.06-1.77), no history of miscarriage (HR: 2.37; 95%CI: 1.01-5.56), and a higher number of live births (HR: 1.54; 95%CI: 1.01-2.37). On the other hand, predictors of EP recurrence included nulliparity (HR: 1.61; 95%CI: 1.02-2.53) and a lower number of live births (HR: 3.84; 95%CI: 1.43-10.98). The effect of other factors, including the utilized therapeutic modalities, was not statistically significant.

The current study results demonstrated that after an 18-month follow-up, fertility outcomes, including recurrence of EP and successful IUP, were not significantly different among the subjects with EP treated with MTX, salpingostomy, or salpingectomy. Further studies with long-term follow-ups are recommended.

Vitrification as the most efficient method of cryopreservation, enables successful storage of oocytes for couples who undergo specific procedures including surgery and chemotherapy. However, the efficacy of in vitro maturation (IVM) methods with vitrified germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes could be improved.

As melatonin and follicular fluid (FF) might enhance IVM conditions, we used these supplements to assess the maturation rate of vitrified GV oocytes and their artificial fertilization rate.

Four hundred mouse GV oocytes were harvested, vitrified, and assigned into control (C-Vit-GV) and treatment groups of melatonin (M-Vit-GV), human follicular fluid (HFF-Vit-GV), and a combination (M + HFF-Vit-GV). A non-vitrified group of GV oocytes (non-Vit-GV) and a group of in vivo matured metaphase II (Vivo-MII) oocytes served as control groups to evaluate the vitrification and IVM conditions, respectively. Maturation of GV oocytes to MII and further development to two-cell-stage embryos were determined in the different groups.

Development to two-cell embryos was comparable between the Vivo-MII and non-Vit-GV groups. IVM and in vitro fertilization (IVF) results in the non-Vit-GV group were also comparable with the C-Vit-GV oocytes. In addition, the IVM and IVF outcomes were similar across the different treatment groups including the M-Vit-GV, HFF-Vit-GV, M + HFF-Vit-GV, and C-Vit-GV oocytes.

Employing an appropriate technique of vitrification followed by suitable IVM conditions can lead to reasonable IVF outcomes which may not benefit from extra supplementations. However, whether utilizing other supplementation formulas could improve the outcome requires further investigation.

Portulaca oleracea (PO) is a widely known plant utilized for its medicinal attributes in the treatment of different illnesses.

To investigate the effect of methanolic extract of PO (MEPO) on ovariectomy-induced reproductive toxicity in normal cyclic rats.

Twenty 10-wk-old normal cyclic rats weighing 110-200 g were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5/group). Group A served as the control and received distilled water only. Group B was ovariectomized without treatment, while groups C and D were ovariectomized but treated with 400 and 800 mg/kg of MEPO, respectively, for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, body weight, serum hormonal levels, and estrous cycles were monitored across the groups.

Groups B, C, and D showed estrous cycle dysregulation and specific phase arrest when compared with the control. While a significant decrease in estradiol (p ≤ 0.001) and testosterone levels (p ≤ 0.001) were observed in groups B, C, and D, only groups C and D showed a significant increase in progesterone level when compared with the control (p ≤ 0.001, p = 0.01, respectively).

The administration of 400 and 800 mg/kg MEPO is ineffective in ameliorating estrous cycle disruption and hormonal changes seen in ovariectomized normal cyclic adult Wistar rats.

Sexual desire and sexual distress are determined by emotional, psychosocial, hormonal, and anatomical factors during pregnancy.

To identify the factors contributing to female low sexual desire and sexual distress during pregnancy separately and concurrently.

Overall, 295 pregnant women were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Sexual desire and distress were assessed by the sexual interest and desire inventory-female (score ≤ 33.0 indicates low sexual desire) and the female sexual distress scale-revised (score ≥ 11 indicates sexual distress).

56.3% and 17.3% of pregnant women met the clinical cut-off for low sexual desire and sexual distress, respectively. After adjusting for the effect of the confounding variables by logistic regression multivariate analysis, satisfaction with body image before and during pregnancy, frequency of sexual intercourse, and satisfaction with foreplay were found to be significantly associated with low sexual desire. Factors related to sexual distress were similar to those noted for common sexual desire, except for satisfaction with foreplay. Other factors related to sexual distress included increased age, fear of abortion, and pregnancy trimester. Factors linked to concurrent low sexual desire and sexual distress were similar to those found for sexual distress, except for pregnancy trimester.

Low sexual desire and sexual distress are relatively common sexual experiences during pregnancy. Several factors could predict low sexual desire but were not associated with sexual distress, and conversely. Comprehensive attention to all of these factors is essential while screening for sexual health during pregnancy.

Mouse embryo culture condition is an essential part of transgenic, reproductive and developmental biology laboratories. Mouse embryonic culture media may have a high risk of serum contamination with pathogens.

To investigated the effect of sericin as an embryo culture medium supplement on in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and development of the preimplantation embryo in mice.

The effects of sericin at three concentrations (subgroups) of 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% as a medium supplement on IVM, IVF, and in vitro development of mouse embryos were separately investigated and compared with a sericin-free (control) group. The cumulative effect of the three concentrations was evaluated for IVM+ in vitro development and IVF+ in vitro development as follow-up groups.

In the IVM group, compared to the control group, the number of oocysts reaching the MII stage was significantly higher when 1% sericin was used (161/208 = 77.4%). No significant results were observed in the IVF and in vitro development groups with different concentrations of sericin compared to the control group. Among the follow-up groups, in the IVM + in vitro development group, the number of oocytes was higher after passing the IVM and IVF and reaching the blastocysts stage when 1% sericin was used, compared with other sericin subgroups. A significant difference was also noted when compared with the control group (p = 0.048). The IVF+ in vitro development study group, on the other hand, did not show any significant relationship.

It can be concluded that 1% sericin can be used as a supplement in mouse embryo cultures to improve the IVM rate. Also, based on the findings, sericin appears to be an effective supplement which can have a positive effect on the development of embryos derived from IVM.

Hyperglycemia damages various tissues such as the testes through oxidative stress and inflammation, which can eventually lead to infertility.

Garlic extract effects on the testicular tissue of diabetic rats were investigated.

In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats (8-wk old, weighing 230-300 gr) were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 6/each) including; C: control rats, G: received 0.4 gr of garlic extract/100 gr body weight, D1: Streptozotocin-induced-diabetic rats or type 1, D1+G: D1 rats that were treated with garlic, D2: Streptozotocin +nicotinamide-induced-diabetic rats or type 2, D2+G: D2 rats that treated with garlic. At the end of the study, serum testosterone was assayed by ELISA. Also, sperm quality and quantity were evaluated. For determination of oxidative stress status, total antioxidant capacity, total oxidative status, lipid peroxidation, and thiol groups were assayed in the testis tissues of the rats by colorimetric methods. Also, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression and the protein level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

In diabetic rats, glucose, total oxidative status and lipid peroxidation, iNOS gene expression, and IL-1β were higher than in non-diabetic rats, whereas testosterone, total antioxidant capacity and thiol groups, and sperm quality were significantly lower compared with control rats. These alterations were normalized by garlic intervention.

In diabetic rats, garlic was reduced glucose, oxidative stress, IL-1β, and iNOS gene expression and increased testosterone and sperm quality. So, the results suggest that garlic can reduce the severity of damage in testicular tissues of diabetic rats through its hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.