Impact of female aging is an important issue in human reproduction. There was a need for an extensive analysis of age impact on transcriptome profile of cumulus cells (CCs) to link oocyte quality and ...developmental potential with patient’s age. CCs from patients of three age groups were analyzed individually using microarrays. RT-qPCR validation was performed on independent CC cohorts. We focused here on pathways affected by aging in CCs that may explain the decline of oocyte quality with age. In CCs collected from patients >37 years, angiogenic genes including ANGPTL4, LEPR, TGFBR3, and FGF2 were significantly overexpressed compared to patients of the two younger groups. In contrast genes implicated in TGF-β signaling pathway such as AMH, TGFB1, inhibin, and activin receptor were underexpressed. CCs from patients whose ages are between 31 and 36 years showed an overexpression of genes related to insulin signaling pathway such as IGFBP3, PIK3R1, and IGFBP5. A bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify the microRNAs that are potential regulators of the differentially expressed genes of the study. It revealed that the pathways impacted by age were potential targets of specific miRNAs previously identified in our CCs small RNAs sequencing.
Approximately 7% of breast cancers are diagnosed in women under 40. Question of subsequent fertility has become fundamental. We aimed to evaluate the rate of fertility preservation (FP) by oocyte ...retrieval (OR) after ovarian stimulation in patients of childbearing age, managed for breast cancer with adjuvant chemotherapy in France, reuse rate of frozen gametes and live births rate (LBR) after treatment.
We included 15,774 women between 18 and 40 years old, managed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, between January 2011 and December 2020 from a French health registry. Patients with OR after breast surgery and before chemotherapy were considered as FP group; those with no OR as no FP group. To compare LBR with French population independently of age, we calculated Standardized Incidence Rates (SIR) of live births using indirect standardization method.
FP rate increased gradually since 2011, reaching 17% in 2019. A decrease in use was observed in 2020 (13,9%). Among patients with at least 2 years of follow-up, gamete reuse rate was 5,6%. Births after cancer were mostly from spontaneous pregnancies. Among patients with at least 3 years of follow-up, LBR was 19,6% in FP group, 3,9% in second group. SIR of live births was of 1,05 (95% CI = 0.91–1.19) and 0.33 (95% CI = 0.30–0.36) in FP and no FP group respectively.
Oncofertility activity increased until 2019 in France, reaching 17%. Gamete reuse rate was low. Births resulted mainly from spontaneous pregnancies. SIR of live births was lower in no FP group.
•Fertility preservation rate increased gradually since 2011, reaching 17% in 2019.•Among patients with at least 2 years of follow-up, gamete reuse rate was 5,6%.•Births after breast cancer were mostly from spontaneous pregnancies.•Life births rate was 19,6% in fertility preservation group, 3,9% in second group.
Low serum progesterone concentration on frozen embryo transfer (FET) day in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) cycles results in lower reproductive outcomes. Recent studies showed the efficiency of a ..."rescue protocol'' to restore reproductive outcomes in these patients. Here, we compared reproductive outcomes in HRT FET cycles in women with low serum progesterone levels who received individualized luteal phase support (iLPS) and in women with adequate serum progesterone levels who underwent
fertilization for pre-implantation genetic testing for structural rearrangements or monogenic disorders.
This retrospective cohort study included women (18-43 years of age) undergoing HRT FET cycles with pre-implantation genetic testing at Montpellier University Hospital between June 2020 and May 2022. A standard HRT was used: vaginal micronized estradiol (6mg/day) followed by vaginal micronized progesterone (VMP; 800 mg/day). Serum progesterone was measured after four doses of VMP: if <11ng/ml, 25mg/day subcutaneous progesterone or 30mg/day oral dydrogesterone was introduced.
125 HRT FET cycles were performed in 111 patients. Oral/subcutaneous progesterone supplementation concerned 39 cycles (n=20 with subcutaneous progesterone and n=19 with oral dydrogesterone). Clinical and laboratory parameters of the cycles were comparable between groups. The ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) was 41.03% in the supplemented group and 18.60% in the non-supplemented group (p= 0.008). The biochemical pregnancy rate and miscarriages rate tended to be higher in the non-supplemented group versus the supplemented group: 13.95% versus 5.13% and 38.46% versus 15.79% (p=0.147 and 0.182 respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that progesterone supplementation was significantly associated with higher OPR (adjusted OR = 3.25, 95% CI 1.38 - 7.68, p=0.007).
In HRT FET cycles, progesterone supplementation in patients with serum progesterone concentration <11 ng/mL after four doses of VMP significantly increases the OPR.
The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate outcome benefits expected in repeated implantation failure (RIF) patients (
n
= 217) after customized embryo transfer based upon identification of ...the receptivity window by transcriptomic approach using the Win-Test. In this test, the expression of 11 endometrial genes known to be predictive of endometrial receptivity is assessed by RT-PCR in biopsies collected during the implantation window (6–9 days after the spontaneous luteinizing hormone surge during natural cycles, 5–9 days after progesterone administration during hormone replacement therapy cycles). Then, patients underwent either customized embryo transfer (cET,
n
= 157 patients) according to the Win-Test results or embryo transfer according to the classical procedure (control group,
n
= 60). Pregnancy and live birth rates were compared in the two groups. The Win-Test showed that in 78.5% of women, the receptivity window lasted less than 48 h, although it could be shorter (< 24 h, 9.5%) or longer (> 48 h, 12%). This highlighted that only in 20% of patients with RIF the endometrium would have been receptive if the classical embryo transfer protocol was followed. In the other 80% of patients, the receptivity window was delayed by 1–3 days relative to the classical timing. This suggests that implantation failure could be linked to inadequate timing of embryo transfer. In agreement, both implantation (22.7% vs. 7.2%) and live birth rates per patient (31.8% vs. 8.3%) were significantly higher in the cET group than in the control group. cET on the basis of the Win-Test results could be proposed to improve pregnancy and live birth rates.
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04192396; December 5, 2019, retrospectively registered.
To study the impact of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on the uterine volume of childhood acute leukemia (AL) survivor depending on age at HSCT and the type of myeloablative ...conditioning regimen.
Thirteen French University Teaching Hospitals.
Prospective cohort study.
Eighty-eight women who underwent HSCT during childhood or adolescence for AL compared to a control group.
A multicentric prospective national study compared the uterine volume in a cohort of childhood AL survivor adult women treated with HSCT, matched 1:1 to control women. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging scans included diffusion-weighted imaging sequences. Scans were centralized for a double-blinded reading by 2 radiologists.
Uterine volume, uterine body-to-cervix ratio, and apparent diffusion coefficient.
The mean age at HSCT was 9.1 ± 0.3 years with a mean follow-up duration of 16.4 ± 0.5 years. The cohort of 88 HSCT survivor women was composed of 2 subgroups depending on the myeloablative conditioning regimen received: an alkylating agent–based regimen group (n = 34) and a total body irradiation (TBI)–based regimen group (n = 54). Among the 88 women, 77 were considered as having a “correct hormonal balance” with estrogens supplied by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or because of a residual ovarian function. In the control group (n = 88), the mean uterine volume was 79.7 ± 3.3 mL. The uterine volume significantly decreased in all HSCT survivor women. After the alkylating agent–based regimen, the uterine volume was 45.3 ± 5.6 mL, corresponding to a significant volume reduction of 43.1% (28.8–57.4%) compared with that of the control group. After TBI, the uterine volume was 19.6 ± 1.9 mL, corresponding to a significant volume reduction of 75.3% (70.5%–80.2%) compared with that of the control group. After the alkylating agent–based regimen, the uterine volume dramatically decreased in women with POI without HRT compared with that in those with a correct hormonal balance (15.2 ± 2.6 vs. 49.3 ± 6 mL). In contrast, after TBI, the uterine volume was similar in all women, with no positive effect of hormonal impregnation on the uterine volume (16.3 ± 2.6 vs. 20.1 ± 2.2 mL, respectively).
The uterine volume was diminished after HSCT, regardless of the conditioning regimen. The physiopathology needs to be further investigated: specific impact of a high dose of an alkylating agent; impact of hormone deprivation around puberty; poor compliance to HRT; or different myometrial impact of HRT compared with endogenous ovarian estrogens?
ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT 03583294 (enrollment of the first subject, November 11, 2017; enrollment of the last subject, June 25, 2021).
El volumen uterino se ve drásticamente reducido después de un transplante de células madre hematopoyéticas durante la infancia independientemente del régimen de acondicionamiento previo.
Estudiar el impacto del transplante de células madre hematopoyéticas (HSCT) sobre el volumen uterino en las supervivientes de leucemia aguda infantil (AL) según la edad en que se realizó el HSCT y el tipo de régimen de acondicionamiento mieloablativo.
Trece hospitales universitarios franceses.
Estudio prospectivo de cohortes.
Ochenta y ocho mujeres sometidas a HSCT durante su infancia o adolescencia por AL comparadas con un grupo control.
Se comparó el volumen uterino en una cohorte de mujeres adultas supervivientes de AL infantil tratada mediante HSCT en un estudio nacional prospectivo multicéntrico, emparejadas 1:1 con mujeres control. Las imágenes de las resonancias magnéticas pélvicas incluyeron secuencias de imágenes ponderadas por difusión. Las pruebas se centralizaron para una lectura doble-ciego realizada por 2 radiólogos.
Volumen uterino, relación cuerpo-cérvix uterino y coeficiente de difusión aparente.
La edad media en la realización del HSCT fue de 9.1+/- 0.3 años, con una media de duración del seguimiento de 16.4 +/- 0.5 años. La cohorte de 88 mujeres supervivientes de HSCT estaba compuesta por 2 subgrupos dependiendo del régimen de acondicionamiento mieloablativo recibido: un grupo con régimen basado en agentes alquilantes (n=34) y otro con régimen basado en irradiación corporal total (TBI) (n=54). Entre las 88 mujeres, se consideró que 77 tenían un “balance hormonal correcto” con aporte de estrógenos mediante tratamiento hormonal sustitutivo (HRT) por insuficiencia ovárica prematura (POI) o por una función ovárica residual. En el grupo control (n=88), el volumen uterino medio fue de 79.7 +/- 3.3 mL. El volumen uterino estaba significativamente reducido en todas las mujeres supervivientes de HSCT. Tras el régimen basado en agentes alquilantes, el volumen uterino era de 45.3 +/- 5.6 mL, correspondiente a una reducción significativa del volumen del 43.1% (28.8-57.4%) comparada con las del grupo control. Después de TBI, el volumen uterino fue de 19.6 +/- 1.9 mL, correspondiente a una reducción significativa del volumen del 75.3% (70.5%-80.2%) comparadas con las del grupo control. Tras el régimen basado en agentes alquilantes, el volumen uterino disminuyó drásticamente en mujeres con POI sin HRT comparadas con aquellas que tenían un balance hormonal correcto (15.2 +/- 2.6 vs. 49.3 +/- 6 mL). Por el contrario, después de TBI, el volumen uterino fue similar en todas las mujeres, sin efecto positivo de la impregnación hormonal sobre el volumen uterino (16.3 +/- 2.6 vs 20.1 +/-2.2 mL respectivamente).
Después de HSCT se produjo una reducción del volumen uterino independientemente del régimen de acondicionamiento. Son necesarios más estudios para conocer la fisiopatología: impacto específico de altas dosis de agentes alquilantes, impacto de la deprivación hormonal en la pubertad, bajo cumplimiento del HRT o diferente impacto miometrial de la HRT comparada con los estrógenos ováricos endógenos?
Útero, transplante de células madre hematopoyéticas, MRI, quimioterapia, irradiación corporal total.
Several studies suggest a decrease in sperm quality in men in the last decades. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the influence of male factors (sperm quality and paternal age) on the ...outcomes of conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
This retrospective study included all couples who underwent IVF or ICSI at Montpellier University Hospital, France, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2015. Exclusion criteria were cycles using surgically retrieved sperm or frozen sperm, with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or using frozen oocytes. The primary outcomes were the blastulation rate (number of blastocysts obtained at day 5 or day 6/number of embryos in prolonged culture at day 3) and the clinical pregnancy rate. The secondary outcomes were the fertilization and early miscarriage rates.
In total, 859 IVF and 1632 ICSI cycles were included in this study. The fertilization rate after ICSI was affected by oligospermia. Moreover, in ICSI, severe oligospermia (lower than 0.2 million/ml) led to a reduction of the blastulation rate. Reduced rapid progressive motility affected particularly IVF, with a decrease of the fertilization rate and number of embryos at day 2 when progressive motility was lower than 32%. Paternal age also had a negative effect. Although it was difficult to eliminate the bias linked to the woman's age, pregnancy rate was reduced in IVF and ICSI when the father was older than 51 and the mother older than 37 years.
These results allow adjusting our strategies of fertilization technique and embryo transfer. In the case of severe oligospermia, transfer should be carried out at the cleaved embryo stage (day 2-3) due to the very low blastulation rate. When the man is older than 51 years, couples should be aware of the reduced success rate, especially if the woman is older than 37 years. Finally, promising research avenues should be explored, such as the quantification of free sperm DNA, to optimize the selection of male gametes.
Although many studies have demonstrated the superiority of ultra-fast freezing compared with slow freezing, the debate is still ongoing concerning the best type of vitrification method: direct ...exposure to liquid nitrogen (i.e., open systems), or sterile system without contact with liquid nitrogen (i.e., closed systems). The aims of this study were to share our experience on closed vitrification systems in the framework of our egg donation programme with fully asynchronous cycles, and to identify predictive factors of successful outcome in this context. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the number of vitrified oocytes was the only factor predictive of the oocyte survival rate and of clinical pregnancy. The addition of one vitrified oocyte increased by 15 % the odds of oocyte survival. When the oocyte survival rate was considered as a continuous variable, the following results were obtained: 7 % of clinical pregnancy probability for 50 % survival rate, 15 % for 75 % survival rate, and 32 % for 100 % survival rate. The rates of oocyte survival and fertilization, embryo implantation, and clinical pregnancy were in agreement with the recommended values established by ALPHA Scientists in Reproductive Medicine in 2012. On the basis of these results, and according to the European directives on safety, we validate the routine use of closed oocyte vitrification systems for egg donation programmes. These results must be confirmed in larger samples before extrapolation to all patient types.
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