Aim
This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the endometrial receptivity array (ERA) as a diagnostic tool and the impact of personalized embryo transfer (pET) for the treatment of patients with ...recurrent implantation failure (RIF) in Japan.
Methods
Fifty patients with a history of RIF with frozen‐thawed blastocyst transfers were recruited from July, 2015 to April, 2016. Endometrial sampling for the ERA and histological dating and a pET according to the ERA were performed. The receptive (R) or non‐receptive (NR) status of the endometrium as a result of the first ERA, endometrial dating, and pregnancy rates after the pET were analyzed.
Results
Of the patients with RIF, 12 (24%) were NR. Among them, eight (66.7%) were prereceptive. A clinical follow‐up was possible in 44 patients who underwent the pET. The pregnancy rates were 58.8% per patient and 35.3% per first pET in the R patients and 50.0% per patient and 50.0% per first pET in the NR patients. Discrepancies between the ERA results and histological dating were seen more in the NR patients than in the R patients.
Conclusions
For patients with unexplained RIF, there is a significance in searching for their personal window of implantation (WOI) using the ERA, considering the percentage of those who were NR and the pregnancy rates that resulted from the pET. By transferring euploid embryos in a personal WOI, much better pregnancy rates are expected.
Background: To evaluate obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of singletons conceived after advanced assisted reproductive technology (ART) techniques: conventional IVF pregnancies (C-IVF), ejaculated ...sperm intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), assisted oocyte activation (AOA), in vitro maturation (IVM), and testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Methods: The subjects were 3,028 singletons who were born after fresh or frozen embryo transfer. The subjects were separated into five groups: C-IVF (Formula: see text), ICSI (Formula: see text), AOA (Formula: see text), IVM (Formula: see text), and TESE (Formula: see text). We evaluated obstetrical and neonatal outcomes calculating the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) using multivariable logistic regression analyses for fresh and frozen embryos and for cleavage and blastocyst transfer. The C-IVF group was used as a background control for the ICSI group. Moreover, the TESE, AOA, and IVM groups were compared to the ICSI group to evaluate the effects of the ICSI procedure itself. Results: The incidence of perinatal complications was significantly lower in the ICSI-fresh group (Formula: see text, 95% CI: 0.10–0.83, Formula: see text). Regarding sex ratio, the IVM was significantly associated with sex ratio imbalance toward female in both fresh and frozen groups (Formula: see text, 95% CI: 0.10–0.96, Formula: see text, 95% CI: 0.07–0.98, Formula: see text). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in preterm birth rate, low birth weight rate and congenital abnormalities rate between conventional IVF, ICSI, and the other groups. Conclusions: There were no negative effects on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes between conventional IVF and ICSI. Although this was a limited sample size study, advanced ART technologies such as AOA, IVM, and TESE also seem to have a low risk of adverse impact on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes but may have a slight impact on sex ratio.
Purpose
To find the best methods to achieve the highest pregnancy and birth rates for couples needing testicular sperm extraction (TESE)‐intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Methods
...Retrospectively studied were 801 patients with male factor infertility who had undergone TESE‐ICSI between April, 1996 and July, 2016 and who had been categorized into four groups: obstructive azoospermia (OA); non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA); Klinefelter syndrome (KS); and cryptozoospermia (Crypt). The sperm retrieval rate, hormone levels, fertilization rate (FR), pregnancy rate (PR), and birth rate (BR) after ICSI among three groups were compared: fresh testicular sperm (FS)‐fresh oocytes (FO) (Group I); frozen‐thawed testicular sperm‐FO (Group II); and FS‐vitrified‐warmed oocytes (Group III).
Results
The testicular sperm recovery rate was 57.8% (463/801): 89.6% in the Crypt, 97.1% in the OA, 28.9% in the NOA, and 42.2% in the KS groups. The follicle‐stimulating hormone levels were significantly higher in the NOA and KS groups and the testosterone levels were significantly lower in the KS group. The FR, PR, and BR were: 65.2%, 43.2%, and 28.5% in group I; 59.2%, 33.4%, and 18.7% in group II; and 56.4%, 33.8%, and 22.1% in group III.
Conclusion
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection with FS‐FO achieved the best PR and BR. It should be considered what to do in cases with no testicular sperm by TESE. The authors hope that ICSI with donor sperm will be allowed in Japan in the near future.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the delivery of a healthy female infant after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using pentoxifylline-activated sperm from a patient with Kartagener’s syndrome. DESIGN: ...Case report. SETTING: Private assisted reproductive technology clinic in Japan. PATIENT(S): A couple with male factor infertility due to Kartagener’s syndrome. INTERVENTION(S): Intracytoplasmic sperm injection using ejaculated sperm activated by pentoxifylline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Semen characteristics, sperm ultrastructure, fertilization, pregnancy, and birth after ICSI. RESULT(S): The fertilization rate was 7 of 12 (58.3%), and the blastocyst formation rate was 4 of 7 (57.1%); all blastocysts were vitrified. After a single blastcyst transfer, a pregnancy ensued and progressed to term; a healthy female infant was delivered. CONCLUSION(S): With ejaculated sperm, which was activated by pentoxifylline, successful fertilization was accomplished by ICSI; thus, fertilization, vitrification, pregnancy, and delivery are attainable with sperm obtained from men with Kartagener’s syndrome.
To present the effectiveness of diagnostic heterologous intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), mouse oocyte activation test (MOAT), and ICSI combined with assisted oocyte activation (AOA) in a ...globozoospermic patient.
A case report.
A private IVF center, Japan.
A patient with globozoospermia.
MOAT in a mouse and ICSI combined with AOA in a human.
Ultrastructure, MOAT, fertilization, and pregnancy.
The transmission electron micrographs showed 100% round-headed spermatozoa lacking an acrosome. MOAT showed that the fertilization rate was 68.4% (13/19) when AOA was used but 0% (0/19) when AOA was not used. After the diagnosis of globozoospermia and sperm-related activation deficiency, 17 human mature oocytes were activated with calcium ionophore after ICSI was performed. The fertilization rate was 88.2% (15/17), and 11 blastocysts were cryopreserved using the vitrification method to prevent severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. A single vitrified-warmed blastocyst was transferred. A gestational sac with fetal heart movements was recognized, and a healthy boy weighing 3180 g was born at 40 weeks of gestation by cesarean section without any congenital abnormality.
MOAT allows discrimination between sperm- and oocyte-related fertilization failures and shows the effectiveness of AOA.
Oocyte vitrification is one of the methods for preserving fertility of cancer patients. In 2013, we reported a successful live birth using cryopreserved oocytes from a patient who contracted ...Ph-positive acute lymphoid leukemia at the retrieval age of 20. In this report, we described a second live birth from the same patient. The patient visited our clinic in November 2018 hoping to utilize vitrified oocytes cryopreserved in 2007. As a result, a day 3 single eight-cell stage embryo was transferred in a hormone replacement therapy cycle. She became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy girl (2,740 g) in September 2019. This is a case report of two live births from 10 matured oocytes that had been preserved for 12 years.
Purpose
To report a live birth from vitrified-warmed oocytes for a Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoid leukemia (Ph-ALL) patient.
Methods
A 20-year-old single woman with Ph-ALL requested ...oocyte cryopreservation at a private fertility clinic using assisted reproduction technology (ART). In cases of leukemia, there is a very short time before chemotherapy, follwed shortly by total body irradiation (TBI), and although she had already received the chemotherapy, ten oocytes were vitrified and stored for 59 months before warming. Soon after the oocyte cryopreservation, she received TBI and bone marrow transplant (BMT). During the storage, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred making oocyte transport necessary. The embryo transfer was planned in a hormone replacement cycle, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was performed on the vitrified-warmed oocytes. On day 3, two embryos were transferred.
Results
The patient became pregnant and delivered a healthy girl after ICSI using vitrified-warmed oocytes.
Conclusions:
Oocyte cryopreservation is the best option for fertility preservation of young single women with leukemia. Oncologists and gynecologists who conduct ART should cooperate to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.
Abstract This report describes six successful pregnancies (five healthy children from four deliveries and two miscarriages) with SrCl2 oocyte activation using spermatozoa from nine patients with ...repeated fertilization failure. Oocytes were artificially activated by SrCl2 30 min after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Oocytes were placed in 10 mmol/l of SrCl2 medium for 1 h, rinsed several times, and then cultured in Universal IVF medium. Developmental characteristics of five resulting children until 1 year old were assessed according to the maternal and children health hand book issued by Mothers' and Children's Health Organization in Japan. Mean fertilization rate, mean frequency of good cleaved embryos, pregnancy rate, and implantation rate after artificial activation in nine couples were increased from 21.7 to 64.5% ( P < 0.001), from 0 to 15.4%, from 0 to 40.0% and from 0 to 25.0% respectively. Five healthy children were born following ICSI and artificial activation between February 2005 and March 2006. Physical and mental development of the children from birth to 12 months was normal. These suggest the utility and safety of SrCl2 for patients with repeated failed fertilizations following ICSI and artificial activation.
Aim
The purpose of this study was to compare prophylactic subcutaneous drainage plus subcuticular sutures versus staples for the risk of wound separation after skin closure following gynecologic ...malignancy surgery, and to investigate the risk factors of this procedure.
Material and Methods
Patients were divided into two groups: 120 patients who were treated with subcutaneous drainage plus subcuticular sutures (Suture group) and 201 patients with staples plus subcutaneous sutures (Staples group). In the Suture group, subcuticular tissue was approximated with interrupted 4‐0 polydioxanone sutures, and adhesive closure strips were used on the skin surface. A 3.3‐mm closed drainage was implicated in subcutaneous tissue. In the Staples group, subcutaneous tissue was approximated with interrupted polyglactin (Vicryl, Ethicon) sutures.
Results
Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Mean operation times were compatible (201 vs 196 min, P = 0.16). The incidence of wound separation was less in the Suture group than in the Staples group (3/120 vs 17/201, P = 0.033). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the Staples group was an independent risk factor for wound separation (odds ratio 7.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.59–33.91, P = 0.011), independent of obesity, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages, and operation time. None of the 14 obese patients in the Suture group showed surgical wound separation.
Conclusions
The combination of a prophylactic subcutaneous drain and subcuticular sutures reduced wound separation after skin closure following gynecologic malignancy surgery. With the information regarding risk factors established in this study, the above method provides the best results to minimize the risk, particularly in obese patients.
To examine the efficacy of low-dose hCG using a GnRH antagonist protocol.
Prospective randomized study was performed at the Kyono Ladies Clinic. One hundred ninety-two women (<40 -years old, <3 ...previous cycles) were randomly assigned to GnRH agonist (buserelin) long protocol (LP, n = 66), GnRH antagonist (cetrorelix) with no low-dose hCG protocol (NhCGP, n = 63), or GnRH antagonist with low-dose hCG protocol (hCGP, n = 63).
The hCGP was associated with reduced total amounts of FSH, increased oocyte maturation rate, high-quality day 3 embryos rate, and number of frozen embryos. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) tended to be lower in the GnRH antagonist protocol. Pregnancy and implantation rates did not differ significantly between study groups.
Daily low-dose hCG supplementation in the late follicular phase could improve the outcome in FSH based-GnRH antagonist protocol. This protocol, however, does require further modifications, including determination of the optimal doses for hCG and gonadotropin pretreatment.