Natural cycle IVF: a question of semantics?

Recently there has been much discussion and presentation on IVF protocols using less stimulation or indeed none at all. Our experience with controlled natural cycle IVF over the last few years has convinced us that this is a powerful tool for many patients in the treatment of infertility. The protocol we employ has raised some questions as to whether it is natural cycle or stimulated cycle. We have reported a large series of cycles and seen no stimulatory effects of the medications used to control the cycle, thereby confirming our position that controlled natural cycle IVF is a valid option as an assisted reproduction treatment.     

Unsafe abortions in a developing country: has liberalisation of laws on abortions made a difference?

Unsafe abortion is still a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in Africa. To assess whether the introduction of legal abortions in South Africa has decreased admissions resulting from mid-trimester abortions, a prospective study of abortion cases admitted to the King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa, over a four-month period was carried out. Two hundred and four women were admitted with incomplete abortion; 49% of which were spontaneous, 17% certainly induced, 10% probably induced, 18% possibly induced and 4.3% legally induced. A change in the laws on termination of pregnancy (TOP) has resulted in a decrease in cases of incomplete abortion being admitted to the gynaecological wards. However, illegal TOPs are still prevalent for a variety of reasons. There is need to place more emphasis on the delivery of efficient contraceptive services and reproductive health education for women.     

Patenting time: a response to Professor Reijo Pera’s argument that the cell cycle of an embryo developing in vitro is not natural

A response to the Commentary ‘More than just a matter of time’ by Renee Reijo Pera.     

Can improvements in breast-feeding practices reduce neonatal mortality in developing countries?

OBJECTIVE: to review the literature on the relationship between breast-feeding practices in the first month of life and neonatal mortality. METHODS: Medline and Cochrane databases were searched using the keywords breastfeeding, and neonatal mortality, supplemented with additional searches using the keywords developing countries, colostrum, infant feeding and infant mortality, hypoglaecemia, hypothermia, breastfeeding practices, and suckling. FINDINGS: breast feeding helps prevent hypothermia and hypoglycaemia in newborn babies, which are contributory causes of early neonatal deaths especially among low birth weight and premature babies. During the late neonatal period, most deaths in developing countries are due to infections such as sepsis, acute respiratory tract infection, meningitis, omphalitis and diarrhoea. Feeding colostrum and breast feeding, especially exclusive breast feeding, protects against such deaths. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: in most developing countries, nearly all women breast feed in the first month of life, but often breast feeding is delayed beyond the first hour after birth, and exclusive breast feeding is not usually practised. Policies and training of staff of maternity centres and hospitals can encourage early initiation of breast feeding and exclusive breast feeding. Midwives can support community-based efforts to support exclusive breast feeding. Breast feeding plays an important role in reducing neonatal mortality and should be strongly emphasised by programmes attempting to reduce neonatal mortality.     

Antenatal care in developing countries. What should be done?

Development of antenatal care from the beginning of the 20th century and its relation to perinatal mortality in developed countries is presented. The role of socioeconomic factors, new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, extended indications for cesarean section and of neonatal intensive care is also stressed. In the West- and Middle-European countries by the introduction of antenatal care the perinatal mortality (PNM) rate decreased from about 60.0@1000 in the years 1920-1930 to about 40.0@1000 in 1950s. Further decrease to about 25.0@1000 in the 1970s was conditioned by an increase of number of antenatal visits and by extended indications for cesarean section. New technologies (amnioscopy, pH.metry, cardiotocography and ultrasound examinations) decreased the PNM rate to about 13.0@1000 in the year 1980. Regional organization with neonatal intensive care units decreased PNM rate to low values of 5.0-9.0@1000. The echo of the number of antenatal visits to PNM rate is illustrated on 36,855 deliveries at the University Clinic in Zagreb. In developing countries maternal and perinatal mortality is very high. The reason for that is a bad socioeconomic background and a lack of organized antenatal and perinatal health care system. The policy to decrease maternal and perinatal mortality is presented: the improvement of antenatal booking and of the number of prenatal visits of pregnant women; their childbearing under professional assistance. The organizing of maternity health care should be different from country to country, from region to region, respectively.     

The cost of urogynaecological treatments: which are more cost-effective?

AIMS: To determine the cost-effectiveness of four urogynaecological treatments. MATERIALS: Two prospective trials were performed in which 205 women with urinary incontinence underwent urogynaecological treatments. The cost incurred and the improvement in quality of life (QOL) as a result of treatment was calculated as cost/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and then ranked in order of cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: The Nurse Continence Advisor (NCA) group (N = 73) and the Urogynaecologist (UG) group (N = 72) both had significant improvements in leaks per week and incontinence score. QOL improvement was also similar (1.5% vs 1.2%). The economic data found a similar improvement in pad usage costs ($A2.90 vs $A3.52). The clinician costs were significantly lower for the NCA group ($A60.00 vs $A105.00) (P < 0.0001). The cost per QALY was significantly lower for the NCA group ($A28,009 vs $A35,312) (P = 0.03). Both groups had significant improvements in pad testing and leaks per week. The cure/improvement rates were also similar at three months (100% vs 89%). There was no significant difference in the improvement in QOL between the laparoscopic colposuspension (LC) and open colposuspension (OC) groups (2.09% vs 1.54%). The economic data found a similar improvement in pad usage costs ($A11.74 vs $A16.17). The theatre costs were significantly higher for the LC group ($A403.45 vs $A266.94) (P < 0.0001), however the overall costs were significantly lower ($A4,668 vs $A6,124) (P < 0.0001). The cost/QALY was lower for the LC group ($A63,980 vs $A134,069), however this did not reach significance. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, on comparison of the cost/QALY's, conservative treatment of urinary incontinence by a NCA was the most cost-effective.     

The utilization of immunohistochemical prognostic factor in endometrial adenocarcinoma: is it cost effective?

This study investigated the relation between immunohistochemical prognostic factors and clinical stage and histopathological grade in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Twenty-seven patients with a mean age of 61 (38-74), who underwent radical surgery due to endometrial adenocarcinoma in our hospital between 1983-1998, were re-evaluated. For clinical staging FIGO criteria were used. Histopathological differentiation of the tumor was graded as good (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), and poor (grade 3). Estrogen and progesterone receptors, c-erb B2, UEA 1, Ki-67, PCNA and p53 were studied as immunohistochemical prognostic factors. There were no patients in stages IA and IIIB. Among the prognostic factors, PCNA was the most significantly stained marker, followed by c-erb B2, estrogen and progesterone receptors, regardless of the clinical stage and histopathological grade of the tumor. The least positivity was achieved with Ki-67. There was no significant difference when each prognostic factor was analysed with respect to clinical stage and histopathological grade. In our study no significant relation was found between the prognostic factors and the clinical stage and histopathological differentiation of the tumor. Therefore the cost effectiveness of the utilization of these factors should be reconsidered.     

Internet forums following a miscarriage: a place for women in particular pain?

Objective: Miscarriage is a frequent event, but one which might be particularly difficult to cope with. The main aim of this study was to explore the features of the women using Internet forums following a miscarriage. Methods: A sample of 211 women who experienced miscarriage and who use the Internet completed an online questionnaire. Sociodemographic data were gathered and three scales were completed: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Texas Grief Inventory adjusted to miscarriage and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Results: Our results show that these women reported a great amount of pain compared to a more standard sample. Interestingly, our findings show that while women reported wishing to be supported, only a few of them sought such support. Conclusion: Further study focusing on support for women who experience miscarriage must be developed and Internet-based programmes are warranted.     

Shortcomings and deficits in surgical treatment of gynecological cancers: a German problem only?

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the quality of preoperative diagnostic, primary surgical, and postoperative treatment of ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancers in women in Hesse, Germany, in relation to current international recommendations. METHODS: Data on all diagnostic, surgical, and postoperative gynecological procedures undertaken in Hesse in 1997-2001 were collected in a standardized form and validated for clinical quality. Databases were generated for cases of endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer, and details of treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 1119 cases of endometrial, 824 cases of ovarian, and 472 cases of cervical cancer. The malignancy remained undiagnosed until after surgery in 17.8% (199/1119) of endometrial cancers, 28.5% (245/824) of ovarian cancers, and 15.5% (73/472) of cervical cancers. There was evidence of suboptimal surgical treatment. Lymphadenectomy rates were low in endometrial and ovarian cancers (about 32%), and omentectomy rates in were low in ovarian cancer (about 50%). Furthermore, 10.7% (31/289) of patients with cervical cancer diagnosed before hospital admission did not undergo radical surgery. CONCLUSION: Discrepancies between guidelines and treatment of gynecological cancers in Hesse were striking, particularly for endometrial and ovarian cancer, and this situation may be mirrored internationally. The fact that many guidelines are not supported by results from clinical studies may be a factor in this apparently suboptimal treatment. Clinical collaborative trials are needed to provide the necessary evidence to support current recommendations and benchmarks of survey are required to facilitate future quality assessment.     

Cumulative probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth after a multiple cycle IVF package: a more realistic assessment of overall and age-specific success rates?

OBJECTIVE: To provide an assessment of pregnancy and live birth probabilities for women presenting for in vitro fertilisation treatment for the first time, when committed in advance to have up to three cycles of treatment in one year. DESIGN: Up to three cycles of in vitro fertilisation within one year, committed in advance. SETTING: A tertiary referral centre for assisted reproduction. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and thirty-two women, undergoing a total of 536 cycles of in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection between August 1993 and December 1995. METHODS: Analysis of cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates for women having IVF treatment for the first time and undertaking a three-cycle package, using the life-table approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. RESULTS: The cumulative probabilities of clinical pregnancy and live birth after two cycles of treatment were 38.2% and 33.2%, respectively, compared with 54.2% and 48.2%, respectively, after three cycles of treatment. Cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates after three cycles of treatment for women up to the age of 40 years were 57.8% and 51.3%, respectively. Cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates declined with increasing age (P = 0.02 and P= 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: The three-cycle package encourages couples to have multiple treatment cycles, thereby improving their ultimate chances of a live birth. The cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates after such a package provide a more realistic assessment of overall and age-specific success rates after multiple treatment cycles.     

Cumulative probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth after a multiple cycle IVF package: a more realistic assessment of overall and age-specific success rates?

Objective To provide an assessment of pregnancy and live birth probabilities for women presenting for in vitro fertilisation treatment for the first time, when committed in advance to have up to three cycles of treatment in one year.
Design Up to three cycles of in vitro fertilisation within one year, committed in advance.
Setting A tertiary referral centre for assisted reproduction.
Participants Two hundred and thirty-two women, undergoing a total of 536 cycles of in vitro fertilisation.
Methods Analysis of cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates for women having IVF treatment for the first time and undertaking a three-cycle package, using the life-table approach.
Main outcome measures Cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates.
Results The cumulative probabilities of clinical pregnancy and live birth after two cycles of treatment were 38.2% and 33.2%. respectively, compared with 54.2% and 48.2%, respectively, after three cycles of treatment. Cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates after three cycles of treatment for women up to the age of 40 years were 57.8% and 51.3%, respectively. Cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates declined with increasing age (   P = 0.02  and   P = 0.01  , respectively).
Conclusion The three-cycle package encourages couples to have multiple treatment cycles, thereby improving their ultimate chances of a live birth. The cumulative clinical pregnancy and live birth rates after such a package provide a more realistic assessment of overall and age-specific success rates after multiple treatment cycles.