Follicular and luteal phase endometrial thickness and echogenic pattern and pregnancy outcome in oocyte donation cycles

Purpose  To study the effect of endometrial thickness (ET) and echogenic pattern (EP) in oocyte donation cycles upon pregnancy outcomes. Methods  Seventy-nine cycles resulting in blastocyst embryo transfer were evaluated. Donors underwent ovarian hyperstimulation using rFSH and GnRH-antagonist. Recipients were synchronized to donors using GnRH-agonist down-regulation followed by fixed dose of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) following hCG. Transvaginal ultrasound (US) obtained ET and EP 10-11 days after initiation of E2 and on day of embryo transfer. Primary outcome was ET and EP in pregnant and non-pregnant cycles. Stimulation and embryology data was analyzed in donors to assess differences prior to transfer. Results  Fifty-nine cycles resulted in clinical pregnancy. No differences were observed in pregnant vs. non-pregnant cycles in proliferative or secretory ET and EP. Similar baseline and stimulation characteristics were found in pregnant and non-pregnant cycles. Regression analysis showed end thickness were not predictive of pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions  Endometrial characteristics in recipients prior to and following progesterone were not predictive of pregnancy outcomes. Capsule Endometrial thickness and echogenic pattern do not appear to be predictive of outcomes in oocyte donation cycles.     

Utilizing routine sonohysterography to detect intrauterine pathology before initiating hormone replacement therapy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of performing routine sonohysterography in conjunction with endometrial thickness measurement for detecting intrauterine pathology in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Asymptomatic postmenopausal women (n = 60, mean age 52.7 +/- 4.5 years, amenorrhea > or = 6 months, follicle stimulating hormone > or = 40 mIU/mL) were evaluated with sonohysterography followed by endometrial biopsy before initiating hormone replacement therapy. RESULTS: Hyperplasia was detected in 5 of 22 (22.7%) patients with endometrial thickness of > 5 mm and in 0 of 38 (0.0%) patients with endometrial thickness of < or = 5 mm. When sonohysterography was performed, intracavitary pathology was discovered in 14 of 38 (36.8%) patients with endometrial thickness of < or = 5 mm (10 polyps, three submucosal myomas, and one septate uterus) and 14 of 22 (63.6%) patients with endometrial thickness of > 5 mm (nine polyps, four submucosal myomas, and one Asherman's syndrome). CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial thickness of < or = 5 mm excludes hyperplasia but does not eliminate other intrauterine pathology that may be discovered by sonohysterography.     

Ovulation Induction for the General Gynecologist

The practice of ovulation induction often falls to the reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist. However, attitudes toward the evaluation and treatment of infertility has shifted among general obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYN). This review discusses the underlying scientific basis of anovulation and clinical guidelines regarding the use of different medications for the purpose of promoting follicular recruitment and ovulation for the general OB-GYN.     

Antral follice counts (AFC) predict ovarian response and pregnancy outcomes in oocyte donation cycles

Purpose  

Antral follicle count (AFC) is used as a marker of ovarian response. We assessed its value in predicting pregnancy outcomes in ovum donation cycles by retrospective review.     

Age does not influence the effect of embryo fragmentation on successful blastocyst development

We evaluated the rate of blastocyst development in day 3 embryos with appropriate cellular division and investigated whether maternal age modified the effect of embryo fragmentation on blastulation. Our data showed a significant negative correlation between the degree of embryo fragmentation and rate of blastocyst development, but age did not exert an effect on the degree of fragmentation in embryos with appropriate cleaving status, nor did it modify the significant effect embryo fragmentation had on blastocyst formation.     

Chronic pelvic pain: presumptive diagnosis and therapy using GnRH agonists.

Chronic pelvic pain has a prevalence of 15% to 30% of reproductive-age women. It causes a sizable minority of all gynecological visits, and is responsible for much physical and psychological suffering. Although laparoscopic inspection, plus treatment, for pelvic pain has been considered ideal, it is often unnecessary, fruitless, and even hazardous, besides being expensive. Therefore, empirical medical therapy has much to recommend it. Foremost is the fact that endometriosis is the most frequent source of chronic pelvic pain, and responds well to medical treatment. In fact, GnRH analogs (agonists) used for 6 months can reduce AFS endometriosis scores by one-half, with cure rates at 5 years of three-fourths of responders who had minimal disease and one-third of responders with severe disease. Danazol and oral contraceptives plus NSAIDs have been used, too. The latter treatment is best reserved for cases involving dysmenorrhea. The objections to empirical treatment-lack of exact knowledge of the entity being treated and the potential of overlooking cancer-are discussed here in the context of pain treatment, with an emphasis on history taking, diagnostic imaging, and careful observation.     

Operative Ultrasonography for Upper Genital Tract Pathology

Purpose: A procedure using transvaginal sonohysterography (SHG) to perform operative intrauterine biopsies and resections is described. Methods: Seven women, six with intrauterine pathology noted on diagnostic SHG and one with a thickened endometrium noted on transvaginal ultrasonography, underwent attempted operative SHG. The indications were peri- and postmenopausal bleeding (n = 4) and infertility requiring assisted reproduction (n = 3). Access to the uterine cavity was accomplished with a 9-F cervical access catheter (CAC) with a 3-ml balloon (BEI Medical Systems, ZSI Gynecology Products Division, Chatsworth, CA), which was placed in the cervical canal or lower uterine segment. Depending on the position of the noted uterine pathology, a 6-F uterine ostial access catheter (UOAC) (BEI Medical Systems, ZSI Gynecology Products Division) was placed through the CAC. The uterine cavity was distended with 5–10 ml of 1% Lidocaine and a 3-F loop grasper or finger-like biopsy grasper was then passed through the UOAC or a 5-F operative instrument directly within the CAC with attempted resection under ultrasound guidance. Biopsied samples were sent to pathology for definitive diagnosis. Office hysteroscopy was then performed to confirm adequate resection. Results: Three of six patients had adequate resection or biopsy of intrauterine pathology, while the seventh patient successfully had a directed biopsy of the fundal cavity under ultrasound guidance. In one case, the visualized lesion could not be grasped. In the other two cases, each patient had severe cervical stenosis and declined in-office cervical dilation precluding the procedure. Each procedure was well tolerated, with an average time from start to finish of about 25 min (range, 18–43 min) without complications. Conclusions: Operative SHG makes it possible to resect and biopsy intrauterine pathology often missed on Pipelle .sampling. If found to be as effective as hysteroscopy, operative SHG would provide a cost-effective alternative. Further study is ongoing to perfect the existing instruments to allow removal of larger lesions both safe and possible.