Too old for IVF: are we discriminating against older women?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) in women of advanced age (>42 years) represents only 5%, a comparatively minute part, of the national IVF experience in the United States (US). In view of evolving population dynamics, it, however, also represents proportionally a rather quickly expanding patient need. Because of access restrictions at many IVF programs, this market does not live up to its potential. As best demonstrated by the 2004 US National Summary and Fertility Clinic Report, which for the first time reported pregnancies and births above age 45 year, IVF in women of advanced reproductive age represents a cutting edge area of interest for improving current IVF outcomes. Access to IVF should, therefore, not be withheld based on female age and/or baseline FSH levels. Instead, a definition of acceptable minimal pregnancy and life birth rates could be used to define the limits of offered access to IVF, independent of age and/or baseline FSH levels.     

Brain derived neurotrophic factor circulating levels in patients undergoing IVF

Purpose The aim of the study was to measure circulating BDNF levels, a neurotrophin recently identified in the ovary, in parallel with estradiol, to verify if assessing this factor could add any predictive value to the outcome of in vitro fertilization. Methods Blood sampling for BDNF and estradiol was performed in 23 subjects undergoing IVF on day 1 (D1), day 8 (D8), day of HCG administration (DHCG) and day of oocyte retrieval.(DOR). Results There was a positive correlation between BDNF and estradiol throughout the stimulation cycle in all subjects. In both pregnant and nonpregnant patients, the values of BDNF grew significantly only between D8 and DHCG and remained constant until DOR. Between-group comparisons showed no statistically significant differences in both BDNF and estradiol values throughout the IVF cycle. Conclusion Although BDNF plasma concentrations are not seemingly predictive of IVF outcome, this neurotrophin is highly correlated to estradiol levels and seems to be an important factor especially in the periovulatory period. Capsule BDNF plasma concentrations are not predictive of IVF outcome, however they are highly correlated to estradiol levels and seem to be implicated in periovulatory processes.     

Low endometrial volume may predict early pregnancy loss in women undergoing in vitro fertilization

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of 3-D US measurement of the endometrium during early IVF-pregnancy and before the appearance of gestational sac in the prediction of pregnancies outcome. METHODS: 60 pregnant women following IVF treatment were included in the study. The women underwent transvaginal 3D US measurements of endometrial volume and thickness on day 15-17 post ET. Patients were followed and classified according to pregnancy outcome into 2 further groups. The group with early pregnancy loss and the group with ongoing pregnancy. RESULTS: While no differences were observed between those who miscarried and those who did not in gestational age, endometrial thickness or volume, spontaneous early pregnancy loss was significantly higher in patients with endometrial volume <2 mL as compared to those with endometrial volume >2 mL. CONCLUSIONS: 3-D US measurement of endometrial volume of less than 2 mL during early IVF pregnancy and prior to the appearance of gestational sac is a powerful predictor of pregnancy loss.     

挽救ICSI的临床应用价值探讨

目的探讨挽救ICSI（R-ICSI）在临床应用的价值及可行性。方法常规IVF周期中,授精4-6 h后观察第2极体,对6 h后明确未排出第2极体的成熟卵母细胞达50%以上者实行R-ICSI,其实施33周期,并与同期113个常规ICSI周期进行比较。结果与常规ICSI比较,R-ICSI的受精率、3原核（3PN）发生率、优质胚胎率、妊娠率、种植率方面差异无统计学意义,1原核（1PN）发生率明显增高（P〈0.01）。结论R-ICSI可以获得较好的临床效果。     

左五合方对卵巢低反应者IVF/ICSI-ET助孕结局的影响

目的?评价左五合方对卵巢低反应（POR）者体外受精/卵胞质内单精子注射-胚胎移植(IVF/ICSI-ET)卵巢反应性、妊娠相关指标的影响。方法?将100例肾精不足合脾气虚型POR患者随机分为治疗组和对照组各50例,2组均常规行IVF/ICSI-ET,其中治疗组以左五合方治疗3月再行IVF/ICSI-ET。比较2组患者促性腺激素（Gn）用量及用药天数、人绒毛膜促性腺激素（HCG）注射日雌二醇（E₂）及孕酮（P）水平、获卵数、优胚率、生化妊娠率、临床妊娠率、持续妊娠率。结果?2组Gn用量及用药天数、HCG日E₂和P水平、优胚率、生化妊娠率差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）;治疗组获卵数、临床妊娠率、持续妊娠率均高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论?左五合方能提高POR者IVF/ICSI-ET的获卵数、临床妊娠率和持续妊娠率。      

常规精液检查及优化处理后的精液参数对常规IVF受精结局的预测价值

目的分析促排卵前常规精液检查及取卵当日处理后的精液参数对常规体外受精(IVF)结局的预测作用和影响。方法回顾性分析2011年1月至2014年12月期间2 647个常规IVF治疗周期。根据受精率是否低于50%,将患者分为低受精率组(受精率50%,n=157)和正常受精率组(受精率≥50%,n=2 490)。比较两组患者间的基础资料、精液参数、胚胎发育、胚胎种植率以及临床妊娠情况。采用多因素logistic回归和受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析促排卵前常规精液检查及取卵当日的各种单一或综合精液参数指标对IVF低受精率的预测能力。结果除不育年限(P0.05)外,两组间的基础资料包括女方年龄、男方年龄、女方BMI、获卵数、移植胚胎数和男性不育原因构成比均无统计学差异(P0.05)。相比于正常受精率组,低受精率组的卵裂率(90.69%vs.95.98%)、优质胚胎率(40.54%vs.50.89%)、胚胎种植率(18.91%vs.31.86%)以及临床妊娠率(35.67%vs.57.15%)均显著降低(P0.05)。两组间各项精液参数的差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析显示促排卵前常规精液检查指标中正常形态精子百分率(aOR0.935;95%CI:0.898-0.974)和正常形态前向运动精子总数(aOR0.299;95%CI:0.143-0.623),以及取卵日优化处理后的活动精子百分率(aOR0.972;95%CI:0.957-0.988)对预测低受精率的发生具有统计学意义。ROC分析结果显示常规精液检查中的正常形态前向运动精子总数和优化处理后的活动精子百分率的曲线下面积均为0.636,大于正常形态精子百分率的曲线下面积0.604。结论精液常规检查中的正常形态前向运动精子总数和优化处理后的活动精子百分率可作为预测常规IVF低受精率的指标。     

IVF／ICSI受精失败的原因

全部卵母细胞受精失败（或低受精率）是体外受精（IVF）实验室经常遇到的困惑之一。尽管在熟练掌握和广泛使用卵胞浆内单精子注射（ICSI）技术后,全卵不受精现象已显著降低,但在IVF实验室内仍然存在着难以预测和不明原因的全卵不受精现象。事实上,无论是采取常规IVF或ICSI助受精方式,都避免不了某些病例出现全卵受精失败。