Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences最新文献

Fertility preservation (FP) is critical for those members of the transgender community who desire biological offspring in the future. As gender-affirming hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries (GASs) negatively affect future fertility potential, awareness amongst care providers and the transgender population regarding FP and family-building options is the need of the hour. As the first case of childbirth after transgender FP and GAS in India, this will be a beacon of hope for transgender family-building options in India.

Background: Vaginal stents play a crucial role in both non-surgical and surgical management of vaginal agenesis. Different types of stents with variable designs and materials have been described in the literature. However, a summary of various stents described in the existing data and their outcome measures needs to be studied.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to identify and summarise different types of vaginal stents used for patients with vaginal agenesis, to identify the design and material of different vaginal stents and to assess the benefit of using that specific vaginal stent.

Materials and methods: The literature search was conducted in the PubMed database for articles from 2000 to 2024 in the English language. An exploration of grey literature was also included through Google Scholar. The articles were included only if they clearly described vaginal stent, its material, design and advantage of using that particular stent, and any study not directly related to the research question or in which vaginal stent was used for cases other than vaginal agenesis/Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome/Mullerian aplasia or agenesis were not included in this study. Risk of bias assessment was done using an eight-item tool that included domains of selection, ascertainment, causality and reporting.

Results: A total of 133 abstracts appeared in PubMed, of which, 26 titles/abstracts were related to the research question. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, seventeen articles were selected for the review. A total of 905 articles were identified from Google Scholar, of which, 7 were chosen to be included. The literature reports the usage of variable vaginal stents which can be hard, soft, solid or hollow with the option of customisation available.

Interpretation: Based on the results of this review, soft stents are better than rigid stents due to increased patient compliance, a critical factor contributing to the success of the treatment. The resilient nature, comfort and lightweight of the silicone material are more suitable than commonly used acrylic material. However, the choice in a particular case may vary.

Limitations: The majority of articles included in this review were case reports. As the duration and frequency of usage of stents affect the outcome, studies need to be done to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of stents to come to identify the best design and material for vaginal stents.

Prospero registration: CRD42024554676.

Background: Thin endometrium, described as endometrial thickness below 7 mm on embryo transfer day in assisted reproduction cycles, is associated with decreased pregnancy rates. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and oestrogen (E) are two medications used for treatment.

Aim: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effect of combined G-CSF+E treatment on thin endometrium in a rat model.

Settings and design: Gazi University Laboratory Animals Breeding and Experimental Researchers Center provided the veterinary care.

Materials and methods: Forty-eight female rats were divided into 8 groups (6 rats/group). Groups were named as group 1: control, group 2: control that received G-CSF, group 3: control that received E, group 4: control that received G-CSF+E, group 5: thin endometrium model, group 6: thin endometrium model that received G-CSF, group 7: thin endometrium model that received E and group 8: thin endometrium model that received G-CSF+E. Twelve days after the establishment of thin endometrium model, G-CSF and/or E treatment was started and continued for 5 days according to the groups. Tissue specimens were collected at the end of the treatment period. Proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis were evaluated.

Statistical analysis used: The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance and Tamhane post hoc test.

Results: Significant increase in uterine wall and endometrial thickness was detected in the thin endometrium + G-CSF group when compared to the thin endometrium group. G-CSF was demonstrated to cause an extensive proliferative response and induction of angiogenesis in thin endometrium without restoration of endometrial glands. E alone restored thin endometrium to almost normal histology. Morphological changes representing the dominant effects of G-CSF were observed in thin endometrium model receiving G-CSF+E.

Conclusion: G-CSF+E is not an effective treatment modality in thin endometrium rat model.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the common causes of anovulatory infertility among women in the reproductive age group. Women with PCOS and obesity often have difficulty in conceiving, and they are more prone for developing metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle modification plays a key role in women with PCOS, who are overweight or obese and is recommended as a first line management option. The earlier trials evaluating the role of lifestyle intervention in infertile PCOS women had methodological issues, smaller sample size and high dropout rates and none of these trials reported live birth as their outcome.

Aim: The current study was planned to explore the feasibility of conducting large adequately powered multicentric trial in future in South Asian women with PCOS who desire fertility.

Setting and design: The study was done in the Department of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery & the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at a university level tertiary care hospital. The study is an open label, single center, randomized controlled trial.

Materials and methods: A total of 60 PCOS women aged between 18-40 years with body mass index of > 23 kg/m2 who desire fertility, were randomized to individualized lifestyle intervention and usual care. The primary outcome was the dropout rate, and the secondary outcomes were change in body weight, anthropometric parameters, clinical pregnancy rates and the quality of life specific to PCOS after the trial period. All the participants were followed up for 6 months and the outcomes were assessed.

Statistical analysis: Comparison between the intervention and control groups was done using statistical tests using the SPSS and R software.

Results: The dropout rates were significantly higher in the individualized lifestyle intervention arm compared to usual care control arm (19/30, 63% vs 9/30, 30%, P=0.019). We did not find any statistically significant difference in anthropometric measurements, pregnancy rates (P=0.57) and clinical pregnancy rates (P=0.21) and quality of life specific to PCOS compared with sixth month visit from baseline visit.

Conclusion: The current feasibility study showed significantly higher dropout rates in individualized lifestyle intervention arm compared to usual care control arm. The knowledge gained from the feasibility study has been used to design an adequately powered trial to evaluate effectiveness of individualized lifestyle intervention in women with PCOS who wish to conceive.

Background: There is a paucity of data on the optimal threshold of oestradiol (E2) levels required for successful implantation as this is a valid question to be answered, considering that significant number of in vitro fertilisation cycles are deferred for FET cycles.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the serum E2 levels before starting exogenous progesterone in artificial autologous frozen thawed embryo transfers on pregnancy outcomes.

Settings and design: This was a cohort study wherein clinical data of 213 artificial autologous programmed hormone-regulated frozen embryo transfer (HR-FET) cycles were collected.

Materials and methods: The HR-FET cycles were divided into three groups based on the E2 levels before starting progesterone: Group A: E2 ≤300 pg/mL, Group B: E2 301-500 pg/mL and Group C: E2 >500 pg/mL. After adequate endometrial stripe was appreciated by transvaginal ultrasonography, single blastocyst transfer was performed in all the cycles.

Statistical analysis used and results: The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) in Groups A, B and C were 41.8%, 73.5% and 0.95%, respectively (P = 0.0001). The live birth rate (LBR) in Groups A, B and C was 18.1%, 62.2% and 0%, respectively (P = 0.0001). The miscarriage rate (MR) was significantly lower (15.3%) when E2 was between 301 and 500 pg/mL (P = 0.001). At both the extremes of serum E2 values, the rate of miscarriage increased. If serum E2 levels were ≤300 pg/mL or >500 pg/mL, the rate of miscarriage was 56.5% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion: Serum E2 levels in the range of 301-500 pg/mL before starting progesterone in programmed FET cycle are associated with an improved CPR and LBR and also decreased MR as compared to the extreme values of E2 ≤300 pg/mL or >500 pg/mL.

Background: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play a key role in embryo implantation and support endometrial trophoblastic interaction.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between FGF-1 (rs34011) gene variety and its serum concentration with repeated implantation failure (RIF).

Setting and design: The design of the study was a cross-sectional study.

Materials and methods: Four hundred infertile women with a history of RIF and 400 healthy women undergoing the first in vitro fertilisation-embryo transfer attempt with successful delivery (controls) were enrolled in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes and genotyped by Tetra-Primer Amplification Refractory Mutation System-Polymerase Chain Reaction. Serum FGF-1 concentration was evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Statistical analysis used: The ANOVA test was used to analyse the difference between the means of the groups.

Results: In RIF group, the genotype frequencies of the GG, GA and AA were 59%, 33.5% and 7.5%, respectively, whereas in controls were 72.5%, 24% and 3.5%, respectively. The G and A allele frequencies in the RIF group were 75.75% and 24.25%, while in controls were 84.5% and 15.5%, respectively (P < 0.0001). We have also shown that serum FGF-1 concentration in RIF and control groups was 17 ± 3.55 and 23.62 ± 4.91 pg/mL, respectively (P = 0.008). We have also shown that AA genotype is significantly associated with decreased serum FGF-1 concentration in RIF (AA, GA and GG serum levels were 9.55 ± 2.65, 14 ± 3.35 and 22.55 ± 7.26 pg/mL, and in controls were 12.22 ± 2.27, 18.44 ± 5.98 and 26.66 ± 8.29 pg/mL, respectively).

Conclusion: The current study suggests that a significant association between FGF-1 (rs34011) promoter polymorphism and its serum concentration with RIF. The study also suggests that AA genotype is linked to lower FGF-1 serum levels and may play a risk factor for RIF.

Limited research exists on the mechanisms underlying asthenozoospermia associated with acquired ciliary dyskinesia. Primary ciliary dyskinesia links respiratory pathology with infertility and provides a basis for a potential mechanism. The aetiology of asthenozoospermia is often unclear and may be secondary to direct or indirect effects on sperm motility. Here, we report a case - with a brief clinical review - of recovering sperm motility after diagnosis of complete asthenozoospermia coinciding with resolution of chronic respiratory infections. The patient is a 36-year-old male, with initial semen analysis demonstrating 100% immotile sperm. Following the resolution of chronic respiratory infection, subsequent analysis demonstrated functional improvement with 76 million sperm/mL, 8% progressive motility and 4% strict morphology. Our case reinforces a potentially underappreciated role of environmental risk factors in infertility, with a focus on the patient's history of infections and other risk factors for acquired ciliary dyskinesia, which should be kept in mind when treating patients with asthenozoospermia.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy has helped human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people live an enhanced quality of life and attempt for a pregnancy, without placing their partner at risk. Although periconceptional pre-exposure prophylaxis for the uninfected partner and consistent antiretroviral therapy for the HIV-infected partner are important to prevent HIV transmission, semen washing could be a great option to further reduce the semen viral load.

Aim: The aim of this study were as follows: to determine if semen washing with intrauterine insemination provides an added safety net to HIV-serodiscordant couples when the male partner is HIV-infected and virally suppressed and to determine if the U = U concept (undetectable = untransmittable) holds true in virally suppressed HIV-infected males.

Settings and design: This was an observational study conducted in seropositive HIV men under treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in collaboration with Metropolis Laboratory, a CAP recognised private Healthcare Laboratory in Mumbai, India.

Materials and methods: Blood and semen samples were collected from a total of 110 adult HIV-1-infected males virally suppressed on HAART. These samples were processed to assess the viral load in plasma as well as raw and processed semen fractions.

Statistical analysis used: Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.

Results: Only men with plasma viral loads < 1000 copies were selected in our study. Out of the 110 HIV-infected individuals, 102 (92.73%) patients had undetectable (<20 copies/ml) plasma viral load while 8 (7.27%) patients had a detectable (>20 copies/ml) viral load, who were excluded from the study. In the virally suppressed 102 men, the raw semen samples of 100 men showed an undetectable viral load, while 2 samples showed detectable contamination, even though their plasma samples from the blood showed a viral load of <20 copies/ml. The semen was then separated into the sperm and the seminal plasma samples. The seminal plasma had <20 copies/ml in 95 samples (93.14%) but a detectable viral load in 7 (6.86%) samples. After subjecting all the 102 processed (post-wash) sperm samples to quantitative analysis, an undetectable viral load of <20 copies/ml was found in all the samples. Thus, the raw sample (prewashed),seminal plasma and processed (postwash) samples were evaluated. The post-wash sperm sample showing zero contamination was frozen for intrauterine insemination (IUI) in the uninfected female partner.

Conclusions: Semen washing with IUI should be advocated as a safe, efficacious way to increase the safety net and to further reduce the minimal risk of HIV transmission in serodiscordant couples in addition to the U = U concept.