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Background: Dysfunctional uterine peristalsis seems to play a pivotal role in hindering embryo implantation among women diagnosed with adenomyosis. This research aims to investigate whether administering an oxytocin receptor antagonist during a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle using a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) protocol can enhance in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes for infertile women affected by adenomyosis. Methods: Between January 2018 and June 2022, our reproductive center conducted IVF-FET HRT cycles for infertile women diagnosed with adenomyosis. Propensity score matching was employed to select matched subjects between the two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Following this, 168 women received an oxytocin receptor antagonist during FET, constituting the study group, while the matched 168 women underwent FET without this antagonist, forming the control group. We conducted comparative analyses of baseline and cycle characteristics between the two groups, along with additional subgroup analyses. Results: The study group exhibited notably lower rates of early miscarriage compared to the control group, although there were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rates, ongoing pregnancy rates, and live birth rates between the two groups. Multivariate analysis revealed a negative correlation between the use of oxytocin receptor antagonists and early miscarriage rates in women with adenomyosis. Subgroup analyses, categorized by age, infertility types, and embryo transfer day, showed a substantial decrease in early miscarriage rates within specific subgroups: women aged ≥ 37 years, those with secondary infertility, and individuals undergoing day 3 embryo transfers in the study group compared to the control group. Furthermore, subgroup analysis based on adenomyosis types indicated significantly higher clinical pregnancy rates, ongoing pregnancy rates and live birth rates in the study group compared to the control group among women with diffuse adenomyosis. Conclusions: Administering an oxytocin receptor antagonist during FET may reduce the early miscarriage rates in women with adenomyosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) may have more uterine contractions. Several observational studies suggested that atosiban administration around embryo transfer resulted in higher pregnancy rates in RIF patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of atosiban given before fresh embryo transfer on pregnancy outcomes of women with RIF. Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial was performed in IVF center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital. According to a computer-generated randomization list, 194 infertile women with RIF received fresh embryo transfer between July 2017 and December 2019 were randomly allocated into the atosiban (n = 97) and the placebo (n = 97) groups. Women in the treatment group received atosiban intravenously about 30 min before embryo transfer with a bolus dose of 6.75 mg over one minute. Those in the placebo group received only normal saline infusion for the same duration. Results: There was no significant difference in the live birth rate between the atosiban and placebo groups (42.3% vs 35.1%, P = 0.302, RR = 1.206 (0.844–1.723)). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the positive pregnancy test, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, miscarriage, multiple pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy and implantation rates. Similar results were found when stratified by the number of embryos previously transferred, number of previous failed embryo transfers, frequency of endometrial peristalsis on embryo transfer day (≥ 3 waves/min) or serum estradiol (E2) on the day of hCG above the median level. And, there was no correlation between the serum E2 level on the day of hCG and the frequency of endometrial peristalsis on embryo transfer day. The frequency of endometrial peristalsis on embryo transfer day, total FSH/HMG dosage and duration were the significant factors which independently predicted the likelihood of a live birth. Conclusions: These results suggested that atosiban treatment before fresh embryo transfer might not improve the live birth rate in RIF patients. Trial registration: The study had been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the hospital (2017 ethics No.43) and was registered under Clinicaltrials.gov with an identifier NCT02893722. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Embryo transfer without difficulty in a patient with cervical stenosis can be a great challenge for in vitro fertilization (IVF). We report a successful pregnancy following a frozen thawed embryo transfer after administration of an oxytocin antagonist at the same time as using a Foley catheter with cotton swab in a patient with refractory cervical stenosis.Case Presentation: A 40-year-old woman undergoing IVF. The patient's previous embryo transfers were difficult. For every transfer, uterine manipulation was needed, force was required, and dilatation was necessary. A Foley catheter with a cotton swab was inserted into the cervical canal, atosiban was administered at the same time, and the Foley catheter was removed immediately before embryo transfer. A smooth transfer was performed without bleeding, force, uterine manipulation, or cervical dilator. The patient became pregnant and delivered by cesarean section at term.Conclusion: This method is effective in performing atraumatic embryo transfer in patients with cervical stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preterm birth is the most common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Postponing delivery for 48 hours with tocolytics to allow for maternal steroid administration and antenatal transportation to a centre with neonatal intensive care unit facilities is the standard treatment for women with threatening preterm delivery in most centres. However, there is controversy as to which tocolytic agent is the drug of first choice. Previous trials have focused on tocolytic efficacy and side effects, and are probably underpowered to detect clinically meaningfull differences in neonatal outcome. Thus, the current evidence is inconclusive to support a balanced recommendation for clinical practice. This multicenter randomised clinical trial aims to compare nifedipine and atosiban in terms of neonatal outcome, duration of pregnancy and maternal side effects. Methods/Design: The Apostel III trial is a nationwide multicenter randomised controlled study. Women with threatened preterm labour (gestational age 25 - 34 weeks) defined as at least 3 contractions per 30 minutes, and 1) a cervical length of = 10 mm or 2) a cervical length of 11-30 mm and a positive Fibronectin test or 3) ruptured membranes will be randomly allocated to treatment with nifedipine or atosiban. Primary outcome is a composite measure of severe neonatal morbidity and mortality. Secondary outcomes will be time to delivery, gestational age at delivery, days on ventilation support, neonatal intensive care (NICU) admittance, length admission in neonatal intensive care, total days in hospital until 3 months corrected age, convulsions, apnoea, asphyxia, proven meningitis, pneumothorax, maternal side effects and costs. Furthermore, an economic evaluation of the treatment will be performed. Analysis will be by intention to treat principle. The power calculation is based on an expected 10% difference in the prevalence of adverse neonatal outcome. This implies that 500 women have to be randomised (two sided test, ß 0.2 at alpha 0.05). Discussion: This trial will provide evidence on the optimal drug of choice in acute tocolysis in threatening preterm labour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]