Search

Purpose: The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the studies investigating a possible association between thrombophilia and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcome. Methods: This is a literature review. Results: Congenital thrombophilias (CoT) are reported to be associated with pregnancy loss. However, the association between CoT and early pregnancy loss is weak and does not necessarily support causation. CoT are more likely to be associated with late fetal loss. Even though data pooled from case-control and cohort studies suggest an increased risk of ART failure in women with CoTs, there seems no association when the analysis is confined to better quality cohort studies. The evidence supporting anticoagulation to improve ART outcome in CoT carriers is weak. Likewise, studies on antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) and ART outcome suffer from multiple methodological limitations and a detrimental impact of APA positivity is controversial. Empirical administration of heparin or low molecular weight heparin to women with recurrent ART failures is supported by weak evidence. Importantly, thrombophilias are likely to increase thrombotic complications after ovarian stimulation for ART. Conclusions: Current evidence does not support routinely testing for or treatment of thrombophilia in the setting of ART nor in couples with implantation failure. A careful personal and family history should be obtained and a risk assessment for thrombotic complications should be made in every woman undergoing ovarian stimulation. If positive, testing for thrombophilia is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysbiosis in the genital tract or gut microbiome can be associated with endometriosis. We sampled vaginal, cervical and gut microbiota from 14 women with histology proven stage 3/4 endometriosis and 14 healthy controls. The V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified following the 16S Metagenomic Sequencing Library Preparation. Despite overall similar vaginal, cervical and intestinal microbiota composition between stage 3/4 endometriosis group and controls, we observed differences at genus level. The complete absence of Atopobium in the vaginal and cervical microbiota of the stage 3/4 endometriosis group was noteworthy. In the cervical microbiota, Gardnerella, Streptococcus, Escherichia, Shigella, and Ureoplasma, all of which contain potentially pathogenic species, were increased in stage 3/4 endometriosis. More women in the stage 3/4 endometriosis group had Shigella/Escherichia dominant stool microbiome. Further studies can clarify whether the association is causal, and whether dysbiosis leads to endometriosis or endometriosis leads to dysbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to answer one key question, that was not previously addressed as to whether serum progesterone (P4-hCG day) and its co-variates (estradiol (E2-hCG day) and the number of retrieved oocytes) of a given cycle can be predictive of the subsequent cycle when both cycles are consecutive and comparable for the stimulation protocol, gonadotropin dose and duration of stimulation. We analyzed such 244 consecutive (< 6 months) IVF cycles in 122 patients with GnRH agonist long protocol and found that P4, E2 and the number of retrieved oocytes significantly vary between the two cycles. Although P4 increased (ranging from 4.7 to 266.7%) in the 2nd cycle in 61 patients, E2 and the number of retrieved oocytes, which are normally positively correlated with P4 paradoxically decreased in the 41% and 37.7% respectively, of these same 61 patients. When a similar analysis was done in the 54 out of 122 patients (44.3%) in whom serum P4 was decreased in the 2nd cycle, the mean decrease in P4 was − 34.1 ± 23.3% ranging from − 5.26 to − 90.1%. E2 and the number of retrieved oocytes paradoxically increased in the 42.3% and 40.7% of these 54 patients respectively. P4 remained the same only in the 7 (5.7%) of these 122 patients. These findings indicate that late follicular phase serum P4 may change unpredictably in the subsequent IVF cycle. The changes are not always necessarily proportional with ovarian response of previous cycle suggesting that growth characteristics and steroidogenic activities of antral cohorts may exhibit considerable cycle to cycle variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine whether high E2 levels after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation affect TSH. Methods: Patients completing ART cycles between April-October 2010 were eligible for this cohort study. 180 patients were recruited however those with known thyroid disease were excluded. The final analysis included 154 subjects. Blood was collected at each visit during the ART cycle as well as at the pregnancy test. Samples were frozen at −20 °C and analyzed together for E2 and TSH using the same assay kit once all patients had completed their cycles. All participants were treated at the McGill University Health Center. A paired t-test was used to study the difference in TSH levels recorded at maximal and minimal Estradiol levels during ovarian stimulation. Multiple regression analysis was then used to determine if factors such as anti-thyroid antibodies and ovarian reserve measures affect this change in TSH. We used multiple imputation methods to account for missing data. Results: As E2 levels rose from low to supra-physiologic levels during treatment, TSH levels also rose significantly. This increase was clinically significant by the time of pregnancy test. The factors that potentially affected the change in TSH were: male factor/tubal factor infertility, type of protocol used as well as the presence of thyroid antibodies. Conclusions: Although TSH increases during ART, this change only becomes clinically significant on the day of pregnancy test. Future studies should examine TSH changes specifically in certain “at-risk” sub-groups such as those with antibodies and known thyroid disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]