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The field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) is at a crossroads; there is a mismatch between demand for reproductive endocrinology, infertility and assisted reproductive technology (ART) services, and availability of care. This document's focus is to provide data justifying the critical need for increased provision of fertility services in the United States now and into the future, offer approaches to rectify the developing physician shortage problem, and suggest a framework for the discussion on how to meet that increase in demand. The Society of REI recommend the following: 1. Our field should aggressively explore and implement courses of action to increase the number of qualified, highly trained REI physicians trained annually. We recommend efforts to increase the number of REI fellowships and the size complement of existing fellowships be prioritized where possible. These courses of action include: a. Increase the number of REI fellowship training programs. b. Increase the number of fellows trained at current REI fellowship programs. c. The pros and cons of a 2-year focused clinical fellowship track for fellows interested primarily in ART practice were extensively explored. We do not recommend shortening the REI fellowship to 2 years at this time, because efforts should be focused on increasing the number of fellowship training slots (1a and b). 2. It is recommended that the field aggressively implements courses of action to increase the number of and appropriate usage of non-REI providers to increase clinical efficiency under appropriate board-certified REI physician supervision. 3. Automating processes through technologic improvements can free providers at all levels to practice at the top of their license. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate similarities and differences in clinical and laboratory practices among high-performing fertility clinics.Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire study of selected programs.Setting: Academic and private fertility practices performing in vitro fertilization (IVF).Patient(s): Not applicable.Intervention(s): A comprehensive survey was conducted of 13 IVF programs performing at least 100 cycles a year and having high cumulative singleton delivery rates for 2 years.Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical and laboratory IVF practices.Result(s): Although many areas of clinical practice varied among top programs, some commonalities were observed. All programs used a combination of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone for IVF stimulation, intramuscular progesterone in frozen embryo transfer cycles, ultrasound-guided embryo transfers, and a required semen analysis before starting the IVF cycle. Common laboratory practices included vitrification of embryos at the blastocyst stage, air quality control with positive air pressure and high-efficiency particulate air filtration, use of incubator gas filters, working on heated microscope stages, and incubating embryos in a low-oxygen environment, most often in benchtop incubators.Conclusion(s): Some areas of consistency in clinical and laboratory practices were noted among high-performing IVF programs that are likely contributing to their success. High-performing programs focused on singleton deliveries. As the field of IVF is rapidly evolving, it is imperative that we share best practices in an effort to improve outcomes from all clinics for the good of our patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the effect of daily 81 mg low-dose aspirin (LDA) on menstrual cycle length and hormone profiles.Design: Secondary analysis of a trial evaluating the effect of daily LDA or placebo on live birth among women with one or two previous pregnancy losses.Setting: University medical centers.Patient(s): A total of 915 regularly menstruating women who had at least one menstrual cycle (3,190 total cycles) in which pregnancy did not occur.Intervention(s): Randomized allocation to LDA versus placebo.Main Outcome Measure(s): Menstrual cycle length and follicular and luteal phases were measured. Urinary pregnanediol glucuronide, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estrone-3-glucuronide were assessed up to six times during the first two cycles. Generalized estimating equations estimated relative risk of short (<25th percentile: <27 days) and long (>75th percentile: ≥32 days) versus normal cycle length. Linear mixed models estimated mean hormone level differences with weights used to account for multiple cycles contributed per participant.Result(s): There were no significant differences in total menstrual cycle, follicular phase, or luteal phase length between LDA and placebo groups. LDA posed no greater risk of having a short versus normal-length or long versus normal-length follicular phase, or having a short versus normal-length or long versus normal-length luteal phase. There were no significant differences in hormone levels across the menstrual cycle between the LDA and placebo groups.Conclusion(s): Daily LDA use did not result in any changes to menstrual cycle, follicular phase, or luteal phase length or hormone levels across the menstrual cycle compared with placebo.Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT00467363. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate trends in diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) assignment in the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) Clinic Outcomes Reporting System database and to evaluate its accuracy in predicting poor ovarian response (POR) as defined in European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's Bologna criteria (2011). Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) A total of 181,536 fresh, autologous ART cycles reported to SART by U.S. clinics in 2004 and 2011 (earliest and most recent available reporting years). Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) DOR assignment was the primary exposure. POR, defined as cycle cancellation for poor response or less than 4 oocytes retrieved after conventional gonadotropin stimulation (>149 IU FSH daily), was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were live birth and number of oocytes retrieved. DOR prevalence, power of DOR and FSH (

Unintended pregnancy is reportedly higher in active duty women; therefore, we sought to estimate the potential impact of the levonorgestrel-containing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) could have on unintended pregnancy in active duty women. A decision tree model with sensitivity analysis was used to estimate the number of unintentional pregnancies in active duty women which could be prevented. A secondary cost analysis was performed to analyze the direct cost savings to the U.S. Government. The total number of Armed Services members is estimated to be over 1.3 million, with an estimated 208,146 being women. Assuming an age-standardized unintended pregnancy rate of 78 per 1,000 women, 16,235 unintended pregnancies occur each year. Using a combined LNG-IUS failure and expulsion rate of 2.2%, a decrease of 794, 1588, and 3970 unintended pregnancies was estimated to occur with 5%, 10% and 25% usage, respectively. Annual cost savings from LNG-IUS use range from $3,387,107 to $47,352,295 with 5% to 25% intrauterine device usage. One-way sensitivity analysis demonstrated LNG-IUS to be cost-effective when the cost associated with pregnancy and delivery exceeded $11,000. Use of LNG-IUS could result in significant reductions in unintended pregnancy among active duty women, resulting in substantial cost savings to the government health care system., (Reprint & Copyright © 2014 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.)