Frozen Embryo Research Articles

High prevalence of chronic endometritis is associated with metabolic abnormality and reduced live birth rate among IVF women with non-uniform endometrial echogenicity.

To assess the prevalence of chronic endometritis (CE) among women with non-uniform endometrial echogenicity, and to evaluate the association between CE and metabolic characteristics as well as pregnancy outcomes in the subsequent frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Retrospective cohort study. University-based hospitals and an academic medical center. A total of 315 patients included in this research underwent hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy before the first FET cycle after whole embryos freezing. Patients were divided into CE (histopathologic CE or hysteroscopic CE) and non-CE groups. Freeze-all strategy, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. Baseline and cycle characteristics, hysteroscopic, and histopathological profile, as well as pregnancy outcomes. The prevalence of histopathologic CE and hysteroscopic CE were 78.1% and 34.9%, respectively. CE was associated with higher homocysteine level and BMI, independent of insulin response and dyslipidemia. High homocysteine level and BMI were risk factors for histopathologic CE (OR: 1.182; 95% CI: 1.01-1.384; p=.037) and hysteroscopic CE (OR: 1.117; 95% CI: 1.041-1.199; p=.002), respectively. Histopathologic CE was a risk factor for live birth (OR:2.167; 95% CI: 1.037-4.525; p=.04), and hysteroscopic CE was an independent risk factor for both live birth (OR: 4.239; 95% CI: 1.929-9.313; p=.001) and cumulative live birth (OR: 3.963; 95% CI: 1.875-8.376; p=.001). Infertile women with non-uniform endometrial echogenicity have a high prevalence of CE which significantly reduces the live birth rate. Diagnosing CE by hysteroscopy is important to assess the cumulative probability of pregnancy in IVF patients.

Religion and human rights in artificial insemination: a matter of ratio

It is pointed out that modern man is particularly sensitive to the imposition of any worldview and way of life. The only language in today’s world is the language of freedom, even if there is a substitution of this concept and its abuse. The value of freedom is not indifferent to religion. Therefore, the only way to spread the religious worldview in society is not the force of coercion, but the force of gravity.It is noted that the problem of the relationship between bioethics and religion is determined by a number of reasons, both scientific and theoretical, and socio-cultural plan. The current stage of development of scientific thought is characterized by the emergence of a new phenomenon – bioethics. Bioethics is an integrative science that synthesizes knowledge about man, which is already substantiated in medicine, psychology, psychiatry, religious anthropology, philosophical anthropology and others. The moral aspect is the center of bioethics, it is associated with its attitude to all living things, to life as such. Because of this we can talk about the formation of a bioethical worldview as a holistic system of views on the human problem. The beginning of the process of forming a bioethical worldview is closely connected with scientific progress, biomedical practices, and the aggravation of religious problems. The uniqueness of bioethical discourse creates the preconditions for the development of philosophical and methodological ground for the study of bioethical worldview. The methodological significance of the problem is related to the need to rethink the fundamental philosophical problems that relate to demental philosophical problems that relate to the definition of attributive characteristics of man.It is established that the religious problems that arise when using the IVF method are associated with several components: the production of germ cells, the lack of connection between conception and the natural idea of marital intimacy, obtaining an excessive number of embryos and manipulating them (elimination, reduction, freezing) embryos, preimplantation diagnosis), the use of germ cells of third parties. In this case, in vitro fertilization can be morally justified by religion and an acceptable method of infertility therapy for the Orthodox Christian, if it does not kill embryos and does not break the bond “in the flesh” even at the level of gametes.

Rebuilding a Reproductive Future Informed by Disability and Reproductive Justice.

Rebuilding a Reproductive Future Informed by Disability and Reproductive Justice.

P-241 Cumulative live birth rates after embryo transfers at Day-2/3 versus Day-5/6: a comparative nationwide cohort study

Abstract Study question Are there significant differences between cumulative live birth rates (CLBR) after a short and an extended embryo culture when comparisons are performed per cycle? Summary answer The CLBR per cycle was significantly lower in the Day-5/6 group and higher per embryo transfer as compared with the Day-2/3 group. What is known already Previous evidence has shown the probability of live birth following a fresh embryo transfer in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is higher after extended embryo culture (E-EC: Day-5/6) than after a shorter embryo culture (S-EC: Day-2/3). A further controversy literature has arisen on cumulative pregnancy rates, related to the higher risks of embryo transfer cancellation after E-EC compared with S-EC. Moreover, all of these studies used slow freezing/thawing embryo protocols with a higher survival for Day-2/3 embryos than Day-5/6 embryos. Finally, a recent study combining vitrification highlighted CLBR improvements after E-EC but CLBR were expressed per embryo transfer, not per cycle. Study design, size, duration A French national register study including all IVF cycles with at least one cleaved embryo at day-2 performed in France from 01/2016 to 12/2018 was carried out (n = 165,808 cycles), after exclusion of gamete donation cycles, attempts with preimplantation genetic diagnosis, surgical spermatozoa, viral context, and for which the embryo freezing was performed by slow-freezing. We chose to include only cycles from IVF centers with standardized CLBR similar or above to the national mean (99%CI). Participants/materials, setting, methods From the biomedicine Agency’s registry, two groups were identified: cycles with embryo(s) at Day-2/3 with/without embryo transfer (S-Group) and cycles with all embryos cultured to Day-5/6 with/without embryo transfer (E-Group). The CLBR defined as delivery of at least one live-born infant in fresh or in subsequent frozen-thawed cycles were compared. Only the first delivery was considered. Regression model adjusted for women age, parity, Day-2 embryos, IVF-method and attempt rank was used. Main results and the role of chance In total, 48,293 attempts fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Among them, 31,769 cycles were included in the S-Group and 16,524 in the E-Group. Overall, the CLBR per cycle was significantly lower in the E-Group compared with the S-G group (32.9% versus 33.5%; aOR: 0.89, 95%CI [0.86-0.93], p<.0001). A significant higher rate of fresh embryo transfer cancellation was observed in in the E-Group compared with the S-Group (19.8% versus 3.1%, p < .0001). However, when we performed further comparisons restricted to data from IVF centers with LBR strictly significantly above to the national mean LBR, the CLBR were similar between both groups (36.4% versus 38.5% in S-Group and E-Group, respectively; aOR: 0.97 [0.90-1.04], p = 0.402). Finally, the CLBR in E-group was significantly higher than in S-group when expressed per embryo transfer (aOR: 1.15 [1.10-1.21], p<.0001). Limitations, reasons for caution Main limitations are: the retrospective design and the 1 year follow-up that could not include all frozen embryo cycles performed. Wider implications of the findings Overall, the nationwide results per cycle suggest that extended embyo culture until blastocyst stage, even used in combination with vitrification, could not improve live birth rates. Trial registration number not applicable

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in breast cancer patients: Does oestrogen receptor status make a difference?

The presence of different breast cancer receptor status may impact ovarian stimulation outcomes. To study the association between oestrogen receptor (ER) status in breast cancer patients and fertility preservation outcomes in a major tertiary referral centre. Women who underwent fertility preservation following the diagnosis of breast cancer from 2008 to 2018 were included in the study. Patient age, ovarian stimulation parameters and laboratory outcomes were recorded and compared between the ER positive and negative groups. The primary outcome was total number of oocytes frozen. Secondary outcomes included total number of oocytes collected, mature oocytes, and embryos frozen. The women included in the study (n = 214) were analysed in the following groups based on their fertility preservation method: oocyte freezing (n = 131), embryo freezing (n = 70), and both embryo and oocyte freezing (n = 13). There was an increase in the mean (but not mature) number of oocytes frozen (12.4 and 9.2, P-value = 0.03) favouring the ER positive group, even though the women in this group were older (35.0 and 33.4, P-value of 0.03). There is no difference in the starting follicle-stimulating hormone dose, duration of stimulation, mature oocytes collected, and embryos frozen in both groups. Patients with ER positive breast cancer may have more positive ovarian stimulation outcomes.

Barriers to offering female fertility preservation to pediatric and young adult oncology patients: A national survey of pediatric hematology oncology providers in the United States and Canada.

e24088 Background: The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently updated its guidelines on fertility preservation based on similar rates of pregnancy from oocyte and embryo preservation. However, fertility preservation in female pediatric and young adults undergoing cancer treatment remains a challenge due to barriers in communication, lack of awareness and resources. Methods: A survey created using SurveyMonkey was sent electronically to all physicians who were Children’s Oncology Group (COG) members (2190), weekly for 4 weeks. Results: 304 physicians (13.8%) responded to the survey. While most providers discuss the possibility of infertility with all female patients (83%), only 43% offer fertility preservation irrespective of age. Cancer diagnosis is a key factor in the decision to offer fertility preservation to patients (63%). Ewing sarcoma (75%), osteosarcoma (69%), and bone marrow transplant candidacy (70%) are the most common diagnoses associated with physician offering of fertility preservation. It is typically offered prior to the first round of chemotherapy (53%). Seventy-five percent of providers report that insufficient time before starting chemotherapy is a major barrier to offering fertility preservation. Severity of patient illness (58%), insurance issues and high cost (19%), provider belief that it is not necessary in every patient (25%), and lack of data supporting female fertility preservation and experimental methods (16%) are other barriers which impact the decision to offer fertility preservation. Ovarian suppression (77%), cryopreservation (egg freezing) (85%), and ovarian tissue freezing (66%) are the most discussed fertility preservation options with only one out of four providers discussing freezing embryos. Only one out of five providers check Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels prior to starting cancer treatment; however, two out of five check AMH levels after completion of therapy. Most providers do not check AMH levels. Conclusions: Despite high risk for infertility among female cancer patients due to treatment and several advances that have been made in the field, the practice of offering fertility preservation is not universal due to various barriers at the physician and institutional level. Physician education and familiarity with ASCO’s newer guidelines is one way to promote a healthier dialogue and informed decision making. We also conclude that detailed guidelines and monitoring practices for diminished ovarian reserve are lacking and need further thought.[Table: see text]

Fertility Preservation in the Female Tumor Patients

As we all know, the prevalence of tumors is increasing, and with the development of medical examination and treatment methods, the detection rate and cure rate of tumors in young women are gradually increasing, and many patients still want to realize their dream of parenthood after realizing the basic survival need of "saving life". However, the progression of the disease itself and treatment methods such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy will cause irreversible damage to the fertility of patients, so it is particularly important for these patients to preserve fertility as soon as possible. Fertility preservation is in the ascendant in China, and tumor patients are one of its main indications. In recent years, the technology has made significant progress, the current mature technology includes ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transfer, egg and embryo freezing, etc., due to the lack of understanding and application of specific programs by doctors, many patients miss the opportunity of fertility preservation, in order to provide patients with more scientific fertility preservation programs, this paper combines the fertility preservation related research of female tumor patients at home and abroad in recent years, and reviews the current fertility preservation programs and progress of female tumor patients.

A Reexamination ofIn Vitro Fertilization

AbstractFor the sake of consistency with settled principles from other theological and ethical questions, there is a need for a Christian reexamination of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Both Old and New Testaments demonstrate that human personal life begins at conception or fertilization. Additionally, the Bible teaches that human beings are persons in the image of God from the very beginning of their existence. Thus, it can be concluded that the embryos created via IVF are persons in God’s image. Applying this to the destruction and freezing of embryos, several limitations or restrictions present themselves—embryos should not be purposefully destroyed or wasted, all embryos ought to be implanted, and embryos should not be frozen. Ultimately, however, due to the immense quantity of embryo wastage, it is concluded that Christians should avoid this form of assisted reproductive technology and consider it a pro-life issue.

The Role of Vitrification in Spanish Reproductive Labs: A Cryo-revolution Led by Strategic Freezing

Assisted reproductive technologies have expanded vastly and are frequently addressed using the language of revolution. The last two decades witnessed important transformations in Spanish repromarkets, some of which are linked to one freezing technique: vitrification. This cryotechnique tends to be presented by professionals as revolutionary as well, even if in a humbler way: a technique with the capacity to revolutionize reproductive labs. Celebrated for its ability to freeze oocytes, the introduction and assimilation of vitrification have implied many transformations in Spanish clinics and the broader reproductive industry in Spain. This paper describes the role of vitrification from the point of view of the labs, drawing on interviews with professionals and observations of laboratory work, and focusing on the changes, which include but are not restricted to freezing oocytes. I argue that vitrification has increased the role of cryopreservation in reproductive labs overall in Spain, expanding the use of strategic, short-term freezing of embryos. This is discussed as part of a “cryomedicalized” turn, using Charlotte Kroløkke and Anna Sofie Bach’s term, which enlarges the scope of medicalization through optimization and prevention, in the context of late reproduction and a strong reproductive market.

Potential roles of extracellular vesicles as a noninvasive tool for prenatal genetic diagnosis

The rate of infertility is increasing owing to genetic and environmental factors. Consequently, assisted reproductive technology has been introduced as an alternative. Bearing in mind the global trend toward the transfer of only one embryo, there is an increasing trend for assessing embryo quality before transfer through prenatal genetic diagnosis (PGD) tests. This ensures that the best-quality embryos are implanted into the uterus. In the invitro fertilization cycle, PGD is not only used for diseases or quality checks before embryo freezing but also for evaluating unfortunate risks, such as aneuploidy, signs of early abortions, and preterm birth. However, traditional preimplantation genetic testing and screening approaches are invasive and harm the health of both the mother and embryo, raising the risk of miscarriage. In the last decade, embryonic extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been investigated and have emerged as a promising diagnostic tool. In this mini-review, we address the use of EVs as a noninvasive biomarker in PGD to test for biological hazards within the embryo without invading its cells. We summarize the state-of-the-art in the use of the embryo's EV content, genomic DNA, messenger RNA, and microRNA in the spent culture medium and their relationship with embryo quality, successful implantation, and pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Delivery of a Healthy Baby Boy from a Patient Embryo Cryopreserved for Over 18 Years: A Case Report

Cryopreservation offers semipermanent embryo storage. Although there have been various reports on effects of cryopreservation, there are few regarding preservation for 10 years or more. Here, we describe the delivery of a healthy child to a mother 51 years old, using an embryo cryopreserved for 18.3 years. The patient had four cleaved embryos cryopreserved when she was 32 years old. After more than 18 years, a Day-3, 10-cell stage embryo was transferred during a hormone replacement therapy cycle. The patient became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy boy (3,046 g). This case demonstrates the potential for live births at advanced maternal age by cryopreserving embryos at a young maternal age. To our knowledge, this is the longest cryopreservation period reported for a birth involving transfer of the mother’s own frozen embryo.

Investigating the Relationship between the Day of Embryo Freezing and Pregnancy Rates

In the last decades, infertility incidence is continuously increasing, reachingto about 10–15% of the couples of reproductive age. As more patients turnto assisted reproductive technologies, there is an ongoing search for the development of new techniques and improvement of the existing ones in the field. Frozen embryo transfer is one of the approaches that are widely used in recent years, because of the advance in the cryopreservation procedures. Still, there is an ongoing debate whether the embryos should be frozen on day 3, 4 or 5, before culture and transfer. The present study is a retrospective analysis of the clinical pregnancy rates in the period of 2018–2021, in “In vitro OB Medical Centre Dimitrov”, depending on which stage the embryo is cryopreserved. Our results point out that there are significantly higher pregnancy rates of day 3 and day 4 frozen embryos, compared to day 5.

ET/advanced repro technologies and synchronization

Embryo transfer in cattle can be extremely rewarding for both the cattle producer and veterinarian. A conventional flush can be achieved through a serious of shots to a donor cow, which can be stimulated to produce more offspring than she normally would in her lifetime. The process of a conventional flush will be discussed as well as grading and evaluating embryos. In ad­dition to domestic use of embryo transfer, the International Embryo Technology Society (IETS) has a set of guidelines that allows veterinarians to follow to collect and freeze embryos for exportation either through in-vivo or in-vitro production. The process of in-vitro produced (IVP) embryos will be briefly dis­cussed along with various synchronization protocols for both production systems.

57 Embryo freezing reduces

Reproduction, Fertility and Development is an international journal publishing original research , review and comment in the fields of reproduction and developmental biology in humans, domestic animals and wildlife

An examination of mediation by DNA methylation on birthweight differences induced by assisted reproductive technologies

BackgroundChildren born after assisted reproductive technologies (ART) differ in birthweight from those naturally conceived. It has been hypothesized that this might be explained by epigenetic mechanisms. We examined whether cord blood DNA methylation mediated the birthweight difference between 890 newborns conceived by ART (764 by fresh embryo transfer and 126 frozen thawed embryo transfer) and 983 naturally conceived newborns from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). DNA methylation was measured by the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC array. We conducted mediation analyses to assess whether differentially methylated CpGs mediated the differences in birthweight observed between: (1) fresh embryo transfer and natural conception and (2) frozen and fresh embryo transfer.ResultsWe observed a difference in birthweight between fresh embryo transfer and naturally conceived offspring of − 120 g. 44% (95% confidence interval [CI] 26% to 81%) of this difference in birthweight between fresh embryo transfer and naturally conceived offspring was explained by differences in methylation levels at four CpGs near LOXL1, CDH20, and DRC1. DNA methylation differences at two CpGs near PTGS1 and RASGRP4 jointly mediated 22% (95% CI 8.1% to 50.3%) of the birthweight differences between fresh and frozen embryo transfer.ConclusionOur findings suggest that DNA methylation is an important mechanism in explaining birthweight differences according to the mode of conception. Further research should examine how gene regulation at these loci influences fetal growth.

The Cold Futures of Mouse Genetics: Modes of Strain Cryopreservation Since the 1970s.

Cryopreservation, or the freezing of embryos or sperm, has become a routine part of many research projects involving laboratory mice. In this article, we combine historical and sociological methods to produce a cryopolitical analysis of this less explored aspect of animal research. We provide a longitudinal account of mouse embryo and semen storage and uses in the UK and show that cryopreservation enabled researchers to overcome particular challenges-fears of strain loss, societal disapproval, and genetic drift-in ways which enabled the continued existence of strains and contributed to the scaling up of mouse research since World War II. We use the theoretical lens of cryopolitics to explore three different, yet overlapping, cryopolitical strategies that we identify. All share the ability to ensure the continued maintenance of genetically defined strains without the need for continually breeding colonies of mice. We argue that, in contrast to more common imaginaries of species conservation, the cryopolitical rationale can best be understood as purposefully not letting the strain die without requiring animals to live. The ability to freeze mice, then, had the potential to unsettle who the objects of care are in mouse research, from individual animals to the concept of the strain itself.

Optimal waiting period for frozen embryo transfer after hysteroscopic polypectomy: A propensity score matching analysis.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the optimal waiting period for frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) after hysteroscopic polypectomy (HSC-P).DesignRetrospective cohort.SettingUniversity-affiliated hospital.Patient(s)All patients included in this research underwent hysteroscopy before the first FET cycle after whole embryo freezing. A total of 206 patients had undergone HSC-P, and 3681 patients without endometrial polyps were defined as the controls.Intervention(s)HSC-P.Main outcome measure(s)The HSC-P group was divided into three subgroups based on the time interval between HSC-P and the start of an FET cycle. Subgroup 1 consisted of patients who underwent FET after their next menses, subgroup 2 after two menstrual cycles, and subgroup 3 after three or more menstrual cycles. Demographics, baseline in vitro fertilization (IVF) characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes, especially perinatal outcomes after FET were compared among the groups.ResultsThere were 137 patients in subgroup 1, 40 in subgroup 2, and 29 in subgroup 3. There were no differences in the baseline characteristics of the three groups. IVF-related data and FET-related data, such as endometrial thickness and ET no. Of embryoes, were similar among the three subgroups. The three subgroups showed no significant differences in implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, clinical pregnancy rate or live birth rate. Besides, There was no significant difference in perinatal outcomes including very preterm delivery, preterm delivery, low birth weight, macrosomia, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, birth weight(g), birth-height(cm)and Apgar Scores.Conclusion(s)Compared with FET after their next menses, FET after two or more menstrual cycles after HSC-P does not necessarily produce superior outcomes.

Does hysteroscopic resection of polyps require cycle cancellation in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in the ICSI cycle?

Objective:Endometrial polyps are one of the most extensive pathologies in the uterus and can be detected incidentally during assisted reproductive therapy in asymptomatic women.Materials and Methods:In patients planned for in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment, embryo freezing, or cycle cancelation options are mandatory in many clinics when detected at the beginning of the cycle. In our study, in ICSI treatment, patients with a single endometrial polyp smaller than 1.5 cm, who underwent hysteroscopic polyp resection at the beginning of the cycle and underwent fresh embryo transfer without canceling the treatment (n=31), and patients with the same characteristics of endometrial polyp who underwent hysteroscopic polyp resection before the cycle (n=34) are compared within the pregnancy, abortion and live birth rates.Results:As a result, no statistical difference was found between the two groups’ pregnancy, abortion, and live birth rates.Conclusion:Hysteroscopic resection of polyps during ovarian stimulation in ICSI treatment does not affect pregnancy and live birth rates and may eliminate the necessity of freezing.

The risks of birth defects and childhood cancer with conception by assisted reproductive technology.

The risks of birth defects and childhood cancer with conception by assisted reproductive technology.

The effect of the ratio of serum progesterone level to oocyte count on the day of IVF-ICSI injection on pregnancy outcomes in HCG cycles.

There has been several discussion and debates regarding the possible setremental influence of elevated serum progesterone (SP) on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. Our study aims to assess progestron to oocyte rates for assessing CPRand live birth rate (LBR) in IVF cycles and review previous articles. In this prospective cohort study, women under ovulation induction through IVF-ICSI using the GnRH-antagonist protocol were studied. Five specific indicators were considered to assess pregnancy outcome. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. In the present research, 78 patients underwent IVF. The cut-off points for each of the three parameters were 1.2 (with a sensitivity of 65.4% and a specificity of54%), 6.5 (with a sensitivity of 73.1% and a specificity of 56%), and 0.16 (with a sensitivity of 65.4% and a specificity of 60%, respectively). Only the number of oocytes (area below the curve of 0.64) was able to predict clinical pregnancy. The cut-off point for this parameter was 6.5 (witha sensitivity of 74.1% and a specificity of 66%). On the other hand, none of the parameters were able to predict livebirth. The findings of this study should assist in the clinical management of patients with high SP on theday of HCG administration. We recommend, that the ratioof SP to oocyte is a useful parameter for refining the criteria of patients who have had embryo freezing of all embryos (by selective freezing) and subsequent transfer offrozen embryos.