Significant Difference In Clinical Pregnancy Rate Research Articles

Comparison of pregnancy rates for two embryo-transfer catheters

To compare two flexible catheters and determine whether pregnancy rates (PRs) differed. Prospective, randomized pilot study. Tertiary-care infertility practice. The subjects for this study were 100 women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles between September 2003 and October 2005. None. Clinical PR for Edwards-Wallace (Cooper Surgical, Shelton, CT) and Cook World (Cook Urological, Spencer, IN) embryo-transfer (ET) catheters. The outcomes of pregnancy between the Edwards-Wallace and Cook World ET catheters were not significantly different. Use of the flare stimulation protocol resulted in a significantly lower PR compared to long luteal and antagonist protocols. No other variable affected PR. A 5% difference in PR was demonstrated between ET catheters; however, this study does not have the power to detect a significant difference in clinical PR between the two catheter groups. The pilot study demonstrates good design due to the lack of significant differences between the variables when stratifed by cather as well as pregnancy status. In a larger study, the flare protocol should be excluded.

Low-dose aspirin does not improve ovarian responsiveness or pregnancy rate in IVF and ICSI patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study

Poor ovarian and endometrial responses to gonadotrophin stimulation in assisted reproduction techniques lead to decreased pregnancy rates. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that low-dose aspirin started prior to controlled ovarian stimulation improves ovarian responsiveness, pregnancy rate (PR) and pregnancy outcome. A total of 374 women who were to undergo IVF/ICSI were randomized to receive 100 mg of aspirin (n=186) or placebo (n=188) daily. Treatment was started on the first day of controlled ovarian stimulation. It was continued until menstruation or a negative pregnancy test. Pregnant women continued the medication until delivery. The main outcome measures were the number of oocytes, number and quality of embryos, the clinical PR and pregnancy outcome. The mean (+/-SD) number of oocytes (12.0+/-7.0 versus 12.7+/-7.2), the total mean number of embryos (5.82+/-4.35 versus 5.99+/-4.66), the mean number of top quality embryos (0.99+/-1.39 versus 1.18+/-1.51) and the number of embryos transferred (1.64+/-0.64 versus 1.63+/-0.71) did not differ in the aspirin and placebo groups. Between the aspirin and placebo group, there was no statistically significant difference in clinical PR per embryo transfer (25.3%, n=44 out of 174 versus 27.4%, n=48 out of 175) or clinical PR per cycle initiated (23.7% versus 25.5%). Birth rate per embryo transfer did not differ significantly between the aspirin (18.4%) and placebo (21.1%) groups. The incidence of poor responders [12 (6.5%) versus 13 (6.9%)] was similar in both groups. The present results indicate that low-dose aspirin treatment does not have any beneficial effect on ovarian responsiveness, PR and pregnancy outcome in unselected women undergoing IVF/ICSI.

A prospective study to evaluate whether gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists have an adverse effect on embryo implantation

A prospective study to evaluate whether gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists have an adverse effect on embryo implantation