scholarly journals The impact of laser-assisted hatching on the outcome of frozen human embryo transfer cycles

Zygote ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 742-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katalin Kanyo ◽  
Jozsef Zeke ◽  
Rita Kriston ◽  
Zoltan Szücs ◽  
Sandor Cseh ◽  
...  

SummaryBiochemical modifications of zona pellucida (ZP) result in zona hardening. Zona hardening (ZH) is induced by several factors such as advancing maternal age,in vitroculture conditions and cryopreservation and adversely effects implantation. The objective of the clinical study was to determine whether or not laser-assisted hatching (LAH) applied on day 3 frozen embryos improves the outcome of frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles in patients with recurrent implantation failure and/or advanced female age. In total, 413 patients of different ages with recurrent implantation failure (maximum three cycles) were involved into the study. Patients were allocated randomly into LAH and control groups. On the day of FET, after thawing and just before FET, the ZP was thinned using a laser system. In the control group no treatment was applied on frozen embryo before transfer. The main outcome measures were clinical pregnancy rate. Overall, the results indicate a tendency that LAH increased (P= 0.08) clinical pregnancy. However, for patients older than 37 years, LAH increased pregnancy rates significantly (P= 0.03). In the LAH and control groups, the age of patients and the number of transferred embryos influenced pregnancy rates (P= 0.01). For patients older than 37 years, no effect of number of transferred embryos was detected (P= 0.14). The incidence of multiple pregnancies also increased in the LAH group (P= 0.01). In conclusion, in older woman, to overcome the negative effect of zona hardening, LAH could be performed on frozen embryos as a routine strategy before FET in frozen cycles in order to increase the possibility of pregnancy formation.

2016 ◽  
pp. 80-84
Author(s):  
Thi Tam An Nguyen ◽  
Minh Tam Le ◽  
Ngoc Thanh Cao

Background: Laser assisted hatching technique based on the hypothesis to make an artificial hole on zona pellucida (ZP) that can help embryo hatching out of ZP easily. This technique has been shown to increase implantation and pregnancy rates in women of advanced age, in women with recurrent implantation failure and following the transfer of frozen–thawed embryos. This study described the outcome of frozen–thawed embryo transfers with laser assisted hatching (LAH), which is one of the safest method in nowadays. Purpose: To assess the effect of assisted hatching technique on the clinical outcomes in vitrified-warmed transfer cycles. Method: A total of 65 thawed-transfer cycles with 153 thawed-embryos undertaken within a 12-month period were analysed, Assisted hatching with laser zona thinning was performed with one-quarter of the zona pellucida circumference. The overall thawed-embryos (day 3) were kept in culture overnight. Patient were prepared the suitable endometrium and transferred embryos advantageously. Results: In which, having the rate of survival embryos were 143 occupying 94.3%, the percentage of grade 1 and 2 embryos occupied 55.9% and 29,3% respectively, and that were enrolled LAH before transfering of frozen–thawed embryos. The average transferred embryos were 2.4±0.8, The rate of implantation per transferred embryos and per transferred embryos cycles was 19.5% and 43.1% respectively. The rate of clinical pregnancies per embryo transfer cycles occupied 33.8% with percentage of early miscarriages (biochemical pregnancies and early clinical miscarriages) was 12.3%. The rate of ongoing pregnancies was 30.8% and multiple pregnancies was low just 12.3%. This result was equal or higher than other researchs in embryos transfer had or no LAH. Conclusion: LAH contributed to stable frozen–thawed embryos transfer effectiveness. Key words: Laser assisted hatching, frozen–thawed embryos transfer, zona pellucida (ZP)


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-85
Author(s):  
Ioan BOLEAC ◽  
◽  
Manuela NEAGU ◽  
Anca CORICOVAC ◽  
Dorina CODREANU ◽  
...  

Recurrent implantation failure is represented by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after transfer of at least 4 good-quality embryos in a minimum of 3 fresh or frozen cycles in a woman under the age of 40 years. One of the recent approaches in studying the window of implantation was building the expression profile of the genes of the endometrial cells. We performed a retrospective study which investigated if endometrial receptivity tests improved the outcomes of IVF procedures in patients with recurrent implantation failure. We enrolled 47 couples with RIF and divided them in 2 groups: the first group of 22 couples performed the ERA test and the embryo transfer according to the result of the test; the second group of 27 couples had the embryo transfer done without the ERA test. Our conclusion was that the ERA test did not improve the outcomes for patients with recurrent implantation failure.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Yuta Kasahara ◽  
Tomoko Hashimoto ◽  
Ryo Yokomizo ◽  
Yuya Takeshige ◽  
Koki Yoshinaga ◽  
...  

Background:The clinical value of personalized embryo transfer (pET) guided by the endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA) tests for recurrent implantation failure (RIF) cases is still unclear. The aim of this study is to clarify the efficacy of ERA leading to personalization of the day of embryo transfer (ET) in RIF patients. Methods: A retrospective study was performed for 94 patients with RIF who underwent ERA between July 2015 and December 2019. Pregnancy outcomes in a previous vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (previous VBT) and a personalized vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (pVBT) in identical patients were compared. The details of each pVBT were further analyzed between patients in a non-displaced group, which indicated “receptive” cases in ERA results and those who were in the displaced group, which indicated “non-receptive” cases. Results:When the pregnancy rate, both per patient and per transfer cycle, of previous VBT and pVBT were compared, a significant increase in pVBT was observed between the two methods (5.3% vs. 62.8%, 4.4% vs. 47.9%, respectively). The pregnancy rates, implantation rates, and clinical pregnancy rates of the first pVBT were significantly higher in the displaced group than the non-displaced group. The cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate of the displaced group tended to be higher compared to that of the non-displaced group in the first pVBT, although the difference was not statistically significant (51.0% vs. 31.1%, [Formula: see text] = 0.06). Conclusions:Our study demonstrates that pVBT guided by ERA tests may improve pregnancy outcomes in RIF patients whose window of implantation (WOI) is displaced, and its effect may be more pronounced at the first pVBT. The displacement of WOI may be considered to be one of the causes of RIF, and its adjustment may contribute to the improvement of pregnancy outcomes in RIF patients.


mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Fu ◽  
Xiaowei Zhang ◽  
Yiheng Liang ◽  
Shouren Lin ◽  
Weiping Qian ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to repeated failure to become pregnant after transferring embryos with normal morphology. However, the pathogenesis of RIF remains unrevealed, especially for those without any pathological features. In this study, we characterized the vaginal microbiota and metabolomes of patients with unexplained RIF, while patients who achieved clinical pregnancy in the first frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle were used as controls. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the vaginal microbiota, the vaginal Lactobacillus showed a significant positive correlation with the pregnancy rate, and the RIF group presented higher microbial α-diversity than the control group (P value = 0.016). The metabolomic profile identified 2,507 metabolites, of which 37 were significantly different between the two groups (P value < 0.05, variable importance for the projection [VIP] > 1). Among them, 2′,3-cyclic UMP and inositol phosphate were the top two metabolites that were higher in the RIF group, while glycerophospholipids and benzopyran were important metabolites that were lower in the RIF group. A lack of lysobisphosphatidic acid and prostaglandin metabolized from glycerophospholipids will lead to deferred implantation and embryo crowding. Benzopyran, as a selective estrogen receptor modulator, may affect the outcome of pregnancy. All of the changes in metabolite profiles may result in or from the differential microbiota compositions in RIF patients. In conclusion, significant differences were presented in the vaginal microbiota and metabolomes between patients with unexplained RIF and women who became pregnant in the first FET cycle. For the first time, this study elaborates the possible pathogenesis of RIF by investigating the vaginal microbiota and metabolites in RIF patients. IMPORTANCE In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) is now widely applied for treating infertility, and unexplained recurrent implantation failure (RIF) has become a substantial challenge. We hypothesize that vaginal microbial dysbiosis is associated with RIF, as it is linked to many female reproductive diseases. In this study, we characterized the vaginal microbiota and metabolomes of patients with unexplained RIF, while patients who achieved clinical pregnancy in the first IVF cycle were set as controls. In general, significant differences were discovered in the vaginal microbiota and metabolomes between the two groups. This study is the first detailed elaboration of the vaginal microbiota and metabolites associated with RIF. We believe that our findings will inspire researchers to consider the dynamics of microbiomes related to the microenvironment as a critical feature for future studies of nosogenesis not only for RIF but also for other reproductive diseases.


Author(s):  
Mina Naghi Jafarabadi ◽  
Maryam Bagheri ◽  
Zahra Ebrahimi ◽  
Mamak Shariat ◽  
Fedyeh Haghollahi

Objectives : This study was aimed to examine the endometrial scratch injury effect to improve pregnancy rate in women undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI). Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in a University Clinic from November 2017 to January 2019. A total of 120 candidates entered the study, who were assigned to intervention (n=60) and control (n=60) groups. All subjects underwent controlled ovarian stimulation using letrozole 2.5 mg/BD on a day between 3 and 7 of the cycle. Then, the sonographic monitoring was started from day 8 of the cycles, followed by injecting human chorionic gonadotropins (HCG) 100001U intramuscularly when 1-2 follicles reached 18 mm in diameter. Approximately 36-38 hours afterward, IUI was done and a B-HCG test was performed after 15 days as well. In addition, luteal phase support was performed with the vaginal progesterone 400 mg twice daily for 15 days. In the intervention group, on day 3 of the cycle endometrial cavity on the posterior wall was scratched with the vaginal cannula No. 4 by a single infertility specialist in addition to the routine procedure. The chemical and clinical pregnancy rates were the main outcome measurements. Results: The overall clinical pregnancy rates were 11/59 (18.6%) and 10/59 (16.9%) in intervention and control groups, respectively (P=0.810). Further, the abortion rates were 1/59 (1.7%) and 3/59 (5.1%) in intervention and control groups, respectively (P=0.303). Eventually, no cases of ectopic pregnancy were observed in either group. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, endometrial scratch by pipelle cannot improve pregnancy rate in the early proliferative phase.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
ling CUI ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
Yonghong Lin

Abstract Background: To assess the effect of intrauterine administration of seminal plasma for patients with recurrent implantation failure before frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Methods: Trial design: This is a parallel group, randomized (1:1 allocation ratio) controlled trial.Participants: All patients will be recruited from Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital. Inclusion criteria: 1. Women after IVF/ICSI treatment in Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital. 2.Infertile women with a history of recurrent implantation failure. 3.Infertile couples (both male and female) aged between 20 and 39 years;4. Couples who have at least 1 good quality embryos for transfer. 5. Males had negative in infectious disease test. 6. The males have semen. 7. Women who intend to undergo FET after IVF or ICSI or pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). 8. Competent and able to give informed consent. Intervention and comparator: Treatment group receiving intrauterine administration of seminal plasma before frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Main outcomes: Clinical pregnancy after frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Randomisation: Patients will be randomly allocated to either treatment or control group at 1:1 ratio. Random numbers will be generated by using software SPSS 25.0 performed by an independent statistician from Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital. Blinding (masking): Only the data analyst will be blinded to group assignment. Numbers to be randomised (sample size): To account for a 10% dropout rate, we will recruit 174 patients (87 in each group). Trial status: The date of approval is 31rd May 2021, version 2.0. Recruitment started on 1rd June and is expected to end in July 2022. Discussion: Intrauterine administration of seminal plasma before frozen-thawed embryo transfer of patients with recurrent implantation failure may improve clinical pregnancy rate, it has great Page 2 of 14 significance for assisted reproduction. Trial registration: The study protocol has been approved by the ethics committees at Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital. The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100046803. Registered on 28 May 2021.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenhong Shuai ◽  
Xuemei Li ◽  
Xuelian Tang ◽  
Fang Lian ◽  
Zhengao Sun

Objective: To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) on pregnancy outcomes in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Methods: A total of 122 women with RIF undergoing fresh embryo transfer cycle IVF were randomly allocated to a TEAS or mock TEAS (MTEAS) group. Gonadotrophin therapy using a long protocol was provided in both groups. TEAS consisted of 30 min of stimulation (9–25 mA, 2 Hz) at SP6, CV3, CV4 and Zigong from day 5 of the ovarian stimulation cycle once every other day until the day of embryo transfer. The patients in the control group received MTEAS. Implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were compared. Results: In the TEAS group, the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (24.3%, 32.8% and 27.9%, respectively) were significantly higher than in the MTEAS group (12.1%, 16.4% and 13.1%, respectively). Conclusions: TEAS significantly improves the clinical outcomes of subsequent IVF cycles among women who have experienced RIF. Trial registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-14004730.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3021
Author(s):  
Jeong Yong Lee ◽  
Eun Hee Ahn ◽  
Hyeon Woo Park ◽  
Ji Hyang Kim ◽  
Young Ran Kim ◽  
...  

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to the occurrence of more than two failed in vitro fertilization–embryo transfers (IVF-ETs) in the same individual. RIF can occur for many reasons, including embryo characteristics, immunological factors, and coagulation factors. Genetics can also contribute to RIF, with some single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) reported to be associated with RIF occurrence. We examined SNVs in a long non-coding RNA, homeobox (HOX) transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), which is known to affect cancer development. HOTAIR regulates epigenetic outcomes through histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. We recruited 155 female RIF patients and 330 healthy controls, and genotyped HOTAIR SNVs, including rs4759314, rs920778, rs7958904, and rs1899663, in all participants. Differences in these SNVs were compared between the patient and control groups. We identified significant differences in the occurrence of heterozygous genotypes and the dominant expression model for the rs1899663 and rs7958904 SNVs between RIF patients and control subjects. These HOTAIR variants were associated with serum hemoglobin (Hgb), luteinizing hormone (LH), total cholesterol (T. chol), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, as assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). We analyzed the four HOTAIR SNVs and found significant differences in haplotype patterns between RIF patients and healthy controls. The results of this study showed that HOTAIR is not only associated with the development of cancer but also with pregnancy-associated diseases. This study represents the first report showing that HOTAIR is correlated with RIF.


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