Oncology and reproductive outcomes over 16 years of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors treated by fertility sparing surgery

BACKGROUND Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors(MOGCT)are rare and frequently occur in women of young and reproductive age and the oncologic and reproductive outcomes after fertility-sparing surgery(FSS)for this disease are still limited.AIM To evaluate the oncology and reproductive outcomes of MOGCT patients who underwent FSS.METHODS All MOGCT patients who underwent FSS defined as the operation with a preserved uterus and at least one side of the ovary at our institute between January 2005 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.RESULTS Sixty-two patients were recruited for this study.The median age was 22 years old and over 77%were nulliparous.The three most common histology findings were immature teratoma(32.2%),dysgerminoma(24.2%),and yolk sac tumor(24.2%).The distribution of stage was as follows;Stage I,74.8%;stage II,9.7%;stage III,11.3%;and stage IV,4.8%.Forty-three(67.7%)patients received adjuvant chemotherapy.With a median follow-up time of 96.3 mo,the 10-year progressionfree survival and overall survival were 82.4%and 91%,respectively.For reproductive outcomes,of 43 patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy,18(41.9%)had normal menstruation,and 17(39.5%)resumed menstruation with a median time of 4 mo.Of about 14 patients who desired to conceive,four were pregnant and delivered good outcomes.Only one case was aborted.Therefore,the successful pregnancy rate was 28.6%CONCLUSION The oncology and reproductive outcomes of MOGCT treated by FSS are excellent.Many patients show a long survival time with normal menstruation.However,the obstetric outcome is not quite satisfactory.

Effect of Uterine Anomalies on Pregnancy Rates and Reproductive Outcomes in Women Undergoing Artificial Insemination by Husband

Objective: Congenital uterine anomalies are common; however, their effects on artificial insemination by husband(AIH) and the period during which AIH is converted to in vitro fertilization(IVF) are unclear. We examined the influence of uterine malformations on reproductive outcomes following AIH and the optimum number of AIH cycles before resorting to IVF-embryo transfer(IVF-ET).Methods: We retrospectively recruited 168 patients with uterine malformations(anomalous group) undergoing AIH between January 2011 and December 2016. Meanwhile, 168 patients with infertility but with normal uteri(normal group) were matched as controls according to age.Results: The clinical pregnancy rate was similar in both groups(12.4% vs. 12.3%, P=0.950); the cancellation(21.6% vs. 4.4%, P< 0.001),early pregnancy loss(35.7% vs. 11.4%, P = 0.032), and preterm birth rates(21.4% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.038) were higher in the anomalous group,resulting in lower term birth(32.1 % vs. 74.3%, P =0.001) and live birth rates(50.0% vs. 77.1 %, P = 0.034). After two AIH cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate was lower(3.6% vs. 23.1%, P = 0.037) among women with uterine anomalies than among those with normal uteri. There was no difference in the pregnancy rates(52.5% vs. 53.7%, P= 0.908) between the two groups of patients with unsuccessful AIH who then underwent IVF-ET.Conclusions: IVF-ET can be performed immediately after two unsuccessful AIH cycles in patients with uterine malformations. In patients undergoing AIH or IVF, uterine malformations increase the risk of adverse obstetric outcomes.

Advanced paternal age and reproductive outcome

Women have been increasingly delaying the start of motherhood in recent decades. The same trend is seen also for men. The influence of maternal age on fertility, chromosomal anomalies, pregnancy complications, and impaired perinatal and post-natal outcome of offspring, has been thoroughly investigated, and these aspectsare clinically applied during fertility and pregestational counseling. Male aging and reproductive outcome has gained relatively less attention. The purpose of this review is to evaluate updated and relevant literature on the effect of paternal age on reproductive outcome.

The Outcome of 40 Patients Becoming Pregnancy after Conservative Treatment of Cesarean Scar Pregnancy

Background: The rate of uterus is successfully conserved following the treatment of scar pregnancy which is high so pregnancy outcome following caesarean scar ectopics is getting more and more attention. Objectives: To assess pregnancy course and outcome after conservative treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy. Methods: A retrospective case series of 40 patients become pregnancy after conservative treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy by Foley or Methotrexate and aspiration. Patients in present study were treated at Hung Vuong and Tu Du Hospital between 2015 and 2017. A telephone follow-up was conducted after cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) treatment. The outcomes of these subsequent pregnancies and mode of delivery were all recorded. Results: In 40 pregnancies, there are 22 cases of intrauterine pregnancy with childbirth (55%);all babies were born healthy, with no complications recorded in pregnancy. 12 Women had recurrent scar ectopic (30%). There were 2 abortion cases, 2 cases of ectopic pregnancy, and 2 cases of early miscarriage. Conclusions: Our study shows that reproductive outcomes following treatment of caesarean scar ectopic pregnancies are favourable. The risk of recurrent caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy is a concern.

Association between luteinizing hormone level decrease on the triggering day and pregnancy outcome for in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients following gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol: a retrospective cohor

Objective:Optimal luteinizing hormone(LH)levels forin vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection(IVF/ICSI)patients following the gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)antagonist protocol remain controversial.This study aimed to estimate the association between serum LH levels on the triggering day(LHLOT)and clinical pregnancy outcomes in IVF/ICSI patients following the GnRH antagonist protocol.Methods:We enrolled 4743 IVF/ICSI cycles using flexible or fixed GnRH antagonist protocols between January 2017 and June 2021.The patients were stratified into four groups according to the LHLOT quartiles(Q1–Q4).Each group was further divided into two subgroups according to the median basal LH/LHLOT.The main outcomes were clinical pregnancy,birth,and miscarriage rates.Secondary outcomes were oocyte yield,number of MII,fertilized oocytes(2PN),and high-quality embryos.Results:Serum LHLOT levels were negatively correlated with oocyte yield and the numbers of MII,2PN,and high-quality embryos.Reproductive outcomes were compared among the different quartiles and subgroups.The absolute difference in the clinical pregnancy rates between the Q4 and Q1 groups was 6.4%(47.2%vs.40.8%,P<0.05).Clinical pregnancy rates between the subgroups with basal LH/LHLOT>3.04 and≤3.04 were 32.7%and 48.6%(P<0.01),respectively,in Q1.Within Q3,the clinical pregnancy rates between the subgroups with basal LH/LHLOT>2.14 and≤2.14 were 50.2%and 41.9%,respectively(P<0.05).The greater the decrease in LH levels,the lower the oocyte maturation rate across all quartiles.Conclusions:According to the LHLOT quartiles,the Q1 of serum LHLOT<1.43 IU/L may result in a higher number of oocytes but reduced oocyte maturation and lower clinical pregnancy rates.A decrease in LH levels by approximately 2.14 to 3.04 times compared to basal LH levels may lead to higher clinical pregnancy rates in IVF/ICSI patients following the GnRH antagonist protocol.

Laparoscopic management of recurrent ectopic pregnancy: A retrospective cohort study describing 10-years of experience in a tertiary care hospital

Objective:Recurrent ectopic pregnancy(REP)is rare,but can have severe consequences for patients.The aim of this study was to report outcomes of laparoscopic management of REP in our center.Methods:Retrospective cohort study including REP treated surgically at a single,tertiary-care academic medical center between 2009 and 2018.All patients undergoing laparoscopic salpingostomy or salpingectomy were included.Patients were then followed up to monitor outcomes of future reproductive events.Results:Of 41 eligible patients,14 suffered from ipsilateral recurrence including 5 cases of tubal stump pregnancy.In the other 27 cases,the REP occurred in the contralateral tube that was previously unaffected.All patients with ipsilateral recurrence underwent salpingectomy.In patients with contralateral recurrence,salpingectomy was carried out in 21 patients(77.8%)and salpingostomy in 6 patients(22.2%).32 patients(78%)subsequently sought to conceive either spontaneously or by in vitro fertilization.The subsequent live birth rates were 51.8%(14/27)in the salpingectomy group and 60.0%(3/5)in the salpingostomy group.Conclusion:Where trained laparoscopists and adequate facilities are available,it is possible to achieve acceptable reproductive outcomes after REP irrespective of the surgical approach.

A systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of sperm DNA damage on in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome

Sperm DNA damage is prevalent among infertile men and is known to influence natural reproduction. However, the impact of sperm DNA damage on assisted reproduction outcomes remains controversial. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies on sperm DNA damage （assessed by SCSA, TUNEL, SCD, or Comet assay） and clinical pregnancy after IVF and/or ICSI treatment from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PUBMED database searches for this analysis. We identified 41 articles （with a total of 56 studies） including 16 IVF studies, 24 ICSI studies, and 16 mixed （IVF ＋ ICSI） studies. These studies measured DNA damage （by one of four assays： 23 SCSA, 18 TUNEL, 8 SCD, and 7 Comet） and included a total of 8068 treatment cycles （3734 IVF, 2282 ICSI, and 2052 mixed IVF ＋ ICSI）. The combined OR of 1.68 （95% Ch 1.49-1.89; P 〈 0.0001） indicates that sperm DNA damage affects clinical pregnancy following IVF and/or ICSI treatment. In addition, the combined OR estimates of IVF （16 estimates, OR = 1.65; 95% CI： 1.34-2.04; P 〈 0.0001）, ICSI （24 estimates, OR = 1.31; 95% Ch 1.08-1.59; P = 0.0068）, and mixed IVF ＋ ICSI studies （16 estimates, OR = 2.37; 95% Ch 1.89-2.97; P〈 0.0001） were also statistically significant. There is sufficient evidence in the existing literature suggesting that sperm DNA damage has a negative effect on clinical pregnancy following IVF and/or ICSI treatment.