In a nutshell This article summarizes the availability and use of commercial egg banks for egg donation in the United States. Some background Egg (oocyte) cryopreservation, or the freezing of unfertilized eggs for future use, is gaining in popularity, due in part to the fact that improved freezing techniques have increased successful pregnancy...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The current review examined the viability of cryopreserved egg donation for use with in vitro fertilization. Some background Egg (oocyte) donation is a process by which a woman provides eggs for purposes of assisted reproduction. It is one of the last resorts in IVF treatment for women who cannot use their own eggs due to poor...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study evaluated the use of long-term pituitary down-regulation before in vitro fertilization (IVF) in patients with severe endometriosis. Some background Endometriosis is found in many women suffering from decreased fertility. IVF, with or without the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (injection of a single sperm directly...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the use of Eeva (Early Embryo Viability Assessment) software for early prediction of a usable blastocyst by day 3 of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Some background During IVF, embryos are transferred back into the uterus three to five days after fertilization. Waiting until day 5 (the blastocyst formation stage)...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This trial compared the long-term reproductive effects of two treatment strategies in women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): laparoscopic ovarian drilling versus gonadotropin analogs. Some background If conservative treatments (such as weight loss) fail, women with PCOS may be treated with fertility drugs to induce...
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In a nutshell The present article reviewed clinical trials (published up to May 2013) that compared between standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) and IVF following in vitro maturation (IVM) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Some background Conventional IVF involves the administration of medications that stimulate the development of...
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In a nutshell This review compared the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists in poor ovarian responders undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Some background In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex process which requires tight medical control over the ovulatory cycle. To achieve such control, the...
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In a nutshell This study examined the risk of birth defects in children conceived with assisted reproductive technologies. Some background Previous studies have suggested that assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) increase the risk of birth defects. ARTs include in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI),...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study compared pregnancy outcomes in patients who received one of two ovulation stimulating drugs – tamoxifen or clomiphene citrate. Some background Treatment for female infertility usually begins with drugs that stimulate ovulation. By producing more eggs, there is a higher likelihood of a successful...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This article reviewed current data regarding pregnancy outcomes in women with endometriosis treated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog before in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Some background Endometriosis is a condition in which cells of the inner-most layer of the uterus can be found in other organs (most commonly the...
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In a nutshell This study examined which intrauterine insemination (IUI) protocol yields the best pregnancy outcomes in women in which ovulation was induced using medications. Some background The first line of treatment in many infertile couples is the combination of ovulation induction drugs plus IUI. Induced ovulation involves giving medications,...
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In a nutshell This trial investigated whether a new genetic test could predict the best time to undergo embryo implantation during in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Some background Some women undergoing IVF experience repeated implantation failure (RIF). RIF means that the fertilized embryos introduced into the uterus fail to implant and result in...
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