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Background: The use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) currently extends beyond male factor infertility, notably replacing conventional in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in scenarios like limited oocyte availability, where it is used as a precaution against complete fertilisation failure. While existing studies on the use of conventional IVF in such situations provide some reassurance, the available evidence is somewhat insufficient and ICSI is commonly used. Aims: To evaluate whether conventional IVF can be a feasible option when only one oocyte is retrieved. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the fertilisation rate with conventional IVF in women retrieving only one oocyte and whose partner had normal semen. The study aimed at evaluating whether the fertilisation rate was aligned with the threshold indicated by recognized IVF laboratory performance indicators (Vienna Consensus). Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were secondary outcomes. Results: Out of 304 cycles with a single oocyte inseminated with conventional IVF, 209 achieved normal fertilisation and 82 did not. Thirteen had no mature oocytes. The fertilisation rate was 69% (95% CI: 63–74%) and increased to 72% (95% CI: 66–77%) when immature oocytes were excluded. The fertilisation rate surpassed the minimum competency threshold of the Vienna Consensus (60%), even if below the benchmark value (75%). Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates per oocyte retrieval were 10% and 8%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses failed to identify any predictive factor of fertilisation. Conclusion: Conventional IVF with one oocyte met Vienna Consensus standards even if it fell short of higher benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of a low cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), severe neonatal morbidity (SNM) and perinatal mortality (PNM). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of late‐preterm and term births at Mater Mothers' Hospital, Brisbane, between 2016 and 2020. Study outcomes were HIE, PNM and SNM (a composite of severe acidosis, Apgar score less than four at 5 min, severe respiratory distress or need for significant cardiopulmonary resuscitation at birth). Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine if a low CPR was associated with HIE, SNM or PNM. Results: A total of 51 870 births met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 216 (0.42%) were complicated by HIE, 10 224 (19.7%) had SNM and 251 (0.48%) had PNM. Rates of low CPR (<10th and <5th centile) were significantly higher in the SNM cohort (20.1 and 13.2%, respectively) and PNM cohort (21.1 and 15.1%, respectively) compared to the overall cohort. A low CPR was associated with significantly increased adjusted odds for SNM but not for HIE or PNM. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for CPR <10th centile was greatest for SNM (0.768) and lowest for HIE (0.595). Predictive margins of a low CPR for HIE, SNM and PNM were significant only for SNM at late‐preterm gestations. Conclusions: A low CPR is associated with increased odds of SNM in infants born >34 weeks' gestation but not for HIE or PNM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess clinical outcomes and complications in women with ≥1 prior caesarean delivery (CS) during mid‐pregnancy medical abortion with misoprostol following mifepristone priming. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of abortions at 13–28 weeks gestation using sequential mifepristone and misoprostol at a single centre from 1/2008–12/2018. Procedural outcomes were compared between cases with no prior CS, one prior and ≥2 prior CS. Results: There were 1399 consecutive women who underwent a medical abortion, with 304 (21.7%) having ≥1 prior lower segment CS (241 one, 49 two, 12 three, one four) and one a prior classical CS. Median gestation was 19 weeks (interquartile range (IQR) 17–21) among nulliparas, multiparas with no prior CS and multiparas with prior CS, P = 0.505. Compared with nulliparas (median procedural duration 10.8 h, IQR 7.5–16.5; adjusted hazards ratio (aHR) = 1.20 95%CI 1.04–1.40, P = 0.015), multiparas with prior CS had a shorter procedural duration (9.5 h, IQR 6.5–13.5) while multiparas with no CS had the shortest duration (7.0 h, IQR 5.0–9.8; aHR = 2.28 95%CI 2.01–2.58, P < 0.001). Complications were more frequent with prior CS: estimated blood loss (medians: 100 cc no CS vs 150 cc ≥1 CS, P = 0.002), blood loss >1000 cc (3.6% no CS vs 7.2% ≥1 CS; odds ratio (OR) = 2.11 95%CI 1.23–3.62, P = 0.007) and placental retention (17.3% no CS vs 25.3% ≥1 CS; adjusted OR = 1.44 95%CI 1.05–1.99, P = 0.024). Uterine rupture occurred in 4/304 women with ≥1 prior CS (1.3%). Conclusions: Mifepristone‐misoprostol abortion in women with prior CS is generally safe but associated with an increased risk of procedural complications. Lowering of the misoprostol dosage with prior CS may reduce uterine rupture, although this hypothesis requires ongoing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Higher‐order multiple (HOM) pregnancies are associated with significant maternal and neonatal morbidity, especially consequent to preterm birth. Multi‐fetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) may be provided, though its benefits in prolonging gestation and improving neonatal outcomes must be weighed against its risks. Aims: The aim was to compare outcomes of HOM pregnancies where expectant management was chosen (EM) with those where MFPR was provided. Methods: The method involved a retrospective study of HOM pregnancies referred to a single quaternary hospital between 2007 and 2016. The primary outcome was gestational age. Secondary outcomes included miscarriage, nursery admission, hospital stay, Apgar scores, early fetal loss, stillbirth, neonatal death and composite fetal loss. Results: Fifty‐seven pregnancies were eligible for inclusion. Median gestation at birth (weeks) was significantly higher for MFPR (35.3 vs 33.1, P < 0.01). Pregnancies after MFPR were less likely to lead to preterm birth (63.2 vs 100.0%, P < 0.001), half as likely to birth before 34 weeks (31.6 vs 60.0%, P = 0.09) but similarly likely to extremely preterm birth (<28 weeks, 8.6 vs 10.5%, P = 0.58). Miscarriage was more likely after MFPR (13.6 vs 0%, P = 0.05). EM neonates were more likely to be admitted to the nursery (P < 0.01) and have longer hospital stay (29.6 vs 20.2 days, P = 0.05); however, they had similar Apgar scores. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that MFPR is associated with an increase in gestational age, with a reduction by almost half of births before 34 weeks, but no difference in extremely preterm births; the latter represents the highest risk group. This should be used to guide management counselling for HOM pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertensive disorder in pregnancy is common and the optimal ultrasound surveillance of the fetus in this setting is unclear. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the fetal cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by maternal hypertension. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed over ten years at a single centre. All women who had an ultrasound scan between 34 and 37 weeks gestation with a non‐anomalous singleton pregnancy were included. The hypertensive cohorts were compared to a non‐hypertensive cohort. Each cohort was divided into low CPR for gestational age, or normal/high CPR and these were correlated with intrapartum and perinatal outcomes. Results: A low CPR in a hypertensive pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of induction of labour, emergency caesarean section and poor perinatal outcome. This significance persists when adjusted for gestational age and birth weight. The diagnosis of pre‐eclampsia combined with a low CPR markedly increases the risk of poor perinatal outcome, with 52.6% (P < 0.001) of fetuses in this group having either neonatal intensive care unit admission, respiratory distress, low Apgar score, or acidosis. The odds ratio of a fetus with low CPR in a woman with pre‐eclampsia having a poor composite outcome is 4.09 (95% CI: 1.85−9.06). Conclusion: There is an association between low CPR and the perinatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by a hypertensive disorder. This association appears to be stronger in pregnancies complicated by pre‐eclampsia than in other types of hypertensive disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent pelvic pain (PPP) is an important cause of psychological distress and productivity loss in women. In 2017, a multidisciplinary clinic was established to care for Queensland women with PPP. By analysing clinic and emergency department data, we found 19% fewer patients required any presentation to the emergency department for exacerbations of pelvic pain (P = 0.003) within 12 months of clinic attendance. There was also a reduction in number of presentations, short stay admissions and daily opiate use in regular users. The Persistent Pelvic Pain Clinic (PPPC) made a difference to these women and reduced resource burden on a busy emergency department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intrapartum fetal blood sampling (FBS) is a fetal well‐being diagnostic test for cardiotocogram abnormalities. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether women who had their first FBS at <4 cm cervical dilation had an increased risk of operative delivery (caesarean section, instrumental delivery) compared to those women who had their first FBS ≥ 4 cm dilation. Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort study involving labouring women who underwent FBS in a tertiary centre between 2015 and 2017. Women who had their first FBS at <4 cm dilation were compared to those who had their first FBS at ≥4 cm. The primary outcome was operative delivery (caesarean, instrumental delivery); secondary outcomes were neonatal complications. Univariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between degree of cervical dilation at first FBS and study outcomes. Results: Among 591 women, 39 (6.6%) had their first FBS at <4 cm cervical dilation. Women in the ≥4 cm group were less likely to have a total of ≥2 FBS (P = 0.003). There was no difference in the primary outcome between the two groups. Women who had the first FBS at <4 cm dilation were twice as likely to have a caesarean section delivery (odds ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.06–3.98), although 41% had a vaginal birth (instrumental and spontaneous). There were no differences in rates of resuscitation or admission to nursery between groups. Conclusion: Women who had their first FBS < 4cm cervical dilation were twice as likely to have a caesarean section compared to women who had their first FBS ≥ 4 cm. However, 41% had a vaginal birth, and there were no differences in fetal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Our objective was to assess clinical and pathological factors associated with a final diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma in patients with atypical endometrial hyperplasia with a particular emphasis on the grading of atypia. Materials and methods: A retrospective review over five years on patients (N = 97) who underwent hysterectomy for a diagnosis of atypical endometrial hyperplasia at a statewide public tertiary gynaecologic oncology centre. Clinical and pathological characteristics were obtained. Results: The rate of concurrent endometrial carcinoma was 34% (n = 33) with most being stage 1A endometrioid. A significant group difference was reported for age at diagnosis (t = −2.20 P = 0.031 d = 0.43) with carcinoma patients on average older (Mage = 60.2 (8.9) years) than patients without carcinoma (Mage = 55.5 (12.3) years). No significant group differences were found for body mass index, endometrial thickness or time between diagnosis and treatment. Significantly higher rates of carcinoma were reported in patients with moderate atypical hyperplasia (27.6%) and severe atypical hyperplasia (66.7%), compared to mild atypical hyperplasia (7.1%). Only severe atypical hyperplasia (odds ratio (OR) = 21.5, 95% CI 2.8–163.1, P = 0.003) and postmenopausal status (OR = 13.2, 95% CI 1.3–139.0, P = 0.032) significantly increased the risk of carcinoma in a multivariate model. Conclusion: Severe atypical hyperplasia and postmenopausal status were significant predictors of concurrent endometrial carcinoma in patients with atypical endometrial hyperplasia. The grading of atypical hyperplasia may be utilised by gynaecologic oncologists in the triage and referral process of managing these patients; however, the grading system requires external validation in larger prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adenocarcinoma in situ of cervix is increasingly managed by local excision rather than hysterectomy and this study will ascertain if conservative management by excision alone is adequate. Aims: To evaluate the long‐term outcomes of conservative management of adenocarcinoma in situ of cervix, particularly in relation to excisional margin status. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of women diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in situ and their management between 1992 and 2010 retrieved from the Victorian Cervical Cytology Registry, Australia. Failure of conservative treatment is defined by histologically proven adenocarcinoma in situ or adenocarcinoma at follow‐up after negative excisional margins. Results: adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix was managed primarily with cold knife cone biopsy or loop electrosurgical excision of the cervix. Most excisions were in one piece (83.4%) with average depth of 16.1 mm and 21.9% had involved excisional margins. Women with adenocarcinoma in situ on any excisional margin were more likely to have residual or recurrent disease (28.7%) compared with negative excisional margins (4.3%). Residual adenocarcinoma in situ was twice as common if adenocarcinoma in situ was present at endocervical (29.6%) and stromal (23.1%) margins compared with an ectocervical margin (13.6%). Cancer incidence at follow‐up was 2.3% for women with positive excisional margins compared to 1.3% with negative margins. Conclusions: Women with adenocarcinoma in situ of cervix can be managed with local excisional procedures, best in single pieces to provide the important information on excisional margins. Adenocarcinoma in situ at endocervical and stromal excisional margins needs re‐excision or where appropriate, hysterectomy, while negative excisional margins have a low rate of recurrence and can be followed up with test of cure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amniotomy is a commonly used, inexpensive method of labour induction; however, the optimal timing of amniotomy during labour induction is debated. Aims: To investigate whether artificial rupture of membranes <4 cm dilation is associated with caesarean, severe maternal and neonatal morbidity, and labour induction duration. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 228 438 deliveries at 19 US hospitals. Women with a viable, singleton gestation undergoing induction ≥37 weeks with cervical dilation <4 cm were included. Women were excluded if membranes spontaneously ruptured <4 cm. Women were compared by early amniotomy (<4 cm dilation) versus not early. The primary outcome was caesarean. Secondary outcomes included severe maternal and neonatal morbidity, and labour duration. Logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression estimated the association between early amniotomy and study outcomes. Results: Of 15 525 eligible women, 10 421 (67%) had early amniotomy. Early amniotomy was associated with higher adjusted odds of caesarean and severe maternal morbidity, but not neonatal morbidity. After accounting for interaction, early amniotomy was associated with increasingly higher odds of caesarean as body mass index increased. Early amniotomy was associated with lower odds of severe maternal morbidity among multiparas with mechanical ripening. Median labour induction was 2.5 h shorter with early amniotomy, significant in hazard regression. Conclusions: Early amniotomy was associated with increased odds of caesarean among obese women. The association between early amniotomy and severe maternal morbidity varied by maternal characteristics, but early amniotomy was not associated with neonatal morbidity. Early amniotomy in labour induction may be advantageous in certain populations, particularly non‐obese women requiring mechanical ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal smoking is associated with a number of adverse outcomes with a dose‐dependent increase in risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes in women who smoked during pregnancy. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of women who smoked during pregnancy and birthed at a major perinatal centre in Australia between January 2000 and April 2017. The study cohort was compared to a cohort of women who did not smoke in pregnancy. Smoking status was ascertained on history and included all types of smoking. Demographic characteristics and obstetric, intrapartum and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: The study cohort included 20 477 (14.6%) women who smoked during pregnancy and 119 396 controls. Women who smoked tended to be younger, of higher body mass index (BMI), Caucasian and Indigenous ethnicity. Smokers were less likely to be nulliparous, but more likely to be hypertensive and have a lower socioeconomic status compared to non‐smokers. Women who smoked were more likely to have a caesarean section for non‐reassuring fetal status (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.16, 95%CI 1.07–1.26, P < 0.001). The infants of women who smoked were more likely to be born preterm, have a lower median birth weight and birth weights <10th (aOR 1.76, 95%CI 1.66–1.86, P < 0.001) and <5th centile (aOR 2.00, 95%CI 1.86–2.16, P < 0.001). Neonatal outcomes in the smoking cohort were worse with an increase in neonatal intensive care unit admission (aOR 1.34, 95%CI 1.27–1.43, P < 0.001), severe acidosis (aOR 1.41, 95%CI 1.27–1.43, P < 0.001) and a composite of severe neonatal outcomes (18.0% vs 12.0%, aOR 1.35, 95%CI 1.28–1.43, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Women who smoke in pregnancy have worse obstetric and perinatal outcomes compared to controls and should be managed as high risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Preterm birth continues to be a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide, but advances have recently been made in its prediction and prevention. A short cervix (<25 mm) in the second trimester on transvaginal ultrasound scan and fetal fibronectin are important predictive tests. For over ten years, the Preterm Labour Clinic at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia has provided care for women at high risk of preterm birth, including those with a previous preterm birth, previous cervical surgery, uterine malformation or incidental finding of short cervix at routine ultrasound. The purpose of this study was to review this clinic's outcomes for the first decade. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of all referrals to the Preterm Labour Clinic during the period 2004-2013 inclusive. Seven hundred and fifty-six cases met the study inclusion criteria of appropriate risk factor, singleton pregnancy, surveillance undertaken and outcome data available. Results The preterm birth rate (<37 weeks) was 21.4%. The rate of preterm birth by year decreased significantly when adjusted for risk ( P = 0.002). A short cervix was diagnosed in 32% of the sample, and positively correlated with lower gestational age at delivery. Fetal fibronectin and serum alkaline phosphatase were independent predictors of preterm birth <34 weeks and <37 weeks. Conclusion The adjusted preterm birth rate at the Royal Women's Hospital's Preterm Labour Clinic has decreased significantly over the decade studied. Positive fetal fibronectin at 26 weeks and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase are independent predictors of preterm birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]