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Background: The probability of pregnancy after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) declines with age in parallel with a reduction in the ovarian reserve. However, there is considerable variation in the ovarian reserve in women of advanced reproductive age; so to give such women accurate advice about the prospects of treatment success, factors other than age must be considered. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been shown to be a good indicator of ovarian reserve, and its utility is explored in this paper. Aims: To determine the utility of AMH serum levels for prediction of ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation and outcome in IVF in women of advanced reproductive age. Methods: The material consists of 127 women with a median age of 42 years (range 39-46) having had their first cycle of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment from November 2006 to December 2008. During this period, a total of 772 oocyte retrievals and 715 embryo transfers were performed at the clinic (median age 36.4 years). AMH was analysed with the Beckman Coulter DSL ELISA. Agonist and antagonist protocols were used and monitored by ultrasound and oestradiol; embryo transfer was performed on day 2, 3 or 5 of culture. Results: The lower the AMH, the higher the risk of cycle cancellation, low oocyte yield and treatment failure. Women with a serum AMH above 8.6 pmol/L had a good chance of achieving live birth after IVF/ICSI treatment. Conclusions: Anti-Müllerian hormone is useful for identifying a good prognosis group in women of advanced reproductive age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are known to be at increased risk of subsequent hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Aims: In this study, we aimed to assess whether the long-term follow-up, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in these women is adequate. Methods: Prospective study of 2112 women who were part of a Birth Cohort Study - The Mater University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy, who received antenatal care at a major public hospital in Brisbane between 1981 and 1983 and were followed up at 21 years. Results: Of the 191 women who had HDP, 62 (32.46%) were hypertensive (29 adequately treated, 33 inadequately identified or managed). Of the 1921 women without HDP, 280 (14.58%) were hypertensive (113 adequately treated, 167 inadequately identified or managed). Women with HDP were at higher risk of hypertension (OR 4.09, 95% CI 2.76, 6.07). Women with a history of HDP were more likely to have hypertension that was inadequately identified or managed (OR 3.56, 95% CI 2.06, 5.97). Conclusion: Women with HDP are at increased risk of undiagnosed or undertreated hypertension. Attention needs to be given to appropriate follow-up of women who have a pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]