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Objective The aim of the present study is to investigate embryo quality (score) after controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF using rFSH or hMG with the GnRH antagonist protocol. Methods Open, randomized, single center study. The patients were randomized to receive rFSH or hMG according to randomized cards inside a black envelope with the name of the respective treatment following a computer generated list (85 patients were allocated to rFSH group and 83 patients to hMG group). Inclusion criteria were patients with IVF indication and normal ovarian reserve. Embryo evaluation was performed on day three, after fertilization based on the Graduated Embryo Score (GES). Results There were no relevant differences in demographic characteristics. There was no difference in pregnancy rates with 27 (31%) and 25 (30.1%) pregnancies for rFSH and hMG, respectively (p=0.87). The total embryo score was the same for both groups, but the best embryo score was significant higher for the rFSH group (77.33±34.0 x 65.07±33.2 p=0.03). The total number of embryos was statistical different, also in favor of the rFSH group (4.17±3.1 x 3.26±2.4 p=0.04). Conclusion The total embryo score was the same for both groups, but the best embryo score was significantly higher for the rFSH group. Moreover, rFSH was associated with an increased number of embryos.

Several studies have reported a correlation between antral follicle count by conventional 2D transvaginal sonography and serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels. However, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of 3D SonoAVC transvaginal ultrasound technology, particularly in infertile women. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) SonoAVC transvaginal ultrasound technology for antral follicle count and its correlation to conventional two-dimensional (2D) transvaginal ultrasound and serum levels of anti-Mullerian hormone in infertile women. This cross-sectional study included 42 infertile women with age lower than 40 years that underwent treatment at a private fertility clinic between June and December 2015. Patient data included age, body mass index and cause of infertility. On cycle day 3 the following hormone levels were measured: serum levels of anti-Mullerian hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, cancer antigen 125, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone and oestradiol; the number of antral follicles was counted as well. The scanning were performed through 2D and 3D technology transvaginal ultrasound. Using a Bland-Altman test we demonstrated that both technologies are quite equivalent. However, antral follicle count is higher using 3D ultrasound technology compared to 2D technology (p

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the numerical rating scale, visual analogue scale, and pressure threshold by algometry in women with chronic pelvic pain. Study design: This was a cross-sectional study. We included 47 patients with chronic pelvic pain. All subjects underwent a pain assessment that used three different methods and were divided according to the cause of pain (endometriosis versus non-endometriosis). Moreover, we assessed the agreement between the scales (visual, analogue and algometry) using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The ICC for the numeric rating scale and the visual analogue scale regarding pain (0.992), dysmenorrhea (1.00) and dyspareunia (0.996) were strong. The agreement between the scales was excellent (p ≤0.01). The correlation between algometry and the scales showed a moderate and inverse association, and this correlation was statistically significant: as the scores on the numeric rating scale and the visual analogue scale regarding dyspareunia increased, the algometry thresholds decreased. Conclusions: The assessment of women with chronic pelvic pain should combine pressure algometry and the numeric rating scale or the visual analogue scale, because of their inverse correlations and satisfactory reliability and sensitivity, to make pain assessment less subjective and more accurate. Keywords: Chronic pelvic pain, Numeric rating scale, Visual analogue scale, Pressure algometry, Pain in endometriosis

Objectives To compare reproductive outcomes using two different soft catheters i.e. Set TDT® and Cook® Sydney IVF. The primary outcome was defined as a positive β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) test. Methods Our prospective study recruited 68 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization cycles in a private fertility clinic in Porto Alegre, Brazil, between January 2014 and April 2016. They were divided into two groups according to the catheter that would be used for the embryo transfer, and the groups were matched by age. The total number of patients in each group was: 34 for the TDT and 34 for the Cook Sydney. All the patients were submitted to a β-hCG test 12 days after the embryo transfer for pregnancy outcome evaluation. Results Ten out of 34 patients from the TDT group had a positive outcome for pregnancy, corresponding to 29.4%. The Cook Sydney group had 9 patients out of 34 with positive outcomes, corresponding to 26.5%. Comparing the efficacy of both catheters for the primary outcome, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the TDT and the Cook Sydney catheters. Conclusion The TDT and the Cook Sydney catheters efficacies were similar for embryo transfer during assisted reproductive technology cycles.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between AMH blood levels and the likelihood of blastocyst formation. METHODS Two hundred ninety-two patients, 22-44 years of age, undergoing routine explorations during spontaneous cycles that preceded assisted reproductive technologies at our Center, were studied. As the present study did not require previous submission to our Institutional Review Board. Serum AMH and FSH levels were measured and laboratory data was obtained after ovulation induction with an antagonist protocol. Participants were sorted into two different groups paired by age. The first group (No Blasto; n=219) involved women having no blastocyst formation; the second group (Yes Blasto group; n=73) was made up of those women who were considered eligible to undergo 5 days of embryo culture. Furthermore, we analyzed blastulation rate. Patients were divided according to the rate of blastocyst formation

This cross-sectional prospective study assessed follicular-fluid anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) concentrations in infertile patients with mild/minimal endometriosis during natural IVF. Thirty-two women participated in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: tubal obstruction without endometriosis (control group) and minimal/mild endometriosis (study group). All patients underwent laparoscopy for assessment of infertility; at the same time, any foci of endometriosis found were cauterized. AMH concentration was measured in the follicular fluid of a single follicle when it achieved pre-ovulatory maturation by ultrasensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Likewise, AMH, FSH and inhibin B content in serum was also measured. Age (30±1.3 and 32±0.8years) and body mass index (22±0.6 and 22±0.5kg/m 2 ), day-3 antral follicle count (11.3±1.7 and 10.7±1.5), serum FSH concentrations (5.4±0.6 and 5.0±0.3IU/ml) and follicular-fluid AMH concentrations (1.8±0.3 and 1.5±0.1ng/ml, study and control group, respectively; mean difference 0.33, 95% CI −0.21 to 0.88) were similar in both groups. This study shows that infertile patients with minimal/mild endometriosis have a similar concentration of AMH in the follicular fluid after natural IVF as compared with control subjects. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the follicular-fluid environment measuring anti-Mullerian hormone in infertile patients with mild/minimal endometriosis, which is a disease in which endometrial uterine tissue invades sites outside the uterus, during natural IVF. Measurement of anti-Mullerian hormone was chosen as it controls the formation of primary follicles and, therefore, has a role in folliculogenesis. Thirty-two women submitting to natural IVF cycles participated from the study. Patients were divided into two groups: tubal obstruction without endometriosis (control group), and minimal/mild endometriosis (study group). All patients underwent laparoscopy for assessment of infertility; at the same time, any foci of endometriosis found were cauterized. Anti-Mullerian hormone concentration was measured in the follicular fluid of a single follicle when it achieved pre-ovulatory maturation. Likewise, anti-Mullerian hormone content in serum was also measured, as well as FSH and inhibin B. Average age, approximately 30 years, was not statistically different between groups. In addition, day-3 antral follicular count (resting follicles at the beginning of each menstrual cycle), and serum FSH concentrations were also not statistically different between groups. Moreover, follicular-fluid AMH concentrations were also similar in both groups. This study shows that infertile patients with minimal/mild endometriosis have a similar concentration of AMH in the follicular fluid as compared with control subjects.