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Total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels, and cervical length (CL) were investigated in pregnant Egyptian women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, n = 38), history of miscarriages (RM, n = 40) and without the conditions (HC, n = 40). At week 8, the RM had lower levels of TT (p = 0.000) and free androgen index (FAI) (p = 0.000) and higher SHBG (p = 0.000) and DHEA (p

Anovulation is very common and has several different clinical manifestations, including amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding. Various mechanisms can cause anovulation. The clinical consequences and commonest chronic anovulatory disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), has a prevalence that ranges between 6 to 10% of the global population. While multiple causes can eventually result in PCOS, various methods have been described in the literature for its management, often without ascertaining the underlying cause. Ovulation Induction (OI) is a group of techniques that is used in women with PCOS who are looking to conceive and are unbale to do so with natural means. This narrative review presents a summary of the current evidence and available techniques for OI in women with PCOS, highlighting their performance and applicability.

Infertility is generally defined as the failure to conceive after ≥1 year of unprotected sexual intercourse. Because infertility tends to be multicausal, fibroids (as the sole identified factor for infertility) were only identified in about 2.4% of patients. Uterine fibroids, also known as myomas, are benign growths of the uterus’ smooth muscle tissue. They are the most common tumours to be found in the lower abdomen in pre-menopausal women. Fibroids can be found in 30–40% of all women between the age of 30 and 40 but can occur at any age. Furthermore, they are more prevalent in African women than in women of other ethnicities. The relationship between fibroids and infertility is especially difficult because of the heterogeneity of the fibroids regarding their size, location, and number, as well as the heterogeneity in observed patient populations. Even though a number of studies have attempted to clarify the influence of fibroids on fertility, there have been various, sometimes contradictory, findings and a lack of well-designed trials.

BACKGROUND: Arterial mechanical parameters are modified in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), before and during pregnancy. This study tested the hypothesis that aortic mechanics and endothelial function are modified in the mifepristone-treated rat model of PCOS. METHODS: Female rats injected daily with mifepristone or vehicle for 7–9 days were assessed by ultrasound to allow estimation of aortic stiffness index and compliance. The influence of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on dissected phenylephrine-contracted aortic rings was assessed. RESULTS: Aortic compliance was reduced by 67% in mifepristone-treated rats versus controls (P < 0.05), while stiffness index was increased 2.3-fold (P < 0.02). ACh-induced dilation was less in aortic rings from mifepristone-treated rats (P = 0.022) and was less sensitive to the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) (P < 0.001), while SNP-induced dilation was greater (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic mechanics in vivo and endothelial function in vitro were consistently perturbed in mifepristone-treated rats. Aortic ring behaviour suggested that NO release was depressed or degradation elevated, with a compensatory increase in NO sensitivity and/or activation of a non-NO-mediated relaxation mechanism. The mifepristone-treated rat is a valid model for investigation of the vascular deficits seen in PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]