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To investigate whether morphokinetic parameters differ between male and female embryos in IVF embryos resulting in live births, a retrospective cohort study was undertaken. Files of all live births resulting from a single embryo transfer (SET) cultured in time-lapse incubators between 2013 and 2019 in two tertiary care centres were reviewed. The study group consisted of 187 SETs resulted in 187 live births, of which 100 were females (53.5%) and 87 were males (46.5%). Embryo selection for transfer was based on the known implantation data (KID) score provided by the Embryoscope and morphological assessment by experienced embryologists. Neonatal sex was confirmed through live birth documentation. Morphokinetic parameters and day 3 and day 5 KID scores of male and female embryos were compared. Maternal baseline and treatment characteristics were similar between groups. Morphokinetic time-lapse parameters of male and female embryos including: pronuclei fading; cleavage timings (t2-t9); second and third cell cycle durations; synchrony of the second and third cleavages; late morphokinetic parameters and KID scores did not differ between groups. In conclusion, time-lapse morphokinetic parameters and embryo selection methods do not seem to differ between male and female embryos, and their utilization does not bias towards any neonatal sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the oocyte maturation rate when GnRH-a and hCG (dual trigger) are co-administered, compared to the standard hCG trigger within the same patient. Included in the study were GnRH antagonist ICSI cycles performed in 137 patients who had a standard hCG trigger cycle and a dual trigger cycle between 1/1/2013 and 31/12/2017. The mean patient age (35.9 ± 5.6 and 35.2 ± 5.9; <0.001), FSH dose (4140 ± 2065 and 3585 ± 1858; <0.01), number of retrieved oocytes (10.3 ± 6.2 and 8.9 ± 6.1; 0.011) were higher in the dual trigger group compared to the hCG trigger group, oocyte maturation rate was identical. Maturation rate following dual trigger was significantly higher among 34 patients who had a maturation rate of <70% following hCG triggering and among 16 patients with a maturation rate <50% rate following hCG trigger (54% vs. 74%, p < .001 and 44% vs. 73%, p = .006; respectively). In conclusion, co-administration of GnRH agonist and hCG for final oocyte maturation substantially increased the oocyte maturation rate in patients with low oocyte maturation rate in their hCG triggered cycle, but not in an unselected population of patients.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The co-administration of GnRH agonist and hCG for final oocyte maturation prior to oocyte retrieval may improve IVF outcome in patients with a high proportion of immature oocytes. The few studies on dual trigger in patients with a high proportion of immature oocytes or in normal responders have shown conflicting results.What do the results of this study add? We found that co-administration of GnRH agonist and hCG for final oocyte maturation substantially increased the oocyte maturation rate in patients with low oocyte maturation rate in their hCG triggered cycle, but not in an unselected population of patients.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The results of this study implicate that in selected population with low oocyte maturation rate, there is an advantage in using dual trigger. However, larger prospective trials are warranted to better assess oocyte response in dual trigger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical pregnancy outcomes, fetal complications and malformation rate of intracytoplasmic injection of thawed cryopreseverd sperm extracted by testicular aspiration from men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) compared with intracytoplasmic injection of fresh ejaculated sperm from men with severe oligoteratoasthenozoospermia (OTA) and standard in vitro fertilization using ejaculated sperm from normospermic men. The mean oocyte fertilization rate was significantly lowest for ICSI with testicular aspirated sperm (NOA group). However, there was no significant difference among the three groups in pregnancy outcomes, namely rates of spontaneous abortion, biochemical pregnancy, extrauterine pregnancy, singleton multifetal pregnancy, preterm delivery before 36 weeks' gestation, maternal complications, transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit, intrauterine growth restriction or fetal malformations. These results suggest that despite some earlier findings that intracytoplasmic injection of aspirated sperm from men with NOA is associated with lower fertilization rates and embryo quality, the pregnancy and immediate neonatal outcomes may be unaffected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Options for preserving fertility in children and adolescents with cancer depend on patient age, the available time frame, and the treatment regimen. Ovarian stimulation with mature oocyte preservation is often the optimal method in post-menarcheal adolescents. We describe a case of a 17-year-old girl with vaginal soft-tissue Ewing sarcoma in whom transvaginal oocyte collection for fertility preservation was ruled out by the large tumor. To overcome the limitations of the transabdominal approach, we applied a novel method of laparoscopically-assisted ultrasound-guided percutaneous transabdominal oocyte collection. In this manner, we were able to both perform oophorectomy and obtain superficial and deep ovarian follicles for cryopreservation.

This manuscript was withdrawn at the request of the authors.