Differences in and correlates of sexual function in infertile women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: The aim of this study was to examine sexual function and its correlates among infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in comparison with their non-PCOS counterparts. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 209 infertile women (116 PCOS and 93 non-PCOS) from Tehran, Iran, were evaluated in February and March 2018. Female sexual function index (FSFI), hormonal status, and documented reports of hyperandrogenic manifestations of the patients were investigated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 32.00 ± 5.00 years old. Eighty-four (40.2) patients including 42.2 of the PCOS patients and 37.6 of the non-PCOS cases (P>0.05), were suspected of female sexual dysfunction (FSD). The most impaired functions in both groups were desire and arousal. Sexual function was not significantly different between the groups. However, PCOS women had more orgasm problems and acne worsened their sexual function. Total FSFI was positively associated with prolactin level but negatively associated with central obesity in the non-PCOS group; it was negatively correlated with marital duration in the PCOS group. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and pain, prolactin level and lubrication, and central obesity and arousal were correlated in the non-PCOS women. Prolactin level and orgasm, marital duration and arousal, and marital duration and the total FSFI were correlated in the PCOS women. Conclusion: Sexual function was similarly low in infertile PCOS and non-PCOS women. However, orgasm problems and the negative effect of acne varied between the two groups. Further investigations may target how hormonal profile may affect sexual function. Practitioners should scrutinize the specific impaired sexual domains and their correlated conditions in PCOS women, notably orgasm, acne, and prolactin level. Interventions should be well tailored based on particular needs of infertile PCOS women. © 2021, Royan Institute (ACECR). All rights reserved

Comparison of the pregnancy outcomes and the incidence of fetal congenital abnormalities in infertile women treated with letrozole and clomiphene citrate

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of congenital fetal anomalies reported among infertile Iranian women treated with letrozole compared to those treated with Clomiphene Citrate (CC). Methods: This retrospective case�control study was performed based on information available from infertile patients referred to the Akbar-Abadi Hospital IVF Center, Tehran, Iran, undergoing ovulation induction (OI) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles from 2007 to 2014.We compared sonographic findings, fertility results, pregnancy complications and congenital anomalies in two groups of women treated with letrozole and CC. Results: Overall, the results of the 2009 cycles including 1237 CC cycles and 772 letrozole cycles were evaluated. In spite of a higher chance of ovulation following CC treatment, overall fertility rates were similar in the two treatment groups. The frequency of adverse outcomes of pregnancy was similar in the two groups, except for the incidence of first trimester abortion, which was significantly higher in the CC-treated group. The frequency of fetal anomalies and major chromosomal abnormalities in the Letrozole group was 4.76 (five cases), and in the CC group, it was 2.12 (three cases). This difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it seems that the incidence of congenital anomalies in offspring after OI with letrozole is not increased compared to the CC group. © 2018 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecolog

Comparison of the pregnancy outcomes and the incidence of fetal congenital abnormalities in infertile women treated with letrozole and clomiphene citrate

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of congenital fetal anomalies reported among infertile Iranian women treated with letrozole compared to those treated with Clomiphene Citrate (CC). Methods: This retrospective case�control study was performed based on information available from infertile patients referred to the Akbar-Abadi Hospital IVF Center, Tehran, Iran, undergoing ovulation induction (OI) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles from 2007 to 2014.We compared sonographic findings, fertility results, pregnancy complications and congenital anomalies in two groups of women treated with letrozole and CC. Results: Overall, the results of the 2009 cycles including 1237 CC cycles and 772 letrozole cycles were evaluated. In spite of a higher chance of ovulation following CC treatment, overall fertility rates were similar in the two treatment groups. The frequency of adverse outcomes of pregnancy was similar in the two groups, except for the incidence of first trimester abortion, which was significantly higher in the CC-treated group. The frequency of fetal anomalies and major chromosomal abnormalities in the Letrozole group was 4.76 (five cases), and in the CC group, it was 2.12 (three cases). This difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it seems that the incidence of congenital anomalies in offspring after OI with letrozole is not increased compared to the CC group. © 2018 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecolog

Breast Cancer and Ovulation Induction Treatments

In this case control study of 928 women with breast cancer and 928 controls, we found no statistically significant relationship between infertility and ovulation induction drugs with the risk of breast cancer development, except for significant increases in the risk of breast cancer among patients who had used human menopausal gonadotropin for >6 months. Background: This study was performed to determine whether the use of ovulation induction drugs in treatment of infertility have a significant effect on the risk of breast cancer. Patients and Methods: This case control study (928 cases, 928 controls), was performed in the gynecology and oncology clinics of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences between 2011 and 2013. Data were collected via in-person interviews using a questionnaire, which included demographic and gynecologic information. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS statistics software version 20 (IBM Corp). Results: The use of ovulation induction drugs was not significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (odds ratio OR, 1.13; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.7-1.855) among women with infertility (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.8-1.95). Conclusion: We observed no statistically significant relationship between infertility and ovulation induction drugs with the risk of breast cancer, except for significant increases in the risk of breast cancer among patients who had used fertility drugs for >6 months. © 2018 Elsevier Inc

Aberrant expression of miR-29a/29b and methylation level of mouse embryos after in vitro fertilization and vitrification at two-cell stage

Proper epigenetic modifications during preimplantation embryo development are important for a successful pregnancy. We aim to investigate the putative influence of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and vitrification on DNA methylation in mouse preimplantation embryos. The study groups consisted of blastocyst-derived vitrified two-cell embryos, nonvitrified embryos, and a control group of in vivo derived blastocysts. We assessed developmental competence, global DNA methylation, relative expression levels of miR-29a/29b, and their target genes, Dnmt3a/3b. Vitrified embryos had a lower developmental rate as compared with nonvitrified embryos. There was no significant decrease in blastocyst cell numbers among studied groups, whereas there was a steady decline in DNA methylation after IVF and vitrification. The levels of miR-29a/29b upregulated in the experimental groups as compared with the control group. IVF and vitrification caused Dnmt3a/3b downregulations in blastocysts. The results of this study have suggested that a relationship exists between IVF and embryo vitrification with methylation interruptions in the blastocysts. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Breast Cancer and Ovulation Induction Treatments

In this case control study of 928 women with breast cancer and 928 controls, we found no statistically significant relationship between infertility and ovulation induction drugs with the risk of breast cancer development, except for significant increases in the risk of breast cancer among patients who had used human menopausal gonadotropin for >6 months. Background: This study was performed to determine whether the use of ovulation induction drugs in treatment of infertility have a significant effect on the risk of breast cancer. Patients and Methods: This case control study (928 cases, 928 controls), was performed in the gynecology and oncology clinics of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences between 2011 and 2013. Data were collected via in-person interviews using a questionnaire, which included demographic and gynecologic information. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS statistics software version 20 (IBM Corp). Results: The use of ovulation induction drugs was not significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (odds ratio OR, 1.13; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.7-1.855) among women with infertility (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.8-1.95). Conclusion: We observed no statistically significant relationship between infertility and ovulation induction drugs with the risk of breast cancer, except for significant increases in the risk of breast cancer among patients who had used fertility drugs for >6 months. © 2018 Elsevier Inc

The myo-inositol effect on the oocyte quality and fertilization rate among women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing assisted reproductive technology cycles: a randomized clinical trial

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of myo-Inositol administration on oocyte quality, fertilization rate and embryo quality in patients with PCOS during assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. Methods: Fifty infertile PCOS patients were randomly designated in two groups. In the study group, patients received daily doses of 4 g myo-Inositol combined with 400 mg folic acid and in the control group patients received only 400 mg folic acid from 1 month before starting the antagonist cycle until the day of ovum pick up. Oocyte and embryo qualities were assessed according to European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) guidelines. The gene expression of PGK1, RGS2 and CDC42 as a factor of oocyte quality in granulosa cells was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR. Levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated by chemiluminescence assay in follicular fluid. Results: The percentage of metaphase II oocyte, fertilization rate and embryo quality significantly improved in the study group (p < 0.05), but the number of retrieved oocytes and follicle count were not statistically different between groups. Furthermore, the gene expression of PGK1, RGS2 and CDC42 was significantly higher in the study group (p < 0.05) but no differences were found between two groups in terms of TAC and ROS levels. Conclusions: The present study findings suggest that myo-Inositol alters the gene expression in granulosa cells and improves oocyte and embryo quality among PCOS patients undergoing ART. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature