Pre-curettage cerclage in a viable triplet cervical pregnancy: A case report and review of literature

Background: Cervical ectopic pregnancy (CEP) is a rare and dangerous form of ectopic pregnancy in which the blastocyst is installed within the endo-cervical canal. CEP diagnosis requires special awareness to evaluate patient precisely. Individualizing controversial medical and surgical management strategies is of importance in medical practice. Case: A 35-year-old nulliparous woman on her 9th week of pregnancy was referred to our hospital with vaginal bleeding preliminary misdiagnosed as aborting intrauterine pregnancy. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed an empty uterus and a viable triplet pregnancy just below the level of internal os. Cervical curettage after cerclage suture placement procedure removed conception tissues completely. Consequently, in the next few hours vaginal bleeding decreased to minimal amount and vital signs remained within normal limits and there was no hematocrit change. On follow-up day 32, serum B-HCG became negative. Conclusion: CEP diagnosis requires special attention and awareness to evaluate patient precisely along with skillful assessment of possible risk factors. Lifesaving treatment beside fertility preservation was successful with pre-curettage cerclage

Endometrial Preparation for Women Undergoing Embryo Transfer Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer With and Without Pretreatment With Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonists

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of endometrial preparation by exogenous steroids, with and without pretreatment by the use of GnRH agonist. Materials and methods: This randomized interventional study was conducted on 100 women who underwent a FTET that were randomly assigned to receive GnRH agonist (buserelin) in the luteal phase or no receive this medication. In both groups endometrial preparation was achieved by the use of estradiol valerate pill started from the second day of the menstruation and used every day, with an initial dose of 2mg/d and every 3 days increased to 4 mg/d and 6 mg/d, respectively. Endometrial thickness was evaluated by vaginal ultrasound. Forty eight hours after beginning of progesterone administration 2 to 3 embryos surviving in freezing procedure were transferred. Results: the two groups were similar in mean age, body mass index, duration of infertility, type of infertility, number of embryos transferred and endometrial thickness on the day of beginning progesterone therapy. Comparing outcome of FTET between the two groups scheduled for receiving GnRH agonist showed no significant difference in the rate of implantation (6.7% versus 10.0%), the rate of chemical pregnancy (21.7% versus 22.5%), clinical pregnancy rate (15.0% versus 17.5%), and also ongoing pregnancy (13.3% versus 12.5%). Conclusion: Endometrial preparation for FTET using GnRH agonists appears to be as effective as FTET without administrating these agonists

Low-Dose Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Adjunct to an Antagonist Protocol in Assisted Reproductive Technology: a Randomized Trial Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of adding low-dose hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), as an LH active supplement, to a GnRH antagonist protocol in patients undergoing assisted reproduction techniques. In this parallel-group randomized clinical trial, 137 infertile female outpatients aged 20 - 39 years were randomized into two groups: hCG group and non-hCG group. All patients received r-FSH (150-300 IU) and then a GnRH-antagonist, Cetrorelix (0.25 mg/day). Concomitantly with Cetrorelix, patients in the hCG group received low-dose hCG (200 IU daily), but the patients in the non-hCG group did not. 10,000 IU Urinary hCG (10,000 IU) was injected to all patients, and ICSI was performed after oocyte retrieval. The primary outcome of this study was comparing the pregnancy rates between two study groups. Other differences between two groups such as serum estradiol concentration, fertilization rate, etc. were considered as secondary outcomes. A total of 130 patients completed this trial. No significant difference was detected between pregnancy rates of the two groups (P=0.52) as well as the fertilization, implantation and ongoing pregnancy rates (P=0.11, P=0.75 and P=0.06 respectively). The only significant difference between two groups was a higher concentration of estradiol in the hCG-treated patients (P<0.05). HCG-treated patients experienced a shorter treatment duration and a lower r-FSH required dose than the non-hCG group, but none of these differences were statistically significant (P=0.19 and P=0.10, respectively). The findings of the current study did not support advantages of adding low-dose hCG to GnRH antagonist plus r-FSH protocol in an unselected population of patients. Well-designed trials with a larger sample size for specific patients' subgroups are warranted

Maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 in a referral academic center in Iran

The Article Abstract is not available

Anti-Mullerian Hormone as A Predictive Factor in Assisted Reproductive Technique of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the serum levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and other hormonal markers and results of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. This cohort study was conducted on 60 PCOS patients who were candidates for assisted reproductive techniques. In all patients the serum levels of AMH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), free testosterone (fT), testosterone (T) and inhibin B were measured in the 3rd day of menstrual cycle. The relationship between serum level of measured hormonal markers with retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes, the number of transferred fetus and pregnancy rate were assessed. The cut-off value for the serum level of AMH and retrieved oocytes were determined. There was a significant direct correlation between the serum mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) level with number of total picked up oocytes (r=0.412), mature oocytes (r=0.472) and embryo transfer (r=0.291). There was a linear and significant correlation between inhibin B and fertilization (r=0.283) Cut-off point for AMH level according to presence or absence of pregnancy was 4.8 ng/ml and it was not statistically significant (P=0.655). Area under curve (AUC) was 0.543. Cut-off point for MIS according to picked up oocytes was 2.7 ng/ml with area under the curve (ROC curve) of 0.724 (CI= 0.591-0.831) (P=0.002). Patients with PCOS who had AMH more than 2.7 ng/ml, the number of retrieved oocytes (6 or more) was higher than MIS/AMH <2.7 ng/ml (P=0.002). As a marker of ovarian responsiveness to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and despite a small sample size of our study, it is revealed that pretreatment MIS/AMH is highly associated with the number of mature oocytes retrieved during COH in PCOS women

Low-dose hCG as trigger day and 35 hr later have different ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome occurrence in females undergoing In vitro fertilization: An RCT

Background: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an iatrogenic complication, which can cause high morbidity and mortality. Use of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist instead of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in GnRH antagonist cycles causes luteinizing hormone surge by GnRH stimulation which reduces the risk of OHSS by reducing the total amount of gonadotropin; however, there is no possibility of transferring fresh embryos. Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of hCG along with GnRH agonist administration in the occurrence of OHSS and pregnancy rate in females undergoing in vitro fertilization. Materials and Methods: The current randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 cases in 2 groups. Gonal-F was used to stimulate the oocyte from the second day of menstruation. When follicle size was 12-14 mm, GnRH antagonist was added to the protocol till the detection of more than two follicles greater than 18 mm. Then, GnRH agonist was added to the protocol as a trigger. In group A, 35 hr after the administration of GnRH agonist, the low-dose human hCG, 1500 IU, was used. In group B, low-dose hCG, 1500 IU, was used at the same time by GnRH agonist administration. The rate of pregnancy, OHSS, and its severity were compared between 2 groups within 2 wk. Results: There was no significant difference regarding chemical and clinical pregnancies between the 2 groups. Severe OHSS was significantly higher in group B (p= 0.03). Conclusion: Administration of hCG 35 hr after GnRH agonist administration results in lower rate of severe OHSS

The Effectiveness of Cabergoline for the Prevention of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

Type 2 receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor are believed to be involved in the pathophysiology of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The objective of this study was to examine the preventive effects of cabergoline on OHSS and its complications. The study is a non randomized clinical trial conducted in 2006-2008 on 75 patients, which were at risk of OHSS and underwent assisted reproductive techniques. The diagnosis and severity of OHSS were determined using standard criteria. The study included an intervention and a control group. The intervention group comprised of 50 women at risk of OHSS, who were treated with cabergoline (1 mg every other day for 8 days) commencing from the day of ovum pick up. The control group comprised of 25 historical cases, which were similar to the case group. The latter group did not receive cabergoline, and their OHSS, if occurred, were managed conservatively after hospital admission. The rates of OHSS, baseline characteristics, ovarian stimulation parameters, and pregnancy occurrence were compared. There was no significant difference between baseline characteristics or ovarian stimulation parameters form the two groups. The incidence of OHSS in the cabergoline-treated group, was significantly (P=0.01) lower than that in the control group (12% vs 36%). Embryo freezing was significantly (P=0.001) lower in the control group, but cycle cancellation was significantly (0.03) lower in the cabergoline group. The findings of the study indicate that cabergoline reduces the incidence of OHSS, and is not associated with adverse effects on pregnanc

Extra-ordinary High CA-125 and CA19-9 Serum Levels in an Ovarian Endometrioma: Case Report

Endometriosis is an estrogen dependent disease. Levels of Cancer antigen-125 are significantly higher in women with moderate to severe endometriosis. However, patients with unruptured endometriosis rarely have serum CA-125 levels more than 1000 U/mL. This case report presents a diffuse, unruptured ovarian endometrioma in a 29- year-old woman, leading to an extraordinary high serum CA-125 and CA19-9 levels; usually typical of advanced ovarian carcinoma. Our experience emphasizes on benign gynecologic conditions such as endometrioma, which should be taken into account as a possible differential diagnosis in women with exaggerated elevation of the serum CA-125 level

Comparison of Morphine Suppository and Diclofenac Suppository for Pain Management After Elective Caesarean Section

This study investigated efficacy and side effects of Morphine suppository for pain management after the first elective caesarean delivery in comparison to Diclofenac suppository. One hundred women aged 18-40 with term pregnancies undergoing elective caesarean section for the first time participated in this prospective project. Exclusion criteria included drug sensitivity, fetal malformations or defects, and complications during the cesarean operation. After same spinal anesthesia and same surgical techniques and in the recovery room patients consecutively received 100 mg diclofenac suppository or 10 mg morphine suppository. The pain severity was rated by “Numerical Rating Scale.” There was not the difference between two groups in terms of basal information. Pain score was significantly different between two groups in the first 12 hours (5.66 ±1.36 in morphine group and 3.63±0.96 in diclofenac group) but not in the second 12 hour period. Considering pain scores every two hours in first 12 hours and every 4 hours in second 12 hours, morphine group had higher scores in comparison to diclofenac group. Also, the morphine group required pethidine injection sooner than the other group. The time giving first pethidine injection was 3.28±2.16 hours after operation in morphine group and 5.24±4.07 hours after operation (P<0.05). This study demonstrated that diclofenac suppository in comparison to morphine suppository decreased subjective pain scores in the first twenty-four hours after elective caesarean section which reached statistical significance in the first twelve hours. Although in diclofenac group, pethidine injection was prescribed significantly later