Anti-Müllerian hormone measurement for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is derived from the small antral follicles, and an elevated level has been suggested to add value to the Rotterdam criteria for the diagnosis of PCOS in cases of diagnostic uncertainty. Therefore, the role of AMH in the classical phenotype of PCOS was defined within a Caucasian population. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Patients: Sixty Five women without PCOS and 110 women with PCOS fulfilling all 3 diagnostic Rotterdam criteria. Measurements: The main outcomes were the utility of serum AMH for the diagnosis of PCOS and its relationship to the metabolic parameters. Results: Anti-Müllerian hormone was increased in PCOS compared to controls (P  < .001). Areas under the receiver operator curve showed AMH to be predictive of PCOS (0.76) using a cut-off AMH of 46 pmol/L, which is derived from the 95 th percentile of the controls that gave a 41% sensitivity and 86% specificity; an AMH cut-off of 35 pmol/L gave a 55% sensitivity and 79% specificity. Age- and BMI-adjusted multiple logistic regression showed that AMH was more predictive of PCOS independently of either serum testosterone (T) (OR = 4.04; 95% CI 1.42-11.11; P =.007) or free androgen index (FAI) (OR = 3.90; 95% CI 1.40-10.83; P =.009). Conclusion: Whilst an elevated AMH has poor sensitivity, it is fourfold more likely to be associated with a diagnosis of PCOS, and supplementary to biochemical parameters will make a positive diagnosis of PCOS in 22% of patients when neither serum testosterone nor FAI is elevated

Update on fertility preservation from the Barcelona International Society for Fertility Preservation–ESHRE–ASRM 2015 expert meeting: indications, results and future perspectives

STUDY QUESTION: What progress has been made in fertility preservation (FP) over the last decade? SUMMARY ANSWER: FP techniques have been widely adopted over the last decade and therefore the establishment of international registries on their short- and long-term outcomes is strongly recommended. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: FP is a fundamental issue for both males and females whose future fertility may be compromised. Reproductive capacity may be seriously affected by age, different medical conditions and also by treatments, especially those with gonadal toxicity. There is general consensus on the need to provide counselling about currently available FP options to all individuals wishing to preserve their fertility. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: An international meeting with representatives from expert scientific societies involved in FP was held in Barcelona, Spain, in June 2015. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Twenty international FP experts belonging to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, ESHRE and the International Society of Fertility Preservation reviewed the literature up to June 2015 to be discussed at the meeting, and approved the final manuscript. At the time this manuscript was being written, new evidence considered relevant for the debated topics was published, and was consequently included. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Several oncological and non-oncological diseases may affect current or future fertility, either caused by the disease itself or the gonadotoxic treatment, and need an adequate FP approach. Women wishing to postpone maternity and transgender individuals before starting hormone therapy or undergoing surgery to remove/alter their reproductive organs should also be counselled accordingly. Embryo and oocyte cryopreservation are first-line FP methods in post-pubertal women. Metaphase II oocyte cryopreservation (vitrification) is the preferred option. Cumulative evidence of restoration of ovarian function and spontaneous pregnancies after ART following orthotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue supports its future consideration as an open clinical application. Semen cryopreservation is the only established method for FP in men. Testicular tissue cryopreservation should be recommended in pre-pubertal boys even though fertility restoration strategies by autotransplantation of cryopreserved testicular tissue have not yet been tested for safe clinical use in humans. The establishment of international registries on the short- and long-term outcomes of FP techniques is strongly recommended. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Given the lack of studies in large cohorts or with a randomized design, the level of evidence for most of the evidence reviewed was three or below. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Further high quality studies are needed to study the long-term outcomes of FP techniques. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): None. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A

The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life scale (PCOSQOL): Development and preliminary validation

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disorder amongst women, which can negatively impact quality of life. Research proposes that a more sensitive PCOS quality of life measure is needed. This study aims to develop and initially validate a quality of life scale for women with the condition in the United Kingdom. Women with PCOS (n = 714) took part in the development and initial validation of the 35-item polycystic ovary syndrome quality of life scale (PCOSQOL)(α = .95). Subscales include Impact of PCOS (α = .95), Infertility (α = .95), Hirsutism (α = .97) and Mood (α = .89). The PCOSQOL scale represents aspects of quality of life important to women with PCOS and may be more sensitive for use in the clinical and research settings

Recipient screening in IVF: First data from women undergoing anonymous oocyte donation in Dublin

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for safe gamete donation have emphasised donor screening, although none exist specifically for testing oocyte recipients. Pre-treatment assessment of anonymous donor oocyte IVF treatment in Ireland must comply with the European Union Tissues and Cells Directive (Directive 2004/23/EC). To determine the effectiveness of this Directive when applied to anonymous oocyte recipients in IVF, we reviewed data derived from selected screening tests performed in this clinical setting. METHODS: Data from tests conducted at baseline for all women enrolling as recipients (n = 225) in the anonymous oocyte donor IVF programme at an urban IVF referral centre during a 24-month period were analysed. Patient age at programme entry and clinical pregnancy rate were also tabulated. All recipients had at least one prior negative test for HIV, Hepatitis B/C, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis performed by her GP or other primary care provider before reproductive endocrinology consultation. RESULTS: Mean (±SD) age for donor egg IVF recipients was 40.7 ± 4.2 yrs. No baseline positive chlamydia, gonorrhoea or syphilis screening results were identified among recipients for anonymous oocyte donation IVF during the assessment interval. Mean pregnancy rate (per embryo transfer) in this group was 50.5%. CONCLUSION: When tests for HIV, Hepatitis B/C, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis already have been confirmed to be negative before starting the anonymous donor oocyte IVF sequence, additional (repeat) testing on the recipient contributes no new clinical information that would influence treatment in this setting. Patient safety does not appear to be enhanced by application of Directive 2004/23/EC to recipients of anonymous donor oocyte IVF treatment. Given the absence of evidence to quantify risk, this practice is difficult to justify when applied to this low-risk population

PCOS remains a diagnosis of exclusion:a concise review of key endocrinopathies to exclude

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogenous disorder associated with clinical, endocrine and ultrasonographic features that can also be encountered in a number of other diseases. It has traditionally been suggested that prolactin excess, enzymatic steroidogenic abnormalities and thyroid disorders need to be excluded before a diagnosis of PCOS is made. However, there is paucity of data regarding the prevalence of PCOS phenotype in some of these disorders, whereas other endocrine diseases that exhibit PCOS-like features may elude diagnosis and proper management if not considered. This article reviews the data of currently included entities that exhibit a PCOS phenotype and those that potentially need to be looked for, and attempts to identify specific features that distinguish them from idiopathic PCOS