• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제26권3호
• /
• pp.447-456
• /
• 1999

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using epididymal and testicular sperm in patients with azoospermia. Methods: From March, 1993 to May, 1999, a retrospective clinical analysis was done of a total of 140 cycles in 112 patients who underwent ICSI. Subjects were divided into three groups: ejaculated-ICSI group included 42 cycles in 34 patients with ejaculated sperm who underwent ICSI due to severe oligospermia and past history of failed or poor fertilization in the previous in vitro fertilization and embryo tranfer (IVF-ET) cycles, microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (MESA-ICSI) group included 50 cycles in 42 patients with congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD) or unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia and testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (TESE-ICSI) group included 48 cycles in 36 patients with no spermatozoa which can be retrieved from epididymis or non-obstructive azoospermia. Results: Normal two-pronuclear fertilization rates were similar in three groups: 64.4% for ejaculated-ICSI group, 59.4% for MESA-ICSI group and 60.4% for TESE-ICSI group. The pregnancy rates were 26.2%, 26.0% and 25.0% respectively. There were no significant differences in the fertilization, cleavage, and clinical pregnancy rates among ICSI cycles using ejaculated, epididymal and testicular sperm. Conclusion: Epididymal and testicular sperm obtained in azoospermic patients can fertilize oocyte successfully and may lead to be similar fertilization rates and clinical pregnancy rates to ejaculated sperm.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제38권3호
• /
• pp.148-152
• /
• 2011

Objective: Laser-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (LA-ICSI), also known as micro-opening or thinning of the zona pellucida (ZP) prior to ICSI, may help to reduce mechanical damage to the oocyte during the procedure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and analyze the efficacy of our institutional LA-ICSI program, which features laser-assisted ZP thinning prior to ICSI, in comparison with conventional ICSI (C-ICSI), performed on patients with different clinical characteristics. Methods: Patients undergoing a total of 212 ICSI cycles were randomly divided into an LA-ICSI group (106 cycles) and a conventional ICSI group (106 cycles). To reduce tissue damage, we thinned the ZP by approximately 70%, using a laser, before ICSI. Patients thus treated formed the LAICSI group. Comparisons included the morphological quality of transferred embryos, blastocyst development of the remaining embryos, and clinical pregnancy, in terms of ICSI method and patient characteristics. Results: Fertilization, development of remaining embryos, and pregnancy rate were significantly higher in the LA-ICSI group compared with the C-ICSI group. Fertilization, embryonic development, and the pregnancy rate were all improved in younger patients (<38 years of age) and in those who underwent a low number of IVF-ET attempts (<3 trials). In addition, the pregnancy rate was increased in older patients. Conclusion: LA-ICSI may be useful in improving the chance of pregnancy in all ICSI patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 1997

The early studies demonstrated that the relative amount of FSH was important for stimulating normal ovarian activity and demonstrated the existence of a threshold level for FSH, above which follicular growth was activated. It was found that only a modest increase in circulating FSH level above the threshold (between 10 and 30%) was required to stimulate folliculogenesis. In addition, FSH is primary responsible for initiating estradiol production through the activation of the aromatase enzyme system in granulosa cells, follicular secretion and growth. LH on the other hand, plays a supportive role in ovarian steroidogenesis, stimulating the ovarian thecal cells to produce androgen, the precursor for estradiol synthesis. But there is now an increasing number of reports in the literature demonstrating an adverse effect of LH on fertility and miscarriage in infertile and fertile women. So HP-FSH is the drug of a highly purified FSH preparation which has a higher specific activity and far fewer impurities than FSH. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HP-FSH administered (SC; subcutaneous) versus FSH(IM; intramuscular) for ovulation induction. 20 candidates patients for ovulation induction were participated. All patients underwent pituitary desensitizing with a long gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol and ovulation induction was started with HP-FSH SC (10 patients; group I) or FSH IM (10 patients; group II). After ovulation, outcome of ovulation induction and local reaction of injection site were compared. There were no difference of outcome of ovulation in two groups except pregnancy rate/embryo transfer. Group I had a higher pregnancy rate/ embryo transfer than Group II (44.4% Vs 28.6%). Pain, redness, tenderness, bruising and itching when the injection received on the first 5 days of treated (50 SC and 50 IM injections) were assessed. There were no significant difference (P>0.05) in the incidence of tenderness, bruising and itching between the IM and SC injection. But IM injection (FSH) had a tendency of higher above incidence. The number of reports of pain, redness were significantly increased in IM injection group (P<0.05). These results indicate that SC administration of HP-FSH has been shown to be as effect for superovulation as traditional gonadotropins, with an improved safety profile due to the removal of extaneous proteins.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.253-259
• /
• 2010

목 적: 과배란유도 환자에서의 우성난포의 성장속도와 임상인자들과의 연관성을 평가하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 체외수정시술을 위한 과배란유도 313주기를 대상으로 혈중 호르몬 농도를 측정하고 과배란유도 주기 중 난포 직경의 변화를 초음파를 이용하여 연속적으로 측정하였다. 우성난포의 성장 속도를 계산하고, 임상지표와의 연관성을 분석하였다. 결 과: Gonadotropin releasing hormone 작용제와 길항제 주기 사이에 우성난포의 성장속도의 유의한 차이는 관찰되지 아니하였다. 우성난포의 성장속도와 환자의 연령, 체질량 지수, 생리 시작 3일의 follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, 에스트라디올, 획득 난자의 수, 수정률 등의 임상지표는 유의한 연관성이 없었다. 결 론: 본 연구 결과는 우성난포의 성장속도는 난소 반응을 포함한 임상지표와 연관성이 없는 독립적인 변수임을 시사한다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.239-244
• /
• 2010

목 적: 본 후향적 연구는 성선자극호르몬분비호르몬 작용제 (gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH] agonist)와 길항제 (GnRH antagonist) 치료를 받은 불량반응군의 결과를 비교, 분석하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 총 172회의 체외수정시술 주기에서 GnRH agonist 또는 antagonist protocol로 과배란유도를 시행받고 채취된 난자의 수가 5개 이하인 불량반응군을 대상군으로 하였다. 난포 및 채취된 난자의 수, 수정률 등의 결과를 두 군 간에 비교하였다. 결 과: GnRH agonist long protocol과 antagonist protocol 두 군 간에 난포 및 난자의 수와 수정률은 차이를 보이지 아니하였다. 반면, 과배란유도 제7/8일의 혈중 $E_2$ 농도는 GnRH antagonist군에서 더 높았던 반면, 사용한 평균 성선자극호르몬의 용량은 유의하게 적고 과배란유도 기간은 짧은 것을 확인할 수 있었다 (각각 p<0.01). 결 론: 불량 반응군에서 GnRH agonist long protocol에 비하여 GnRH antagonist protocol의 경우 노력이 상대적으로 적게 필요한 반면 비슷한 임상적 결과를 고려할 때, GnRH antagonist protocol이 상대적으로 우수한 것으로 생각된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제37권4호
• /
• pp.349-359
• /
• 2010

목적: 시험관아기 시술에서 3일째의 배아들 가운데 우수한 배아를 선발하여 1개의 배아를 이식 (elective single embryo transfer, eSET)한 주기와 2개의 배아를 이식 (elective double embryo transfer, eDET)한 주기의 임상적 결과들을 비교, 분석하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 본 연구는 2008년 1월부터 2009년 4월까지 대구마리아에서 첫 번째나 두 번째 In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET)를 시행한 36세 미만인 환자들 가운데 hCG를 투여한 당일 자궁내막의 두께가 8 mm 이상이고 정상적인 수정란이 3개 이상이면서 적어도 1개의 우수한 배아를 지닌 환자들을 대상으로 실시하였다. eSET는 167주기에서 실시하였고 eDET는 163주기에서 실시하였다. 결과: eSET군의 임상적 임신율, 진행 임신율 및 출산율 (각각 53.3%, 47.3% 및 44.9%)은 eDET군의 것들 (각각 60.7%, 54.6% 및 50.9%)보다 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 그러나 착상률은 eSET군이 eDET군보다 통계적으로 유의하게 높았고 (각각 53.9%와 40.2%, p<0.001), 쌍태아의 임신율은 eSET군이 eDET군보다 유의하게 낮게 나타났다 (각각 1.1%와 32.3%, p<0.001). 또한, 잉여배아들을 유리화하여 보관하게 된 환자의 비율은 eDET군보다 eSET군에서 유의하게 높았을 뿐만 아니라 (각각 68.7%와 89.2%, p<0.001), 환자당 보관된 잉여배아의 수도 eSET군에서 eDET군에 비하여 유의하게 높게 나타났다 (각각 $3.2{\pm}2.6$과 $2.1{\pm}2.4$,p<0.001).결론: 채취당 임신율을 높이고 다태아의 임신에서 기인한 합병증 등을 줄이기 위해서는 내원한 첫 번째나 두 번째 IVF-ET 환자들 가운데 36세 미만이고 HCG를 투여한 당일 자궁내막의 두께가 8 mm이상이며 3일째에 우수한 배아가 하나만 있더라도 eDET보다 eSET를 실시함이 바람직하다고 생각된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2010

목 적: 본 연구는 체외수정술에서 배양 3일째 2개의 난할단계 배아 (2ET)와 3개의 난할단계 배아 (3ET)를 이식했을 때 각각의 임신성적을 비교하기 위하여 시행하였다. 연구방법: 2007년 1월부터 2009년 6월까지 한 명의 불임전문 의사에게 시술받은 2ET군 100명을 환자의 나이와 체외수정 주기의 특성을 고려하여 3ET군 100명과 비교한 후향적 환자군-대조군 연구를 시행하였으며, 두 군 모두 양질의 배아만을 이식하였다. 각각의 임신율, 착상율, 다태임신율을 비교하였다. 결 과: 환자의 특성, 체외수정 주기 및 배아의 특징은 두 군 간에 차이를 보이지 않았다. 2ET군과 3ET군 모두 비슷한 임신성적을 보여주었다; 착상율 (41.0% vs. 35.3%), 임신율 (58.0% vs. 60.0%), 임상적임신율 (55.0% vs. 59.0%), 진행임신율 (51.0% vs. 55.0%). 두 군 모두 높은 다태임신율을 보여주었으나, 3ET군에서 유의하게 더 높은 전체 다태임신율과 삼태임신율을 보여주었다 (30.9% vs. 50.8%, p=0.031; 1.8% vs. 11.9%, p=0.036). 결 론: 나이가 ��고 양질의 배아를 가진 좋은 예후를 예측할 수 있는 여성에서 체외수정술 시행 시 배양 3일째 2개의 배아를 이식하더라도 3개의 배아를 이식했을 때와 비슷한 임신성적을 얻을 수 있고, 다태임신 (특히, 삼태임신)을 줄일 수 있다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.269-278
• /
• 2002

Objective s: Chromosome aneuploidy is associated with recurrent abortion and congenital anomaly and genetic diseases occur repeatedly in the specific families. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can prevent aneuploidy or genetic disease by selecting normal embryos before implantation and is an alternative to prenatal diagnosis. The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of PGD cycles by using FISH or PCR, and to determine the clinical usefulness and values in patients with risk of chromosomal aneuploidy or genetic disease. Materials and Methods: From 1995 to Apr. 2001, a total of 108 PGD cycles in 65 patients with poor reproductive outcome were analyzed. The indications of PGD were translocation (n=49), inversion (n=2), aneuploidy screening (n=7), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (n=5) and spinal muscular atrophy (n=2). PGD was applied due to the history of recurrent abortion, previous birth of affected child or risk of aneuploidy related to sex chromosome aneuploidy or old age. Blastomere biopsy was performed in 6$\sim$10 cell stage embryo after IVF with ICSI. In the single blastomere, chromosome aneuploidy was diagnosed by using FISH and PCR was performed for the diagnosis of exon deletion in DMD or SMA. Results: The FISH or PCR amplification was successful in 94.3% of biopsied blastomeres. The rate of transferable balanced emb ryos was 24.0% in the chromosome translocation and inversion, 57.1% for the DMD and SMA, and 28.8% for the aneuploidy screening. Overall hCG positive rate per transfer was 17.8% (18/101) and clinical pregnancy rate was 13.9% (14/101) (11 term pregnancy, 3 abortion, and 4 biochemical pregnancy). The clinical pregnancy rate of translocation and inversion was 12.9% (11/85) and abortion rate was 27.3% (3/11). In the DMD and SMA, the clinical pregnancy rate was 33.3% (3/9) and all delivered at term. The PGD results were confirmed by amniocentesis and were correct. When the embryos developed to compaction or morula, the pregnancy rate was higher (32%) than that of the cases without compaction (7.2%, p<0.01). Conclusions: PGD by using FISH or PCR is useful to get n ormal pregnancy by reducing spontaneous abortion associated with chromosome aneuploidy in the patients with structural chromosome aberration or risk of aneuploidy and can prevent genetic disease prior to implantation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제32권4호
• /
• pp.315-324
• /
• 2005

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol (MDP) with that of GnRH agonist long protocol (LP) in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization in patients with high basal FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level or old age, a retrospective analysis was done. Methods: Two hundred ninety four infertile women (328 cycles) who were older than 41 years of age or had elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL) were enrolled in this study. The patients had undergone IVF-ET after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol (n=108, 118 cycles) or GnRH agonist long protocol (n=186, 210 cycles). The main outcome measurements were cycle cancellation rate, consumption of gonadotropins, the number of follicles recruited and total oocytes retrieved. The number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos, the clinical pregnancy rates, and the implantation rates were also reviewed. And enrolled patients were divided into three groups according to their age and basal FSH levels; Group A - those who were older than 41 years of age, Group B - those with elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL) and Group C - those who were older than 41 years of age and with elevated basal FSH level (> 8.5 mIU/mL). Poor responders were classified as patients who had less than 4 retrieved oocytes, or those with $E_2$ level <500 pg/mL on the day of hCG injection or those who required more than 45 ampules of exogenous gonadotropin for stimulation. Results: The cancellation rate was lower in the GnRH antagonist group than in GnRH agonist group, but not statistically significant (6.8% vs. 9.5%, p=NS). The amount of used gonadotropins was significantly lower in GnRH antagonist group than in agonist group ($34.8{\pm}11.3$ ampules vs. $44.1{\pm}13.4$ ampules, p<0.001). The number of follicles > 14 mm in diameter was significantly higher in agonist group than in antagonist group ($6.7{\pm}4.6$ vs. $5.0{\pm}3.4$, p<0.01). But, there were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate (24.5% in antagonist group vs. 27.4% in agonist group, p=NS) and implantation rate (11.4% in antagonist group vs. 12.0% in agonist group, p=NS) between two groups. Mean number of retrieved oocytes was significantly higher in GnRH agonist LP group than in GnRH antagonist MDP group ($5.4{\pm}3.5$ vs. $6.6{\pm}5.0$, p<0.0001). But, the number of mature and fertilized oocytes, and the number of good quality (grade I and II) and transferred embryos were not different between two groups. In each group A, B, and C, the rate of poor response did not differ according to stimulation protocols. Conclusions: In conclusion, for infertile women expected poor ovarian response such as who are old age or has elevated basal FSH level, a protocol including a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using GnRH antagonist appears at least as effective as that using a GnRH agonist, and may offer the advantage of reducing gonadotropin consumption and treatment period. However, much work remains to be done in optimizing the GnRH antagonist protocols and individualizing these to different cycle characteristics.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 1992

Serum level of ${\beta}$ subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (${\beta}-hCG$) was studied to evaluate its predictability of pregnancy outcome in 98 in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET) patients using gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH) agonist. Serial serum ${\beta}-hCG$ levels were established for 42 singleton pregnancies, 20 normal multiple pregnancies, 18 preclinical abortions, 14 clinical abortions and 4 ectopic pregnancies. In comparison to normal singleton pregnancies, multiple pregnancies showed significantly higher ${\beta}-hCG$ levels on the post-ET day 10 to 13 and day 24 to 25. Clinical abortions did not show significantly lower ${\beta}-hCG$ levels in early pregnancy except the post-ET day 16-17, but showed significantly lower ${\beta}-hCG$ levels from the post-ET day 22, compared with singleton pregnancies. Preclinical abortions showed significantly lower ${\beta}-hCG$ levels than those of singleton pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies showed lower ${\beta}-hCG$ levels than those of singleton pregnancies without statistical significance. In conclusion, determination of serum ${\beta}-hCG$ level in early pregnancy is a useful tool for the prediction of preclinical abortions and multiple pregnancies and serial measurement of serum ${\beta}-hCG$ levels will be helpful in predicting clinical abortion.