• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.578-585
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• 2005

Maternal zinc deficiency is relatively common worldwide, but its consequences for pregnancy outcome are not established. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of zinc status in the second trimester on pregnancy outcome. Subjects were 248 pregnant Korean women (25-28 wk gestation). Cord blood was collected from subgroup of 69 women and pregnancy outcome data were obtained from 185 babies. Anthropometry measurement, dietary intake, and biochemical characteristics of pregnancy and cord serum substances were measured. The subjects were divided into quartiles on the basis of maternal serum Zn concentration; $ZnQ_1$ (< 25 percentile), $ZnQ_2$ ($26\~50$ percentile), $ZnQ_3$ ($51\~75$ percentile), and $ZnQ_4$ ($76\~100$ percentile). Zn groups were compared in terms of various maternal factors, concentrations of cord serum substances, and pregnancy outcome. Maternal serum Zn concentration was $118.4\;{\pm}\;35.5\;{\mu}g/dl$ as mean. Intake of Zn was lower than Korean RDA. The rate of Zn deficiency among all subjects was $8.5\%$. Maternal serum Zn levels belonged to normal range. Cord serum Zn level was about $154.7\%$ of maternal serum level. Intakes of energy, calcium, iron, folic acid, and riboflavin did not meet the Korean RDA for pregnant women by gestational age. The mean birth weight of neonates is 3083 $\pm$ 697 g, of whom $9.1\%$ were of low birth weight (< 2,500 g). Maternal serum Zn level was positively correlated with pre-pregnancy weight, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and vitamin C intake (p < 0.05). $ZnQ_1$ group had significantly lower maternal serum iron concentration and higher cord serum cholesterol than those in other groups. Maternal serum Zn level, cord serum Zn level, and dietary Zn intake were no related to the pregnancy outcome. The birth weight had a correlation with the maternal hemoglobin and albumin concentration. In conclusion, at this study, we could not find the association with maternal Zn status in 2nd trimester and pregnancy outcome.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.221-225
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• 1995

A prospective study was undertaken to test whether immunosuppression improves implantation, pregnancy rates and their outcomes in an in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer( IVF-ET) cycles in patients with tubal factor infertility. The implantation and pregnancy rates was not significantly higher in patients recieving prednisolone than in control patients in routine IVF-ET cycles and unstimulated IVF-ET cycles. It can be concluded that prednisolone dose not support implantation and pregnancy outcomes of in routine IVF-ET cycles at least.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.877-886
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• 1999

To assess the effect of an antenatal nutritional status on pregnancy outcome, especially neonatal birty weight, one-day 24hr-recall and two-day recording methods for dietary survey and interview for general and obstetric characteristics of each subject were completed and pregnancy outcome was recorded by phone after delivery. 147 pregnant women attending routinely public health centers in Ulsan were divided into 1st trimester(n=36), 2nd trimester(n=102), 3rd trimester(n=71) by LMP(Last Menstrual Period) because some subjects attended repeatedly in different trimester. The subjects were aged 27.9$\pm$2.9 as mean and the level of education was senior high school and more. 20.4% of subjects experienced spontaneous abortion and 30.0% experienced induced abortion in previous pregnancy. Mean intakes of all nutrients except ascorbic acid were significantly different but dietary composition of energy intakes was not different between trimester. Mineral of calcium, iron and zinc did not meet the RDA for pregnancy outcome was about 20%, which consists of spontaneous abortion (3.4%), caesarian section(15.6%), premature delivery(0.7%) and still births(0.7%). The mean birth weight of neonates is 3.31kg the rate of neonatal birth weight below 10th percentile was 8.4% and the rate of low birth weight(<2.5kg) was 3.1%. By analysis of nutrient factors that influence on the neonatal birth weight (NBW), iron intake correlated negatively and zinc intake correlated positively with NBW in 1st trimester but fat and iron intakes correlated with NBW positively in 3rd trimester. Prepregnancy weight, gestational age at delivery and No. of induced abortion had a positive effects on NBW and No. of spontaneous abortion and te severity of morning sickness had a negative effects on NBW.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.105-109
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• 2003

Objective s: To assess the fertilizing capacity using sperm penetration assay (SPA) to predict the outcome of the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcome. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were provided by 129 patients undergoing IVF. We attempted to correlate the extent of sperm penetration under enhanced SPA protocol with the results of fertilization, cleavage, preimplantation embryo development, and pregnancy. Results: Univariate analysis demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between fertilizing capacity and motility, kinetics, fertilization, cleavage and embryo development, and pregnancy rate. By logistic regression analysis, fertilizing capacity was found to be the only variable that was statistically significant with respect to pregnancy rate. Fertilizing capacity, cleavage rate and pregnant rate were significantly higher in pregnant group. However, the fertilization rates was comparable with both group. Conclusions: Lower fertilizing capacity could denote a poorer prognosis for establishing a pregnancy, even after satisfactory fertilization rate is achieved.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.35-43
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• 1977

A total of 636 patients of primary infertility were analyzed by computer on the basis of statistical evaluation of etiological factors and therapy with the outcome of the pregnancy. In this report, it included the results of the study analyzed the single etioligic factors responsible for the primary infertility with the outcome of the pregnancy. 1. Two hundred and fourty one patients out of a total 636(37.9%) achieved pregnancy. 2. Four hundred and fifty nine patients out of a total 636(72%) had a single etuiologic factor responsible for the primary infertility. 3. One hundred and seventy six patients out of 459 parients (38.3%) who had a single etiologic factor responsible for the primary infertility achieved a pregnancy. 4. The endometriosis was the most frequent responsible factor for the primary infertility. 5. The success rate of the pregnancy was different in each etioligic factor responsible for the primary infertility. The highest success rate of the pregnancy was in the patients who had the intermediate factor responsible for the primary infertility as much as 66.7% of the patients. 6. The expectancy of the pregnancy in terms of the duration of the therapy and the follow-up was variable and depended upon the etiologic factor of the primary infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.143-151
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• 1997

The present study was designed to investigate if antithyroid antibodies (ATA) could affect the pregnancy outcome in euthyroid women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). From October 1995 to September 1996, 28 euthyroid women with ATA who underwent IVF-ET were studied. Fifty-one euthyroid women without ATA who underwent IVF-ET served as control. Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOA) and thyroglobulin antibody (TGA) were assayed using radio ligand assay kits as ATA. All patients included in study and control groups had only tubal factor in infertility. Long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) was used for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) in all patients. There were no significant differences between study and control groups in patient characteristics such as age, infertility duration and hormonal profile. There were also no significant differences between two groups with respect to the clinical response to COH and IVF results such as number of retrieved oocytes, fertilization rate, number of embryos frozen and number of embryos transfered. There were no correlations between ATA (TPOA and TGA) titers and fertilization rate. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle seemed to be lower in the study group than in the control group (26.3% vs 39.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant. The biochemical pregnancy rate per cycle and miscarriage rate were significantly higher in the study group at 18.4% (7/38) and 40.0% (4/10) compared with 5.6% (5/89) and 11.4% (4/35) in the control group. In the study group, both TPOA and TGA titers were significantly higher in the biochemical pregnancy group than in the clinical pregnancy group or non-pregnancy group. In 10 women with ATA who achieved pregnancy following IVF-ET, both TPOA and TGA titers were significantly higher in the miscarriage group than in the ongoing or delivery group. In conclusion, euthyroid women with ATA appear to represent a less favorable subset within other tubal factor patients when treated with IVF-ET.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 2002

Objectives: Pelvic tuberculosis (TB) causes infertility despite of anti-TB chemotherapy and IVF-ET is effective treatment to achieve pregnancy. The aim of this study is to assess the outcomes of IVF-ET in pelvic TB, especially according to main Tb lesion, and to investigate the factors affecting the successful outcome. Methods: A total of 135 IVF-ET cycles were performed in 54 patients with pelvic TB and the outcome was compared with that of control group with tubal factor not associated with TB in 301 cycles, 227 patients. Anti-TB chemotherapy was performed in the patients with pelvic TB. Pregnancy rate was compared according to main TB lesion as salpingitis, peritonitis, and endometritis. In the patients with endometrial TB, when complicated with uterine synechia, hysteroscopic lysis was done before IVF-ET and pregnancy rate was compared according to the presence of uterine synechia. Results: There was no significant difference in peak E2 ($2,790{\pm}280.1$ vs $2,554{\pm}101.2$, p>0.05), the number of retrieved oocytes ($13.5{\pm}0.7$ vs $12.5{\pm}0.4$, p>0.05) and fertilized oocytes ($7.7{\pm}0.5$ vs $7.8{\pm}0.3$, p>0.05) between patient and control group. Clinical pregnancy rate per transfer in pelvic TB group was 22.9% and showed no difference from that of control group (24.3%, p>0.05). Although it was not statistically significant, pregnancy rate in the endometrial Tb (18%) was lower than that in the salpingitis (28.5%) or peritonitis (26.5%) (p>0.05). In the endometrial TB with uterine synechia, pregnancy rate was significantly lower than that of the patients without synechia even after hysteroscopic lysis (9.7% vs 31.6%, p<0.05). Conclusion: IVF-ET after anti-TB chemotherapy is the most effective treatment to achieve pregnancy in infertile patients with pelvic TB. Because the presence of endometrial TB and resulting uterine synechia affects the outcome of IVF-ET, thorough evaluation for endometrium with endometrial biopsy and hysteroscopy is important to predict the prognosis of IVF-ET treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.261-265
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• 2000

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the influence of maternal age on embryo quality and the frequency of multiple pregnancy in IVF-ET program. Method: 86 conventional IVF-ET cycles were divided into three groups according to the age by 5 year (group A: 26-30, group B: 31-35, group C: 36-40 yrs). The in vitro fertilization and development outcome (fertilization, cleavage and high quality embryo rate) and the pregnancy outcome (pregnancy, implantation, G-sac/high quality embryo and multiple pregnancy rate) were examined. And then, these results were compared among the groups. Results: The rates of fertilization (62.7, 68.5 and 65.4%, respectively) and cleavage (95.6, 97.6 and 98.0%, respectively) were not different among the groups. And the high quality embryo (HQE) rate also was not different among the groups (61.8, 62.9 and 62.8%, respectively). The pregnancy rate of group C (23.3%) was significantly lower than that of group A (41.2%) and B (48.7%). And the implantation rate was significantly decreased with advance in maternal age (group A; 17.3%, B; 12.6% and C; 6.0%). The G-sac/high quality embryo rate was significantly higher in group A (70.8%) when compared to group B (32.2%) and C (40.0%). On the other hand, the multiple pregnancy rate was significantly lower in group C (14.3%) when compared to group A (71.4%) and B (36.8%). Conclusion: The pregnancy rate was significantly decreased over 35 years. The G-sac/HQE and multiple pregnancy rate were significantly high below 31 years. Thus, these results suggest that the number of high quality embryo transferred should be limited by the age and another criteria for embryo quality evaluation were required for single embryo transfer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2024

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the impact of previous delivery mode on pregnancy outcomes in patients with secondary infertility after frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Methods: This prospective observational study included 140 patients experiencing secondary infertility. Of these, 70 patients had a previous cesarean delivery (CD), while the remaining 70 patients had a previous normal vaginal delivery (NVD). The primary outcome was the implantation rate. The secondary outcomes included rates of clinical pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy. Results: The comparison of all fertility outcomes between the two groups revealed no statistically significant differences. The implantation rate was 40.4% in the CD group and 41.7% in the NVD group (p=0.842). The clinical pregnancy rate was 50% in the CD group and 49.3% in the NVD group (p=0.932), while the chemical pregnancy rate was 14.6% in the CD group and 19% in the NVD group (p=0.591). The miscarriage rates in the CD and NVD groups were 20% and 17.6%, respectively (p=0.803). One case of tubal ectopic pregnancy occurred in the NVD group (1.4%). Conclusion: The mode of prior delivery did not significantly impact pregnancy outcomes following frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of frozen mixed double-embryo transfer (MDET; the simultaneous transfer of day 3 and day 5 embryos) in comparison with frozen blastocyst double-embryo transfer (BDET; transfer of two day 5 blastocysts) in patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF). Methods: A total of 104 women with RIF who underwent frozen MDET (n = 48) or BDET (n = 56) with excellent-quality embryos were included in this retrospective analysis. All frozen embryo transfers were performed in natural cycles. The main outcome measures were the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, and miscarriage rate. These measures were compared between the patients who underwent MDET or BDET using the chi-square test or the Fisher exact test, as appropriate. Results: The implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were significantly higher in patients who underwent MDET than in those who underwent BDET (60.4% vs. 39.3%, p=0.03 and 52.1% vs. 30.4%, p=0.05, respectively). A significantly lower miscarriage rate was observed in the MDET group (6.9% vs. 10.7%, p=0.05). In addition, the multiple pregnancy rate was slightly, but not significantly, higher in the MDET group (27.1% vs. 25.0%). Conclusion: MDET was found to be significantly superior to double blastocyst transfer. It could be regarded as an appropriate approach to improve in vitro fertilization success rates in RIF patients.