Introduction Several tools for the assessment of sexuality-related distress are now available. The Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) and its revised version (FSDS-R) are extensively validated and among the most widely used tools to measure sexually related personal distress. Aim The aim of the study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the FSDS-R in a population sample of Iranian women. Methods A total of 2,400 married and potentially sexually active women were recruited and categorized into three groups including (i) a healthy control group; (ii) a group of women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD); and (iii) a group of women suffering from other female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Participants were asked to complete a set of questionnaires including the Iranian version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-IV), the FSDS-R, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Main Outcome Measures Sexuality-related distress and FSD as assessed by the Iranian version of the FSDS-R and the FSFI-IV are the main outcome measures. Results Internal consistencies and test–retest reliability of the FSDS-R across the three assessments points for the three groups were >0.70. The FSDS-R correlated significantly with anxiety, depression, and the FSFI total score. Significant differences in the FSDS-R scores were found between healthy women, women with HSDD, and women with other types of FSD. Factor analysis of the FSDS-R yielded a single-factor model with an acceptable fit. Conclusions The Persian version of the FSDS-R is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of sexuality-related distress in Iranian women and can be used to screen patients with HSDD.

The aromatase inhibitor letrozole appears to constitute a good alternative to CC-gonadotropin in patients with unexplained infertility undergoing COH cycles combined with IUI therapy.

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of half-dose, long-acting GnRH analogue (Diphereline) with Suprefact in IVF/ICSI (in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection) cycles.Material and methodsIn this randomized clinical trial performed in Royan Institute, 126 infertile women who were first time candidates for IVF/ICSI were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into two groups by using a random number table. In one group, 62 patients received a single half dose, 1.87 mg Diphereline, in mid-luteal phase. In the other group, 64 cases were treated with buserelin from the previous mid-luteal phase. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe mean age of patients in the Diphereline and Suprefact groups was 27.9 ±3.6 and 29.6 ±3.5 years, respectively (p = 0.01). In the Diphereline group, the mean number of used gonadotropins was 25.6 ±12.1 ampoules, while in the second group it was 25.9 ±8.5 ampoules. Numbers of retrieved and MII oocytes were significantly higher in the Diphereline group (12.1 ±6.3 and 9.6 ±5.5) in comparison to the Suprefact group (9.4 ±6.4 and 7.2 ±5.1). Although the number of developed embryos in the Diphereline group was statistically higher than in the Suprefact group (6.1 ±3.9 vs. 4.7 ±3.4, p = 0.04) there was no significant difference in pregnancy rate (37.1%, 95% CI [26.16-49.54] vs. 37.5%, 95% CI [26.67-49.75]).ConclusionsA half-dose, long-acting GnRH agonist can be successfully used in ovarian stimulation and produces a higher number of MII oocytes and embryos. The pregnancy rates with this method are acceptable.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the outcomes between zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) with intrauterine day-3 (cleavage stage) embryo transfer and intrauterine day-5 (blastocyst stage) embryo transfer in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Material and Methods: This prospective study was performed at Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran, between January 2012 and January 2014. Two hundred fifty women with more than three unexplained implantation failures were divided non-randomly into three groups according to embryonic age and methods used as follows: (i) intrauterine cleavage-stage embryo transfer (n = 100); (ii) intrauterine blastocyst-stage embryo transfer (n = 50); and (iii) ZIFT (n = 100). Implantation, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth rates were our main outcomes. Results: Patients' characteristics and ovarian response were comparable among the three groups. Implantation rate (56.1% vs 27.9%) was significantly higher in the blastocyst group as compared to the ZIFT group; however, clinical pregnancy rate (38% vs 23%) was not statistically significantly different between the two groups, but due to the significantly higher miscarriage rate (34.7% vs 5.3%) in the ZIFT group, the live birth rate was significantly higher in the blastocyst group (P = 0.04). No significant differences were found between the cleavage-stage and blastocyst-stage groups in terms of implantation, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth rates. Conclusion: We do not recommend the use of the ZIFT procedure for patients with repeated implantation failures. It seems that replication of cleavage-or blastocyst-stage embryo transfer is more efficient and affordable.

Objectives: Different types of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocols are used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles although the role of every other day GnRH agonist administration is not well understood. Thus, this study compared the effectiveness of different ways of the administration of GnRH agonists in the ovarian stimulation long protocol and their effects on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Materials and Methods: In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 138 patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups with 46 patients. In group A, patients were treated with daily buserelin 0.5 mg subcutaneously and those in group B were treated with triptorelin 0.1 mg daily, and finally, patients in group C received triptorelin 0.1 mg every other day (all under a long protocol). Eventually, controlled ovarian stimulation was performed with the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Results: There was no significant difference in biochemical and clinical pregnancy, along with abortion and twin rates between the comparison groups. Meanwhile, the number of gonadotropin injections was significantly lower in group C (P = 0.033). Moreover, the number of follicles and days of ovarian stimulation did not have a significant difference between study groups. Finally, the number of metaphase 2 oocytes and embryos was significantly higher in group A (P = 0.001). Conclusions: In general, pregnancy and abortion rates did not significantly differ between the comparison groups and, the number of gonadotropin injections was significantly lower in the triptorelin 0.1 mg every other day group. Thus, our finding revealed that every other day use of triptorelin 0.1 mg, comparing its daily use or daily buserelin, might be cost-benefit.

Objective: To investigate the effect of cold plasma on Staphylococcus aureus destruction at different treatment times. Materials and methods: Staphylococcus aureus was cultured on 4 plates of LB Agar medium each at 1.5 × 103 CFU / mL (colony-forming unit per milliliter) and one group was selected as the control group and the other 3 groups were treated with plasma for 5, 7 and 10 minutes. They were incubated for 24 hours at 37 °C. Finally, the number of colonies formed was counted. Results: It was shown that treatment with cold atmospheric plasma significantly reduced bacterial colonies and in comparison to the control plate with a colony count of 1.5 × 103 CFU/mL treatment with air plasma for 10 minutes decreased the Pseudomonas colony count to zero. Conclusion: It was observed that the cold atmospheric plasma jet device manufactured in atomic Energy Organization of Iran can significantly kill bacteria in a short time. Increasing the duration of treatment significantly reduces bacterial colonies.

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