Purpose Antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of melatonin on development of in vitro fertilization (IVF)/vitrified two-cell mouse embryos were evaluated in this study. Methods The IVF two-cell embryos were vitrified by cryotop, and were cultured in KSOM medium in different concentrations of melatonin (10

Background:Family of colony-stimulating factors (CSF) have an essential role on early cross talk between embryo and uterine endometrium.Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the single dose of Granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF) injection on clinical outcome of assisted reproductive technology cycle in patients with repeated implantation failures.Materials and Methods:This randomized control trial study was performed on 52 infertile women who referred to the clinic with the history of more than three previous In vitro fertilization/Intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer failures. All patients were stimulated with standard long protocol. All embryos were transferred on day five in blastocyst stage in both groups. The treated group received 300 µg (0.5 ml) recombinant human G-CSF subcutaneously which was injected 30 min before blastocyst embryo transfer.Results:There was not statistically significant differences in abortion rate in G-CSF and control group (p=0.09). G-CSF treated group showed higher clinical pregnancy rate in comparison with control group (56.2% vs. 40.0%) but it was not statistically significant (p=0.09). Although live birth rate in G-CSF group was higher than control group (53.1% vs. 35.0%) but there wasn’t statistically significant difference in the overall live birth rate between the two groups (p=0.10). G-CSF group had a twin pregnancies while in control group there was no twin pregnancy.Conclusion:Our result demonstrates the possibility that pregnancy outcome is better in women with repeated unexplained In vitro fertilization failure who are treated with G-CSF.

BackgroundIn the recent years, vitamin D has become a topical subject and a focus of research not only in reproductive medicine but across many medical disciplines. In reproductive medicine, studies have identified an association between vitamin D status in women and ovarian reserve. In humans, exposure of the skin to sunlight is the main important source of vitamin D. A dress code of wearing concealing clothing is a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. The objective of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and ovarian reserve in a population of infertile women in Iran. As part of the basic fertility assessment of study participants, blood tests were taken to measure vitamin D concentration and transvaginal ultrasound scans were performed on day 2–5 of the cycle to determine antral follicle count (AFC). All study participants were assessed by a reproductive medicine specialist and consultant dermatologist to classify their skin types according to the Fitzpatrick classification. In addition, the dress code of each study participant was recorded noting the percentage of exposed skin not covered by concealing clothing.Results189 infertility patients were included in this study. The mean concentration of vitamin D in this study population was 15.46 ng/ml, indicating severe vitamin D deficiency. A statistically significant negative correlation between age and vitamin D (p = 0.008) and age and AFC (p = 0.001) was identified. This study revealed a highly significant correlation between vitamin D concentrations and AFC (p < 0.001).ConclusionsA concealing dress code is an independent risk factor for vitamin D deficiency due to a lack of skin exposure to sunlight. Our study suggests that the so caused severe vitamin D deficiency may play a crucial role in reduced ovarian reserve in the herein described group of an infertile female Iranian population.

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Background:Natural endometrium in Frozen-thawed Embryo Transfer (FET) may have some benefits upon implantation in patients with Repeated Implantation Failure (RIF). It might be due to possible differences between natural and stimulated endometrial growth factors and cytokins secretions.Objective:The objective of this study was to compare the pregnancy rate of FET on modified natural cycle versus hormone replacement therapy (HRT) cycle endometrium in patients with RIF. Materials and Methods:In this observational study the pregnancy rate of patients with RIF undergoing day 3 FET in natural cycle endometrium (group 1, n=56), were compared with another group of patients with RIF in whom frozen-thawed day 3 embryos were transferred on HRT cycle (group 2, n=52).Results:The pregnancy rate in group 1 was 41.07%, compared with the pregnancy rate of group 2; 36.5% (p=0.63). The abortion rate was not significantly different among the groups.Conclusion:It can be concluded that FET in a modified natural cycle is comparable with HRT cycle in patients with RIF.