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Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the current data to understand the impact of intramural leiomyomata on pregnancy outcome in assisted reproduction. Patients and Methods: In this review, articles were found by means of computerized Medline and Cochrane Library search using the key words uterine myomata, leiomyomata, fibroids, implantation, pregnancy, infertility and in vitro fertilization. Limitations were English, human, 1990–2002. Inclusion criteria were pregnancy data on in vitro fertilization, intramural myomata with no cavitary distortion and control groups without myomas for each patient with a myoma. Results: There was a significant negative impact on implantation rate in the intramural myomata groups versus the control groups, 16.4 vs. 27.7% OR 0.62 (0.48–0.8). The delivery rate per transfer cycle was also significantly lower (myomata vs. control), 31.2 vs. 40.9% OR 0.69 (0.50–0.95). Conclusion: Our study supports the notion that patients with intramural fibroids have a lower implantation rate per cycle. The studies did not shed new light on the size of intramural myomata that could affect the outcome. In previous failed in vitro fertilization cycles, microsurgical removal of myomata must be considered.

An infinite number of rotationally symmetrical functions 'IJ(r ,z) can be found which approximate a given functionf(z) on the optical axis Oz (r and z being cylindrical polar coordinates). The 'IJ (r,z) are given in the form of a finite Fourier-Bessel series and it is shown how a solution that can be used in electron optical design can be selected by carefully assigning values to the following parameters: the number of terms in the series, the period of the series, and the amount of smoothing introduced. In this way a compromise is established between the quality of the axial approximation, the magnitude of potential gradients to be contended with in zonal regions, and the sizes of apertures allowed. Two-foil, one-foil, and open lenses can be modeled, and given axial potential functions can be accommodated which are either (i) analytic, (ii) continuous but with piecewise continuous z derivatives, or (iii) in the form of a set of experimentally determined values. The method requires no matrix inversion, the computer programming is of a simple nature, and memory requirements are modest enough to allow implementation of the program on small desk-top computers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of male and female factors on the pregnancy rate in an intrauterine insemination (IUI) programme. Data on 522 cycles were retrospectively studied. All patients 39 years or younger were included in the study where data were available on male and female diagnosis, as well as on ovulation induction methodology. Regression analysis was possible on 495 cycles to study different factors affecting the pregnancy rate per treatment cycle. Logistic regression identified variables which were related to outcome and were subsequently incorporated into a statistical model. The number of follicles was found to have a linear association with the risk ratio (chance) of pregnancy. The age of the woman was also found to have a linear (negative) association with pregnancy. The percentage motility and percentage normal morphology (by strict criteria) of spermatozoa in the fresh ejaculate were the male factors that significantly and independently predicted the outcome. Percentage motility > or = 50 was associated with a risk ratio of pregnancy of 2.95 compared to percentage motility < 50. Percentage normal sperm morphology > 14% was associated with a risk ratio of pregnancy of 1.8 compared to percentage normal morphology < or = 14%. Female patients with idiopathic infertility were divided into three groups according to normal sperm morphology. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 2.63% (1/38) for the P (poor) pattern group (0-4% normal forms), 11.4% (17/149) for the G (good) pattern group (5-14%), and 24% (18/75) for the N (normal) pattern group (> 14% normal forms). A female diagnosis of endometriosis or tubal factor impacted negatively on the probability of pregnancy (risk ratio of 0.17), compared with other female diagnoses. Male and female factors contribute to pregnancy outcome, but the clinician can influence prognosis by increasing the number of follicles, especially in severe male factor cases.