Background: Prediction of ovarian response is one of the prerequisites for women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment prior to the first controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycle. Predictive factors may be variable in patients pre-treated with oral contraceptives (OC) for scheduling purposes. Objective: To evaluate antral follicle count (AFC), anti-mülle-rian hormone (AMH) and basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) for predicting ovarian responses in patients under controlled ovarian hyperstimulation randomized to receive either oral contraceptives (OC) or no treatment (non-OC) prior to their first controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycle. Study Design: One hundred infertile women randomized to receive OC treatment or no treatment, prior to their first COS cycle; were stimulated with Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol. During the early follicular phase (day 2) of the two subsequent cycles (cycle A & cycle B) sonographic (AFC, ovarian volume) and endocrine data (AMH, basal FSH) were recorded. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed for all patients to monitor the ovarian response. Total number of oocytes retrieved and number of generated embryos were recorded and patients were categorized according to retrieved oocytes as poor (oocytes < 5), normal (oocytes 5 -12) or high responders (oocytes > 12). Result(s): AFC, AMH and basal FSH were lower in users than in non-users of hormonal contraception. Poor responders showed less number of oocytes retrieved and had lower AFC and AMH but a higher basal FSH level was recorded in both groups (OC and non-OC). Conclusion: The better predictive value of AMH or AFC, as a single test or in combination will prevent cycle cancellations due to too low or too high ovarian response.

Background Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a leading cause of neonatal respiratory failure and neonatal mortality. It is frequent in preterm infants, because deficient surfactant needed to keep the airways (alveoli) open to assist infants breathe after birth. Nonetheless, it was also seen in full-term pregnancies. Noninvasive approaches for predicting the development of neonatal respiratory distress (RD) in preterm newborns include comparing the prenatal clinical outcome with the pulmonary artery resistance index (PA-RI) and fetal lung capacity as assessed by the virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL). Our study aimed to estimate optimal cutoff values and compare measurements of fetal pulmonary artery resistance index (PA-RI) and fetal lung volume (LV) assessed by VOCAL as noninvasive measures to predict neonatal RD development in preterm pregnancies to show which is more accurate. Results Out of the examined 147 women who delivered 147 living newborns, 59 of newborn (40.1%) developed neonatal RD. PA-RI has a higher value in 45 (76.27%), while fetal lung volume (FLV) was significantly lower in 43 (72.88%) of neonates who developed RD. Combining both measurements of PA-RI and FLV could predict all cases of RDS 59 (100%). Thirty of RDS neonates had mechanical ventilation and died (50.85%). Cutoff values of PA-RI ≥ 0.75 with 76.27% sensitivity, 82.95% specificity and 81.5% accuracy, whereas a cutoff of FLV ≤ 28 cm3 with sensitivity of 72.88%, specificity of 65.91% and accuracy of 74.8%, for prediction of RDS. Combining both cutoffs generated a more accurate detection 100%, specificity of 65.91% and 66.3% positive predictive value (PPV) and 100% negative predictive value (NPV) and 83% accuracy. Conclusions Both PA-RI and FLV are promising noninvasive tools which help in predicting RD fetuses with high sensitivity and specificity. PA-RI is more accurate than FLV cm3 in prediction of neonatal RDS. Combining these parameters increases the predictive value.

Background: Cryopreservation's success rate varies depending on woman age, as low as 14.8% (if eggs were extracted from 40-year-old women), and as high as 31.5% with 25-year-old women. The goal of the research is to improve laboratory methods for freezing-thawing embryos, leading to elevated embryo survival rate. Yet, in hormonal replacement therapy frozen-thawed embryo transfer (HRT-FET) cycles, effective endometrial preparation before embryo transfer attracted less focus. The present research’s aim is to see whether there's a link between blood progesterone levels and pregnancy rates the day before frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Methods: This prospective observational research has investigated 120 patients of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle treatment, only 100 individuals subdivided to 2 groups for serum level of progesterone one day before frozen-thawed embryo transfer. The subjects visited both the Obstetrical and Gynecological Department of Tanta University as well as private centers between May 2020 and January 2021. Results: We discovered no correlation between maternal age with pregnancy test results. Yet, our study discovered highly significant variation among both groups regarding endometrial thickness one day preceding embryo transfer, and regarding pregnancy rate (p<0.05). Conclusion: The serum progesterone hormone preceding frozen embryo transfer has significant and direct relation and impact upon pregnancy rates. The present research detected low serum progesterone less than 10 nanograms/ml in the day before frozen-thawed embryo transfer in HRT-FET cycles significantly decreased probability of ongoing pregnancy post frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

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Background: It is well established that luteal support with progesterone improves implantation in IVF cycles. Unfortunately, there are conflicting reports regarding the value of luteal phase estradiol supplementation on pregnancy rates. Aim of Study: To compare the pregnancy rate if we use progesterone only versus the use of progesterone and estradiol as a luteal phase support in IVF cycles. Study Design and Setting: A prospective randomized clinical trial. Patients and Methods: This study has been carried out in Tanta University Hospital in coordination with private IVF centers in the period from October 2017-to June 2018. This study included 60 women divided into two group: • Group I consists of 30 patients who received vaginal administration of progesterone supplementation in the form of 400mg prontogest twice a day. • The second group consists of 30 patient in which 2mg estradiol valerate twice daily with prontogest suppositories has been used. Results: The findings suggest that the pregnancy rate is higher with the estrogen and progesterone supplementation than the progesterone only supplementation in both groups who have used GnRH agonist or antagonist controlled ovarian stimulation protocol but it has not reached a statistically significant value. Conclution: Supplementary administration of E2 to p for luteal phase support may be beneficial for better IVF outcome and it warrants further investigation.