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Reporting on the latest IVF research, in simple terms, on https://www.remembryo.com

29/07/2024

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Here, I take a brief look at 3 of the top new IVF studies from last week that I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. A meta-analysis combined the results of 20 randomized controlled trials (high quality studies) that evaluated the safety and effectiveness of antioxidant supplements for advanced female age or diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Overall, there was an improvement in clinical pregnancy rates and the number of high quality embryos obtained, but no differences in live birth or miscarriage rates. Across the various supplements examined, only CoQ10 showed a benefit, particularly for those taking a low dose for at least 3 months.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. A meta-analysis combined the results of 21 studies that evaluated IVF and pregnancy outcomes in adenomyosis patients. Patients with adenomyosis had lower rates of clinical pregnancy and live birth, with an increase in miscarriage rates. Frozen transfers didn't show any differences in these outcomes, suggesting that FETs may be a better choice for adenomyosis patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. An "umbrella review" combined the results of multiple meta-analyses and reviews that evaluated the effectiveness of treatments for male infertility. An improvement in s***m concentration, motility and morphology was seen with N-acetyl-cysteine, aromatase inhibitors, alpha-lipoic acid, varicocele repair and other interventions.

I’m short on time and can’t review all these studies, so let me know which one you'd like to learn more about in detail and I can feature it next week on my IVF research news website, Remembryo. Sign up to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it! (send me a DM with your email to be added).

This post only covers the top three studies from last week, but I include 4 or 5 on Remembryo, along with studies from previous weeks and the links to everything. Link is in the comments.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭?

25/07/2024

Happy World Embryologist Day! *special offer below*

This day is celebrated because Louise Joy Brown, the world's first IVF baby, was born on July 25, 1978.

If you can, show your embryology team your appreciation by sending the lab a card or special note, food, or coffee/tea! Often the doctors and nurses get the praise, and sometimes the people behind the scenes are forgotten: the embryologists!

They are the ones who handle the insemination of the eggs, watch closely for fertilization and "babysit" the embryos as they grow. They'll freeze them, thaw them, and prepare them for transfer to the uterus when the time is right.

I started Embryoman back in 2018 when I was still an embryologist, as a way to both educate myself and others on IVF science. At the same time, I launched my website Remembryo to compile scientific information on different IVF topics. Remembryo has since grown from just a few articles to over 300!

To help celebrate this day, I'm extending the paywall limit on Remembryo for a few days so you can access more articles for free! **This is for free members only, who are logged in using their email.** Head to the link in the comments to visit Remembryo, or search Remembryo in google.

As a bonus, I'm also sending my premium newsletter to everyone on my mailing list (goes out every Friday), which is normally only available to paid members. This contains more IVF news and research not found in the free newsletter. Not on my mailing list? Send a DM with your email and I'll add you, or just access a couple of articles on my site and you’ll be prompted to sign up through the paywall.

𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐲𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨 (𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭!).

24/07/2024

A new study found that patients with recurrent pregnancy loss have congenital uterine anomalies at a rate of 8-19%, with 23% having adenomyosis.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is the loss of two or more pregnancies and affects between 1-4% of all women. Uterine anomalies are irregularities in the structure of the uterus that could lead to RPL.

A new study used 2D and 3D ultrasound to diagnose uterine anomalies in women with RPL to see how prevalent they were.

They found that congenital uterine anomalies, like a septate or T-shaped uterus, were detected in 8-19% of RPL patients (depending on the classification system used).

Nearly a quarter of RPL patients had adenomyosis, which was more common in women who never had a birth or in those who had three or more pregnancy losses.

In general, other studies found variable rates of these anomalies in RPL patients. One study found that nearly 40% of RPL patients had adenomyosis.

This is because of differences in diagnostics (hysteroscopy, 2D or 3D ultrasound) and the system of classification used.

Based on their data and previous data, the authors recommend that patients with two pregnancy losses should consider a 3D ultrasound to help diagnose uterine anomalies.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐲, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬, 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞?

23/07/2024

Preliminary results from the VIBRANT trial suggest that an oral drug, rapamycin, can reduce ovarian aging by 20%.

Rapamycin is an already approved drug, and is marketed as Rapamune to prevent organ rejection.

Studies in animals have shown that rapamycin also has anti-aging potential, with one study in mice showing that the drug can help improve ovarian reserve and extend reproductive lifespan.

The Validating Benefits of Rapamycin for Reproductive Aging Treatment (VIBRANT) trial started last year and involves weekly rapamycin treatment to help slow ovarian aging in patients with diminished ovarian reserve.

In an interview with The Guardian, researchers reported positive preliminary results from the study, suggesting that rapamycin can reduce ovarian aging by 20% without significant side effects.

The researchers note that a small “perfect” dose is given orally weekly over a course of 3 months, which shows benefits while minimizing side effects like potential menstruation problems.

The trial is expected to finish by December 2025, with final results reported in two years.

You can read more on The Guardian, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

22/07/2024

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Here, I take a brief look at 3 of the top new IVF studies from last week that I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. This study compared physician technique during mock embryo transfers using a simulator, with their individual historical pregnancy outcomes from the clinic. Doctors that had shorter embryo transfer times had increased odds of live birth, while higher ectopic pregnancy rates were associated with doctors that placed the catheter closer to the fundus (the part of the uterus that's farthest from the opening) or ejected the embryo at a higher speed.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. This meta-analysis combined the results of 13 studies examining the use of intrauterine hCG (administration of hCG into the uterus) on pregnancy outcomes for patients with recurrent implantation failure. They found slight increases in clinical pregnancy and live birth rates, but there was a large amount of variability between the studies.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. This study reviewed research on how embryos can split into dichorionic or monochorionic monozygotic (identical) twins. They found that a loose inner cell mass and "8-shaped hatching" patterns (where the embryo is squished into an 8 shape as it's hatching) can encourage the ICM to split and form two embryos.

I’m short on time and can’t review all these studies, so let me know which one you'd like to learn more about in detail and I can feature it next week on my IVF research news website, Remembryo. Sign up to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it! (send me a DM with your email to be added).

This post only covers the top three studies from last week, but I include 4 or 5 on Remembryo, along with studies from previous weeks and the links to everything. Link is in the comments.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭?

18/07/2024

A 2024 study combined studies involving unexplained infertility patients and endometriosis, finding that nearly half of them have the condition.

Unexplained infertility occurs when no specific cause of infertility is identified after initial diagnostic tests on both partners.

These patients could have endometriosis, but diagnosis requires a surgical procedure called laparoscopy, which isn't typically included as part of the initial evaluation.

A new review combined the results of 11 studies that reported on endometriosis in unexplained infertility patients that had laparoscopy. They found that 44% of them had endometriosis.

Most of the unexplained infertility patients had minimal/mild endometriosis, with some showing tubal factors or pelvic adhesions after laparoscopy.

Due to the high rate of endometriosis in unexplained infertility patients seen here, the authors state that laparoscopy should be considered for those with pain symptoms that suggest endometriosis.

Why not laparoscopy routinely for everyone with unexplained infertility? This has been discussed by different organizations, like ASRM and ESHRE, who don't routinely recommend it -- mainly due to a lack of good quality evidence that shows a benefit, cost issues and risks of surgery.

For those with silent endometriosis that don't show these symptoms, non-surgical methods can be considered to help identify endometriosis, like ReciptivaDx, miRNA tests or ultrasound/MRI.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲? 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞?

17/07/2024

The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) held their 40th annual meeting last week, focusing on the latest developments in IVF and ART.

Here's the highlights:

➡️ An oral drug, OXO-001, showed an increase of nearly 7% in live birth rates.
➡️ Women with family members who have an endocrine disease, such as type 2 diabetes or PCOS, are at a higher risk of pregnancy loss.
➡️ Women with a higher level of education or income level were more likely to have a live birth.
➡️ Gestational carriers have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
➡️ Exposure to air pollution before egg retrieval reduced the odds of live birth by nearly 40%.
➡️ Nearly 25% of chaotic embryos retest as euploid after PGT-A.
➡️ Prenatal testing revealed that 7 out of 552 pregnancies (0.9%) have the same mosaic result as the embryo after PGT-A.
➡️ There was an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients taking GLP-1 agonists, but this was due to the diabetes or obesity indication and not the drug itself.
➡️ Patients with the NK cell KIR AA receptor had a higher chance of recurrent implantation failure (RIF) compared to those with KIR Bx.
➡️ Treatment with the immunosuppressant Tacrolimus improved IVF outcomes in patients with RIF and elevated Th1/Th2 ratios.
➡️ Ovarian stimulation was accomplished using *only three* injections: a long-lasting FSH on cycle day 3, a long-lasting GnRH-antagonist on cycle day 8 and a trigger once follicles reached 18 mm, resulting in mature eggs, blastocysts and live births.

Check out all the details (and links to these abstracts) on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 -- 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭?

16/07/2024

A New York Times investigation has revealed significant issues within the cord blood banking industry.

Families typically spend thousands of dollars storing cord blood, which is collected from a newborn's umbilical cord and is rich in stem cells. This blood can be used as a potential treatment if the child develops a condition later in life.

The NYT investigation found that cord blood is rarely used, with adult stem cells being preferred thanks to advances in medical technology.

Despite this, cord blood banks exaggerate the potential of cord blood, with companies like Cord Blood Registry (CBR) storing millions of samples and generating significant revenue. (CBR is owned by CooperSurgical – the parent company of PGT-A company CooperGenomics)

Cord blood banks use aggressive marketing strategies and offer “collection fees” to doctors to promote their services, with some receiving up to $700.

CBR also faces significant quality control issues and FDA violations, with parents reporting that they’re unable to use their stored cord blood in trials due to contamination.

When customers complained about contamination, CBR employees were trained to persuade parents to keep paying for storage, saying “maybe we’ll be able to fix it with future medicine.”

You can check out the full story on The New York Times, link is in the comments.

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐨? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞?

15/07/2024

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Here, I take a brief look at 3 of the top new IVF studies from last week that I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. This meta-analysis combined the results of 22 reviews that investigated the evidence for s***m DNA fragmentation (SDF) and pregnancy and IVF outcomes. Analysis of these reviews showed that most had "critically low" quality of evidence that showed a weak or nonsignificant association between SDF and rates for live birth, pregnancy, blastocyst formation and fertilization.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. This study used 3D transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate how common uterine anomalies are in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss. They found that 7-14% RPL patients showed partial septate, 3-4% showed a T-shaped uterus, 23% showed adenomyosis, 4% showed type 0/1/2 myoma and 4% showed endometrial polyps.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. This study compared IVF outcomes for 23 patients who had their first retrieval before the 2023 Hamas terrorist attack and the second retrieval shortly after, in order to evaluate how intense psychological distress can impact IVF outcomes. The second cycle showed no differences in the number of eggs retrieved or fertilization rate, but there were lower numbers of top-quality embryos and reductions in total motile s***m count.

I’m short on time and can’t review all these studies, so let me know which one you'd like to learn more about in detail and I can feature it next week on my IVF research news website, Remembryo. Sign up to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it! (send me a DM with your email to be added).

This post only covers the top three studies from last week, but I include 4 or 5 on Remembryo, along with studies from previous weeks and the links to everything. Link is in the comments.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭?

11/07/2024

A 2024 study compared successful and unsuccessful euploid transfers, finding that female age had no impact, while BMI, embryo quality and the type of FET used did.

PGT-A is a selection technique that identifies which embryos are euploid and have the right number of chromosomes.

Unfortunately, not all euploid transfers are successful, and a new study compared patients who had a successful or unsuccessful euploid transfer.

Factors that DID matter for having a successful euploid transfer:
- BMI (overweight/obese had a lower chance)
- Embryo quality (good quality had a higher chance)
- Type of FET done (natural cycle FETs had a higher chance)

Factors that DIDN'T matter for having a successful euploid transfer:
- Female age at time of transfer
- Female age at time of egg retrieval (ie. when they got the euploid)
- Male age
- How long the embryo was frozen for
- AMH levels

The big finding here is that female age -- at either the time of retrieval or transfer -- didn't matter.

The chance of getting a euploid decreases with female age, but once you get one, this study is showing it has the same chance as someone younger, regardless of when you got the embryo (the time of retrieval) or when you transferred it.

Other studies on this topic have shown mixed results. A recent meta-analysis that combined multiple studies found that female age does affect euploid success rates, although this meta-analysis had issues that could have affected the results. More studies are needed!

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐭 & 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐝? 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤?

10/07/2024

What's a low- or high-level mosaic embryo? For more information, check out the link in the comments.

09/07/2024

Results presented at ESHRE 2024 show that an oral pill, OXO-001, led to a 7% increase in live birth rates, as reported by The Guardian.

The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) is having its 40th annual meeting this week, with IVF scientists from around the world sharing the latest (unpublished) research.

One group from Spanish biotech Oxolife presented data on their drug candidate OXO-001, which acts directly on the endometrium, enabling "the expression of key molecules that allow the embryo to stop rolling [across the womb’s surface], to invade and complete implantation."

They performed a randomized controlled trial involving 96 women, which showed improvements in live birth rates compared to a placebo (43% vs 36%), without any negative side effects.

“It’s very meaningful to get a 7% difference in live birth rate with a simple oral medication,” said Richard Anderson, head of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Edinburgh, who wasn't involved in the study.

More details are lacking, but the full study should be released soon and I'll be reporting on it once it becomes available!

You can read more on The Guardian, link is in the comments (can't see the link? Apparently Facebook is starting to restrict linking -- leave a comment and let me know if this is the case). Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

08/07/2024

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Here, I take a brief look at 3 of the top new IVF studies from last week that I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. This review investigated how common endometriosis is in patients with unexplained infertility, finding that 44% of these patients had minimal or mild endometriosis.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. Some studies have shown that a fresh transfer after a GnRH antagonist cycle results in lower live birth rates compared to agonist cycles. A randomized controlled trial (high quality study) optimized the GnRH antagonist protocol by “stepping down” gonadotropin (FSH) dose and stopping GnRH antagonist administration on the day of hCG trigger, resulting in higher live birth rates after a fresh transfer.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. This meta-analysis combined the results of 9 studies that studied the relationship between menstrual characteristics and fertility. They found that women with a short (32 days) menstrual cycle had an increased risk of miscarriage. They also found that women with a late first period (>14 years), and those with a short duration of menstrual bleeding, had reduced fertility.

I’m short on time and can’t review all these studies, so let me know which one you'd like to learn more about in detail and I can feature it next week on my IVF research news website, Remembryo. Sign up to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it! (send me a DM with your email to be added).

This post only covers the top three studies from last week, but I include 4 or 5 on Remembryo, along with studies from previous weeks and the links to all these studies. Link is in the comments (can't see the link? Apparently Facebook is starting to restrict linking -- leave a comment and let me know if this is the case).

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭?

05/07/2024

Health officials from Queensland, Australia, have ordered the destruction of thousands of donor s***m samples that are potentially mislabelled, as reported by The Guardian.

An audit conducted by Queensland's health ombudsman on donor s***m samples uncovered various issues, including viability loss and mislabeling, with the report highlighting that 42% of the samples faced a medium to high risk of misidentification.

As a result, the report mandates clinics dispose of samples stored before 2020 that don't meet current identification standards, which includes samples that weren't double witnessed.

Double witnessing is a verification process where two individuals independently confirm the accuracy of critical information, such as labeling of biological samples, to prevent errors.

“The impact on consumers and the donor-conceived children in cases of gamete mix-ups cannot be underestimated,” the report found.

According to an expert, these errors were likely due to inadequate training or overworked staff.

Check out the full story on The Guardian in my bio https://lnk.bio/embryoman

04/07/2024

This post explores how different popular diets can affect fertility and IVF outcomes, including the Mediterranean, DASH, vegetarian, keto and Western diet.

The Mediterranean diet is rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables and nuts. It improves cardiovascular health and has shown mixed effects on pregnancy outcomes and s***m/embryo quality.

The DASH diet is aimed at lowering blood pressure and features high fruit, vegetable and nut intake with low meat and salt. It’s been shown to improve metabolic profiles in PCOS patients, with mixed results on pregnancy or live birth rates.

Vegetarian and vegan diets exclude meat and possibly animal products. These diets reduce chronic disease risks but might lead to nutrient deficiencies. There are mixed effects on reproductive health, including the potential for low birth weights.

The ketogenic diet is high in fats and low in carbs. It helps manage obesity and diabetes and has shown significant benefits for PCOS patients, with potential cardiovascular risks.

The Western diet is high in processed meats and sugary foods but low in fruits and vegetables. It’s linked to higher obesity and disease rates and studies have shown negative effects on s***m quality and embryo development.

There are a number of limitations with these studies, including the reliance on self-reported data and lack of standardization of the diets.

In general, larger and better quality studies are needed to understand how popular diets influence fertility, with more focus on patients doing IVF.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲?

03/07/2024

How many eggs and embryos should you expect to get, based on your age? In this video, I go over a 2022 study that reports on the median number of eggs retrieved in good prognosis patients, along with the number of mature eggs, fertilized eggs and usable blastocysts, based on age. For more information, check the link in the comments.

02/07/2024

The ASRM has put together their 2024 guidelines on vaccinations for infertility patients planning pregnancy, recommending vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, tetanus, and more.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is the US authority on reproductive medicine that releases committee opinions on various topics, with the latest on vaccination for infertility patients planning a pregnancy.

In general, immunization is best performed *before infertility treatments start* since some vaccines aren’t recommended during pregnancy (ie. live attenuated vaccines). Doctors should assess a patient’s immunization history before treatment.

For those pregnant or for patients considering pregnancy, the ASRM recommends immunization against:
💉 COVID-19
💉 Influenza (the flu)
💉 Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Td/Tdap) (Td ideally before pregnancy, with Tdap in third/late second trimester)

For patients considering pregnancy and without preexisting immunity, the ASRM recommends that individuals are vaccinated BEFORE pregnancy against:
💉 Varicella (chickenpox)
💉 Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)

For high-risk individuals considering pregnancy, the ASRM recommends immunization against:
💉 Pneumococcal disease
💉 Hepatitis A and B
💉 Meningococcal disease

The ASRM didn't mention RSV, but the CDC currently recommends it at 32-36 weeks gestation from September to January in most of the continental US, regardless of previous RSV infection. It's not recommended for other pregnancies.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

Edit to add: Vaccines are an essential element of public health and are recommended during pregnancy to avoid complications or infections that could harm the baby. They are responsible for saving a reported 154 million lives over the past 50 years (PMID: 38705159). Any comments that discuss anti-vax conspiracy theories will be removed.

01/07/2024

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Here, I take a brief look at 3 of the top new IVF studies from last week that I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. This randomized controlled trial (high quality study) measured euploidy and other outcomes for couples whose s***m was processed using microfluidics (Zymot) or by conventional methods (density gradient centrifugation). They found no differences in euploidy or blastocyst formation rates, but Zymot improved fertilization rates. There were no differences in pregnancy outcomes.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. This study investigated the links between advanced maternal age and unexplained infertility. They found that older patients were more likely to be diagnosed with unexplained infertility, and patients with unexplained infertility had lower IVF success rates compared to patients with explained infertility, even when considering age.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. This review examines the effects of different diets on fertility, including the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, the Western diet, the ketogenic diet and the vegetarian diet.

I’m short on time, so let me know which one you'd like to learn more about in detail and I can feature it next week on my IVF research news website, Remembryo. Sign up to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it! (send me a DM with your email to be added).

This post only covers the top three studies from last week, but I include 4 or 5 on Remembryo, along with studies from previous weeks and the links to all these studies. Link is in the comments.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭?

25/06/2024

Researchers developed a model to help predict the number of mature eggs needed to obtain at least one euploid, based on age.

With increasing age, there's an increased risk of chromosomal errors (aneuploidy) in eggs, and this reduces the chance of getting a euploid by PGT-A.

A new study compared outcomes from over 2600 PGT-A cycles and found that as female age increases:
🧬 The chance of getting a euploid decreases.
🧬 The average number of euploids per cycle decreases.
🧬 The chance of getting a blastocyst that's eligible for biopsy decreases.
🧬 The average number of mature eggs needed for at least 1 euploid increases -- ie. More mature eggs are needed to get at least 1 euploid, as age increases.

Using their data, they built a model to predict the number of mature eggs needed for at least one euploid.

After validation, their model had 72.0% accuracy, which should be optimized before being used as a "trustable clinical tool," the authors write.

Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭? 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐞𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐬?

24/06/2024

Time for the weekly IVF research brief!

Here, I take a brief look at 3 of the top new IVF studies from last week that I think are most helpful for patients.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟏. This study found no differences in ongoing pregnancy rates for patients aged ≤35 to >40 who transferred a single euploid embryo (based on their age at egg retrieval). Women with good quality embryos, with a lower BMI and who had a natural cycle frozen embryo transfer (as opposed to medicated) had higher ongoing pregnancy rates.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟐. This study involved patients who had a single frozen or fresh blastocyst transferred, and then had a pregnancy test 14 days later (by hCG). Women who transferred a frozen embryo had higher hCG levels compared to those who had a fresh transfer, suggesting that the type of transfer needs to be considered for pregnancy monitoring.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝟑. In a small prospective cohort study, researchers followed couples with recurrent pregnancy loss and high DNA fragmentation. Couples with high DNA fragmentation had a lower chance of becoming pregnant, but there was no increased risk of experiencing another pregnancy loss.

I don’t have the time to cover all these studies in detail, so let me know in the comments which one you'd like to learn more about and I can feature it on Remembryo! This is usually done by next week. Sign up to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it (send me a DM with your email to be added).

This post only covers the top three studies from last week, but you can check out more IVF research briefs on Remembryo, including all the references/links for the studies. Link is in the comments.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭?

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Videos

What's a low- or high-level mosaic embryo? For more information, check out the link in the comments.

This video goes over the 3 types of eggs you can get after a retrieval -- GV, M1 and M2 eggs, and how you might be able to get more mature eggs! To learn more, head to the link in the comments.

Here I discuss the trophectoderm, the part of the blastocyst that becomes the placenta, and a new study that took some pictures that really help to visualize what it is. For more info on blastocyst development/grading, check the link in the comments.

Researchers found that excessive bending of a Cryotop, a cryostorage device used to freeze eggs or embryos, can damage embryos and reduce thaw survival rates. A cryostorage device is a device that’s used to freeze embryos or eggs. The sample can be frozen within a straw that’s sealed, or it can be frozen on a stick-like Cryotop or Cryolock device. Both Cryotop and Cryolock devices have a flexible end where the embryos are deposited for freezing, and this end can be bent. In a new study, researchers wanted to know if bending this end, which may be accidently done by the embryologist, could damage frozen embryos. They loaded up Cryotops with embryos, froze them, and then purposely bent the device. After thawing them, the embryos had visible damage and a lower survival. The authors recommend that embryologists should be properly trained to avoid bending of the Cryotop device, as this could damage the embryos. Check out all the details on Remembryo, link is in the comments. Want to stay up to date on new IVF research? Send me a DM with your email and I'll sign you up to my weekly newsletter.

For those who want to learn more about how embryos develop, let's check out this time-lapse of an embryo graded as a 4CB! Check the link in the comments for more info on embryo development/grading, and send me a message if you need help understanding your embryo.

As part of a collaboration I'm doing with @ovogene.bank and @ifg_fertility_agency , this is the first part of a miniseries on the future of IVF, with a focus on AI in the lab. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐛? #embryology #embryologist #IVF #blastocyst #embryotransfer #embryologistlife #embryologylife #embryo #embryos #icsiwarrior #ivfjourney #ttc #infertilitysucks #reproductivemedicine #fertilityclinic #frozenembryo #pgstesting #embryobiopsy #blastocyst #fet #frozenembryo

What are the chances of getting a euploid embryo by age? Check the link in the comments for more info. I’m keeping things simple in this video, but an aneuploid embryo can be missing a chromosome, or have an extra chromosome, or have pieces of chromosomes that are missing/added. I can do another video on that in the future!

For those who want to learn more about how embryos develop, let's check out this time-lapse of an embryo graded as a 4BA! Check the link in the comments for more info on embryo development/grading, and send me a message if you need help understanding your embryo. *Sorry, I just posted this video but had to repost because I posted it as a reel, and there’s a 90 second limit on reels. So here’s the whole video! #embryology #embryologist #IVF #blastocyst #embryotransfer #embryologistlife #embryologylife #embryo #embryos #icsiwarrior #ivfjourney #ttc #infertilitysucks #reproductivemedicine #fet

For those who want to learn more about how embryos develop, let's check out this time-lapse of an embryo graded as a 4BA! Check the link my bio for more info on embryo development/grading, and send me a message if you need help understanding your embryo. #embryology #embryologist #IVF #blastocyst #embryotransfer #embryologistlife #embryologylife #embryo #embryos #icsiwarrior #ivfjourney #ttc #infertilitysucks #reproductivemedicine #fet

How does an embryologist know when an egg is fertilized? Basically, by checking to see if there are pronuclei present. If there aren't any, then this usually means that the egg is unfertilized. Unfertilized eggs can be kept in culture until around day 3 to make sure they're unfertilized, because they usually don't divide. Want to learn more about fertilization and what it means to have abnormal fertilization? Check the link in my bio. #embryology #embryologist #IVF #blastocyst #embryotransfer #embryologistlife #embryologylife #embryo #embryos #icsiwarrior #ivfjourney #ttc #infertilitysucks #reproductivemedicine #fet #ivfsuccessstory #ivfsuccess #ivfstrongertogether #fertilityclinic #frozenembryo #blastocyst

How does an embryologist know when an egg is fertilized? Basically, by checking to see if there are 2 pronuclei present (2PN). If there aren't any, then this usually means that the egg is unfertilized. Unfertilized eggs can be kept in culture until around day 3 to make sure they're unfertilized, because an unfertilized egg usually won't divide. Want to learn more about fertilization and what it means to have abnormal fertilization (1PN, 3PN)? Check the link in the comments.

Do embryos grow better in the uterus or the lab? Check out more details about this study on Remembryo. Link in the comments.

Does the number of cells in a day 3 embryo matter or not? For more info on day 3 embryos, check the link in the comments.

A recent case report details a case where a patient had eggs with an abnormal perivitelline space (PVS), which led to the development of the embryo outside of the zona. Transfer of this embryo, and another, led to twins. More info in the video/in the link in the comments.

For those who want more help with understanding embryo pictures, you can check out this video where I identify the different structures of this 3BA and explain a bit about the grading (more info in the comments!). This one was cool because it’s oviod in shape, which may be due to mechanical stress introduced through the retrieval process.

Explaining embryo pictures - a 4AB. Note the thin zona that’s characteristic of a “4,” and not so many cells in the trophectoderm to make it a “B.” For more info on grading, check the link in the comments.

Explaining embryo pictures - a 4AA. Note the thin zona that’s characteristic of a “4.” For more info on grading, check here https://www.remembryo.com/embryo-grading/