Worldwide analysis of pregnancies after IVF/ET allows the evaluation of the pregnancy outcome compared to normal population. The mean age of IVF-patients is significantly higher. The incidence of clinical abortions after IVF/ET is within normal range, correlating rather with age than with treatment modalities. The rate of multiple gestations is increased after IVF/ET as well as GIFT or hMG-stimulation, leading to more high risk pregnancies. Gestosis is seen in 7% of singletons and 17% of triplet pregnancies. Preterm deliveries before 36 weeks of gestation occur in 17% of singleton and 52% of twin pregnancies after IVF/ET (control 7.3%). This leads to an increasing rate of caesarean section. The global malformation rate is 2% and in a comparable range to normal population. A presumably higher incidence of neural tube defects has to be proven in a larger number of IVF pregnancies.

Embryo Transfer↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of follicle-stimulating hormone therapy on sperm quality: an ultrastructural mathematical evaluation.

We investigated the effect of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) administration on the ultrastructure of spermatozoa in order to evaluate the potential of FSH therapy for improving sperm quality. Forty-six patients exhibiting idiopathic oligoasthenoterato-zoospermia who attended the intrauterine insemination (IU), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) program at our clinic received FSH in daily dosages of 150 IU over a period of 12 weeks. Using transmission electron microscopy, the ultrastructural analysis of spermatozoa was performed prior to the start of FSH therapy, after the treatment had been finished, and 6 weeks posttherapy. Applying a mathematical formula based on submicroscopic characteristics, we calculated the number of morphologically normal spermatozoa. After the FSH treatment, the examined subcellular organelles achieved a higher percentage of integrity. Follicle-stimulating hormone treatment leads to a higher number of morphologically normal spermatozoa. The electron microscopic findings indicate that treatment with pure FSH may be an effective way to improve sperm quality in cases with oligoasthenoterato-zoospermia. Applying the mathematical analysis based on the whole complex of the selected sperm characteristics, we obtained a way to evaluate the success of therapy for the first time.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone↗