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Vaiarelli A, Cimadomo D, Gennarelli G, Guido M, Alviggi C, Conforti A, Livi C, Revelli A, Colamaria S, Argento C, Giuliani M, De Angelis C, Matteo M, Canosa S, D’Alfonso A, Cimadomo V, Rienzi L, Ubaldi FM. Second stimulation in the same ovarian cycle: an option to fully-personalize the treatment in poor prognosis patients undergoing PGT-A. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:663-673. [PMID: 35128583 PMCID: PMC8995212 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02409-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Our primary objective was to assess whether immediately undergoing a second stimulation in the same ovarian cycle (DuoStim) for advanced-maternal-age and/or poor-ovarian-reserve (AMA/POR) patients obtaining ≤ 3 blastocysts for preimplantation-genetic-testing-for-aneuploidies (PGT-A) is more efficient than the conventional-approach. METHODS All AMA/POR patients obtaining ≤ 3 blastocysts after conventional-stimulation between 2017 and 2019 were proposed DuoStim, and 143 couples accepted (DuoStim-group) and were matched for the main confounders to 143 couples who did not accept (conventional-group). GnRH-antagonist protocol with recombinant-gonadotrophins and agonist trigger, intra-cytoplasmatic-sperm-injection (ICSI) with ejaculated sperm, PGT-A and vitrified-warmed euploid single-blastocyst-transfer(s) were performed. The primary outcome was the cumulative-live-birth-delivery-rate per intention-to-treat (CLBdR per ITT) within 1 year. If not delivering, the conventional-group had 1 year to undergo another conventional-stimulation. A cost-effectiveness analysis was also conducted. RESULTS The CLBdR was 10.5% in the conventional-group after the first attempt. Only 12 of the 128 non-pregnant patients returned (165 ± 95 days later; drop-out = 116/128,90.6%), and 3 delivered. Thus, the 1-year CLBdR was 12.6% (N = 18/143). In the DuoStim-group, the CLBdR was 24.5% (N = 35/143; p = 0.01), 2 women delivered twice and 13 patients have other euploid blastocysts after a LB (0 and 2 in the conventional-group). DuoStim resulted in an incremental-cost-effectiveness-ratio of 23,303€. DuoStim was costlier and more effective in 98.7% of the 1000 pseudo-replicates generated through bootstrapping, and the cost-effectiveness acceptability curves unveiled that DuoStim would be more cost-effective than the conventional-approach at a willingness-to-pay threshold of 23,100€. CONCLUSIONS During PGT-A treatments in AMA/POR women, DuoStim can be suggested in progress to rescue poor blastocyst yields after conventional-stimulation. It might indeed prevent drop-out or further aging between attempts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Vaiarelli
- GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. De Notaris, 2b, 00197, Rome, Italy.
| | - Danilo Cimadomo
- grid.487136.f0000 0004 1756 2878GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. De Notaris, 2b, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Guido
- grid.158820.60000 0004 1757 2611MeSVA Department, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Carlo Alviggi
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDepartment of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Conforti
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDepartment of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Revelli
- GeneraLife IVF, Livet, Turin Italy ,grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Obstetrics and Gynaecology SCDU1, Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit, Sant’Anna Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Colamaria
- grid.487136.f0000 0004 1756 2878GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. De Notaris, 2b, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Cindy Argento
- grid.487136.f0000 0004 1756 2878GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. De Notaris, 2b, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Maddalena Giuliani
- grid.487136.f0000 0004 1756 2878GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. De Notaris, 2b, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo De Angelis
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Gynecological, Obstetrical, and Urological Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Operative Unit of Obstetrics, Fabia Mater Clinic, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Matteo
- grid.10796.390000000121049995Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Physiopathology and Reproductive Unit, University Hospital of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | | | - Angela D’Alfonso
- grid.158820.60000 0004 1757 2611MeSVA Department, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Laura Rienzi
- grid.487136.f0000 0004 1756 2878GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. De Notaris, 2b, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Maria Ubaldi
- grid.487136.f0000 0004 1756 2878GeneraLife IVF, Clinica Valle Giulia, via G. De Notaris, 2b, 00197 Rome, Italy
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La Marca A, Capuzzo M, Imbrogno MG, Donno V, Spedicato GA, Sacchi S, Minasi MG, Spinella F, Greco P, Fiorentino F, Greco E. The complex relationship between female age and embryo euploidy. Minerva Obstet Gynecol 2021; 73:103-110. [PMID: 33306288 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-606x.20.04740-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female age is the strongest predictor of embryo chromosomal abnormalities and has a nonlinear relationship with the blastocyst euploidy rate: with advancing age there is an acceleration in the reduction of blastocyst euploidy. Aneuploidy was found to significantly increase with maternal age from 30% in embryos from young women to 70% in women older than 40 years old. The association seems mainly due to chromosomal abnormalities occurring in the oocyte. We aimed to elaborate a model for the blastocyst euploid rate for patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles using advanced machine learning techniques. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of IVF/ICSI cycles performed from 2014 to 2016. In total, data of 3879 blastocysts were collected for the analysis. Patients underwent PGT-Aneuploidy analysis (PGT-A) at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of European Hospital (Rome, Italy) have been included in the analysis. The method involved whole-genome amplification followed by array comparative genome hybridization. To model the rate of euploid blastocysts, the data were split into a train set (used to fit and calibrate the models) and a test set (used to assess models' predictive performance). Three different models were calibrated: a classical linear regression; a gradient boosted tree (GBT) machine learning model; a model belonging to the generalized additive models (GAM). RESULTS The present study confirms that female age, which is the strongest predictor of embryo chromosomal abnormalities, and blastocyst euploidy rate have a nonlinear relationship, well depicted by the GBT and the GAM models. According to this model, the rate of reduction in the percentage of euploid blastocysts increases with age: the yearly relative variation is -10% at the age of 37 and -30% at the age of 45. Other factors including male age, female and male Body Mass Index, fertilization rate and ovarian reserve may only marginally impact on embryo euploidy rate. CONCLUSIONS Female age is the strongest predictor of embryo chromosomal abnormalities and has a non-linear relationship with the blastocyst euploidy rate. Other factors related to both the male and female subjects may only minimally affect this outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio La Marca
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Polyclinic of Modena, Modena, Italy -
| | - Martina Capuzzo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Polyclinic of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Maria G Imbrogno
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Polyclinic of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Valeria Donno
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Polyclinic of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Sandro Sacchi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Polyclinic of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Maria G Minasi
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Villa Mafalda, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Ermanno Greco
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Villa Mafalda, Rome, Italy
- UniCamillus, Rome, Italy
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Vaiarelli A, Cimadomo D, Petriglia C, Conforti A, Alviggi C, Ubaldi N, Ledda S, Ferrero S, Rienzi L, Ubaldi FM. DuoStim - a reproducible strategy to obtain more oocytes and competent embryos in a short time-frame aimed at fertility preservation and IVF purposes. A systematic review. Ups J Med Sci 2020; 125:121-130. [PMID: 32338123 PMCID: PMC7721001 DOI: 10.1080/03009734.2020.1734694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that follicular development occurs in a wave-like model during the ovarian cycle, where up to three cohorts of follicles are recruited to complete folliculogenesis. This understanding overtakes the previous dogma stating that follicles grow only during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, in in vitro fertilization (IVF), novel protocols regarding ovarian stimulation have been theorized based on the use of gonadotrophins to prompt the growth of antral follicles at any stage of the menstrual cycle. These unconventional protocols for ovarian stimulation aim at a more efficient management of poor-prognosis patients, otherwise exposed to conflicting outcomes after conventional approaches. DuoStim appears among these unconventional stimulation protocols as one of the most promising. It combines two consecutive stimulations in the follicular and luteal phases of the same ovarian cycle, aimed at increasing the number of oocytes retrieved and embryos produced in the short time-frame. This protocol has been suggested for the treatment of all conditions requiring a maximal and urgent exploitation of the ovarian reserve, such as oncological patients and poor responders at an advanced maternal age. At present, data from independent studies have outlined the consistency and reproducibility of this approach, which might also reduce the drop-out between consecutive failed IVF cycles in poor-prognosis patients. However, the protocol must be standardized, and more robust studies and cost-benefit analyses are needed to highlight the true clinical pros and cons deriving from DuoStim implementation in IVF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Vaiarelli
- Clinica Valle Giulia, G.EN.E.R.A. Centers for Reproductive Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Cimadomo
- Clinica Valle Giulia, G.EN.E.R.A. Centers for Reproductive Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Petriglia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cagliari, Policlinico Universitario Duilio Casula, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Conforti
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo Alviggi
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicolò Ubaldi
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Ledda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Susanna Ferrero
- Clinica Valle Giulia, G.EN.E.R.A. Centers for Reproductive Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Rienzi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, G.EN.E.R.A. Centers for Reproductive Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Maria Ubaldi
- Clinica Valle Giulia, G.EN.E.R.A. Centers for Reproductive Medicine, Rome, Italy
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Vaiarelli A, Cimadomo D, Argento C, Ubaldi N, Trabucco E, Drakopoulos P, Venturella R, Conforti A, Alviggi C, Rienzi L, Ubaldi FM. Double stimulation in the same ovarian cycle (DuoStim) is an intriguing strategy to improve oocyte yield and the number of competent embryos in a short timeframe. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 71:372-376. [PMID: 30848112 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4784.19.04390-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Proper ovarian stimulation regimens are crucial for any patient undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF). However, maximizing the oocyte yield in advanced maternal age patients with poor or suboptimal response is still a challenge. In fact, no standard treatment has been outlined yet to manage these women. Across the last years, an improved efficiency of the IVF units via blastocyst culture, vitrification and reliable embryo selection approaches paved the way to the investigation of novel unconventional stimulation protocols, like double stimulation in a single ovarian cycle (DuoStim). DuoStim, by conjugating follicular phase stimulation (FPS) and luteal phase stimulation (LPS) in the same ovarian cycle, allows to maximize the number of oocytes obtained in a short timeframe, a precious outcome when we aim at shortening time to pregnancy. In this regard, LPS seems to contribute to conventional stimulation with more oocytes with a comparable competence as FPS, retrieved per ovarian cycle. Although any stimulation protocol which exploits anovulatory waves of follicular growth needs a thorough investigation, no evidence has been produced to question the safety of DuoStim, which to date represents the most intriguing strategy to treat poor prognosis in IVF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Vaiarelli
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy -
| | - Danilo Cimadomo
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Cindy Argento
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Roberta Venturella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Alessandro Conforti
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo Alviggi
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Rienzi
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo M Ubaldi
- G.EN.E.R.A. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy
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