Gamete intra-fallopian transfer or intrauterine insemination after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for treatment of infertility due to endometriosis

Pregnancy Rates after Intrauterine Insemination in Moderate to Severe Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrauterine insemination (IUI) in moderate to severe endometriosis patients, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted since the role of this treatment strategy in these patients is a matter of debate in the literature. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Cinahl, and The Cochrane Library from inception to September 1, 2016. Studies including moderate to severe endometriosis patients reporting pregnancy rates after IUI were selected. The primary outcome was live birth after IUI treatment compared to expectant management. Secondary noncomparative outcomes were live birth and clinical pregnancy, which were presented as weighed mean pregnancy rates. Nineteen articles (2 unclear design, 11 retrospective, 6 prospective) were included for the analysis. Our primary outcome measure was only addressed by one study, showing an odds ratio of 1.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86–3.63) on live birth favoring IUI versus no treatment. The calculated weighed mean live birth and clinical pregnancy rate per patient was 20.3% (95% CI, 11.2–29.4) and 32.7% (95% CI, 21.3– 44.0), respectively. This meta-analysis of observational data showed that IUI could be a feasible treatment in moderate to severe endometriosis. Whether this treatment should be structurally offered prior to in vitro fertilization needs to be investigated in a randomized, controlled trial, including time-to-pregnancy, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

Patient satisfaction concerning assisted reproductive technology treatments in moderate to severe endometriosis

A prospective observational cohort study was performed to examine patient satisfaction after one Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatment cycle in moderate to severe endometriosis patients. From May 2012 till September 2013, 25 patients with surgically proven endometriosis stage III-IV were included per group and received intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF) or IVF preceded by long-term pituitary down-regulation (IVF-ultralong). The median patient satisfaction scores were 8.3, 7.9 and 8.0 in patients receiving IUI (n = 22), IVF (n = 24) and IVF-ultralong (n = 23), respectively (p = 0.89). Both deterioration in pain and quality-of-life could not be identified as determinants of decreased patient satisfaction scores. Satisfaction was higher in women receiving their first ART treatment attempt (p = 0.002), after treatment accomplishment (p = 0.04) and after a positive pregnancy test (p = 0.04). A median satisfaction score concerning preceding long term pituitary down-regulation of 6.1 (IVF-ultralong n = 25, IUI n = 8) was reported. Only three patients would refrain from this preceding therapy in a next treatment attempt. We concluded that patient satisfaction scores were comparable between the three different ART treatments. Since patient satisfaction was in particular dependent on treatment outcomes, it is recommended to compare those three ART treatments in a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness.

Impact of endometriosis and its staging on assisted reproduction outcome: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the presence or severity of endometriosis affects the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques (ART).

METHODS

In this systematic review, all studies comparing the outcome of ART in women with and those without endometriosis, or at different stages of the disease, were considered eligible. We used either risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) and their 95%CIs for comparisons. The primary outcome was live birth; the secondary outcome was clinical pregnancy. Miscarriage and the number of oocytes retrieved were examined as additional outcomes.

RESULTS

We included 92 studies in the review and 78 in the meta-analysis: 20,167 women with endometriosis were compared with 121,931 women without endometriosis, and 1703 women with Stage-III/IV endometriosis were compared with 2227 women with Stage-I/II endometriosis. The following results were observed for the comparison of women with endometriosis vs women without endometriosis: live birth, RR = 0.99 (95%CI, 0.92-1.06); clinical pregnancy, RR = 0.95 (95%CI, 0.89-1.02); miscarriage, RR = 1.31 (95%CI, 1.07-1.59); number of oocytes retrieved, MD = -1.56 (95%CI, -2.05 to -1.08). The following results were observed for the comparison of women with Stage-III/IV vs Stage-I/II endometriosis: live birth, RR = 0.94 (95%CI, 0.80-1.11); clinical pregnancy, RR = 0.90 (95%CI, 0.82-1.00); miscarriage, RR = 0.99 (95%CI, 0.73-1.36); number of oocytes retrieved, MD = -1.03 (95%CI, -1.67 to -0.39).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with endometriosis undergoing ART have practically the same chance of achieving clinical pregnancy and live birth as do women with other causes of infertility. No relevant difference was observed in the chance of achieving clinical pregnancy and live birth following ART when comparing Stage-III/IV with Stage-I/II endometriosis. The quality of the evidence for the additional examined outcomes was very low, not allowing meaningful conclusions to be drawn.

Comparison of urinary and recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin during ovulation induction in intrauterine insemination cycles: a prospective randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare the in vivo effectiveness of recombinant (r) hCG with urinary (u) hCG during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination (COH-IUI) cycles.

DESIGN

Prospective controlled clinical study.

SETTING

Private IVF center.

PATIENT(S)

Two hundred eighty-four subjects undergoing COH-IUI cycles.

INTERVENTIONS(S)

Women were randomized into receiving r-hCG or u-hCG for final maturation and induction of ovulation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Clinical pregnancy rate and outcome of pregnancy.

RESULT(S)

Background characteristics were similar in the two groups studied except for a slight difference in the mean duration of infertility (3.0 vs. 2.3). There was no significant difference in the number of follicles > or =16 mm, mean peak E(2), or mean 1-week P levels between the two groups. The clinical pregnancy rate was 27.1% in the recombinant group compared with 28.5% in the urinary group. The outcome of pregnancy was similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION(S)

Recombinant hCG was found to be as effective as u-hCG in achieving pregnancy during COH-IUI cycles. This is in agreement with earlier studies on the effectiveness of r-hCG in IVF cycles.