[First-line management of infertile couple. Guidelines for clinical practice of the French College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2022]

OBJECTIVE

To update the 2010 CNGOF clinical practice guidelines for the first-line management of infertile couples.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five major themes (first-line assessment of the infertile woman, first-line assessment of the infertile man, prevention of exposure to environmental factors, initial management using ovulation induction regimens, first-line reproductive surgery) were identified, enabling 28 questions to be formulated using the Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) format. Each question was addressed by a working group that had carried out a systematic review of the literature since 2010, and followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE®) methodology to assess the quality of the scientific data on which the recommendations were based. These recommendations were then validated during a national review by 40 national experts.

RESULTS

The fertility work-up is recommended to be prescribed according to the woman's age: after one year of infertility before the age of 35 and after 6months after the age of 35. A couple's initial infertility work-up includes a single 3D ultrasound scan with antral follicle count, assessment of tubal permeability by hysterography or HyFOSy, anti-Mullerian hormone assay prior to assisted reproduction, and vaginal swabbing for vaginosis. If the 3D ultrasound is normal, hysterosonography and diagnostic hysteroscopy are not recommended as first-line procedures. Chlamydia trachomatis serology does not have the necessary performance to predict tubal patency. Post-coital testing is no longer recommended. In men, spermogram, spermocytogram and spermoculture are recommended as first-line tests. If the spermogram is normal, it is not recommended to check the spermogram. If the spermogram is abnormal, an examination by an andrologist, an ultrasound scan of the testicles and hormonal test are recommended. Based on the data in the literature, we are unable to recommend a BMI threshold for women that would contraindicate medical management of infertility. A well-balanced Mediterranean-style diet, physical activity and the cessation of smoking and cannabis are recommended for infertile couples. For fertility concern, it is recommended to limit alcohol consumption to less than 5 glasses a week. If the infertility work-up reveals no abnormalities, ovulation induction is not recommended for normo-ovulatory women. If intrauterine insemination is indicated based on an abnormal infertility work-up, gonadotropin stimulation and ovulation monitoring are recommended to avoid multiple pregnancies. If the infertility work-up reveals no abnormality, laparoscopy is probably recommended before the age of 30 to increase natural pregnancy rates. In the case of hydrosalpinx, surgical management is recommended prior to ART, with either salpingotomy or salpingectomy depending on the tubal score. It is recommended to operate on polyps>10mm, myomas 0, 1, 2 and synechiae prior to ART. The data in the literature do not allow us to systematically recommend asymptomatic uterine septa and isthmoceles as first-line surgery.

CONCLUSION

Based on strong agreement between experts, we have been able to formulate updated recommendations in 28 areas concerning the initial management of infertile couples.

Impact of the duration of oestradiol treatment on live birth rate in Hormonal Replacement Therapy cycle before frozen blastocyst transfer

Although the duration of progesterone administration in Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) cycles before frozen embryo transfer is standardized, the optimal duration of oestrogen treatment remains controversial. In this monocentric retrospective study conducted in all single frozen blastocyst transfer (FBT) performed with HRT between January 2016 and July 2019, we evaluated the association between the duration of oestradiol treatment before FBT and live birth rate (LBR) in HRT cycles. Cycles were gathered in 3 groups according to quartiles of duration of oestrogen treatment. LBR was compared across the 3 groups and multivariate analysis was performed. We included 2235 single FBT cycles; 507, 1257 and 471 with E2 treatment below 23 days, 23-30 days (reference) and more than 30 days respectively. After multivariate analysis and adjustment, no significant difference in LBR was found between below 23 or more than 30 days and reference groups (OR = 0.93 [0.68-1.27] and OR = 1.29 [0.88-1.89] respectively). Complementary sensitivity analysis led to a non-significant adjusted OR = 1.66 [IC 0.9-3.1]. In conclusion, our study showed that the duration of E2 treatment in HRT cycles before FBT is not associated with LBR.

Female obesity does not impact live birth rate after frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer

STUDY QUESTION

Does female obesity affect live birth rate after frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Live birth rate was not statistically different between obese and normal weight patients after frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer (FBT).

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Obesity is a major health problem across the world, especially in women of reproductive age. It impacts both spontaneous fertility and clinical outcomes after assisted reproductive technology. However, the respective impact of female obesity on oocyte quality and endometrial receptivity remains unclear. While several studies showed that live birth rate was decreased in obese women after fresh embryo transfer in IVF cycle, only two studies have evaluated the effects of female body mass index (BMI) on pregnancy outcomes after frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer (FBT), reporting conflicting data.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This retrospective case control study was conducted in all consecutive frozen-thawed autologous blastocyst transfer (FBT) cycles conducted between 2012 and 2017 in a single university-based centre. A total of 1415 FBT cycles performed in normal weight women (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and 252 FBT cycles performed in obese women (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) were included in the analysis.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Endometrial preparation was standard and based on hormonal replacement therapy. One or two blastocysts were transferred according to couple's history and embryo quality.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Female and male age, smoking status, basal AMH level and type of infertility were comparable in obese and normal weight groups. Concerning FBT cycles, the duration of hormonal treatment, the stage and number of embryos (84% single blastocyst transfer and 16% double blastocysts transfer) used for transfer were comparable between both groups. Mean endometrium thickness was significantly higher in obese than in normal weight group (8.7 ± 1.8 vs 8.1 ± 1.6 mm, P < 0.0001). Concerning FBT cycle outcomes, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were comparable in obese and in normal weight groups. Odds ratio (OR) demonstrated no association between live birth rate after FBT and female BMI (OR = 0.92, CI 0.61-1.38, P = 0.68).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Anthropometric parameters such as hip to waist ratio were not used. Polycystic ovarian syndrome status was not included in the analysis.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Our study showed that live birth rate after frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer was not statistically different in obese and in normal-weight women. Although this needs confirmation, this suggests that the impairment of uterine receptivity observed in obese women after fresh embryo transfer might be associated with ovarian stimulation and its hormonal perturbations rather than with oocyte/embryo quality.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

No external funding was received. There are no competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Efficacy of assisted reproductive technology after ovarian tissue transplantation in a cohort of 11 patients with or without associated infertility factors

PURPOSE

IVF treatment in women with grafted frozen-thawed ovarian tissue is associated with poor reproductive outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ovarian tissue transplantation (OTT) followed by assisted reproductive technology (ART) in women with or without associated infertility factors.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study with retrospective data collection including eleven women, four of whom having an infertility factor (IF), who had undergone OTT in one university center between 2005 and 2017, followed by ART in six in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers.

RESULTS

In total, 25 of the 85 cycles initiated (29%) were canceled, resulting in 60 oocyte retrievals. Ninety-five oocytes were retrieved: 36 were abnormal or immature, 29/39 fertilized (74%) after ICSI and 13/20 (65%) after IVF. Thirty-five embryos were transferred in seven patients (5/7 patients without IF and 2/4 patients with IF). After ART, one patient with IF experienced two pregnancies, one resulting in a live birth. For all patients, pregnancy rates and live birth rates were 7.4% and 3.7% per embryo transfer, respectively. Nine pregnancies and four live births occurred after spontaneous conception in five patients without IF, none in the infertility group.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that IVF treatment in women with grafted frozen-thawed ovarian tissue is associated with poor outcomes. However, the chances of natural conception are high in women without IF. Patients with IF, without the possibility of spontaneous pregnancy, should be informed of poor reproductive outcomes after OTT followed by ART.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02184806.

[Pre-implantation genetic testing: Comparison between cleavage stage and blastocyst biopsy]

OBJECTIVES

Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) refers to the set of techniques for testing whether embryos obtained through in vitro fertilization have genetic defect. There is a lack of global standardization regarding practices between countries or even from one center to another. In ours, biopsies are preferably performed on day 3 embryos, but also at the blastocyst stage on day 5. The blastocyst biopsy often requires systematic freezing of the embryos before obtaining the genetic results, whereas day 3 biopsy allows fresh embryo transfer of the healthy or balanced embryo after getting the genetic results. We wanted to compare the chances of success for couples performing PGT in our center according to the day of the biopsy.

METHODS

For this, we carried out a retrospective monocentric study including all PGT cycles performed between 2016 and 2019 divided into two groups: day 3 or day 5 biopsy.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in terms of live birth rate (P=0.7375) after fresh embryo transfers, as well for pregnancy rates, clinical pregnancy rates, implantation rates and miscarriage rates. On the other hand, we observed higher live birth rates after frozen-thawed embryo transfer when the biopsy was performed on day 5 rather on day 3 (P=0.0001). We also wanted to assess what was the most efficient biopsy strategy in our laboratory. Our rates of useful embryos were similar regardless of the day of the biopsy (34% in D3 and 37.7% in D5, P=0.244). No statistical difference was found in the number of unnecessarily biopsied embryos in the two groups. But still, the percentage of embryos biopsied on D5 and immediately frozen was 42.8% (118 blastocysts), while no embryo biopsied on D3 led to this case.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, our results are in favor of generalization of the D5 biopsy as the international standard. However, the organizational, financial and logistical implications that this technic would impose make it unsystematic in our center.

Abstract P4-16-02: Fertility preservation before neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: Final results of PRESAGE trial

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent form of cancer in young women. For these patients, breast cancer is generally more aggressive and chemotherapy is more often needed. Chemotherapy is commonly associated with amenorrhea and a decrease of ovarian reserve depending on the patient's age, agents and dose. Embryo, oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation are the three options to preserve fertility. Embryo and oocyte cryopreservation require controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). The use of COS is associated with an increase of estradiol levels. It led to develop protocols using Tamoxifen or Letrozole combined with FSH to protect patients of the potential deleterious effects of the COS. PRESAGE is the first French prospective multicenter feasibility study about fertility preservation by COS combined with Tamoxifen and oocyte +/- embryo cryopreservation before neoadjuvant (NAC) or adjuvant (AC) chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Material and method: Prospective multicenter study for patients of less than 40 years, with a breast cancer, for whom a treatment of NAC or AC is indicated and who wish to preserve their fertility. The main objective was to evaluate the feasibility of a COS associating Tamoxifen with FSH followed by an oocyte+/- embryo cryopreservation. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the average deadline prior to the beginning of the chemotherapy and the impact of the type of COS (depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, conventional-start or random-start COS protocol) on the number and the quality of oocytes harvested. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS statistical software version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC).

Results: 101 patients were included between February 2014 and July 2017 and 97 patients were eligible for statistical analysis. Mean age of the patients was 31,5 +/- 4 years, the half of them was nulliparous (53/97) and 23,7 % (23/97) were single. They presented mainly SBR II or III (91/96, 94,8 %) lesions, ER + (66/96, 68,7 %). 38 patients benefited from a NAC and 59 of an AC.

We have found a significant shorter care (time between the first oncologist's consultation and the beginning of the chemotherapy) according to the type of chemotherapy: 29,7 +/- 15,6 days in NAC group vs 45,2 +/- 21,5 days in AC group (p=0,003) with the same duration of ovarian stimulation in the two groups (10,5 +/-2 days).

The success rate of the COS procedure was 90,7 % (88/97) with no significant difference between the groups according to the type of COS (p = 0.06) or the type of chemotherapy (AC vs. NAC p= 0,3). In the 88 patients who had oocyte retrieval, the number of oocytes harvested per patient was 12,8 +/- 7,8 , the number of oocytes preserved was 9,7 +/- 6,1 and an IVF was performed in 12,5% of patients (11/88) with 5,1 +/- 3,1 embryos obtained. We have found no impact of the type of chemotherapy or the type of COS on the number of oocytes or embryos preserved.

Conclusion: with a high success rate (90,7%), our study suggests that COS with Tamoxifen and FSH is feasible before adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. We also show that COS procedure before neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be realized without increasing the time before introducing chemotherapy.

Citation Format: Bordes V, Palpacuer C, FRICK C, Leperlier F, Dezellus A, De Blay P, Delay F, Sauterey B, Augereau P, Duros S, Lefeuvre-Plesse C, Lavau S, Durand LM, Mouret MA, Gremeau AS, Campone M, Mirallie S. Fertility preservation before neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: Final results of PRESAGE trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-16-02.

Ovarian reserve and response to stimulation in women undergoing fertility preservation according to malignancy type

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does ovarian reserve and ovarian response to ovarian stimulation in women with cancer undergoing oocyte vitrification for fertility preservation vary according to the type of malignancy?

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study including 105 women aged between 18 and 40 years, who were referred for fertility preservation (oocyte vitrification) between 2013 and 2016. The women were divided into three groups: breast cancer, lymphoma or other cancer. All of them had been recently diagnosed with cancer, with gonadotoxic treatment scheduled, and had oocyte vitrification after ovarian stimulation with antagonist protocol.

RESULTS

Baseline antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone were no different between women with breast cancer, lymphoma or other cancer. The number of cancelled cycles for poor ovarian response was similar between the groups. The number of FSH units per mature oocyte, the number of mature oocytes (metaphase II) retrieved, and the oocyte maturity rate were not significantly different between the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

As the type of cancer does not seem to significantly affect ovarian reserve and ovarian response to ovarian stimulation, our results do not support the relevance of integrating this parameter when establishing ovarian stimulation protocol for oocyte vitrification cycle in women with cancer.

Proficiency in oocyte retrieval assessed by the learning curve cumulative summation test

The number of procedures required for a trainee to reach proficiency in oocyte retrieval and the criteria applied to define performance are not well defined. To evaluate the learning curve of oocyte retrieval, this study prospectively evaluated three trainees over 6 months. Oocyte retrieval was monitored by the learning curve-cumulative summation test (LC-CUSUM), a specific statistical tool designed to indicate when a predefined level of performance is reached. Oocytes were retrieved from one ovary by the trainee and from the second ovary by a senior operator in a randomized manner. The main outcome measure was the ratio of oocytes collected and follicles aspirated. A trainee's ratio of ≥ 80% of the senior operator's defined success. From 17 to >50 procedures were necessary for the trainees to reach the predefined level of performance. Cumulative summation tests implemented after the learning phase confirmed that performance was maintained. The present study confirms the large variability in acquiring proficiency for surgical procedures. It provides an exportable model for a quantitative tailored monitoring of the learning curve and for continuous monitoring of performance in oocyte retrieval.

[The use of GnRH antagonists in ovarian stimulation for intrauterine inseminations: is there any interest?]

The use of the GnRH antagonists during ovarian stimulation for intrauterine insemination is relatively recent. The primary aim was to improve the timing of the inseminations on working days. However, according to published data, the consequences on pregnancy rate remain uncertain. Moreover, the impact of this strategy on stimulation's parameters, specifically on the size of the follicle cohort, should be better assessed.