Objective: to assess the role of endometrial scratching prior to ovulation induction to improve live birth rate in recurrent first trimester pregnancy loss. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 126 patients with recurrent first trimester spontaneous miscarriage with no obvious cause who were assigned into two groups; the study group (n=62) who underwent endometrial scratching once...

To optimize success rates of IVF, selection of the most viable embryo(s) for transfer has always been essential, as embryos that are cryopreserved are thought to have a reduced chance of implanting after thawing. Recent developments challenge this concept. Evidence is accumulating that all embryos can now be cryopreserved and transferred in subsequent cycles without impairing pregnancy rates or...

Births According to provisional reports, an estimated 323,000 births occurred in the United States during June 1997. This was a 6-percent increase from the provisional number of births reported for June 1996 (304,000). The birth rate, 14.7 live births per 1,000 population, was 5 percent higher than the rate of 14.0 for June 1996. The fertility rate, 65.7 live births per 1,000 women aged 15–44 y...

BACKGROUND The most common complication of IVF is multiple pregnancy, which occurs in 25% of pregnancies following the transfer of two embryos. Single embryo transfer can minimize twin pregnancies but could also lower live birth rates. Our aim was to perform a systematic review of randomized trials to determine the effectiveness of single versus double embryo transfer. METHODS Cochrane Collab...

The purpose of this study was to determine which strategy of embryo transfer has a better trade-off in live birth delivery rate versus multiple pregnancy considering patient acceptance: elective single embryo transfer (eSET) or elective double embryo transfer (eDET). In all, 199 women <38 years of age undergoing their first IVF treatment in a private centre were included in a prospective open-l...

Births According to provisional reports, an estimated 307,000 births occurred in the United States during March 1997. This was a decrease of 8 percent from the provisional number of births reported for March 1996 (334,000). The birth rate, 13.6 live births per 1,000 population, was 9 percent lower than the rate of 14.9 for March 1996. The fertility rate, 60.7 live births per 1,000 women ages 15...

BACKGROUND After spontaneous conception, the rate of miscarriage is more common in multiple rather than singleton pregnancies. However, the incidence of miscarriage is lower in in-vitro fertilization twin versus singleton pregnancies. Most patients have little understanding of pregnancy outcomes once they achieve a positive pregnancy test. This study investigated the relationship between multip...

BACKGROUND Transfer of several embryos after IVF results in a high multiple birth rate associated with increased morbidity and high costs for the neonatal care. In a previous randomized trial we demonstrated that a single embryo transfer (SET) strategy, including one fresh single embryo transfer and, if no live birth, one additional frozen-thawed SET, resulted in a live-birth rate that was not ...

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety of semen washing with intrauterine insemination (SW-IUI) for achieving pregnancy when the man is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected and the woman is HIV negative. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a retrospective analysis of 635 HIV-discordant couples enrolled in a SW-IUI program and followed up 367 Italian women. We computed pr...