Faculty Bibliography

Superovulation procedures and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have provided the means for significant improvement in infertility care. Although generally safe, these procedures are associated with complications that, albeit rare, can have significant morbidity. Complications from superovulation include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, thromboembolism, and adnexal torsion. Complications from oocyte retrieval include infection, bleeding, bowel injury, and anesthetic complications. Early pregnancy complications from in vitro fertilization include multiple gestations, ectopic pregnancy, and heterotopic pregnancy. Stimulation, retrieval, and transfer techniques can be modified to minimize these risks and prevent complications. Further research in the field is needed to continue to improve the safety of superovulation and ART.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the potential to revolutionize many biomedical fields ranging from basic research to disease modeling, regenerative medicine, drug discovery and toxicity testing. A multitude of hESC lines have been derived worldwide since the first five lines by Thomson and colleagues 13 years ago, but many of these are poorly characterized, unavailable or do not represent desired traits, thus making them unsuitable for application purposes. In order to provide the scientific community with better options, we have derived twelve new hESC lines at New York University from discard genetically normal and abnormal embryos using the latest techniques. We examined the genetic status of the NYUES lines in detail as well as their molecular and cellular features and DNA fingerprinting profile. Furthermore, we differentiated our hESCs into the tissues most affected by a specific condition or into clinically desired cell types. To our knowledge, a number of characteristics of our hESCs have not previously been reported, e.g. mutation for alpha thalassemia X-linked mental retardation syndrome, linkage to conditions with a genetic component such as asthma or poor sperm morphology and novel combinations of ethnic backgrounds. Importantly, all of our undifferentiated euploid female lines tested to date did not show X chromosome inactivation, believed to result in superior potency. We continue to derive new hESC lines and add them to the NIH registry and other registries. This should facilitate the use of our hESCs and lead to advancements for patient-benefitting applications

PURPOSE: We determined whether the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in couples who previously underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles elsewhere could be decreased without compromising the pregnancy rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At our university in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer center we retrospectively analyzed the records of 149 fresh, in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles in patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection elsewhere and subsequent fertilization by insemination only (all insemination group) or half insemination and half intracytoplasmic sperm injection at our center. We compared fertilization, implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. RESULTS: The fertilization rate was 74% and 73% for the all insemination and the half intracytoplasmic sperm injection groups, respectively. In the latter group 69% of inseminated and 78% of intracytoplasmic sperm injected oocytes were fertilized. No cycle showed complete fertilization failure. No statistically significant difference in the live birth rate was found between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: More stringent criteria for intracytoplasmic sperm injection do not compromise the clinical outcome and reasonable fertilization can be achieved whether or not intracytoplasmic sperm injection is performed. Thus, although intracytoplasmic sperm injection is one of the greatest advances in our field, it is overused and should only be done for clinically proven indications

Oocyte cryopreservation still bears the experimental label. Remarkable innovation in this field has led to immense improvement in clinical outcomes and has even resulted in outcomes comparable to those achieved following fresh embryo transfers. Such success has prompted this centre to investigate outcomes of cryopreservation options (oocyte versus pronuclear zygote versus supernumerary day-5 blastocyst after fresh embryo transfer). This study retrospectively analysed 200 cryopreservation cycles which were divided into three groups according to cryopreservation option, which were all cultured to blastocyst-stage post thaw/warming from January 2005 to December 2008, and compared them with 400 fresh embryo transfer cycles from the same time period. When compared with fresh embryo transfer, frozen embryo transfers originating from previously cryopreserved oocytes or pronuclear zygotes resulted in similar implantation, pregnancy and live-birth rates; however, frozen embryo transfers originating from supernumerary day-5 blastocysts resulted in lower outcomes. Thus, oocyte and/or pronuclear zygote cryopreservation appear to be the most viable options for women desiring fertility preservation. Cryopreservation of supernumerary blastocysts may lead to a slightly lower live-birth rate since the best-quality blastocysts are generally transferred during the fresh embryo transfer attempt. Despite substantial advancements in oocyte freeze-thaw methods, allowing for much improved clinical outcomes, including live birth rates comparable to those achieved following fresh embryo transfer cycles, oocyte cryopreservation still bears the experimental label. Such recent reported success with cryopreservation has prompted us to investigate the clinical outcomes of our institution's currently available cryopreservation options (oocyte versus pronuclear zygote versus supernumerary day-5 blastocyst remaining after a fresh transfer). A total of 200 cryopreservation cycles were reviewed and subdivided according to cryopreservation optioninto three groups (oocyte versus pronuclear zygote versus day-5 blastocyst cryopreservation that were remaining after a fresh transfer), and compared with 400 fresh embryo transfer cycles from January 2005 to December 2008. When compared with fresh embryo transfer cycles, frozen embryo transfers originating from previously cryopreserved oocytes or pronuclear zygotes resulted in similar implantation, pregnancy and live birth rates. However, frozen embryo transfers originating from supernumerary day-5 blastocysts resulted in lower implantation and pregnancy rates when compared with controls. Thus, oocyte and/or pronuclear zygote cryopreservation appear to be the most viable options for women desiring fertility preservation as the outcomes from these treatments were comparable to those of fresh embryo transfer treatments. In addition, cryopreservation of supernumerary day-5 blastocysts may lead to a slightly lower live birth rate since the best-quality blastocysts are generally transferred during the fresh embryo transfer attempt

PURPOSE: To explore patient goals and quality of life (QOL) via a prospective registry and compare fertility preservation (FP) outcomes before, during, and after cancer therapy. METHODS: Of 35 patients entering the registry from 3/2008 to 3/2010, 29/35 completed the study survey and agreed to follow-up, and 31/35 completed treatment. Survey results and FP outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Most patients rated the impact of cancer treatment on fertility of highest importance at baseline and 1-year follow-up. QOL scores were overall positive at both intervals. Patients naive to any cancer treatment (n = 12) had more gametes frozen than patients with prior cancer treatment (n = 19) with no difference in age or gonadotropin dosage. For patients awaiting cancer treatment, the median time from consultation to oocyte retrieval was 25 days. Cancer treatment sequalae posed challenges to optimal FP outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Fertility preservation remains a significant issue for cancer patients. With early reproductive endocrinologist referral, cancer treatment delay is minimized and FP outcomes are optimized

In this case-control study of euthyroid first-cycle IVF patients >/= 38 years old with singleton baby, miscarriage, biochemical pregnancy, and no pregnancy outcomes from 2005-2008, we assayed frozen serum for autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and thyroid function at cycle start, trigger, and 4 and 5 weeks' gestation. AITD prevalence in older infertile women was similar across clinical outcomes, and although AITD was associated with a higher baseline TSH, TSH remained within acceptable ranges, suggesting that T(4) supplementation may not affect maternal outcomes in older euthyroid AITD patients through 5 weeks gestation