Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume:16 Issue: 3, Jul-Sep 2015

Fertility in the male is dependent on the proper production of sperm cells. This process, called spermatogenesis is very complex and involves the synchronization of numerous factors. The presence of pro–inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF–α), interleukin–1 alpha (IL–1 α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL–1 β) cytokines in the male reproductive tract (testis, epididymis and sperm) may have certain physiological functions. However, when the levels of these cytokines are higher than normal, as seen in conditions of inflammation, they become very harmful to sperm production. Moreover, inflammation is also associated with oxidative stress and the latter is well known to impair sperm function. Epidemiological studies regarding male infertility have revealed that more and more infertile men suffer from acute or chronic inflammation of the genitourinary tract, which often occurs without any symptoms. The inflammatory reactions within the male genital tract are inevitably connected with oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, especially in sperm, is harmful because it damages sperm DNA and causes apoptosis in sperm. This article reviewed the suggested mechanisms and contribution of inflammation to male infertility. In addition, the review was further strengthened by discussing how inflammation affects both fertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Recent developments and newly-discovered methods for infertility treatment including in vitro fertilization and third party reproduction raise many questions and challenges with different ethical, legal, sociological and psychological dimensions. In Islamic countries, despite great developments in using this technology, the questions concerned with recognition of IVF methods and third party reproduction and legalization of this method are still the challenging ones. The approach of a few Shiite clerics to this issue has facilitated the legalisation of infertility treatment in Iran. The Iranian Parliament, with reference to Shiite clerics’ opinions (Fatwa), enacted the Act concerning Embryo Donation to Infertile Couples and its bylaw which can be considered as a successful example of legalization of third party reproduction in an Islamic country. The aforementioned Act permits embryo donation through artificial insemination from legally married couples to infertile couples. However, many of the legal aspects of this event are not specified in this Act and in many cases it added several uncertainties. This uncertainty, especially regarding the rights and duties of recipients and the child, causes important problems which generate more concerns. This article aimed to review the advantages and flaws of the Act. It is believed that the enactment of the aforementioned Act is an important step but an insufficient measure in this field. Important issues have been left unanswered and unclear in this Act which should be considered by legislators in any future revision of it.

Cryopreservation of mammalian ovaries has been reported with different levels of success. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue may be a potential alternative for treatment of infertility and many attempts have been done to improve the efficiency of ovarian cryopreservation. The objective of the present study was to compare the direct cover vitrification (DCV) with ethylene glycol (EG), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and EG plus DMSO. Eighty five mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and their ovaries were cryopreserved in the presence of 5% EG or DMSO alone or as mixture, 10% EG or DMSO alone or as mixture and a group with ascending concentrations of cryoprotectants. After toxicity testing and vitrification warming, the ovaries were fixed for histological and ultrastructural studies. In addition, the viability of mechanically isolated follicles was studied by trypan blue staining. All data were compared by ANOVA (p<0.05). Ovarian tissues frozen in EG plus DMSO in ascending concentrations retained a higher percentage of morphologically normal and or viable follicles than tissues frozen in 10 M EG plus DMSO or in either concentration of EG and DMSO alone (p<0.001). Ultrastructural analysis of ovarian tissues frozen in ascending concentrations of EG plus DMSO showed that these follicles were well preserved and it was very similar to the control group. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue in EG plus DMSO is the most effective method for preserving the structural integrity of follicles within the ovary.

Since increased LH in the early follicular phase in PCOS patients especially in GnRH antagonist protocol could be associated with reduced oocyte quality and pregnancy and impared implantation. The current study was conducted to determine ART outcomes in GnRH antagonist protocol (flexible) and long GnRH agonist protocol and compare them with adding GnRH antagonist in GnRH antagonist (flexible) protocol during early follicular phase in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing ICSI. In this randomized clinical trial, 150 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing ICSI were enrolled from 2012 to 2014 and randomly assigned to receive either GnRH antagonist protocol during early and late follicular phase or GnRH antagonist protocol (flexible) or long GnRH agonist protocol. The clinical and laboratory pregnancy in three groups was determined and compared. In this context, the chi-square and Fisher's exact test and ANOVA were used for data analysis. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. There was no statistically significant difference with respect to chemical pregnancy and clinical pregnancy between the three groups. Also, other indices such as number and quality of oocytes and embryos were alike. Totally, according to our results, GnRH antagonist protocol during early and late follicular phase and GnRH antagonist protocol (flexible) and long GnRH agonist protocol in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing ICSI are similarly effective and use of each one based on patients’ condition and physicians’ opinion could be considered.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of Progesterone/ Estradiol (P4/E2) ratio as a predictive tool for clinical pregnancy in ART cycles with a premature progesterone rise of >1.5 ng/ml on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger. Retrospective analysis was done on 569 fresh embryo transfer cycles from January 2011 to December 2012 at the infertility unit of a tertiary care hospital. Age, BMI, number of cycles and number of clinical pregnancies have been considered. The overall clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was 42.8% (244/569). The clinical pregnancy rate in the 36 cycles with progesterone (P4) level >1.5 ng/ml was significantly lower than the 533 cycles with normal p4 ≤1.5 ng/ml (22.2% vs. 44.2%; p=0.0092). The 36 cycles with progesterone level >1.5 ng/ml were divided into subgroups of P4/E2 >1 (n=20) and P4/E2 ≤1 (n=16). The 20 cycles with P4/E2 >1 and P4 >1.5 ng/ml had a significantly lower pregnancy rate than the cycles with P4 ≤1.5 ng/ml (15% vs. 42.8%; p=0.0103). The 15 cycles with P4/E2 ≤1 and P4 >1.5 ng/ml had a similar pregnancy rate as the cycles with P4 ≤1.5 ng/ml. A premature progesterone elevation in ART cycles is possibly associated with lower clinical pregnancy rates; this adverse impact of elevated progesterone seems to be limited mainly to a subgroup with an elevated P4/E2 ratio >1.

Difficulty in cervical dilatation is a hard situation during the procedure of diagnostic dilatation and curettage in some cases. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of vaginal misoprostol for cervical priming before diagnostic dilatation and curettage. In this study 56 women were selected as the candidates for dilatation and curettage. The study was double blind and was performed for two parallel groups. One misoprostol tablet (200 μg) was administered in posterior fornix of vagina 2-4 hr before operation in 28 patients whereas in other 28 patients, placebo (VitB6) was used. Then, the two groups were compared according to the patency of the cervix measured by No. 5 Hegar dilators and the duration of dilatation and curettage procedure as well. Chi-square test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparing two groups, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Before the procedure of dilatation and curettage, the patency of the cervix was measured by passing Hegar dilator number 5 through the cervical canal in fifteen (53.6%) patients in the misoprostol group and 8 patients (28.6%) in the placebo group (p=0.05) which their difference was statistically significant. The effect of misoprostol was not significant in nulliparous women and postmenopausal period either. Vaginal misoprostol is a useful drug for ripening and dilating the cervix. It also facilitates the procedure of dilatation and curettage in premenopausal and multiparous women. Misoprostol was less effective in nulliparous women and in postmenopausal period.

Thalassemic disorders are the most prevalent monogenic hereditary diseases around the world caused by decreased and altered synthesis or agenesis in one or more globin chains. Families who have a child with thalassemia major face a myriad of significant problems. Hormozgan province ranks second with thalassemic patients in Iran. Therefore, current research is aimed to analyze the reproductive behavior of such families in the southern province of Iran. In this descriptive study 190 mothers of patients suffering from thalassemia major were included. The reproductive behavior of mothers was investigated by a questionnaire regarding the number of thalassemic infants born after their first child with thalassemia major. About 23% of these mothers had more than 1 child with major thalassemia. The findings showed that the reasons for conception among these mothers were to have a healthy child (64.2%) and to have a boy (20%). In about 92.6% of mothers CVS test was not performed. This study showed that awaring mothers and families regarding the prevention of birth of afflicted infants and provision of accessible diagnostic facilities can reduce the number of children with thalassemia major.

Translocations involving X chromosome and an autosome are rather rare due to associated infertility in men and subfertility in women. X chromosome translocations are frequently associated with primary or secondary amenorrhea. In this report, a case of primary amenorrhea with a de novo balanced reciprocal translocation was presented between chromosomes X and 1. A 24 year-old proposita with the complaint of primary amenorrhea was found to have hypoplastic uterus and streak gonads with a normal hormonal profile. Chromosomal analysis of the proband revealed a de novo translocation of 46, X, t(X; 1) (q21; p32) chromosomal constitution. Parental karyotypes of the proband showed normal karyotype. The observed translocation between chromosome X and 1 in the patient suggest either the disruption of a critical gene expression due to position effect or deletion of one or more essential genes in the disrupted long arm of the affected X chromosome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from our ethnic group.

Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy in women worldwide. Vaginal bleeding and vaginal discharge are the most common symptoms. Although ascites has been reported in cases with cervical cancer, it is due to other causes such as ovarian metastasis. A 78-year-old diabetic woman who presented with ascites and abdominopelvic mass was misdiagnosed with ovarian cancer and treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. However, pathology confirmed locally advanced cervical cancer stage IV in this patient. She was discharged from the hospital three weeks after surgery with no serious complications. Considering all signs and symptoms to reach a verdict would reduce such malpractices and consequently lead to select the best management and treatment.

The Editorial Board of the Journal of Reproduction and Infertility (JRI) has recently confirmed that the manuscript titled: "Correlation of Sperm Associated Antigen 11 (SPAG11) and its Isoforms with Varicocele in Rats", written by Hong Tian et al, published in volume 13, issue 4, pp. 241-247 has been published previously in Chinese. Therefore this paper is retracted, considering the fact that it is contrary to the journal’s policy. We regret the time that peer reviewers and others spent for evaluation of this paper and hope that there will be no repetition of this problems in the future.