Delayed pregnancy detection and return to fertility with extended levonorgestrel-containing oral contraceptives: A real world setting cohort study.

Purpose: As part of the European risk management plan of a 91-day extended levonorgestrel-containing combined oral contraceptive (COC ), a study was performed to assess its safety. This analysis was conducted to examine delayed pregnancy detection and return to fertility with extended combined oral contraceptives (COC).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in new users of 91-day COC or 28-day COC within a US-based healthcare claims database from 2006 to 2017.

Inequalities in assisted reproduction technology utilisation between the G20 countries.

Large global inequalities in assisted reproduction technology (ART) utilisation have existed ever since the introduction of ART. The reasons for these inequalities are multifactorial and include national wealth and affordability, pronatalist policies, regulatory differences in provision, and sociocultural components such as racial, gender and educational inequalities. Examining ART utilisation across the largest world economies (G20 countries) in 2016 (the most recent year with publically available data) reveals significant inequality, which is highly correlated to gross domestic product per capita, a measure of national wealth, and to provision of government funding and/or insurance coverage for fertilisation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Long-term safety of extended levonorgestrel-containing oral contraceptives in the United States.

Objectives: To compare the safety profile of Seasonique, a 91-day levonorgestrel-containing combined oral contraceptive (COC), to 28-day COC regarding the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE).

Study Design: A new user cohort study was conducted in a US health care database from 2006 to 2017. Each 91-day COC treatment episode in females was matched to up to four 28-day COC treatment episodes by propensity score.

Is there a correlation between total fertility rate, utilization of assisted reproduction technology, and national wealth in Europe?

Aim: To explore the relationships between total fertility rate (TFR), utilization of assisted reproduction technology (ART), and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Europe.

Materials And Methods: Analysis of total ART cycles obtained from the latest European IVF-Monitoring Consortium (EIM) report for 2016. TFR, GDP and population size for that year were found in relevant World Bank data documents.

Safety of Ovaleap® (Follitropin Alfa) in Infertile Women Undergoing Superovulation for Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Multinational Comparative, Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Ovaleap (follitropin alfa), a recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone, is a biosimilar medicinal product to Gonal-f and is used for ovarian stimulation. The main objective of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of Ovaleap compared to Gonal-f in one treatment cycle in routine clinical practice.

Methods: Safety of Ovaleap Follitropin alfa in Infertile women undergoing superovulation for Assisted reproductive technologies (SOFIA) was a prospective cohort study conducted in six European countries.

Real world utilization of 91 day extended levonorgestrel-containing combined oral contraceptives in Europe: a multinational database study.

Objective: As part of the risk management plan in Europe, this study was conducted to characterize drug utilization patterns of Seasonique, a 91 day extended levonorgestrel-containing combined oral contraceptive (COC).

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in France, Italy and Belgium using electronic medical record databases obtained from general practitioners (GPs) in all participating countries and gynecologists in France from 2015 to 2018. The study population included women receiving ≥1 prescription of 91 day COC during the study period.

Correlation between gross domestic product, utilization of in vitro fertilization, and pregnancy success rate across the world.

IVF is now a wide spread procedure globally, and currently 65 countries report annually all or part of their IVF/ICSI cycles, from which the International Committee Monitoring progress in Assisted Reproduction Technology (ICMART) published its report. There is considerable variation in the utilization (number of cycles per population) globally. The objectives of this study were to assess whether utilization is related to national wealth, presented as gross domestic product (GDP), and whether the GDP has any effect on success in IVF treatment, mainly delivery and clinical pregnancy rates.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and IVF treatment.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential fatty acids, derived mostly from fish oil, that have a significant anti-inflammatory effect. Data from animal studies support their role in the reproductive mechanism, and recent human studies suggest a positive effect on sperm quality and natural conception. Their general role in human fertility, and specifically in IVF treatment, however, is not clear.

The patient burden of opioid-induced constipation: New insights from a large, multinational survey in five European countries.

Background: Despite its high prevalence, opioid-induced constipation (OIC) remains under-recognised and undertreated, and its true impact on wellbeing and quality of life (QoL) may be underestimated.

Methods: A quantitative, questionnaire-based international survey was conducted.

Results: Weak-opioid users appeared as bothered by constipation as strong-opioid users (38% vs 40%, respectively;  = 0.

Systematic review of the clinical efficacy of vaginal progesterone for luteal phase support in assisted reproductive technology cycles.

Vaginal progesterone via capsule, gel or tablet is the most common route for luteal phase support (LPS) in Europe. Although there is a wealth of data comparing products used at other stages of assisted reproductive technology cycles, there is a lack of systematically identified evidence comparing the wide range of vaginal progesterone products. This systematic review queried the MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases on 30 June 2016 to identify head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy or safety of vaginal progesterone preparations (Crinone, Cyclogest, Lutigest or Utrogestan Vaginal) for LPS in assisted reproductive technology cycles.

A large Northern European observational study of follitropin alpha filled-by-mass pre-filled pen.

This prospective observational post-marketing survey aimed at studying the efficacy and convenience of the follitropin alpha filled-by-mass (FbM) pre-filled pen for patients in routine use. These data were analysed among 3196 non-selected treatment cycles and couples in seven Northern European countries. Valuable information was also obtained regarding the routine assisted reproduction treatment protocols used in Northern Europe.

Assessment of ovarian reserve: is there still a role for ovarian biopsy in the light of new data?

Ovarian reserve depends on the number of primordial follicles in the ovarian cortex. It was suggested that determining the follicular density directly by obtaining ovarian biopsy might be more accurate than current indirect biochemical and ultrasonic tests, especially for women in the later stage of their reproductive life. It might also be important and beneficial for young patients having chemotherapy for malignant disease in whom the ovarian tissue should be considered for reimplantation after recovery.

Monitoring of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles by ultrasound versus by ultrasound and hormonal levels: a prospective, multicenter, randomized study.

Objective: To determine whether cycle monitoring using both serum E(2) and ultrasound findings yields superior clinical pregnancy rates during IVF-embryo transfer (ET) compared to monitoring with ultrasound alone.

Design: Prospective, randomized, multicenter, patient-blinded study.

Setting: Four assisted conception units in the United Kingdom.

Relationship of baseline ovarian volume to ovarian response in World Health Organization II anovulatory patients who underwent ovulation induction with gonadotropins.

Objective: To assess whether ovarian volume of World Health Organization II anovulatory patients in the early follicular phase predicts the response to ovulation induction with gonadotropins.

Design: Retrospective data analysis of two prospective, randomized, multicenter studies.

Setting: Clinical development unit of biotechnology company.