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We evaluated the insulin response to a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and in vitro insulin binding to erythrocytes (RBC) in 26 women from 3 groups: Group NW, normal women (n = 11); Group DS, women (n = 9) with elevated serum DHEAS concentrations, greater than 400 micrograms/dl (greater than 10.84 mumol/L); and Group IR, women (n = 6) with elevated basal plasma insulin concentrations (IRI). There was a significant linear correlation between the area under the insulin response curve (IRI-AUC) and serum testosterone (T) (r = 0.78, p = 0.0001). Using stepwise multiple linear regression, IRI-AUC was characterized as a function of both serum T and DHEAS; positively with T and negatively with DHEAS. In vitro (n = 17), there was a positive correlation between RBC-insulin binding and serum DHEAS (r = 0.54, p = 0.029) and a negative correlation between RBC-binding and T (r = -0.57, p = 0.017). We conclude that DHEAS may enhance insulin binding and action and that DHEAS and T have divergent functional relationships with IRI. DHEAS and T may therefore exert opposing effects on insulin secretion and action.

STUDY QUESTIONIs the ongoing pregnancy rate with a new aqueous formulation of subcutaneous progesterone (Prolutex®) non-inferior to vaginal progesterone (Endometrin®) when used for luteal phase support of in vitro fertilization?SUMMARY ANSWERIn the per-protocol (PP) population, the ongoing pregnancy rates per oocyte retrieval at 12 weeks of gestation were comparable between Prolutex and Endometrin (41.6 versus 44.4%), with a difference between groups of −2.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) −9.7, 4.2), consistent with the non-inferiority of subcutaneous progesterone for luteal phase support.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYLuteal phase support has been clearly demonstrated to improve pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Because of the increased risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome associated with the use of hCG, progesterone has become the treatment of choice for luteal phase support.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONThis prospective, open-label, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, multicentre, two-arm, non-inferiority study was performed at eight fertility clinics. A total of 800 women, aged 18–42 years, with a BMI of ≤30 kg/m2, with <3 prior completed assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles, exhibiting baseline (Days 2–3) FSH of ≤15 IU/L and undergoing IVF at 8 centres (seven private, one academic) in the USA, were enrolled from January 2009 through June 2011.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSIn total, 800 women undergoing IVF were randomized after retrieval of at least three oocytes to an aqueous preparation of progesterone administered subcutaneously (25 mg daily) or vaginal progesterone (100 mg bid daily). Randomization was performed to enrol 100 patients at each site using a randomization list that was generated with Statistical Analysis Software (SAS®). If a viable pregnancy occurred, progesterone treatment was continued up to 12 weeks of gestation.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEUsing a PP analysis, which included all patients who received an embryo transfer (Prolutex = 392; Endometrin = 390), the ongoing pregnancy rate per retrieval for subcutaneous versus vaginal progesterone was 41.6 versus 44.4%, with a difference between groups of −2.8% (95% CI −9.7, 4.2), consistent with the non-inferiority of subcutaneous progesterone for luteal phase support. In addition, rates of initial positive β-hCG (56.4% subcutaneous versus 59.0% vaginal; 95% CI −9.5, 4.3), clinical intrauterine pregnancy with fetal cardiac activity (42.6 versus 46.4%; 95% CI −10.8, 3.2), implantation defined as number of gestational sacs divided by number of embryos transferred (33.2 versus 35.1%; 95% CI −7.6, 4.0), live birth (41.1 versus 43.1%; 95% CI −8.9, 4.9) and take-home baby (41.1 versus 42.6%; 95% CI −8.4, 5.4) were comparable. Both formulations were well-tolerated, with no difference in serious adverse events. Analysis with the intention-to-treat population also demonstrated no difference for any outcomes between the treatment groups.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONThe conclusions are limited to th...

Objective: To evaluate the impact of segmental mosaicism on pregnancy outcomes from the transfer of embryos previously designated as euploid. Design: Retrospective cohort analysis. Setting: Single, private, high-volume fertility center. Patient(s): Three hundred and twenty-seven women who underwent 377 frozen single euploid embryo transfers. Intervention(s): Trophectoderm biopsy of embryos cultured to the blastocyst stage, where all transferred embryos were designated euploid by high-density oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH); after ascertaining all outcomes, revaluation of aCGH results for evidence of segmental mosaicism (defined as mosaicism on a portion of a chromosome). Main Outcome Measure(s): Live-birth rate and spontaneous abortion rate. Result(s): Of the 377 embryos transferred, 357 were euploid with no mosaicism, and 20 embryos had segmental mosaicism. Segmental mosaics had a statistically significantly lower live-birth rate compared with euploid controls (30.0% vs. 53.8%). When controlling for age and day of Trophectoderm biopsy, the odds for live birth after transfer of segmental mosaics were reduced by 66% compared with euploid controls (0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.92). The spontaneous abortion rate was statistically significantly higher after transfer of segmental mosaics compared with euploid controls (40.0% vs. 18.2%). Conclusion(s): Blastocysts with segmental mosaicism have reduced reproductive potential but retain the ability to result in live birth. These results support reporting segmental mosaicism to optimize selection of a single embryo for transfer that will maximize the chance of life birth. (Fertil Steril Ò 2019;111:69-76. Ó2018 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.) El resumen está disponible en Español al final del artículo.