Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manizha Shekibi, Sophea Heng, Guiying Nie
Summary: The development of endometrial receptivity is crucial for successful embryo implantation and pregnancy initiation. Recent studies have focused on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of endometrial receptivity. This review provides an up-to-date knowledge of the miRNAs identified in humans and mice that may play a functional role in the establishment of receptivity. The findings suggest that miRNAs could be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for improving endometrial receptivity in human fertility treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Paul Pirtea, Dominique de Ziegler, Jean Marc Ayoubi
Summary: A review found that assessing endometrial receptivity is difficult in natural conception due to adenomyosis and endometriosis affecting fertility. However, recent data from assisted reproductive technology has allowed the study of endometrial receptivity in affected women, challenging previous beliefs about the disorders' effects on embryo implantation. The existence of altered receptivity in assisted reproductive technology is now being questioned, as frozen euploid blastocyst transfers in estradiol and progesterone cycles have shown unchanged outcomes in both disorders.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sophea Heng, Nirukshi Samarajeewa, Asma Aberkane, Wafaa Essahib, Hilde Van de Velde, Maxine Scelwyn, M. Louise Hull, Beverley Vollenhoven, Luk J. Rombauts, Guiying Nie
Summary: This study found that PCX inhibits embryo implantation in vitro and in IVF patients. High levels of PCX significantly inhibited blastocyst attachment and penetration. The presence of PCX in the luminal epithelium was negatively associated with the success rate of clinical pregnancy.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Zhaojuan Hou, Aihua He, Qiong Zhang, Nenghui Liu, Donge Liu, Yumei Li, Bin Xu, Yonggang Wang, Shuyi Li, Fen Tian, Tingting Liao, Yeqing Zhang, Jianyun Cao, Exiang Cao, Yanping Li
Summary: Endometrial aspiration immediately preceding embryo transfer does not affect IVF/vitrified-warmed embryo transfer outcomes, but it may improve the implantation rate of vitrified-warmed blastocysts.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yifan Chu, Luyao Wang, Jiaxin Xie, Shulin Yang, Si Liu, Dan Hu, Jing Yue
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the impact of growth hormone (GH) on IVF/ICSI outcomes and endometrial receptivity in patients undergoing GnRH-ant protocol with fresh embryo transfer. It will also explore the possible mechanism of GH in improving pregnancy outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Amber M. Klimczak, Nola S. Herlihy, Cynthia S. Scott, Brent M. Hanson, Julia G. Kim, Shiny Titus, Emre Seli, Richard Thomas Scott
Summary: The study found that increased endometrial BCL6 expression was not significantly associated with live birth in a normal responder IVF population.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Antonio Stanziano, Francesco Paolo Bianchi, Anna Maria Caringella, Clementina Cantatore, Antonio D'Amato, Angela Vitti, Anna Cortone, Amerigo Vitagliano, Giuseppe D'Amato
Summary: This prospective observational study evaluated the correlation between endometrial thickness (EMT) and strain (ESR) in women undergoing IVF, and found that women with EMT < 7 mm had significantly higher ESR and lower pregnancy rates. Low ESR values were correlated with high VFI values, and EMT >= 7 mm could be predicted by low ESR values.
BMC MEDICAL IMAGING
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jone Ibanez-Perez, Maria Diaz-Nunez, Marc Clos-Garcia, Lucia Lainz, Maria Iglesias, Miren Diez-Zapirain, Aintzane Rabanal, Laura Barcena, Monika Gonzalez, Juan J. Lozano, Urko M. Marigorta, Esperanza Gonzalez, Felix Royo, Ana M. Aransay, Nerea Subiran, Roberto Matorras, Juan Manuel Falcon-Perez
Summary: Free and extracellular vesicle-associated miRNAs from human endometrial fluid can be used as non-invasive biomarkers for detecting implantative endometrium. By analyzing miRNAs from the fluid, this technique could potentially improve implantation rates in assisted reproductive technology.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caitlin R. Sacha, Irene Souter, Paige L. Williams, Jorge E. Chavarro, Jennifer Ford, Shruthi Mahalingaiah, Patricia K. Donahoe, Russ Hauser, David Pepin, Lidia Minguez-Alarcon
Summary: This study found a negative association between urinary concentrations of certain phthalate metabolites and follicular fluid anti-Mullerian hormone concentrations in women undergoing fertility treatment, which may have implications for antral follicle recruitment and fertility treatment outcomes.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Narjes Noori, Faezeh Ghaemdoust, Marzieh Ghasemi, Mahsa Liavaly, Narjes Keikha, Javid Dehghan Haghighi
Summary: This study found that local endometrial scratching did not have significant effects on improving the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and reducing the embryo abortion rate in patients undergoing their first IVF cycle.
JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Justin Tan, Maria Cerrillo, Maria Cruz, Gustavo Nardini Cecchino, Juan Antonio Garcia-Velasco
Summary: This study compared IVF outcomes in women with endometriosis undergoing fresh ET versus deferred ET after cryopreservation, finding no significant differences in patient characteristics and response to stimulation between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and miscarriage rate between fresh and deferred ET groups. Prospective studies are needed to further validate these findings and improve IVF protocols for women with endometriosis.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tiantian Li, Ellen M. Greenblatt, Michelle EyunJung Shin, Theodore J. Brown, Crystal Chan
Summary: This study optimized a method to isolate extracellular vesicles (EVs) from uterine fluid and characterized small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) from the EVs. The study identified receptivity-associated transcripts in both natural and COS cycles and discovered sncRNAs with differential expression in nonpregnant patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment, with hsa-miR-362-3p being most robustly overexpressed in nonpregnant patients.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jigal Haas, Robert F. Casper
Summary: This brief review examines the investigation of the endometrial cavity before embryo transfer using various techniques, including hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy, and ultrasound imaging. These investigative tools are currently controversial and require large prospective controlled trials for validation. Retained embryos during embryo transfer do not appear to have a negative impact on pregnancy outcome, and physical activity immediately after embryo transfer has no impact on pregnancy outcome, according to consistent data.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Giulia Bonavina, Hugh S. Taylor
Summary: Endometriosis-associated infertility involves multiple factors, making diagnosis and treatment challenging due to the systemic effects and heterogeneity of the disease. Treatment should be individualized, and exploration of innovative non-invasive diagnostic methods is important.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Henrieta Papuchova, Malene Hviid Saxtorph, Trine Hallager, Ida E. Jepsen, Jens O. Eriksen, Gry Persson, Tina Funck, Iben Weisdorf, Nicholas S. Macklon, Lise Grupe Larsen, Thomas Vauvert F. Hviid
Summary: The study found that HLA-F protein is expressed in mid-secretory endometrium and its expression levels are influenced by HLA-F gene polymorphisms. HLA-F is correlated with immune cell infiltration and plasma progesterone concentrations. However, women with recurrent implantation failure show differences in HLA-F protein levels compared to women undergoing their first IVF treatment.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bruno Toson, Carlos Simon, Inmaculada Moreno
Summary: Changes in the female genital tract microbiome are related to gynecological and obstetrical pathologies, but the influence of endometrial bacterial communities on human reproduction is still debated. Understanding the impact of microbiome on fertility allows personalized treatment and improves clinical outcomes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Wanxin Wang, Felipe Vilella, Pilar Alama, Inmaculada Moreno, Marco Mignardi, Alina Isakova, Wenying Pan, Carlos Simon, Stephen R. Quake
Summary: The monthly remodeling, shedding, and regeneration of the endometrium are driven by gene expression changes. There is significant heterogeneity among cell types in the endometrium, with different cell types undergoing dramatic state changes and rapid differentiation during the menstrual cycle.
OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL SURVEY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tiffany Stankewicz, Maria Ruiz-Alonso, Marc Soler-Ibanez, Carlos Simon, Diana Valbuena
Summary: The study found that there is no difference in clinical outcomes between day-5 and day-6 blastocysts when transferred during the optimal endometrial receptivity as determined by ERA. This suggests that both day-5 and day-6 blastocysts have similar clinical potential.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Carlos Simon
Summary: The application of transcriptomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing technologies provide important foundations for personalized reproductive care. These technologies accurately identify the receptive period of the maternal endometrium for embryo implantation, as well as the association between microbial colonization in the endometrium and reproductive outcomes.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Inmaculada Moreno, Iolanda Garcia-Grau, David Perez-Villaroya, Marta Gonzalez-Monfort, Mustafa Bahceci, Marcelo J. Barrionuevo, Sagiri Taguchi, Elena Puente, Michael Dimattina, Mei Wei Lim, Georgina Meneghini, Mira Aubuchon, Mark Leondires, Alexandra Izquierdo, Martina Perez-Olgiati, Alejandro Chavez, Ken Seethram, Davide Bau, Carlos Gomez, Diana Valbuena, Felipe Vilella, Carlos Simon
Summary: The composition of the endometrial microbiota is associated with reproductive outcomes, and can serve as a useful biomarker for predicting reproductive outcome.
Letter
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Carlos Simon, Maria Ruiz-Alonso, Carlos Gomez, Diana Valbuena
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Javier Gonzalez Fernandez, Javier Moncayo Arlandi, Ana Ochando, Carlos Simon, Felipe Vilella
Summary: Embryo-maternal cross-talk is crucial for embryo development and implantation, involving secreted factors and extracellular vesicles (EVs). EV cargo influences target cells and prepares them for reproductive stages like embryo development and implantation. Recent research suggests that EVs and their cargo can be used as a powerful, non-invasive tool to assess the quality of embryos and maternal tissues in assisted reproduction treatments. This review focuses on intercellular cross-talk between embryos and maternal tissues, examining human biology and signaling mechanisms identified in animal models.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Stephanie Bissiere, Blake Hernandez, Carmen Rubio, Carlos Simon, Nicolas Plachta
Summary: Preimplantation development is the stage of human development that can be observed and studied in real time outside the body. This is possible because human embryos can be created using in vitro fertilization and cultured until the blastocyst stage. This article focuses on the cellular and morphogenetic processes that transform a 1-cell embryo into a blastocyst ready for implantation. While most of our understanding of preimplantation human development comes from studying mouse embryos, this article discusses the potential differences in humans and highlights new approaches for studying this process using noninvasive imaging and genetic technologies.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Laura Girardi, Matteo Figliuzzi, Maurizio Poli, Munevver Serdarogullari, Cristina Patassini, Silvia Caroselli, Ilaria Pergher, Francesco Cogo, Onder Coban, Fazilet Kubra Boynukalin, Mustafa Bahceci, Roser Navarro, Carmen Rubio, Necati Findikli, Carlos Simon, Antonio Capalbo
Summary: How well can whole chromosome copy number analysis from a single trophectoderm biopsy predict true mosaicism configurations in human blastocysts? When a single trophectoderm biopsy is tested, wide mosaicism thresholds increase false positive calls compared to more stringent ones without improving true detection rate, while binary classification provides the highest diagnostic accuracy.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
S. Caroselli, M. Figliuzzi, L. Picchetta, F. Cogo, P. Zambon, I Pergher, L. Girardi, C. Patassini, M. Poli, D. Bakalova, D. Cimadomo, N. Findikli, O. Coban, M. Serdarogullari, F. Favero, S. Bortolato, A. Anastasi, F. Capodanno, A. Gallinelli, F. Brancati, L. Rienzi, F. M. Ubaldi, J. Jimenez-Almazan, D. Blesa-Jarque, J. Miravet-Valenciano, C. Rubio, C. Simon, A. Capalbo
Summary: This study developed an integrated genetic testing platform that accurately detects chromosomal abnormalities, including ploidy level and microdeletions, expanding the clinical utility of preimplantation genetic testing.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jose Ramon Hernandez Mora, Claudia Buhigas, Stephen Clark, Raquel Del Gallego Bonilla, Dagne Daskeviciute, Ana Monteagudo-Sanchez, Maria Eugenia Poo-Llanillo, Jose Vicente Medrano, Carlos Simon, Marcos Meseguer, Gavin Kelsey, David Monk
Summary: During pre-implantation stages, stored material in mammalian development promotes epigenetic profile erasure and genome activation. Through single-cell methylome and transcriptome sequencing, we analyzed the expression and methylation in oocytes and human embryos, identifying key events in epigenetic reprogramming and genome activation. Failure to achieve these milestones negatively impacts the developmental potential of embryos and may affect the success of assisted reproductive cycles.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Domingo-Muelas, Robin M. Skory, Adam A. Moverley, Goli Ardestani, Oz Pomp, Carmen Rubio, Piotr Tetlak, Blake Hernandez, Eric A. Rhon-Calderon, Luis Navarro-Sanchez, Carmen M. Garcia-Pascual, Stephanie Bissiere, Marisa S. Bartolomei, Denny Sakkas, Carlos Simon, Nicolas Plachta
Summary: Combining fluorescent dyes with live imaging, this study reveals the dynamics of early development in human embryos, including chromosome segregation, compaction, polarization, blastocyst formation, and hatching. The study also shows that blastocyst expansion mechanically affects trophectoderm cells, causing nuclear budding and DNA shedding into the cytoplasm. Moreover, the study suggests that aneuploidies in human embryos may not only result from chromosome segregation errors during mitosis, but also from nuclear DNA shedding.
Review
Physiology
Inmaculada Moreno, Antonio Capalbo, Aymara Mas, Tamara Garrido-Gomez, Beatriz Roson, Maurizio Poli, Eva Dimitriadis, Xavier Santamaria, Felipe Vilella, Carlos Simon
Summary: Pregnancy is established during the periconceptional period from blastocyst attachment to placenta formation, significantly impacting the health of both the child and the mother. Advances in understanding the periconceptional space, including the preimplantation human embryo and maternal endometrium, offer opportunities for preventative interventions. This review discusses the role of maternal decidua, the maternal-embryonic interface, the endometrial microbiome, and the myometrium in pregnancy health during the periconceptional period.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)