OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between meal consumption frequency and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes among female patients with infertility.
METHODS: This cohort study was conducted from February 2022 to January 2024 at Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Overall, 101 female patients with infertility issues and without a history of stroke, heart disease, cancer, or type 1 or type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study. The factors extracted from the questionnaire included demographic information, meal consumption frequency before ART and at 20 years of age, smoking status, and alcohol consumption status. Data on other factors, including age, body mass index, anti-Müllerian hormone level, and parity history, were collected from medical records. The assessed clinical outcomes included number of transplanted embryos, clinical pregnancies, ongoing pregnancies, live births, and miscarriages.
RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounding factors, including age, smoking status, alcohol consumption status, body mass index, anti-Müllerian hormone level, and parity history, a multivariate analysis of ART outcomes was performed. Patients were categorized into groups based on the frequency of weekly consumption of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Patients who consumed breakfast 6-7 times a week were significantly more likely to have higher rates of live birth and lower rates of miscarriage in pregnancies conceived through ART.
CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of breakfast 6-7 times a week before ART was associated with increased success rates following ART. This highlights the potential importance of regular breakfast consumption for optimizing ART outcomes.

Background/Objectives: The study presented in this paper seeks to examine how personality traits and depressive symptoms, influenced by the fear of COVID-19, interact in infertile couples, who are on the verge of commencing treatments with assisted reproductive technology (ART). The purpose of this observational study was to explore the relationship between personality traits in infertile couples and the occurrence of depressive symptoms, taking into account the mediating effect of COVID-19 fear. Methods: The study sample consisted of 108 women and 71 men (N = 179), all of whom had received an infertility diagnosis and expressed a desire to begin ART treatment at a Sicilian ART center; they were subsequently recruited. The Personality Inventory (PI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Fear of COVID (FCV-19S) were used for data collection. Results: The FCV-19S demonstrates a significant positive correlation with both neuroticism (r = 0.25, p = 0.001) and agreeableness (r = 0.19, p = 0.012). In addition, there is a significant correlation between FCV-19S (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) and depression symptoms. The mediation analysis reveals that neuroticism is a predictor of fear of COVID-19 (β = 1.77, p = 0.001) and depression (β = 0.22, p = 0.002). Additionally, the fear of COVID-19 significantly influences (β = 0.12, p < 0.001) depression. Conclusions: This study found that neuroticism and agreeableness are positively linked to the fear of COVID-19, and women displayed notable mild mood disorders. Neuroticism predicted both depression and fear of COVID-19, while fear of COVID-19 predicted depressive symptoms. However, the total efficacy of the mediation model was not significant, thereby suggesting that the variables do not fully explain this model.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of twin pregnancies is on the rise worldwide due to assisted reproductive technologies. Cervical dilatation is a frequent complication and can be considered a cause of premature births in twin pregnancies. In vitro fertilization (IVF) twins are more prone to preterm delivery. Routine cervical cerclage with normal cervical length is not recommended in twins, but studies were not done on IVF twins. So, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of routine transvaginal cerclage in twin IVF pregnancies with normal cervical length on maternofetal outcome.
METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at a maternity hospital in eastern India from January 2016 to December 2019 with over 21800 deliveries. Two groups were taken, cases were those IVF twins with normal cervical length in whom cervical cerclage was done as they have referred to our hospital from the IVF centers for cerclage and in control no-cervical cerclage as they are referred from other IVF centers where cerclage was not a routine protocol. We have excluded cerclage done for history, ultrasound indicated, uterine anomalies, and monochorionic twins. Fifteen participants were recruited in both cases and controls.
RESULTS: In our study 2 (6.66%), 4 (13%), and 26 (86%) were IVF twins delivered at a gestational age of <28 weeks, 28-32 weeks, and 32-37 weeks, respectively. The mean age of participants, mean gestation age at delivery, and birth weight in cases and control were 35.27 ± 5.98 years (min: 23; max: 45), 32.40 ± 5.54 years (min: 25; max: 44); 34 weeks 2 days ± 3.28 (min: 31; max: 37), 33 weeks 5 days ± 1.66 (min: 25; max: 37); 1961.33 ± 340 gram, 1899.33 ± 437.48 gram, respectively with no statistical significant difference (p = 0.186, p = 1, p = 0.668, respectively) Conclusion: Routine transvaginal cerclage is not effective in twin IVF pregnancies with normal cervical length for preventing preterm births. IVF twin women usually present at a late age and their birth weight are also low.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most widespread viruses worldwide and a major cause of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous studies have revealed the impacts of HBV infection on fertility. An increasing number of infertile couples with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection choose assisted reproductive technology (ART) to meet their fertility needs. Despite the high prevalence of HBV, the effects of HBV infection on assisted reproduction treatment remain limited and contradictory. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the effect of HBV infection on fertility and discuss its effects on pregnancy outcomes, vertical transmission, pregnancy complications, and viral activity during ART treatment. METHODS: We conducted a literature search in PubMed for studies on HBV infection and ART published from 1996 to 2022. RESULTS: HBV infection negatively affected fertility in both males and females. Existing research shows that HBV infection may increase the risk of pregnancy complications in couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. The impact of HBV infection on the pregnancy outcomes of ART is still controversial. Current evidence does not support that ART increases the risk of vertical transmission of HBV, while relevant studies are limited. With the development of ART, the risk of HBV reactivation (HBVr) is increasing, especially due to the wide application of immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Regular HBV infection screening and HBVr risk stratification and management are essential to prevent HBVr during ART. The determination of optimal strategy and timing of prophylactic anti-HBV therapy during ART still needs further investigation.
乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）是世界范围内传播最广泛的病毒之一，也是肝炎、肝硬化和肝细胞癌的主要病因。既往研究已经揭示了HBV感染对生育能力的影响。近年来越来越多患有乙肝的不孕夫妇选择通过辅助生殖技术（ART）来满足他们的生育需求。尽管HBV感染率很高，但目前其感染对辅助生殖治疗影响的研究仍较为有限且存在矛盾。本研究旨在全面概述HBV感染对生育能力的影响，并讨论其对妊娠结局、垂直传播、妊娠并发症和ART治疗期间病毒活性的影响。我们通过在PubMed上检索1996年至2022年间发表的关于HBV和ART的研究，发现HBV感染对男性和女性的生育能力均存在负面的影响。现有研究表明，在接受ART治疗的夫妇中，HBV感染可能会增加妊娠并发症的风险。HBV感染对ART妊娠结局的影响目前仍然存在争议，且现有的证据不支持ART增加HBV垂直传播风险的观点，同时相关研究较为有限。随着ART的发展，特别是免疫抑制疗法的广泛应用，HBV再激活（HBVr）的风险正在增加。综上所述，定期进行HBV感染筛查和HBVr风险分层及管理对预防ART期间的HBVr至关重要，但ART期间预防性抗HBV治疗的最佳策略和时机的确定仍需进一步研究。.

Human embryonic aneuploidy may represent one of the final frontiers in assisted reproductive technology, primarily secondary to oocyte aneuploidy. Mammalian oocytes possess unique characteristics predisposing them to much higher rates of aneuploidy than sperm or most somatic cells. Some of these characteristics are age-independent, whereas others result from reproductive aging and environmental toxicity. A detailed understanding of these properties may lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools designed to detect and prevent oocyte and embryonic aneuploidy to overcome this ultimate barrier to success in assisted reproductive technology.

The Endometrial Receptivity Array (ERA) is a revolutionary molecular diagnostic tool that determines the optimal timing for embryo transfer by analyzing the gene expression profile of endometrial tissue. This comprehensive review examines the significance and application of ERA in euploid embryo transfer cycles, where the implantation of embryos with the correct number of chromosomes is critical for achieving successful pregnancy outcomes. This review underscores its role in enhancing implantation rates and reducing pregnancy loss by assessing the evolution, methodology, clinical applications, efficacy, and challenges associated with ERA. Key findings highlight ERA\'s superior accuracy in identifying the window of implantation compared to traditional methods, resulting in improved clinical outcomes in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. Despite its benefits, the review acknowledges challenges such as cost, accessibility, and the need for standardization. Recommendations for clinical practice emphasize the integration of ERA into routine ART protocols, comprehensive patient counseling, and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration. The review outlines promising prospects, including technological advancements to make ERA more cost-effective, the development of refined gene expression profiles, and the potential integration with other emerging ART technologies. Further research directions include long-term studies on the outcomes of ERA-guided pregnancies and exploring its application in cases of recurrent implantation failure and unexplained infertility. Overall, ERA represents a significant advancement in reproductive medicine, offering a personalized approach to embryo transfer timing that can significantly improve the success rates of euploid embryo transfers.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has revolutionized the field of reproductive medicine, offering hope to millions of individuals and couples facing infertility challenges. In recent years, integrating robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising avenue for advancing ART. This comprehensive review explores the transformative impact of robotics and AI on ART, examining recent advancements, technological applications, clinical implications, and ethical considerations. Robotics enables precise and minimally invasive procedures, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of various reproductive techniques such as sperm retrieval, embryo handling, and surgical interventions. Meanwhile, AI offers predictive analytics, personalized treatment protocols, and decision support systems tailored to individual patient needs, optimizing treatment outcomes and expanding access to reproductive care. Key findings highlight the significant advancements made possible by robotics and AI in ART, including improved success rates, reduced risks, and enhanced patient experience. However, challenges such as regulatory considerations, adoption barriers, and ethical dilemmas must be addressed to realize the full potential of these technologies. The transformative impact of robotics and AI on ART is profound, shaping the future of fertility treatment and family-building worldwide. Continued research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and investment are essential to further harness the potential of robotics and AI in advancing reproductive medicine and ensuring accessible, equitable, and effective care for all individuals and couples.

In ART,1 optimized sperm preparation could separate spermatozoa from potentially harmful germs and cells, improving sperm parameters. This study compares the outcome of a routinely used two-layer density gradient with a three-layer protocol in terms of sperm and microbiological parameters. According to the results, a three-layer protocol was more effective.

Ovarian fibrosis, characterized by the excessive proliferation of ovarian fibroblasts and the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), serves as one of the primary causes of ovarian dysfunction. Despite the critical role of ovarian fibrosis in maintaining the normal physiological function of the mammalian ovaries, research on this condition has been greatly underestimated, which leads to a lack of clinical treatment options for ovarian dysfunction caused by fibrosis. This review synthesizes recent research on the molecular mechanisms of ovarian fibrosis, encompassing TGF-β, extracellular matrix, inflammation, and other profibrotic factors contributing to abnormal ovarian fibrosis. Additionally, we summarize current treatment approaches for ovarian dysfunction targeting ovarian fibrosis, including antifibrotic drugs, stem cell transplantation, and exosomal therapies. The purpose of this review is to summarize the research progress on ovarian fibrosis and to propose potential therapeutic strategies targeting ovarian fibrosis for the treatment of ovarian dysfunction.

Since the inception of in vitro fertilization (IVF), monitoring of controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) has traditionally involved numerous appointments for ultrasound and laboratory testing to guide medication use and dosing, determine trigger timing, and allow for measures to reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Recent advances in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART) have called into question the timing and frequency of COS monitoring appointments, as discussed in this commentary.