• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2010

Objective: Birth sex ratio (BSR) with human IVF-ET program is an interesting subject of social and scientific issue but very little information is available in Korea. This study was performed to assess the BSR with IVF-ET and to suggest the effective factors on the BSR. Methods: The national data from 1991~2008 were obtained from governmental Statistics Korea and the delivery data of human IVF-ET program on 2007 and 2008 were provided from the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs. The BSR were statistically analyzed according to methods of IVF and to transferred embryos from fresh or frozen-thawed cycles. Results: The BSRs of Korean populations were over 1.10 up to 2002, and then it declined and maintained to 1.06 as balance BSR on 2007 and 2008. In human IVF-ET program, the BSRs were 1.07 on 2007 and 1.06 on 2008, respectively. Conventional IVF on 2008 showed the highest BSR as 1.10, and ICSI the lowest on 2008 as 1.01. There was no significant difference of BSRs related to the methods of in vitro fertilization and the feature of transferred embryos. Conclusion: The BSR of Korea showed 1.06~1.07 as normal and balanced state on 2007 and 2008 both general populations and human IVF-ET program. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the BSR of human IVF-ET in Korea. There is a need to expand the further studies for national statistics and influencing factors on the BSR with IVF-ET.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.329-338
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• 2010

Objective: This study was carried out to know whether cryopreservation of sibling 2PN zygotes could increase the cumulative delivery rates in the patients who had less than 10 fertilized zygotes. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 138 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles with less than 10 fertilized zygotes during January 2003 to December 2007 in Cheil General Hospital. These cycles were divided into two groups. In Group I (n=86), all fertilized embryos were cultured to transfer on day 3 without cryopreserved embryos at the 2PN stage. In Group II (n=52), among fertilized zygotes, some sibling zygotes were frozen at the 2PN stage, the remainder were cultured to transfer. Clinical outcomes in fresh ET cycles and cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates after subsequent frozen-thawed (FT)-ET cycles were compared. Results: There were no significant differences in female mean age, number of retrieved oocytes and total fertilized embryos between two groups, Number of cultured embryos was significantly lower in Group II ($5.2{\pm}0.5$) than in Group I ($8.4{\pm}0.7$) (p<0.01). Also, number of transferred embryos was significantly lower in Group II ($3.3{\pm}0.6$) compared with Group I ($3.6{\pm}0.6$) (p<0.01). ${\beta}$-hCG positive rates and delivery rates (51.2 vs. 46.2 % and 41.9 vs. 34.6 %, respectively) after fresh ET were slightly higher in Group I than in Group II. However, the differences were not statistically significant. Also, the cumulative delivery rates after subsequent FT-ET cycles were not significantly different between Group I (48.8%) and Group II (50.0%). Conclusion: This study showed that cryopreservation of sibling 2PN zygotes from patients who had less than 10 zygotes in the fresh ET cycles did not increase cumulative delivery outcomes. But, it could provide an alternative choice for patients due to offering more chance for embryo transfers if pregnancy was failed in fresh IVF-ET cycles.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1986

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2011

Human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program is a general procedure for infertile couples since first successful delivery on 1978 in UK and Korean first on 1985. Recently in Korea, more than 42,000 cases per year of IVF-ET were performed and showed good pregnancy rates compared worldwide data. The human IVF-ET procedure use many consumables, such as ovum pick-up (OPU) needles, centrifuge tubes, culture dish, ICSI pipette, culture media and ET catheters. Major of these materials are supported by the global companies. Thus, Korean IVF-ET program might be placed unstable situation by global economical risks. These uncertain problems could be overcome by the domestic production of IVF-ET materials and consumables. Two times questionnaires for Korean clinicians and researchers about the domestic production were performed and analyzed. Many of them requested domestic OPU needles, ET catheters, culture media and ICSI pipettes under good quality control and quality assurance system. This trial may be contributed to industrialization and to global competence of Korean IVF-ET program. The results of this survey can be provide a fundamental base for development and production of domestic materials and consumables for human IVF-ET program.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2002

연구목적: 전반적인 자궁내막증이 체외수정시술에 미치는 영향을 알아보고, 특히 stage III-IV 자궁내막증을 갖는 불임환자 체외수정시술 결과에 대하여 알아보고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 1998년 9월부터 2001년 9월까지 진단복강경을 통해 자궁내막증으로 진단된 환자 중 체외수정시술을 시행 받은 91명 131주기를 대상으로 하였으며 이중 stage III-IV의 자궁내막증을 갖는 환자는 27명 34주기였다. 비교군은 이시기에 진단된 순수 난관원인으로 체외수정시술을 시행한 40명 56주기를 대상으로 하였다. 통계학적 검사는 Student's t-test와 Chi-square test를 시행하였고, p<0.05를 유의성이 있는 것으로 판정하였다. 결 과: 전체 자궁내막증 환자와 난관인자의 체외수정시술에서 두 군간의 나이는 $31.6{\pm}3.3$, $32.6{\pm}3.6$세로 비슷하였다. 채취된 난자의 수 ($10.3{\pm}6.6$ vs $11.7{\pm}5.1$), 성숙난자 수 ($7.4{\pm}4.7$ vs $7.7{\pm}4.9$), 수정율 ($70.2{\pm}32.4%$ vs $73.7{\pm}20.0%$), Good embryo quality rate (8세포 (G1+G2)를 2PN의 개수로 나눈 값) (32.6% vs 32.4%) 및 배아이식 수 ($4.6{\pm}1.4$ vs $4.8{\pm}1.1$)로 두 군간에 차이는 없었다. 또한 임상적 임신율의 경우도 각각 30.7%, 42.8%로 비슷하였다. 중등도 및 중증의 자궁내막증과 난관인자의 비교에서 성숙난자 및 채취된 난자의 개수는 각각 $8.8{\pm}4.9$, $7.7{\pm}3.9$, $11.3{\pm}7.0$, $11.7{\pm}5.1$개로 두 군간에 차이는 없었다. 수정율은 stage III와 IV 군에서 감소되는 경향을 보였으나 통계학적인 유의성은 없었다 ($66.2{\pm}30.0%$ vs $73.7{\pm}20.0%$). Good qulity embryo rate (GQER)는 stage III-IV 자궁내막증 환자군에서 22.0%로 순수 난관인자의 32.4%에 비하여 감소하는 경향을 보였으나 통계학적인 유의성은 없었다 (p=0.15, Chi-square test). 배아이식 수의 경우는 각각 $4.7{\pm}1.5$, $4.8{\pm}1.1$개로 차이가 없었다. 배아이식 주기당 임상적 임신율의 경우는 stage III-IV군에서 25.0% (8/32), 난관인자 군의 42.8% (24/56)로 통계학적인 유의성은 없었으나 (p=0.06, Chi-square test), 중등도 및 중증의 자궁내막증을 갖는 환자에서 임신율이 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 결 론: 체외수정시술시 자궁내막증이 임신율에 나쁜 영향을 미치지 않지만, 중등도 및 중증의 자궁 내막증을 갖는 불임환자의 체외수정시술에서는 임신율에 나쁜 영향을 끼칠 가능성이 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2010

Objective: To compare the respective pregnancy outcomes of cycles undergoing elective two cleavage-stage embryos transfer (2ET) and three cleavage-stage embryos transfer (3ET) in fresh in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program. Methods: We conducted a retrospective matched case control study that included 100 women with 2ET and 100 women with 3ET from January 2007 to June 2009. Subjects were matched for reproductive profiles and cycle characteristics. All of transferred embryos in both groups had good qualities. Pregnancy rates (PR), implantation rate, and multiple PR were compared. Results: Demographics, stimulation parameters and embryological data were comparable in both groups. Main pregnancy outcomes with 2ET and 3ET groups were not statistically different; implantation rate (41.0% vs. 35.3%), positive pregnancy rate (58.0% vs. 60.0%), clinical PR (55.0% vs. 59.0%), ongoing PR (51.0% vs. 55.0%), respectively. However, the 3ET group showed significantly higher multiple pregnancy and triplet pregnancy rates (30.9% vs. 50.8%, p=0.031; 1.8% vs. 11.9%, p=0.036, respectively). Conclusion: In women with favorable conditions and good quality embryos undergoing IVF, 2ET can get pregnancy outcomes comparable to those of 3ET and reduce multiple pregnancy (especially, triplet pregnancy).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2007

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of split insemination method in treatments for non-male factor infertility. Method: Laboratory and clinical data were collected from 505 cycles of split insemination during 2002$\sim$2005 in our center. The subjects were non-male factor infertility such as endometriosis, tubal, uterine, PCOS and idiopathic infertility without any sperm defects. Retrieved oocytes were randomly divided, and inseminated by conventional IVF or ICSI. Fertilized zygotes were cultured for 2$\sim$5 days to ET date, and surplus zygotes and embryos were frozen for subsequent frozen-thawed ET cycles. Clinical outcomes according to insemination method were compared by statistical analysis. Results: The overall fertilization per retrieved oocytes was significantly higher in ICSI than that of conventional IVF in sibling oocytes (62.5$\pm$22.3% vs 52.9$\pm$28.0%, p<0.01). Total fertilization failure occurred only in 2 of 505 cycles (0.4%) in split insemination cycles. Incidence of fertilization failure and poor fertilization rate less than 30% by ICSI were significantly lower than those of conventional IVF (1.1% and 7.5% vs 8.5% and 22.0%, p<0.01). Delivery rates after transfer of fresh and thawed embryos from split insemination cycles were 40.0% (185/462) and 35.0% (55/157), respectively. There was no significant difference in the implantation and delivery rates of ET with embryos from conventional IVF or ICSI. Conclusion: Taken together, the split insemination method improves poor fertilization rates resulting in successful clinical outcomes and thus could be used for non-male factor infertile couples in human ART program.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.57.2-58
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• 1999

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2009

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of oxytocin antagonist on the outcome of IVF/ICSI cycles in infertile patients with repeated failure of IVF/ICSI treatment. Method: Forty patients who had experienced two or more failures of IVF/ICSI treatment without low ovarian reserve, were recruited for this prospective randomized study. All patients received controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) using GnRH antagonist multidose protocol (MDP). For the intervention group, intravenous administration of atosiban (mixed vasopressin $V_{1A}$/oxytocin antagonist) started with a bolus dose 6.75 mg one hour before embryo transfer (ET) and continued at an infusion rate of 18 mg/hour. After ET, administered atosiban was reduced to 6 mg/hour and continued for 2 hours. The main efficacy endpoints were clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate. Results: Patients' characteristics were comparable in the intervention and control groups. COS parameters and IVF results were also similar. The number of uterine contractions for 3 minutes measured just before ET was significantly lower in the intervention group than control group ($3.5{\pm}1.4$ vs $8.7{\pm}2.2$, p<0.001). While there was no statistically significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate between control group and intervention group (20.0% and 40.0%, p=0.168), the implantation rate was significantly higher in the intervention group, with 16.9% (11/65) compared with 6.0% (4/67) in the control group (p=0.047). There were no differences in ectopic pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate between the two groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that administration of oxytocin antagonist during ET can improve the implantation rate probably by decreasing the frequency of uterine contractions in infertile patients undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1995.12a
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• pp.48.1-48.1
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• 1995