• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.51-58
• /
• 1998

본 연구는 체외수정 프로그램에 참여하는 환자에 있어서 난자회수 이틀째의 자궁내막의 발달상태를 알아보기 위하여 pinopode의 발달상태, 에스트로젠 및 프로제스테론 수용체의 발현을 관찰하였다. 생검한 자궁내 막 조직 을 양분하여, 절반은 전사전자 현미경 (scanning electron microscope)으로 pinopode를 관찰하기 위하여 2.5% glutaraldehyde와 2% paraformaldehyde로 고정하였고, 나머지 절반은 dating 및 스테로이드 수용체의 면역조직화학적 측정 (immunocytochemistry)을 위하여 10% formalin으로 고정하였다. 모두 12명의 환자중 8명에서 pinopode가 관찰되었으며, pinopode 발달이 관찰되지 않은 환자들은 hCG 주사를 맞는 날의 estradiol (E2)의 혈중농도가 600 pg/mL이하로 낮았다. 본 연구의 결과로부터 자궁내막의 발달상태를 알아보기 위해서는 지금까지 일반적으로 사용되어 오던 dating이나 스테로이드 수용체의 면역조직화학적 측정법 이외에도 pinopode를 관찰함으로써 조금 더 정확한 진단을 할 수 있으리라고 사료되며, pinopode의 발달은 E2의 혈중농도와 관계가 있을 것으로 추정된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.29-32
• /
• 2014

Objective: To investigate the causes of amenorrhea in Korean women. Methods: Medical records from 1,212 women with amenorrhea who visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, between January 1989 and December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Amenorrhea was categorized as either primary or secondary. Results: Primary amenorrhea was identified in 132 of the patients (10.9%) and secondary amenorrhea in 1,080 (89.1%). The most frequent causes of primary amenorrhea were gonadal dysgenesis (28.0%, 37/132); Mayer-Rokitansky-K$\ddot{u}$ster-Hauser syndrome (20.0%, 27/132); and constitutional delay and androgen insensitivity syndrome (8.3%, 11/132; 8.3%, 11/132, respectively). Secondary amenorrhea was due to polycystic ovary syndrome (48.4%, 523/1,080); premature ovarian insufficiency (14.0%, 151/1,080); and nutrition-related hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (8.3%, 90/1,080). Conclusion: In this retrospective study, gonadal dysgenesis was the most common cause of primary amenorrhea and polycystic ovary syndrome was the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea in Korean women.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.187-192
• /
• 1997

The survival rate and motility recovered after cryopreservation of testicular spermatozoa in testicular sperm extraction (TESE)-ICSI program is low. The purpose of this study was to assess the availability and efficiency of mouse empty zona pellucida in cryopreserving human TESE spermatozoa. Mouse empty zonae pellucidae were obtained by extraction of cytoplasm with or without cytochalasin B treatment. Motile sperm from proven-fertile donor and two azoospermic patients after TESE were individually inserted into empty zona pellucida and cryopreserved. Two to five days after cyropreservation, the frozen sperm were thawed and the rates of recovery and motility were observed. The ooplasmic extraction rates of control (N=80) and cytochalasin B treated oocytes (N=80) were 94.0% and 96.2%, respectively (p>0.05). The post-thaw recovery rates of spermatozoa and rates of motility recovery of ejaculate (N=70) and testicular (N=70) sperm were 97.1%, 97.1% and 95.7%, 94.3%, respectively (p>0.05). The results of this study showed that the mouse zone pellucida is useful for cryostorage of single testicular spermatozoa.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.102-112
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to obtain reference data of traditional Korean medicine diagnostic methods for the practical usage in women infertility. Methods: The study involved 38 female patients of age 20-38 years that had diagnosed of infertility. All the subjects answered to pattern identification questionnaire and Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification (QSCC II). Pattern identification scores and constitution types have been analyzed with variables of infertility factors and age. Statistical analysis was performed by adopting descriptive and inferential tests. Results: In pattern identification questionnaire analysis, the patterns were observed in order of frequency: liver stasis; blood deficiency; kidney-yang deficiency; kidney-yin deficiency; damp-heat; blood stasis; and phlegm. The group, less than 35 years old, had the higher average score of liver stasis (p<0.05). Also, the group with tubal and peritoneal factors, had the higher average score of blood deficiency (p<0.05). In QSCC II analysis, So-yang type had the higher average score of liver stasis, kidney-yang deficiency, and kidney-yin deficiency. So-eum type had the higher average score of liver stasis, kidney-yang deficiency, kidney-yin deficiency, and blood deficiency. While, Tae-um type had the higher average score of liver stasis and phlegm. Conclusions: We would accumulate the clinical data for the practical usage of traditional Korean medicine diagnostic methods in women infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.181-184
• /
• 2016

The aim was to report a healthy live birth using re-vitrified-warmed cleavage-stage embryos derived from supernumerary warmed embryos after frozen embryo transfer (ET) in a patient with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). The case was a 39-year-old female with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome and adenomyosis, along with RIF. After ovarian hyperstimulation, 33 cumulus-oocyte complexes were retrieved and fertilized with conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Because of the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, 16 grade B and C embryos were vitrified. After 3 and 6 months, 3 and 4 B-C warmed embryos were transferred to the uterus, respectively. However, implantation did not take place. Ten months later, four embryos were warmed, two grade B 8-cell embryos were transferred, and two embryos were re-vitrified. One year later, the two re-vitrified cleavage-stage embryos were warmed, which resulted in a successful live birth. This finding showed that following first warming, it is feasible to refreeze supernumerary warmed embryos for subsequent ET in patients with a history of RIF.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.57-66
• /
• 2018

It has been estimated that approximately 15% of reproductive-age couples suffer from infertility. Male factors contribute to almost half of infertility cases, and in many patients the underlying cause of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is unknown. Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a role as a contributing factor to male infertility, and reactive oxygen species have been shown to impair sperm function and motility and to damage sperm membrane and DNA. Therefore, this review explored the evidence provided by studies published from 2002 to 2017 on the impact of oral antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, zinc, selenium, and pentoxifylline) on seminal fluid parameters in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Most of the studies were randomized controlled studies that investigated the effect of single or combined antioxidants and reported improvements in at least one semen parameter. The most noteworthy effect that was found was that the use of multiple antioxidants increased sperm motility and concentration. Nonetheless, there is a lack of agreement on the dose, the duration of treatment, and whether individual or combined oral antioxidants should be used. Therefore, the current review provides evidence supporting the use of oral antioxidants in the treatment of infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 1997

This study was carried to determine the possibility of finding motile spermatozoa and fertilization, pregnancy rate after testicular sperm extraction(TESE) with ICSI in obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermic patients. In 154 cases(132 patients), obstructive azoospermia was 77 cases and non-obstructive azoospermia was 77 cases. In obstructive azoospermia, patients generally showed normal spermatogenesis and included vas agenesis(n=8), multiple vas obstruction(n=7), epididymal obstruction (n=54). Total of 982 retrieved oocytes were obtained and 84.4% were injected. The fertilization rates with 2 PN and cleavage rate were 72.5% and 62.3%, respectively. 30 pregnancies(38.9%) were achieved and the ongoing pregnancies were 22 cases (28.6%). In non-obstructive azoospermia, patients showed hypospermatogenesis(n=49), maturation arrest(n=4), Sertoli cell only syndrome (n=24). The various stages of spermatogenic cell could be retrieved by TESE and could be reached normal fertilization and embryo development with ICSI. Total of 1072 retrieved oocytes obtained and 80.2% were injected. The fertilization rates with 2 PN and cleavage rate were 52.8% and 68.9%, respectively. 22 pregnancies(30.1%) were achieved and the ongoing pregnancies were 19 cases(26.0%). Conclusively, the combination of TESE with ICSI using testicular spermatozoa can achieve normal fertilization and pregnancy rate and effective method in obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermic patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.157-164
• /
• 1988

We found reports of only about 20 cases of well documented ejaculatory duct obstruction presenting with infertility and treated by TUR. While infertility caused by ejaculatory duct obstruction is rare accurate diagnosis by vasoseminal vesiculography is important, since these obstructions may be treatable. In our 29 patients undergoing vasoseminal vesiculography for 1 year to demonstrate obstruction site in seminal tract the ejaculatory duct obstruction was found in 6 patients. The intial methods of treament were TUR of the ejaculatory duct in 2 patients, forceful lavage of ejaculatory duct through the vas deferens in 4 patients. One patient's wife who had undergone TUR of the ejaculatory duct delivered a normal female baby 15 months postoperatively. In one patient who had undergone forceful lavage of ejaculatory duct semen analysis returns to normal level except the motility. When initial methods of treatment fail to get the normal semen we have the plan to perform TUR of the ejaculatory duct or aspiration of seminal fluid in the seminal vesicle under the control of the ultrasonography for AIH according to the level of ejaculatory duct obstruction. Our report suggests that ejaculatory obstruction has been underdiagnosed and should receive more attention by urologist.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.63-68
• /
• 2024

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the impact of previous delivery mode on pregnancy outcomes in patients with secondary infertility after frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Methods: This prospective observational study included 140 patients experiencing secondary infertility. Of these, 70 patients had a previous cesarean delivery (CD), while the remaining 70 patients had a previous normal vaginal delivery (NVD). The primary outcome was the implantation rate. The secondary outcomes included rates of clinical pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy. Results: The comparison of all fertility outcomes between the two groups revealed no statistically significant differences. The implantation rate was 40.4% in the CD group and 41.7% in the NVD group (p=0.842). The clinical pregnancy rate was 50% in the CD group and 49.3% in the NVD group (p=0.932), while the chemical pregnancy rate was 14.6% in the CD group and 19% in the NVD group (p=0.591). The miscarriage rates in the CD and NVD groups were 20% and 17.6%, respectively (p=0.803). One case of tubal ectopic pregnancy occurred in the NVD group (1.4%). Conclusion: The mode of prior delivery did not significantly impact pregnancy outcomes following frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.132-137
• /
• 2012

Empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is a condition in which no oocytes are retrieved after an apparently adequate ovarian response to stimulation and meticulous follicular aspiration. EFS can be classified into 'genuine' and 'false' types according to hCG levels. It is a rare condition of obscure etiology. The existence of genuine EFS has been questioned and is still controversial. The limitation around EFS is that the definition of EFS is obscure. Management of patients with EFS is a challenge to physicians. No single treatment is known to be universally effective. However, patients should be adequately informed regarding the importance of correct hCG administration because improper hCG administration is a common and preventable cause of EFS. EFS is a syndrome that deserves additional study because such investigation could lead to a further understanding of ovarian biology and infertility.