• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.184-191
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• 2005

Purpose : To evaluate the effect of herb-medicine on seminal parameters in male infertility patients. Methods : 25 patients were enrolled in this study. They were taken herb-medicine three times a day after meals for 2-5months. Semen analysis or CASA were taken on baseline and post-treatment. Results : The result were as follows : (1) No statistical differences in seminal volume were found. (2) The mean${\pm}$SD of sperm concentration was increased from $51.39{\pm}37.80{\times}10^6$ to $75.99{\pm}50.34{\times}10^6/ml$ alter treatment(P<0.05). (3) The mean${\pm}$SD of motility was increased from 20.22${\pm}$10.75% to 34.02${\pm}$21.36% after treatment(p<0.01). Conclusion : Herb-medicine can be effective on male infertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2017

Objective: Growing evidence suggests that increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is associated with female infertility caused by conditions such as polycystic ovarian disease, obesity, thyroid dysfunction, and endometriosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether any relationship exists between CVD and unexplained infertility. Methods: Sixty-five women with unexplained infertility and 65 fertile controls were enrolled in the study. CVD risk markers such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), insulin resistance (defined by the homeostasis model assessment ratio), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were assessed. Results: TG, TC, LDL, and hs-CRP levels were higher and HDL levels were lower in patients with unexplained infertility than in fertile controls (p<0.05 for all). Positive associations were found between unexplained infertility and TG, TC, LDL, and hs-CRP levels, and a negative correlation was found for HDL (p<0.05 for all). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TG, HDL, and hs-CRP were independent variables associated with unexplained infertility. Conclusion: Our study showed that women with unexplained infertility had an atherogenic lipid profile and elevated hs-CRP levels, suggesting a higher risk of developing CVD in the future. Further studies with larger groups are needed to investigate the nature of this link.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.283-294
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• 2021

A genetic etiology of male infertility is identified in fewer than 25% of infertile men, while 30% of infertile men lack a clear etiology, resulting in a diagnosis of idiopathic male infertility. Advances in reproductive genetics have provided insights into the mechanisms of male infertility, and a characterization of the genetic basis of male infertility may have broad implications for understanding the causes of infertility and determining the prognosis, optimal treatment, and management of couples. In a substantial proportion of patients with azoospermia, known genetic factors contribute to male infertility. Additionally, the number of identified genetic anomalies in other etiologies of male infertility is growing through advances in whole-genome amplification and next-generation sequencing. In this review, we present an up-to-date overview of the indications for appropriate genetic tests, summarize the characteristics of chromosomal and genetic diseases, and discuss the treatment of couples with genetic infertility by microdissection-testicular sperm extraction, personalized hormone therapy, and in vitro fertilization with pre-implantation genetic testing.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2003

Objective: To evaluate whether diagnostic laparoscopy before transcervical fallopian tube catheterization (TFTC) would improve tubal recanalization rate and pregnancy rate in patients with bilateral proximal tubal blockage in hysterosalpingogram (HSG). Methods: The retrospective study was performed in those underwent TFTC from January 1998 to December 2001. A total of 50 patients with bilateral proximal tubal blockage in HSG were subjected to TFTC sequentially using repeated HSG (rHSG), selective salpingography (SS) followed by tubal catheterization (TFTC). Each procedure was terminated once patency had been achieved without proceding to the next technique. In Group A patients (n=35, 64 tubes), diagnostic laparoscopy was performed before TFTC was taken to exclude the tube combined with peritubal adhesion or distal tubal pathology. In Group B, patients (n=15, 26 tubes) were performed TFTC without diagnostic laparoscopy. Results: There were significant difference in clinical pregnancy rate (45.7% vs 15.4%, p=0.034) but no differences were found in recanalization rate (75.0% vs 73.1%) and complication rate (8.6% vs 13.3%). Although there is no signficant difference, more tubes were canalized by SS, which means tubal obstruction rather than occlusion, in Group A (25.0% vs 5.3%, p=0.069). Conclusion: Diagnostic laparoscopy would be effective in the selection of tube for the relatively inexpensive and less invasive TFTC or patients in need of assisted reproductive technologies. With the tubes without combined peritubal adhesion or distal tubal pathology, pregnancy rate was significantly increased.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 1998

Implantation rates remain low following human in vitro fertilization (IVF). Suboptimal culture conditions may limit the ability of embryos to hatch as blastocysts, and artificial opening of the zona pellucida has been proposed as a means to promote subsequent hatching (assisted hatching). In this study, assisted hatching (AH) by zona drilling using acidic Tyrode's solution was performed in 320 patients, due to their age of more than 38 years (group A), the thick zona pellucida (group Z; $ZP\geq0.18{\mu}m$), and failures in implantation more than 3 times in previous IVF-ET trial (group P). This study was designed firstly, to study the effects of AH on the outcomes of IVF-ET according to the indications and secondly, to verify the appropriate application of AH. The results were as follows; 1. There was no difference in pregnancy rate between AH group (26.6%) and non-AH group (26.5%). 2. Assisted hatching (AH) showed significantly higher pregnancy rate of the patients with thick zona pellucid a than those of the patients with age factor and with the history of repeated implantation failure. But in the patients with age factor only, AH resulted in higher pregnancy rate. 3. Interestingly, the patients with complex factors including zona factor (Z: 33.9%; ZA: 30.4%; ZP: 31.6%; ZAP: 21.4%) showed higher pregnancy rates than other complex factors excluding zona factor (A: 24.4%, P: 0%; AP: 10.8%). From these results, AH is more helpful to the patients with thick zona pellucida rather than patients with older age and/or previous repeated implantation failure.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2011

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and convenience of a pen device for the self-administration of follitropin ${\beta}$ with a conventional syringe delivering follitropin ${\beta}$ solution in patients undergoing IVF-ET. Methods: GnRH agonist long protocol was used for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in all subjects. A total of 100 patients were randomized into the pen device group or the conventional syringe group on the first day of COS. Local tolerance reactions were assessed within 5 minutes, at 1 hour and at 3 hours after each injection. On the day of hCG injection, patients were asked to rate their overall pain and convenience experienced with self-injection on a visual anlaogue scale (VAS). Results: There were no differences in patients' characteristics between the two groups. The duration of COS was significantly shorter in the pen device group than in the conventional syringe group. Patients included in the pen device group needed a significantly smaller amount of follitropin ${\beta}$. However, no differences between the two groups were found in IVF results and pregnancy outcome. The incidence of local pain within 5 minutes, at 1 hour and at 3 hours after the injection was significantly lower in the pen device group. VAS scores indicated that injections using the pen device were significantly less painful and more convenient. Conclusion: The pen device for self-administration of follitropin ${\beta}$ is less painful, safer and more convenient for the patients, and can be more effective because of the shorter duration and smaller dose of follitropin ${\beta}$ when compared with the conventional syringe.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.41-46
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• 2020

Objectives : According to 2013 statistics, the primary infertility rate is 13.5%. The current situation is much worse than that reported, so it is even emerging as a social problem. The purpose of this study is to analyze the 5 cases of successful infertility treatment with herbal treatment and to give hope to the infertile couple to become pregnant and to suggest the possibility of herbal treatment in infertility treatment. Methods : We administered Jokyungjongok-tang gamibang as a herbal medicine and treated with acupuncture, moxibustion. Treatment was done once or twice a week. The herbal medicines were taken 30 minutes after meals and 3 times a day. While taking the herbal medicine, they were prohibited from eating flour, pork, liquor, tobacco and coffee. Patient status was assessed by consultation through pulse, tongue and abdominal diagnosis. The diagnosis of pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasonography at hospitals and the success of the treatment was judged based on healthy birth. Results : Patients had common features, such as lower abdominal pain, menstrual cramps, and blood clots during menstruation. Herbal medicine combined with acupuncture, moxibustion improved patients' overall fatigue and reduced the body's coldness. Since then, the dysmenorrhea and blood clots have decreased, and the digestion condition has improved. Therefore they became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby. Conclusion : Jokyungjongok-tang gamibang was effective in improving the body's coldness and uterine condition and was successful in pregnancy and helped to give birth to a healthy baby.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4203-4206
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the predictive role of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for invasion of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 127 women who were managed at our clinic for GTD. Of all patients, 8 showed invasion according to histological examination. The clinical parameters of patients with invasive GTD (Group 1; n=8) were compared with patients who showed no invasion (Group 2; n=119). All underwent a prior uterine evacuation and followed up by regular assessment of ${\beta}$-hCG titers. Results: Demographic and obstetric history and pre-evacuation hCG levels of the patients showed no statistically significantly difference between the groups (p>0.05). The mean gestational weeks (GW), size of the GTD and NLR levels were statistically significantly higher in the invasive GTD group (p<0.05). Correlations between invasion and gestational weeks, size of GTD, post-evacuation chemotherapy and NLR were evident. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that GW, size of GTD and NLR may be discriminative parameters in predicting invasion of GTD. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the predictive role of NLR in invasion of GTD. In conclusion, we think that pretreatment NLR can be used as a biomarker of invasion in GTD.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.131-134
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• 2013

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the addition of estradiol to luteal progesterone supplementation in GnRH antagonist cycles for infertile patients undergoing IVF/ICSI. Methods: One hundred and ten infertile patients, aged 28 to 39 years, were recruited for this prospective randomized study. They were randomly assigned to receive vaginal progesterone gel (Crinone) along with 4 mg estradiol valerate (group 1, n=55) or only Crinone (group 2, n=55) for luteal support. A GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol using recombinant human FSH was used for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in all of the subjects. The COS results and pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were compared. Results: Group 1 and 2 were comparable with respect to the patient characteristics. The COS and IVF results were also comparable between the two groups. There were no differences in the clinical pregnancy rate (PR) and multiple PR between the two groups. However, the embryo implantation rate were significantly higher in group 1 than that in group 2 (22.2% vs. 13.3%, p=0.035). The incidence of luteal vaginal bleeding (LVB) was significantly lower in group 1 (7.4% vs. 27.8%, p=0.010). Conclusion: The addition of estradiol to luteal progesterone supplementation in GnRH antagonist cycles reduces the incidence of LVB and increases the embryo implantation rate in infertile patients undergoing IVF/ICSI.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.203-210
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• 1995

Many oocytes fail to fertilize and cleave in vitro and many embryos transferred back to uterus fail to implant or maintain implantation. Chromosomal abnormalities in the male and female gametes may contribute to this loss. The higher incidence of meiotic chromosomal abnormalities bas been found in oocytes than in sperm. The wide range of incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in unfertilized oocytes has been reported in human IVF program (26-63%). However, factors affecting chromosomal abnormalities are not well understood. The present study has been conducted to investigate effects of the method for ovarian hyperstimulation, women's age, and the number of oocytes retrieved per patients on the incidence of numerical chromosomal abnormalities. Five hundred eighty four unfertilized metaphase II oocytes were subjected to chromosomal analysis. Included unfertilized oocytes were from 220 patients (mean $age=32.7{\pm}3.0$) and three hundred thirty oocytes were legible for analysis. Two hundred fourty five oocytes out of 330 (73.3%) were normal, while 38 (11.5%) were hyperploidy, 35 (10.6%) were hypoploidy, and 12 (3.6%) were diploidy. Significant difference in chromosomal abnormalities was not found between two patient groups stimulated by follicular stimulating hormone/human menopausal gonadotrophin (FSH/HMG) (25.9%) and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist/follicular stimulating hormone/human menopausal gonadotrophin (GnRHa/FSH/HMG) (28%). There was a tendency of increasing chromosomal abnormalities in unfertilized oocytes from older patients (<30 yrs: 20.3%, 30-34yrs: 26.9%, >34 yrs: 35.3%). The number of oocytes retrieved per patient had no effect the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities (1-5: 31. 4%, 6-10: 29.8%, 11-15: 28.6%, > 15: 16.5%). These results from the present study suggest that the chromosomal abnormalities observed in the unfertilized oocytes has not affected by the stimulation methods, patient's age, and the number of oocytes retrieved per patients.