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US Fertility Research Division

2022 Publications

Discover the latest publications from USF-affiliated authors.

Jump to section: ASRM 2022  |  PCRS 2022

updated October 2022

Medical journal articles from USF-affiliated authors

Karine Matevossian, DO; Anne Rivelli, MA, MPH; Meike L. Uhler, MD. AJOG Clin Rep. Nov 2022.

A survey was emailed to medical trainees across a broad range of medical specialties to gather information about US residents and fellows’ fertility knowledge and their views on family planning. The responses from those who completed the survey suggest that women physicians and Ob/Gyn trainees do not have greater knowledge of basic female fertility than males or those in other specialties. Female trainees were less likely to be married or have children and more likely to report postponing childbearing.

Jonah Bardos, MD, Jacyln Kwal, MD, Wayne Caswell, MS, Samad Jahandideh, PhD, Melissa Stratton, BS, Michael Tucker, PhD, Alan Decherney, MD, Kate Devine, MD, Micah Hill, DO, Jeanne E. O’Brien, MD, MSc. Accepted, Fertil Steril. 2022.

This retrospective study gathered data from embryos of donor oocytes that underwent trophectoderm biopsy and PGT-A from four different laboratories to investigate variation in euploid blastocyst rate and live birth rate across different laboratories when controlling for blastocyst quality. Results from the study suggest that there are differences in euploid blastocyst rate and live birth rates for a young and healthy population between laboratories, suggesting that not all PGT-A laboratories are comparable.

Akers A, New EP, Plosker S, Silva CP, Sprague R, Imudia AN. Oocyte Retrieval in Asymptomatic Patients Positive for SARS-CoV-2. Case Rep Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Aug 12;2022:3107747. doi: 10.1155/2022/3107747. PMID: 35990707; PMCID: PMC9391171.

COVID-19 has created an additional barrier for women who wish to or are currently undergoing fertility treatment. Fertility centers should address asymptomatic, COVID-19 positive patients on a case-by-case basis in order to ensure safety to center staff and the patient, while also mitigating the dangers associated with cycle cancellation. This study is a discussion of two case studies where women underwent oocyte retrievals and were asymptomatic but tested positive for COVID-19. In both special cases, the risks of canceling the cycles were heavily considered by practice physicians and risk management, and extra precautions were taken to ensure no medical staff were also infected.

Siegel DR, Sheeder J, Kramer W, Roeca C. Are donor-conceived people willing to use donors themselves? Insights from individuals conceived via donor-assisted reproduction. Hum Reprod. 2022 Aug 25;37(9):2087-2094. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deac169. PMID: 35906918.

Utilizing a web-based survey that was distributed to users of the Sibling Donor Registry, this study found that 40.2% of people who were conceived using donor gametes would consider using donor gametes themselves and 24.6% were undecided. Those who were undecided or had already used donor gametes tended to be younger, and less likely to be married or identify as female than those who would not consider donor gametes.

Fanton M, Nutting V, Rothman A, Maeder-York P, Hariton E, Barash O, Weckstein L, Sakkas D, Copperman AB, Loewke K. An interpretable machine learning model for individualized gonadotrophin starting dose selection during ovarian stimulation. Reprod Biomed Online. 2022 Jul 28:S1472-6483(22)00498-9. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.07.010. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36096871.

A machine learning model was developed using de-identified, electronic medical record data from three IVF clinics to determine the best starting dose of FSH during ovarian stimulation per individual. This tool uses historical FSH dosing and clinical outcomes as a guideline for new patients starting ovarian stimulation and may help standardize care across fertility practices.

Devine K, Dolitsky S, Ludwin I, Ludwin A. Modern assessment of the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes in the era of high-efficacy assisted reproductive technology. Fertil Steril. 2022 Jul;118(1):19-28. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.05.020. PMID: 35725118; PMCID: PMC9348809.

Prior to embryo transfer, assessment of the fallopian tubes and uterine cavity is vital to determining if a woman’s anatomy is compliant with pregnancy. This article discusses more patient-friendly alternatives to diagnostic imaging, in particular, various modalities of ultrasound, for women who are noninfertile and undergoing embryo transfer.

Jesam J, Jeria F, Nunez D, Pardo L, Varel S, Mondion M, Pi JE. Técnicas de reproducción asistida en personas del mismo sexo y solas por opción: realidad en Chile 2021; Assisted reproduction techniques in people of the same sex and alone by option: Reality in Chile 2021. Rev Chil Obstet Ginecol. 2022 Jun 04; 87(1):62-67. doi: 10.24875/RECHOG.21000028.

This manuscript discusses the changing makeup of households and families in Chile as sexual and gender diversity continue to grow and their access to assisted reproduction techniques. Legislation and policies have continued to evolve to allow this diversification, but further policies and legislation are still needed to ensure all people have access to assisted reproduction technologies.

Hickey M, Hunter MS, Santoro N, Ussher J. Normalising menopause. BMJ. 2022 Jun 15;377:e069369. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2021-069369. PMID: 35705221.

Topics included in this review include: there is no universal menopause experience, poor support during menopauses exacerbates the negativity that surrounds menopause, the current medical field fuels negative expectations regarding menopause, and how to create a positive menopause experience.

Combs A, Kimes MJ, Jaslow CR, Hayes H, O’Leary LB, Levy MJ, Kutteh WH. Perception of pain and the oocyte donor experience: a retrospective analysis of commercial US donors. Reprod Biomed Online. 2022 Jun 22:S1472-6483(22)00421-7. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.06.013. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36058796.

A survey that queried pain during egg donation was emailed to women who had undergone egg donation. Results from the survey allowed the study team to conclude that this group of women had been made aware of the risk of pain they would experience beforehand, and that those who had reported being informed of the risk of pain were less likely to report higher levels of pain. They also found that unexpected levels of pain were related to low donor satisfaction.

Doyle N, Combs JC, Jahandideh S, Wilkinson V, Devine K, O’Brien JE. Live birth after transfer of a single euploid vitrified-warmed blastocyst according to standard timing vs. timing as recommended by endometrial receptivity analysis. Fertil Steril. 2022 Aug;118(2):314-321. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.05.013. Epub 2022 Jun 13. PMID: 35710597; PMCID: PMC9329263.

Endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA) is an add-on tool used in the fertility practice to find the optimal timing of egg implantation into the endometrium during the menstrual cycle. This study found that in a pool of patients with previously unsuccessful frozen embryo transfers, live birth outcomes did not differ when ERA results deemed the endometrium receptive or nonreceptive. Patients who used ERA and those who underwent standard protocol did not have differences in live birth outcomes.

Smith KS, Bakkensen JB, Hutchinson AP, Cheung EO, Thomas J, Grote V, Moreno PI, Goldman KN, Jordan N, Feinberg EC. Knowledge of Fertility and Perspectives About Family Planning Among Female Physicians. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 May 2;5(5):e2213337. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.13337. PMID: 35583866; PMCID: PMC9118076

A group of female physicians were interviewed to develop a survey to characterize the fertility needs and family planning concerns of women in medicine. The interviews revealed that this group of women felt generally that they had inadequate formal training in fertility, that their knowledge of fertility was based on informal education, and that they desired a more formal medical education in fertility. Of the female physicians who completed the pilot survey: a notable percentage of respondents reported declining opportunities for career advancement (29%), choosing a different specialty (21%), or changing their work setting from academic to private practice (17%), to accommodate having children.

McDonald R, Kuhn K, Nguyen TB, Tannous A, Schauer I, Santoro N, Bradford AP. A randomized clinical trial demonstrating cell type specific effects of hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia on pituitary function. PLoS One. 2022 May 11;17(5):e0268323. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268323. PMID: 35544473; PMCID: PMC9094557.

This study was performed as a secondary analysis of samples and gathered data on the effect of lipid and insulin infusions on reproductive hormonal output. These data suggest that diet and metabolism play a role in modulation of pituitary trophic hormones, and these pathways may be a target for future therapeutics.

Santoro N. A call to action to reproductive endocrinologists: we cannot avoid the culture wars. Fertil Steril. 2022 Jul;118(1):54-55. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.04.021. Epub 2022 May 21. PMID: 35610092.

Dr. Nanette Santoro shares her story of being raised in a religious household and discusses the damage brought unto women from the culture wars of abortion and the pro-life movement. Dr. Santoro goes on to discuss the need to disassociate a woman’s reproductive potential to her worth and remove religious ties from public policy.

Ramadan H, Pakrashi T, Thurman AR, Pomeroy KO, Celia G Jr. Cryopreservation Does Not Affect the Clinical Pregnancy Rate of Blastocysts Derived from Vitrified Oocytes. Sci Rep. 2022 May 27;12(1):8970. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-12992-x. PMID: 35624188; PMCID: PMC9142575.

In recent years, multiple studies have assessed the effect of freezing and thawing of embryos on pregnancy and birth rates, but have reached mixed conclusions. This study compared pregnancy rates in freshly transferred embryos to embryos that were vitrified (frozen) twice, once as an egg and once as an embryo. There was no significant difference in clinical pregnancy rate between the fresh and twice vitrified embryos, however, there was a downward trend (38.63% to 32.46%) of clinical pregnancy rate in the twice vitrified group compared to freshly transferred embryos.

Kracht CL, Romain JS, Hardee JC, Santoro N, Redman LM, Marlatt KL. “It just seems like people are talking about menopause, but nobody has a solution”: A qualitative exploration of menopause experiences and preferences for weight management among Black women. Maturitas. 2022 Mar;157:16-26. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.11.005. Epub 2021 Nov 7. PMID: 35120668; PMCID: PMC8969889.

Results of this study, conducted to characterize the experiences of Black women going through menopause and identify barriers for participating in a lifestyle program, suggested that women were interested to learn more about improving their overall health during menopause and were willing to participate in a lifestyle program. The study team also found that a program that allows other women to associate with other women creates a more sustainable lifestyle program.

Santoro N. Whither cryopreservation? The landscape gets colder. Fertil Steril. 2022 Mar;117(3):467-468. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.01.017. PMID: 35219470.

In this review, Dr. Nanette Santoro discusses the contrasting viewpoints of medical providers and patients in how they view their storaged embryos. Dr. Santoro goes on to outline the heightened responsibility that medical staff face with advancing frozen embryo storage technology and longer storage times.

Clain E, Johnson J, Roeca C.Fertil Steril. 2022 Apr;117(4):781-782. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.01.039. Epub 2022 Mar 8.PMID: 35277260 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

This article discusses recent studies that were unable to detect SARS-CoV-2 in the reproductive tracts of women who were newly diagnosed with COVID-19 and had mild symptoms or were asymptomatic. This editorial concludes that it may be feasible for patients who have been newly diagnosed with COVID-19 with mild symptoms or are asymptomatic to proceed with egg retrievals. One study reports that acute COVID-19 infection did not influence fertilization or embryo development, and other studies suggest that COVID-19 may influence embryo generation or embryo quality.

Cebert-Gaitors M, Shannon-Baker PA, Silva SG, Hart RE, Jahandideh S, Gonzalez-Guarda R, Stevenson EL. Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors that influence Black women seeking treatment for infertility: a mixed-methods study. F S Rep. 2022 Feb 22;3(2 Suppl):29-39. doi: 10.1016/j.xfre.2022.02.004. PMID: 35937441; PMCID: PMC9349229.

To address the largely undocumented experiences of Black women seeking fertility treatment, this study gathered data on the sociocultural, clinical, and psychobiological barriers and facilitators Black women faced when seeking fertility treatment. These women saw barriers to treatment such as inadequate knowledge of resources, poor clinical management at the primary care level, and limited social support. The study identified psychological distress, complex gynecological medical history, and culturally competent providers as facilitators to care.

Souter I, Sun F, Zhang H, Diamond MP, Legro RS, Wild RA, Hansen KR, Santoro N; Eunice Kennedy Schriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Reproductive Medicine Network. A personalized medicine approach to ovulation induction/ovarian stimulation: development of a predictive model and online calculator from level-I evidence. Fertil Steril. 2022 Feb;117(2):408-418. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.10.024. PMID: 35125179; PMCID: PMC8985501.

The probability of pregnancy and the risk of a multiple pregnancy was able to be predicted in this predictive model of retrospective data of patients undergoing treatment with gonadotropins, letrozole, and clomiphene citrate for ovarian induction/ovarian stimulation with intrauterine insemination. This study was able to successfully create an easy-to-use formula to predict chances of pregnancy and a multiple pregnancy based on the characteristics of the patient for commonly used fertility treatments.

Pretzel S, Kuhn K, Pal L, Polotsky A, Taylor HS, Zhang H, Robins J, Young SL, Santoro N. Willingness of Women with Endometriosis Planning to Undergo IVF to Participate in a Randomized Clinical Trial and the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Potential Participation. Reprod Sci. 2022 Feb;29(2):620-626. doi: 10.1007/s43032-021-00705-0. Epub 2021 Aug 6. PMID: 34363198; PMCID: PMC8345905.

A brief survey was sent to women who were diagnosed with endometriosis, undergoing fertility treatment, and were within the University of Colorado healthcare system: the survey gathered information on whether these women would consider being apart of a clinical trial and whether their experiences with delays in IVF treatments due to COVID-19 would influence their consideration of a 8-week treatment prior to their IVF cycle. This survey was distributed to gather information about women who may quality for the PREGnant study for women diagnosed with endometriosis who may be randomized to an experimental group that undergoes a 60-day treatment with an GnRH antagonist prior to IVF start. Results from the survey suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic would influence the decisions of some women to delay IVF treatment to participate in a trial.

Stojchevski R, Singer T, Ziskovich K, Poretsky L, Avtanski D. In vitro treatment of human granulosa cells with irisin and leptin: Quantitative RT-PCR array data (female infertility panel). Data Brief. 2022 Jan 1;40:107781. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107781. PMID: 35028351; PMCID: PMC8741429.

To better understand the relationship between genes involved in fertility and metabolism, 84 genes related to fertility were extracted from human ovarian granulosa cells and treated with irisin or leptin, hormones related to metabolism. The study presents the changes in gene expression after treatment.

Loewke K, Cho JH, Brumar CD, Maeder-York P, Barash O, Malmsten JE, Zaninovic N, Sakkas D, Miller KA, Levy M, VerMilyea MD.Fertil Steril. 2022 Mar;117(3):528-535. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.11.022. Epub 2022 Jan 5.PMID: 34998577 Free article.

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the benefit of characterizing an artificial intelligence model to rank blastocyst-stage embryos and identify limitations that may affect the methods clinical usage. This artificial intelligence model was able to successfully categorize embryos according to the development of the trophectoderm and inner cell mass and showed improved predictions of clinical pregnancy.

Legro RS, Hansen KR, Diamond MP, Steiner AZ, Coutifaris C, Cedars MI, Hoeger KM, Usadi R, Johnstone EB, Haisenleder DJ, Wild RA, Barnhart KT, Mersereau J, Trussell JC, Krawetz SA, Kris-Etherton PM, Sarwer DB, Santoro N, Eisenberg E, Huang H, Zhang H; Reproductive Medicine Network. Effects of preconception lifestyle intervention in infertile women with obesity: The FIT-PLESE randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med. 2022 Jan 18;19(1):e1003883. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003883. PMID: 35041662; PMCID: PMC8765626.

Presented here are the outcomes and discussion of the FIT-PLESE clinical trial for women with infertility and obesity. Protocol involved all participants to increase their physical activity, and half were randomized to an intensive group treated with open-label anti-obesity medication (Orlistat), nutritional counseling, and meal replacement products for 16 weeks. This study showed that an average of 7% weight loss did not improve the rate of having any live birth or a healthy live birth but did improve participants’ cardiometabolic health.

Peters BA, Xue X, Sheira LA, Qi Q, Sharma A, Santoro N, Alcaide ML, Ofotokun I, Adimora AA, McKay HS, Tien PC, Michel KG, Gustafson D, Turan B, Landay AL, Kaplan RC, Weiser SD. Menopause Is Associated With Immune Activation in Women With HIV. J Infect Dis. 2022 Jan 18;225(2):295-305. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab341. PMID: 34174074; PMCID: PMC8763955.

This study found that postmenopausal women had higher innate immune activation, measured using plasma sCD14 and sCD163, compared to premenopausal women, and the elevation in the immune response occurs during the transition into menopause. Interestingly, a relationship could not be made with menopause and biomarkers of systemic inflammation, even though inflammation is normally a consequence of immune activation.

Marlatt KL, Pitynski-Miller DR, Gavin KM, Moreau KL, Melanson EL, Santoro N, Kohrt WM. Body composition and cardiometabolic health across the menopause transition. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2022 Jan;30(1):14-27. doi: 10.1002/oby.23289. PMID: 34932890; PMCID: PMC8972960.

Women in stages of menopause are at increased cardiometabolic risk due to fluctuations in circulating estrogens and increased fat mass, and thus, a woman’s transition into menopause imposes a significant health burden. This review discusses menopause’s stages, the changes in a women’s body and cardiometabolic health throughout menopause, and lifestyle interventions women may use to improve their health during menopause.

Harris BS, Jahandideh S, Devine K.Fertil Steril. 2022 Jan;117(1):104-105. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.11.023. Epub 2021 Dec 3.PMID: 34865849 No abstract available.

The rationale and data surrounding differing routes of administration for progesterone supplementation, progesterone in oil (PIO) vs. vaginal, as luteal phase support during FET cycles is discussed in this editorial. Data suggests that when using vaginal progesterone, monitoring of progesterone levels may be necessary, while PIO may render monitoring unnecessary. A recent study has shown that patients have no clear preference to route of administration of progesterone when routes have similar efficacy.

American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2022

Oral Presentations

Alexandra Gannon, Janet Bruno-Gaston, Vipin A Vidyadharan, Shaji Chacko, Marta L Fiorotto, Juan Marini, Amy K Schutt, William Gibbons, Chellakkan Selvanesan Blesson, and Inka Didelija

 Victoria W. Fitz, Victoria W Fitz, Laura Grau, Savannah Mierau, Robin Green, Carol Derby, Ellen B Gold, Jan Leslie Shifren, Genevieve S Neal-Perry, Mary Sammel, Nanette Santoro

Aimee M Seungdamrong, Lubna Pal, Satu Kuokkamen, Harry Lieman, Robert A Wild, Fangbai Sun, Heping Zhand, Michael P Diamond, Richard S Legro, and Nanette Santoro

Eduardo Hariton, Kevin Ho, Eva Cui, Cora Chen, Jerrine R Morris, and Marcelle I Cedars

Papri Sarkar, Erika P. New, Rachel G. Sprague, Zoran Pavlovic, Samad Jahandideh, Kate Devine, Anthony N. Imudia

Bijan Morshedi, Seifeldin Sadek, Samad Jahandideh, Eric Widra, Kate Devine, Nicole Banks

Phillip A. Romanski, Melissa Stratton, Wayne Caswell, Kate Devine

Jaclyn Kwal, Jonah Bardos, Samad Jahandideh, Micah Hill, Alan DeCherney, Jeanne E. O’Brien, Michael Levy, Kate Devine, Jessica Kanter

John S. Rushing, Tracy Truong, Randall Meacham, Judy E. Stern, Alex J. Polotsky

Poster Presentations

Janet Bruno-Gaston, Alexandra Gannon, Vipin A. Vidyadharan, Amy K Schutt, William Gibbons, and Chellakkan Selvanesan Blesson

Ashley Kim, Erin Eckart, Jennifer D Peck, Abigail Campbell, John Maxwell, Michael P Diamond, Anne Z Steiner, Christos Coutifaris, Marcelle Cedars, Nanette Santoro,

Amalia Namath, Samad Jahandideh, Kathleen Devine, and Jeanne E O’Brien

Shelley Dolitsky, Jeffrey Amos, Samad Jahandideh, Kate Devine, Nicole Doyle

John S. Rushing, Cassandra Roeca, Elizabeth Clain, Ivy Lersten, Dana Siegel, Joshua Johnson, Nanette Santoro, Alex J. Polotsky

Elizabeth Clain, Samad Jahandideh, Anthony N. Imudia, Papri Sarkar, Kate Devine, Cassandra Roeca

Ali Borazjani, Samad Jahandideh, Shan Dawood, Kate Devine, and Michael J Tucker.

Amalia Namath, Samad Jahandideh, Jason Bromer, Kathleen Devine, and Jeanne E O’Brien.

Amalia Namath, Samad Jahandideh, Jason Bromer, Kathleen Devine, and Jeanne E O’Brien

Alexandra Gannon, Janet Bruno-Gaston, Vipin A Vidyadharan, Marta L Fiorotto, Shaji Chacko, Juan Marini, Amy K Schutt, William Gibbons, and Chellakan Selvanesan Blesson

Eden R Cardozo, Ruben J Alvero, Michael P Diamond, Nanette Santoro, and Brindha Bavan

Ange Wang, Jamie Corley, Jake Anderson-Bialis, Jerrine R Morris, Alisha Tolani, Lauren Citro, Deborah Anderson Bialis and Victor Y Fujimoto

Justina Jyujii Cha, Michael Fanton, Camelia Brumar, Kathleen Miller, David Hoffman, and Kevin Loewke

Video Abstracts

Kevin Lambrese, Kathleen Miller, Nathan R Treff

Pacific Coast Reproductive Society (PCRS) 2022

Oral Presentations

Jacyln Kwal, Jonah Bardos, Marja Brolinson, Grace Whitely, Samad Jahandideh, Micah Hill, Alan DeCherney, Michael Levy, Kate Devine

Poster Presentations

Pavlovic ZJ, Smotrich G, New EP, Jahandideh S, Sprague R, Silva C, Imudia A, Plosker S

Schwartz A, Berger M, Caswell W, Vest A, Imudia AN, Jahandideh S, Hill M, OBrien J, Devine K, and Tucker M

Marja Brolinson, MD; Samad Jahandideh, PhD; Taer Han; James Graham, MS; Chandra Surya; Micah Hill, DO; Alan DeCherney, MD; Kate Devine MD

Joshua Combs, MD, Alan DeCherney, MD, Samad Jahandideh, PhD, Kate Devine, MD, Micah Hill, DO, Richard Nelson, PhD, Jeanne O’Brein

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