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Embryo freezing for preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndromeD'Angelo A, Amso NN
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SummaryEmbryo freezing for preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndromeMore research is needed to determine whether using frozen embryos and or intravenous albumin can reduce the rate of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in IVF Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a complication of using hormones to induce ovulation (stimulate the release of eggs) in IVF (in vitro fertilisation). The drugs can sometimes over-stimulate ovaries. Severe OHSS can be life-threatening. Fewer hormones are needed if frozen embryos are transferred in a subsequent cycle, although this lowers
This is a Cochrane review abstract and plain language summary, prepared and maintained by The Cochrane Collaboration, currently published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010 Issue 1, Copyright © 2010 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).
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April 22. 2002 AbstractBackgroundOvarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an iatrogenic potentially life threatening condition resulting from an excessive ovarian stimulation. Its reported incidence varies from one percent to ten percent of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. The factors leading to this syndrome have not been completely explained. It seems likely that the release of vasoactive substances, secreted by the ovaries under human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation plays a key role in triggering this syndrome. The hallmark of this condition, is a massive shift of fluid from the intra-vascular compartment to the third space resulting in profound intra-vascular depletion and haemoconcentration. ObjectivesTo evaluate Search strategyWe searched the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Review Group specialised register of controlled trials up to April 2007. In addition, MEDLINE (PUBMED 1985 to March 2007), EMBASE (1985 to April 2007), CINAHL (1985 to March 2007) and the National Research Register (April 2007) were searched. Selection criteriaRandomised controlled trials (RCTs) in which either human intra-venous albumin or cryopreservation of all embryos were used as a therapeutic approach to OHSS were included. The women were women of reproductive age who were down regulated by gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-analogue (GnRH-a), undergoing superovulation in vitro fertilization and or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF and or ICSI) cycles. Data collection and analysisTwo review authors, Mr N.N. Amso (NNA) and Dr A. D'Angelo (ADA) scanned the titles and the abstracts of the reports identified by electronic searching in order to find relevant papers. One reviewer (ADA) obtained copies of the full text articles and made copies for the other reviewer (NNA) in which details of authors, institution, results and discussion were removed in order to assess their eligibility for inclusion .Disagreements were resolved by discussion. Additional information on the trial methodology or data were requested by writing to the corresponding authors directly. The interventions compared were cryopreservation (embryo freezing) versus intra-venous human albumin administration and elective cryopreservation of all embryos versus fresh embryo transfer. The primary outcomes were: incidence of moderate and severe OHSS versus nil and or mild OHSS, clinical pregnancies and or woman. The secondary outcomes were: number of oocytes retrieved, number of oocytes fertilized, number of embryos transferred, number of embryos frozen, multiple pregnancy rate, live birth rate, number of women admitted to the hospital as inpatient or outpatient and time to the next menstrual period (resolution time). Statistical analysis was performed in accordance with the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group guidelines. Main resultsBecause there were no new studies found for inclusion in the update of this review, the results from the original review published Issue 2 , 2002 (which identified seventeen studies) remain unchanged. It therefore remains that two studies of which met our inclusion criteria one study was included where cryopreservation (embryo freezing) was compared with intra-venous human albumin administration (Shaker 1996) and one study was included where elective cryopreservation of all embryos was compared with fresh embryo transfer (Ferraretti 1999). When cryopreservation was compared with intra-venous human albumin administration no difference was found in all the outcomes examined between the two groups. When elective cryopreservation of all embryos was compared with fresh embryo transfer no difference was found in all the outcomes examined between the two groups. Authors' conclusionsThis updated of the review (D'Angelo 2002) has showed that there is insufficient evidence to support routine cryopreservation and insufficient evidence for the relative merits of intra-venous albumin versus cryopreservation. |