During these days the 33rd Congress of the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) in Bilbao. One of the topics addressed in this has been the knowledge about predictive biomarkers, which is also one of the challenges of reproductive medicine in Spain. This edition of the National Congress of the SEF has been chaired by Dr. Robert Matorras, research and teaching coordinator at IVI Bilbao. For his part, Dr. Marcos Ferrando, director of IVI Bilbao, San Sebastián and Santander, has acted as Vice President.
“We are very satisfied with the high scientific level of the papers presented at the congress. They certify the leadership of our country in reproductive medicine, necessary in a social and population environment in which assisted reproduction techniques play a fundamental role in guaranteeing birth rates”says Dr. Ferrando.
Research, a pillar of IVI
From IVI we have presented a total of 21 studies to the congress, among which is one from IVI Valencia that shows how the sex of human embryos affects the oxidative profile of the culture medium.
The objective of this work is to analyze the predictive value of measuring the oxidative state of the culture medium conditioned by thermochemiluminescence (TCL) to determine the sex of the embryo. In this study, the oxidative state of the medium used for the culture of 86 embryos fertilized by ICSI and transferred individually is analyzed. These gave rise to a live birth, resulting in a significantly higher TCL-Ratio in female embryo culture medium.
“The measurement of the oxidative state of the culture medium could serve as a biomarker for the non-invasive selection of the embryonic sex, and could be an alternative option in the treatment of patients with sex-linked diseases”explains Dr. Nicholas GarridoDirector of Innovation at IVIRMA Global.
How vitamin D deficiency influences the search for pregnancy
Another of the most relevant markers today in reproductive medicine is that referring to vitamin D deficiency. It has been observed that those patients with a level of less than 20ng/ml have a lower rate of clinical pregnancy, compared to those with levels within a normal range. So, what is the prevalence of insufficiency of this metabolic modulator?
According to this study, carried out on more than 500 patients from different IVIRMA centers –Alicante, Almería, Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Mallorca, Seville and Valencia–. Of these, more than 50% had vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency at the start of treatment to become pregnant.
“This result confirms the evidence of a high percentage in the prevalence of women seeking pregnancy with the value of vitamin D below the normal range. It would be advisable to check that the analyzes prior to treatment systematically include the determination of vitamin D3 (25-HYDROXI VITAMIN D). In cases below the optimal value, the nutritional and sun exposure habits should be evidenced in the anamnesis and confirm if the patient is taking vitamin D supplementation during the preparation of the treatment”points out Dr. Garrido.
IVI innovation at the SEF Congress
Two other topics presented by IVI at the congress refer to techniques for improving reproductive outcomes in people with infertility. One of them is to assess whether microfluidics will mark the future of sperm selection. For its part, the other outstanding topic refers to the role of radiofrequency myolysis as a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of uterine fibroids type 2-3 <4cm that compromise the endometrial cavity and are difficult to approach by hysteroscopy or laparoscopy in the women with reproductive problems.
On the other hand, another of the works has consisted of the evaluation of knowledge about the limits of age in ovarian reserve and oocyte competence, among health professionals. This is a key issue to prevent infertility in the future. “One of the key tools to be able to make your own reproductive decisions, in an appropriate way, is fertility education. Health and primary care personnel represent the first line in educating society about the prevention of future infertility. Thus, after analyzing the results, this work allows us to conclude that health professionals in Spain have adequate tools and knowledge that meet real expectations in order to inform their patients about the limits of fertility related to ovarian aging”says Dr. Ferrando.
Future challenges of reproductive medicine
Finally, we highlight one of the novelties presented at the congress by IVI researchers and summarized by Dr. Garrido: “In this congress we have talked about different challenges that IVI works on every day. To continue innovating in our treatments, such as the impact of sperm capacitation parameters on the results of oocyte donation cycles. The study of serum progesterone levels measured on the day of embryo cryotransfer in modified natural cycles with luteal phase support. The impact of premature partial ovulation detected during follicular aspiration on the number of oocytes retrieved in stimulated cycles for IVF or assisted hatching (AH), which could be a useful tool to reverse the negative effect of blastocyst collapse on the potential for implementation.
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