Research Studies

Research Studies by: Angeline N. Beltsos, MD, Sue Jasulaitis, RN, MS

We continue our efforts to keep you updated on advances in reproductive medicine. At Fertility Centers of Illinois, we believe in staying current with recent information in the fertility field and applying that knowledge to optimize patient care.  Although you know that we are a large group practice with excellent clinical outcomes, you may be interested in our present research endeavors for which we are actively enrolling patients, as well as our publications within the last three years and abstract presentations at the national meeting for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Listed below is a summary of our active research studies, including the study objective and the approximate number of patients needed for each study protocol.

1. Prospective, multicenter, observational Oocyte Cryopreservation registry. To prospectively register and track the outcomes of each cycles with frozen-thawed oocytes that are fertilized and transferred with primary endpoint as live birth, n=40-50.

2. Multicenter, randomized, open-label evaluation of combination FSH/LH versus FSH alone in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients.  To compare the efficacy and safety of FSH/LH versus FSH alone with primary endpoint of rate of Cycle cancellation due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, n=150.

3. Comparison of double Embryo transfer with double embryo transfer with preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) for the indication of advanced reproductive age (37-42) in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology.  To determine if there is an increase in ongoing pregnancy rates in older patients undergoing PGS compared to no PGS in IVF, n=100.

    

Listed below are recent publications in peer-reviewed journals.

1. Body Mass Index:  impact on IVF success appears age-related.  Megan L. Sneed, M.D., Meike L. Uhler, M.D., H. Edward Grotjan, Ph.D., John J. Rapisarda, M.D., Kevin J. Lederer, M.D., and Angeline N. Beltsos, M.D.
   Summary: In younger patients undergoing IVF, BMI has a significant negative impact; however, as patients reach their mid thirties, the effects of age appear to be stronger than those of BMI.  It seems appropriate to recommend pretreatment weight loss to patients under age 36, whereas in patients over age 36, a more aggressive approach to Infertility treatment may be warranted.
   Human Reproduction 2008; 23: 1835-1839.

2. Long-term economic benefits attributed to IVF-conceived children: a lifetime tax calculation.  M.P. Connolly, M.S. Pollard, S. Hoorens, S., Brian R. Kaplan, M.D., S. Oskowitz, and Sherman J. Silber
   Summary: When evaluating whether lifetime future net tax revenues from an IVF conceived child are substantial enough to warrant public subsidy relative to the mean IVF treatment costs, it was found that the net taxes paid would represent a 700% net return to the government.
   The American Journal of Managed Care 2008:14:598-604.

3. Adding human menopausal Gonadotropin to antagonist protocols-is there a benefit?  Meredith K. Martin-Johnston, D.O., Angeline N. Beltsos, M.D., H. Edward Grotjan, Ph.D., and Meike L. Uhler, M.D.
   Summary: Regardless of age, adding HMG to recombinant FSH was not beneficial in patients using a GnRH antagonist protocol in a large group practice using a single IVF laboratory.
   Reproductive Biomedicine Online 2007; 15: 161-168.

4. Comparison of Vitrification and conventional cryopreservation of day 5 and day 6 blastocysts during clinical application.  Juergen Liebermann, Ph.D. and Michael J. Tucker, Ph.D.
   Summary: Vitrification technique yields the same Implantation and pregnancy rate as slow-frozen blastocyst transfers.  Slow growing embryos can be cryopreserved on day 6 because they yield a satisfactory survival, implantation, and pregnancy rate. 
   Fertility and Sterility 2006: 86: 20-26.

5. Age-matched comparison of recombinant and urinary hCG for final follicular maturation.Meike L. Uhler, M.D., Angeline N. Beltsos, M.D., H. Edward Grotjan, Ph.D., Kevin J. Lederer, M.D., and Aaron S. Lifchez, M.D.
   Summary: Pregnancy (46 versus 45.2%) and clinical pregnancy rates (38.1 versus 36.8%) were similar for recombinant and urinary hCG.  Recombinant hCG was as effective as urinary hCG for final follicular maturation in IVF cycles.
   Reproductive Biomedicine Online 2006; 13: 315-320.

6. Vitrification:  A successful techniques for cryopreserving human cells in ART.  Juergen Liebermann, Ph.D. and Michael J. Tucker, Ph.D.
   Summary: The benefits and potential problems associated with vitrification as a method of choice for embryo cryopresevation in clinical embryology are discussed.  Based on the available data, it is clear that vitrification procedures have become increasingly successful and may be a better method than slow cooling for embryo freezing.
   Alpha Scientists in Reproductive Medicine; 2005; 32:4-9.

   
   

Listed below are recently published books or book chapters:

1. Vitrification in assisted reproduction.  Michael J. Tucker, Ph.D. and Juergen Liebermann, Ph.D., eds.  London:  Informa Healthcare UK, Ltd., 2007.

2. Steven R. Lindheim, M.D and Meike L. Uhler, M.D. Pelvic ultrasonography and sonohysterography  In:  Falcone R, Hurd WW, eds.  Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery  Philadelphia: Mosby, Inc., 2007: 441-459.

    

Listed below are accepted abstracts at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Meeting, San Francisco, November, 2008:

1. Is there a benefit to biopsy 4-cell embryos biopsied on day 3?
   Lieberman, J.; Mathews, J.; Barker, A.; Sanchez, S.; Erman, A.; and Pelts, E.

2. Vitrification:  What is the outcome using a FDA cleared “closed” carrier system?
   Lieberman, J. Mathews, J.; Erman, A.; Sanchez, S.; Wagner, Y.; and Pelts, E.

3. Oocyte Maturity:  Does it Predict IVF Outcome?  A Review of a Large IVF Program.
   Lieberman, J.; Beltsos, A.; Pelts, E.; Mathews, J.; Uhler, M.; Ezcurra, D.

4. 4-years of Vitrifying Blastocysts:  What is the verdict?
   Lieberman, J.; Mathews, J.; Wagner, Y.; Brohammer, R.; Barker, A.; Sanchez, S.; Erman, A.; and Pelts, E.

5. Transfer of compacting embryos or early blastocysts on day 5: What we can expect in terms of outcome?
   Lieberman, J.; Mathews, J.; Barker, A.; Brohammer, R.; Wagner, Y.; Barker, A.; and Pelts, E.

6. 1-year experience with elective single embryo transfers (eSET): Is it worth it?
   Liebermann, J.; Mathews, J.; Erman, A.; Brohammer, R.; Barker, A.; and Pelts, E.

7. Preimplantation Genetic Screening on 2291 embryos from a large IVF Center.
   Liebermann, J.; Pelts, E.; Pen, R.; Beltsos, A.; Uhler, M.; and Kearns, W.G.

8. Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) in donor egg cycles: Evidence for a beneficial effect.
   Wagner-Coughlin, C.; Kaplan, B.; Maravilla, A.; and Marut, E.

9. High viability of biopsied embryos using a new method of vitrification
   Wagner-Coughlin, C.; Stachecki, J.; Maravilla, A.; Kaplan, B.; Marut, E.; and Cohen, J.

10. Using gonadotropins with hCG activity improves controlled response in PCOS patients undergoing IVF compared to cycles using FSH alone.
    Sipe, C; Hilse, M; Uhler ML; Martin-Johnson MK; Sasada K; Beltsos AN.

11. Luteal Phase support with Endometrin vs. Progesterone in oil in IVF cycles.
    Beltsos, A.; Robinson, A.; Martin-Johnston, M.; Lederer, K.; Sasada, K.; and Byers, M.

     

If you would like to read the entire article for any of our publications, please contact us, and we will be happy to send you a reprint.  You might also be interested to know that we completed three large multicenter studies last year involving a new progesterone ring and long acting FSH injections.  We successfully recruited nearly 300 patients, and our clinical pregnancy rates were outstanding from these studies.   Furthermore, these studies provided fertility treatment either at no charge or substantially reduced charges for patients who qualified for study participation.