How to Improve your ART Success Rates

Gab Kovacs is International Medical Director, Monash IVF, and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Toorak, Victoria, Australia.

Preface; Part I. Patient Selection and Preparation: 1. Pre-treatment hormone assessment to optimize IVF outcomes; 2. Role of pelvic ultrasonography in the selection and preparation of patients for in vitro fertilization (IVF); 3. Is pre-IVF laparoscopy/hysteroscopy worthwhile?; 4. The management of polyps and fibroids; 5. Immunological screening in women undergoing IVF; 6. Natural killer cell analysis; 7. Weight control; 8. Do vitamins and natural supplements improve pregnancy rates?; 9. PCO patients – is there a role for metformin; 10. An evidence-based medicine review of adjunctive treatments to IVF; 11. Management of hydrosalpinges; Part II. The Role of AIH Before IVF: 12. IUI – who should be treated and what are the expectations?; Part III. Stimulation: 13. What superovulation protocol is best?; 14. FSH vs hMG: gonadotrophins are gonadotrophins are gonadotrophins; 15. Agonists or antagonists for ovarian stimulation?; 16. Should the oral contraceptive pill or progestogens be used to schedule controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)?; 17. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA); 18. Luteinizing hormone supplementation in ART; 19. The use of growth hormone in IVF; 20. Prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; 21. Is IVF the best approach?; Part IV. Monitoring: 22. How to monitor for the best results; Part V. Laboratory: 23. Sperm selection for assisted conception; 24. ICSI for all?; 25. Day of embryo transfer; 26. The beneficial effects of culture medium supplementation with growth factors in the development of human embryos in vitro; 27. Metabolomics; 28. Role of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD); 29. Assisted hatching; Part VI. Embryo Transfer: 30. The role of ultrasound in embryo transfer; 31. Does dummy embryo transfer help?; 32. Does position matter?; 33. Embryo transfer catheters; 34. Bed rest after embryo transfer; 35. Intercourse around the time of embryo transfer; Part VII. Ancillary Treatments: 36. Heparin and aspirin as an adjunctive treatment in women undergoing IVF; 37. Place of oestrogen supplements in luteal phase after ET; 38. Progesterone supplements; 39. Place of corticosteroid co-treatment in IVF; 40. Immunotherapy for IVF implantation failure: 'just in case' or 'just in time'?; 41. Chinese herbs; 42. Adjuvant therapy to improve endometrial development – sildenafil and/or hyperbaric oxygen therapy; 43. The role of acupuncture in IVF; 44. Psychological perspectives on IVF treatment; 45. Future fertility for young women with cancer: protection, preservation or both?; Part VIII. Assessment of Results: 46. How to report IVF success rates; 47. Why do we need RCTs and how to design them?; 48. How to assess Cochrane reports; Index.