If I may get on my soapbox for a minute!  Everyday we are treated to opinions, research items and news articles.  Caveat emptor should be an underlying when deciding if the author is delivering valuable information or not. 

Scientific research has always had appended to it a spector of conflict.  Who benefits from the published materials.  Who funded the research.  And, who is reading the research or potentially using the research results. 

When it comes to pharmacutical research, you can be sure that the pharmacutical company which produces the drug, is lurking somewhere in the background.  Among other reasons is the vast sums of money invested to produce that drug which an expectation of a positive financial return for the stockholders. 

By the way, I do not mean to imply that the particular drug discussed in the opinion, research item or news article has no value.  I do mean to say that as a consumer of infertility treatment, you must be careful to discuss any such research with your Reproductive Endocrinologist.

Vaginal Progesterone Is Equally Effective In Achieving Pregnancy Outcomes As Injectable Progesterone In Donor Egg Cycles

Article Date: 16 Apr 2008 - 4:00 PDT

A retrospective analysis of anonymous oocyte (egg) donation cycles, comparing the pregnancy outcomes between vaginally-administered progesterone versus intramuscular (IM) progesterone injections, demonstrates that vaginally-administered progesterone and IM progesterone achieve equal pregnancy outcomes, according to data presented by Brian Berger, MD, Boston IVF, at the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society annual meeting in Rancho Mirage, CA. The retrospective study was supported by a grant from Columbia Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBRX).

"We found no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between patients treated with vaginal progesterone versus progesterone administered intramuscularly," said Dr. Berger. "Further, vaginal progesterone has the added advantage of avoiding painful intramuscular injections."

In 225 egg donor cycles, 105 patients received vaginally-administered progesterone (CRINONE® 8% (a bioadhesive progesterone gel)) and 120 received IM progesterone. The implantation rate was 43.8% for vaginal progesterone versus 37.1% for IM progesterone (p=0.175). Recipients treated with vaginal progesterone achieved a 58.1% pregnancy rate and a 51.4% delivery rate, versus a 53.3% pregnancy rate (p=0.503) and a 48.3% delivery rate (p=0.689) for patients receiving IM progesterone. The pregnancy loss rate was 10.5% for patients using vaginal progesterone and 10.8% for IM progesterone users (p=1.00).

"This study clearly demonstrates that vaginal progesterone gel achieves the same pregnancy outcomes as progesterone administered via an intramuscular injection. This is important confirmation that CRINONE® 8% offers patients an efficacious and more convenient option for providing progesterone support in infertility treatment," Berger added.

Boston IVF is one of America's most successful fertility centers, providing patients with unparalleled medical care and the best experience with the expertise of premier doctors and professional staff, who are affiliated with Harvard Medical School. It is world renowned for its highly successful and innovative infertility treatments, highest quality service, state-of-the-art methods, ongoing scientific research, and on-site complementary healthcare at its Domar Center.

About Progesterone and Luteal Phase Support

Progesterone is the pregnancy hormone that creates a healthy environment in a woman's uterus where a fertilized egg can implant and grow into a healthy baby. Most women undergoing infertility treatment need additional progesterone to help prepare the uterus for implantation and development of a fertilized egg.

Before ovulation, progesterone levels in a woman's body remain relatively low, but rise after ovulation during the latter part of a woman's menstrual cycle which is called the luteal phase. The luteal phase begins with the production of progesterone and ends with either pregnancy or menstruation, when the uterus sheds its lining. During pregnancy, progesterone helps to maintain the lining of the uterus, providing necessary nutrients to support and nurture a fertilized egg.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/104216.php

As if there was not enough to worry about when looking at origins for infertilty, it appears that environmental factors may play a larger role than thought.  It seems that employment exposure to drugs, drug byproducts or xrays can impact certain aspects of pregnancy.  I think the lesson here is to be very direct with your gynocologist or reproduction specialist if you have any exposure to chemicals vapor or direct contact with any liquids in your work place. 

...........

West Australian researchers have voiced concern in light of findings which reveal female veterinarians who fail to safeguard themselves from x-rays and anaesthetic gases face double the risk of miscarriage.

The research, published in the most recent edition of the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, was carried out by scientists at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) and The University of Western Australia's School Of Population Health.

WAIMR Associate Professor Lin Fritschi said the study of more than 1,200 female graduates from Australian veterinary schools over a 40-year period showed that occupational dangers such as x-rays, anaesthetic gases and pesticides could have a devastating effect on pregnancy and fertility.

"The worrying findings showed that female veterinarians exposed to an hour or more of anaesthetic gases or exposed to pesticides during the course of their duties were twice as likely to miscarry during pregnancy," she said.

"We also found that two out of three veterinarians surveyed spent five or more hours a week in an operating suite or recovery room area, and nearly a quarter of these vets did not take steps to reduce their exposure to anaesthetic gases.

"While eight in 10 vets were found to use lead aprons to protect themselves when taking x-rays, a great deal of them did not use other protective devices such as gloves, screens or film holders."

A/Prof Fritschi said the study proved that avoiding unnecessary exposure to occupational hazards needed to become a higher priority for veterinarians, particularly those who were pregnant.

"Existing precautions such as properly ventilating the workplace and minimising the amount of exposure through radiation protection measures such as masks, shoes and gloves are of vital importance," she said.

"It is also essential that the vets themselves take part in the planning of preventive measures, and in training and educating the profession about how and when to use protective devices at work.

"Vets most at risk of dangerous exposures include graduates, vets under 30 years of age, those working in a mixed animal practice and vets working more than 45 hours a week."

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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The 'Health Risks of Australian Veterinarians' project was carried out by scientists at WAIMR and The University of Western Australia's School Of Population Health as part of Dr Adeleh Shirangi's PhD.

Source: Sarah Hayward
Research Australia

Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/103848.php