September 2025: What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals

September 2025: What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals

Here's a peek at this month's issues from our family of journals! As an ASRM Member, you can access all of our journals.

From Fertility and Sterility

Comparing blastulation of surgically retrieved sperm with ejaculated sperm in donor oocyte cycles

This study evaluates the availability of usable blastocysts and blastulation from donor oocytes fertilized with surgically retrieved sperm among patients with obstructive azoospermia (OA) and nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) compared with ejaculated sperm. When comparing donor oocytes fertilized with surgically retrieved sperm with ejaculated sperm, the chance of at least one usable blastocyst per donor oocyte lot was similar for each sperm group. However, there was a decreased chance of blastulation and fertilization, even when comparing fresh and frozen gametes.

From F&S Reports

Optimal timing for triggering oocyte maturation during in vitro fertilization cycles varies between gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and human chorionic gonadotropin use

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the ejaculatory abstinence affects the fertilization rate in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Despite higher semen analysis parameters with longer ejaculatory abstinence up to 7 days, there was no effect of increasing ejaculatory abstinence on either ICSI or standard insemination fertilization rates. There were also no significant differences in the clinical pregnancy, live birth, and miscarriage rates with increasing time of ejaculatory abstinence. An increase in the days of abstinence up to 7 days before providing a semen sample for IVF is associated with an increase in the semen volume, sperm concentration, and total motile sperm count. Despite improved semen parameters with increasing days of abstinence, there was no difference in the fertilization rates with either ICSI or standard insemination.

From F&S Science

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling vs. step-up gonadotropin therapy in infertile anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome women resistant to sequential letrozole and gonadotropin-based ovulation induction cycles: a randomized controlled trial

This paper looks at the effect of laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) vs. step-up gonadotropin therapy on follicular response in infertile anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women resistant to sequential letrozole + human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG)-based ovulation induction (OVI) cycles. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling significantly improves the follicular response compared with step-up gonadotropin-based ovulation induction and results in higher clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates along with a significant reduction in gonadotropin requirement. The procedure may be considered for PCOS women resistant to sequential letrozole + HMG-based ovulation induction, especially phenotype A with high AMH and high follicle number per ovary.

From F&S Reviews

Fertility care in transgender and gender-diverse individuals: the possibility of oocyte and sperm cryopreservation after medical transition

Some transgender and gender-diverse individuals desire biological children; however, only a small percentage of these individuals preserve their fertility. There are many barriers preventing such patients from accessing assisted reproductive technologies. Ideally, transgender and gender-diverse individuals should see a reproductive endocrinologist for a discussion of fertility preservation options and, if desired, should complete fertility preservation before starting gender-affirming hormonal therapy . Still, for several reasons, patients may decline or omit this step before initiating medical transition and then decide later that they wish to pursue fertility preservation or treatment. Data indicate that successful fertility preservation is possible even after medical transition. For transgender females, estradiol may reduce fertility potential, and outcomes after medical transition can be more limited.

Journal Club Global

Watch the latest Journal Club Global videos available on demand now, with no login required.

Journal Club Global LIVE at ANZSREI 2025
Fertility & Sterility is proud to once again partner with the 2025 ANZSREI meeting to bring you Journal Club Global LIVE! This journal club discusses the influence of male age and sperm parameters on blastulation and euploidy rates.

Journal Club Global en Español: AMMR 2025
Journal Club Global in Spanish from the Asociación Mexicana de Medicina Reproductiva (AMMR) meeting in Tulum, Mexico. Experts discuss chaotic embryo classification, PGT-A rebiopsy outcomes, embryo quality, biopsy techniques, and transfer protocols for mosaic embryos.

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