Objective: Hydroxyethyl piperazine ethane sulfonic acid (HEPES)-buffered media have long been employed in assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures; however, concerns persist regarding the impact of zwitterionic buffers on intrinsic cellular mechanisms. Limited studies have compared ART outcomes using bicarbonate media versus HEPES-buffered media during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This study compared the efficacy of two media used in ICSI: bicarbonate medium (one-step) and HEPES-buffered medium (SynVitro Flush). Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 200 ICSI cycles performed in 2023. Metaphase II oocytes were allocated to a bicarbonate medium (SAGE 1-STEP; Origio) or a HEPES-buffered medium (SynVitro Flush) during the ICSI procedure. Outcomes including fertilization rate, embryo quality and development, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, and live birth rate were compared between the two groups. Results: The fertilization rate was significantly higher in the one-step medium (89.04%) than in the SynVitro medium (82.30%; p<0.001). The one-step medium also yielded more cleaved embryos and higher-quality blastocysts (class A/B; p<0.05). Consequently, more embryos were frozen in the one-step group (264 vs. 151), and higher embryo utilization rates were observed. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were significantly higher in the one-step group (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in chemical pregnancy rates or live birth rates among cycles utilizing frozen embryos (p>0.05). Additionally, there were no differences observed in miscarriage rates or multiple pregnancy rates. Conclusion The one-step bicarbonate medium improved cycle efficiency during the ICSI procedure compared to the SynVitro Flush medium. This finding underscores the importance of selecting an appropriate medium.

Objective: Some age-related testicular changes, such as Sertoli cell vacuolization and blood–testis barrier breakdown, reduce total sperm production and male fertility. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of vitamin E on restoring testicular function in aged mice. Sperm cryo-resistance was also assessed. Methods: Twenty-eight 48-week-old male Naval Medical Research Institute mice were divided into four groups for a daily gavage of vitamin E: the control group received distilled water, while the three treatment groups were administered 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively, for 4 weeks. Subsequently, semen analyses, DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and protamine deficiency tests were conducted. Testicular histology, tissue antioxidant enzyme activity, and gene expression levels were also assessed. Results: The two higher dosages of vitamin E were associated with a higher sperm count, greater progressive motility, and improved sperm morphology (p<0.05). These benefits were also evident after sperm freezing (p<0.05). Although chromatin abnormalities increased following vitrification, the treatment groups showed better outcomes (p<0.05). The tubular diameter, epithelium height, and luminal diameters remained unchanged with age. The tissue antioxidant capacity was greater in the groups receiving the high doses of vitamin E. Additionally, significant increases in inhibitor of DNA binding protein-4 (Id4) and GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (Gfra1) expression were observed in the higher vitamin E dosage groups, and promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein (Plzf) expression was notably present in the 400 mg/kg treatment group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion Antioxidant supplementation might enhance reproductive outcomes in aging males. The observed effects included improved sperm cryo-resistance, which is advantageous for future applications such as sperm freezing or fertility preservation.

Objective: Optimizing culture media for the incubation of immature oocytes is a vital strategy to increase the oocyte maturation rate during in vitro maturation (IVM) programs. This study evaluated the IVM and fertilization rates of human germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase I (MI) oocytes using two different maturation media (commercial and homemade) with or without growth differentiation factor 9-β (GDF9-β). supplementation. Methods: Immature oocytes from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles were collected and assigned to one of two IVM culture media (commercial or homemade; cleavage-stage base). After maturation, MII oocytes were examined under an inverted microscope for the presence of the polar body, zona pellucida (ZP) birefringence, and meiotic spindle (MS) visualization after maturation in four conditions (commercial or homemade medium, with or without GDF9-β. ICSI was done for matured oocytes, and fertilization was confirmed by the visualization of two distinct pronuclei and two polar bodies. Results: No significant differences were found between the two culture media in terms of the time and rate of oocyte maturation or the rate of fertilization (p>0.05). Growth factor supplementation increased the 24-hour maturation rate for both GV and MI oocytes only in homemade medium. The maturation rate after 24 hours was higher for MI oocytes (p<0.05). Similar results were observed for MS visualization and ZP structure in both types of media (p>0.05). Conclusion Higher rates of oocyte maturation and fertilization were observed after application of homemade medium supplemented with GDF9-β. Therefore, this combination may be recommended as an alternative for clinical IVM programs.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted with the aim of examines the quality of life of infertile couples and their relationship with the practical resilience of infertile couples referring to Yazd's centers of infertility. METHODS: This research is a descriptive-correlational study. The research population consisted of all infertile couples who referred to Infertility Centers in Yazd, Iran in the winter of 2016. Sampling was conducted in a non-random and accessible manner. The instrument used in the research included a) demographic information questionnaire, b) Conner and Davidson's Resilience Scale, and c) quality of life infertile couples questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 17 at a significant level of P < 0.05. To describe the data, descriptive statistics methods were used and the inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient, regression, independent t test, and variance analysis) were used to test the research hypotheses. RESULTS: People (202 couples) participated in this research. Three variables of resilience (β = 0.04, P = 0.04), gender (β = −0.22, P < 0.001), and education level (β = 0.21, P < 0.001) had a prediction coefficient and there was a significant relationship with quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that resilience, gender, and education predict the quality of life of infertile couples. In the infertile couples counseling program, resilience should be considered as a coping factor.
Counseling ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Infertility ; Iran ; Quality of Life