title: The effects of oxidative stress on outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impact of oxidative stress on pregnancy success by monitoring malondialdehyde levels in follicular fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty five couples were enrolled in this prospective study. Following long protocol of GnRH analogues and r-FSH treatment, oocyte retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection were performed. Malondialdehyde levels were assayed by thiobarbutiric acid reacting substances test. Student's t-test and chi(2) test were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were divided into two groups; group I (pregnancy positive, n = 20), group II (pregnancy negative, n = 25). There was no statistical significant difference in terms of age, infertility period, FSH levels on the third day, number of oocytes retrieved and fertilization rates between the two groups. Pregnancy rates were found to be decreasing in higher malondialdehyde levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malondialdehyde can be used as a marker of oxidative stress and a potential marker in predicting assisted reproductive techniques outcome.
authors.affiliation: Zeynep Kamil Training and Research Hospital, Assisted Reproductive Techniques Department, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oral
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kutlu
authors.forename: Evrim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiçicioğlu
authors.forename: Hüsamettin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uslu
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuğrul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
chemical_list: D008315:Malondialdehyde