title: Could empirical low-dose-aspirin administration during IVF cycle affect both the oocytes and embryos quality via COX 1-2 activity inhibition?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare qualitative and quantitative ovarian response in idiopathic infertile women treated with low-dose-aspirin (LDA) during in-vitro-fertilization (IVF) cycles (pl) versus untreated ones.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an observational-cohort-study on normo-responders patients aged between 25 and 45,years referred to Assisted-Reproductive Unit --University of Padua--in order to evaluate the ovarian response effects (both qualitative and quantitative) after LDA administration. In detail we aim to assess if LDA administration could improve ovarian response, reducing the gonadotropin administration, and if its administration could increase the amount of follicles greater than 16 mm at pick-up, the amount and quality of oocytes retrieved, the amount and quality of embryos, the chance to achieve a pregnancy and to carry it on.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred six LDA-treated patients (Group-A) and 100 not-treated ones (Group-B) were homogeneous for age and BMI. The Group-A, compared to Group-B, showed higher gonadotropin request, higher number of ovarian follicles at pick-up, more follicles bigger than 16 mm in diameter and more retrieved oocytes (despite higher number of immature and at germinal vesicle stage oocytes) but lower quality of obtained embryos. The comparison between two Groups in term of retrieved oocytes /number of follicles, mature oocytes/retrieved oocytes, fertilized oocytes/mature oocytes and good embryos quality/mature oocytes showed a strongly advantageous ratio for Group-B. For each considered outcome, we found a dose-related effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is mandatory to define which patients could benefit from LDA administration and the adequate timing to administer it since the empirical administration could negatively affect both oocyte and embryo quality during IVF cycles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy, ginecologia_padova@libero.it.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gizzo
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capuzzo
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zicchina
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Gangi
authors.forename: Maria Lia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Coronella
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrisani
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: Giovanni Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Nardelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000187:drug effects; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D001241:Aspirin