The influence of thyroid autoimmunity in assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcome in euthyroid women is still controversial. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated embryo quality in 123 euthyroid women undergoing ART with or without thyroid autoantibodies (TAA). Embryo quality was assessed in 119 embryos of 29 infertile patients with TAA and in 394 embryos of 94 infertile patients without TAA. Our results showed not statistically significant differences in age, body mass index, anti-Müllerian hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine levels between cases and controls. Thyroid stimulating hormone was within the normal range, but significantly higher in TAA patients compared with the controls (2.4 ± 0.8 vs. 2 ± 0.9 mIU/L, respectively, p < .01). The number of oocytes picked up and fertilized was comparable between the two groups. Embryo quality was significantly impaired in women with at least one autoantibody (p < .001). Implantation rate, pregnancy rate, and ongoing pregnancy rate were comparable in the two groups. These results suggest a negative impact of thyroid autoimmunity in embryo quality in women undergoing ART even when thyroid function is normal.

Vulvovaginal pathology impairs the quality of life of both women in menopause and those who are not. Different therapies have been proposed, mainly related to estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women. However, some contraindications limit its use, and different moisturizers or lubricants have been tested. Hyaluronic acid is a promising and widely used vaginal medical treatment with a moisturizing action and appears to provide a solution. For this reason, we performed a systematic review of the literature. We searched for original articles without date restriction until 30 April 2020. We included all clinical trials which administered local hyaluronic acid in the vulva or vagina. Only English studies and those performed in humans were eligible. Seventeen original studies were included in the review (from randomized controlled trials to longitudinal studies). Hyaluronic acid was generally found to be effective in improving vulvovaginal symptoms (dyspareunia, itching, burning, dryness) and signs (bleeding, atrophy, vaginal pH). In conclusion, hyaluronic acid has the properties to be an efficient moisturizer for women suffering from vulvovaginal atrophy who have contraindications for estrogen therapy and for vulvovaginal signs and symptoms affecting sexual well-being. However, a well-designed randomized controlled trial is needed in order to clarify its efficacy and safety profile.

Purpose The human aorta stores strain energy in the distended wall during systole through the extracellular matrix of the tunica media that could be influenced by blood pressure, flow, or increased peripheral resistance. In intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) fetuses, the increased aorta intima media thickness (aIMT) could reflect a different extracellular matrix composition and, therefore, functionality. The aim of this study was to analyze the resistance to flow in the fetal descending aorta and its relation to aIMT and systolic and diastolic fetal abdominal aorta diameters in IUGR fetuses and controls. Materials and Methods This is a prospective case control study of single pregnancies collected at a tertiary center for feto-maternal medicine in Northeast Italy. An IUGR group as cases and a group of fetuses appropriate for gestational age (AGA) as controls were included. Results We found a greater PI of the fetal abdominal aorta in the IUGR group (1.82) than in the AGA group (1.21) (p < 0.05). The change between the systolic and diastolic fetal abdominal aorta diameters was significantly greater in IUGR fetuses (0.10 mm (IQR 0.07 – 0.28)) than in the AGA group (0.04 mm (0.03 – 0.05)) (p < 0.05). In the IUGR group aIMT was significantly correlated with peak systolic velocity (PSV) and systolic-diastolic aorta diameter change, while these two correlations were not found in the control group. Conclusion The change between the systolic and diastolic fetal abdominal aorta diameters in IUGR cases during the early third trimester of pregnancy was significantly increased and aIMT in the IUGR group was significantly correlated to systolic-diastolic diameter change and PSV, probably reflecting aortic wall adaptation to blood flow changes in IUGR fetuses.