To compare the in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes between women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) after endometrioma operation and women with DOR without ovarian surgery. This retrospective case-control study included 124 women aged under 40 and had DOR (serum anti-Müllerian hormone level <1.1 ng/mL or antral follicle count ≤6). They participated in fresh first and/or second IVF cycles between March in 2010 and December in 2015. Basal characteristics and IVF outcomes were compared between 47 cycles (32 women) with surgery-induced DOR and 119 cycles (92 women) with DOR without ovarian surgery. Basal characteristics were similar in both groups except that the median ages were lower in the surgery-induced DOR group compared to the DOR group without ovarian surgery. The data regarding the controlled ovarian stimulation and IVF cycle outcomes showed similar result in both groups. Also, clinical pregnancy and live birth rate were not different significantly between two groups. In the same condition of DOR, clinical pregnancy and live birth rate were not different significantly between two groups regarding etiology of DOR.

Joo E, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2021 Oct;36(44):e279. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e279

Antenatal corticosteroids have been proven to prevent adverse outcomes including respiratory morbidities in preterm neonates before 34 weeks of gestation. Recently, it has been suggested that antenatal corticosteroids may also be effective in singleton late preterm pregnancies, and guidelines recommend the use of corticosteroids in singleton pregnant women who are at risk for late preterm birth. On the contrary, there is a paucity of information regarding the effectiveness of corticosteroids in twin neonates with late preterm birth. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids in late preterm twin neonates. In this multicentre randomized controlled trial, women who are at risk for late preterm birth will be enrolled at 34 0/7 to 36 5/7 weeks of gestation. The participants will be randomly assigned to receive antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone 12 mg, 3 mL intramuscularly [IM]) or placebo (normal saline 3 mL IM). The perinatal outcomes will be compared between the two groups of cases. The primary outcome is severe respiratory complications (the use of continuous positive airway pressure or high-flow nasal cannula for at least 12 h, supplemental oxygen administration with a fraction of oxygen 0.3 or more for at least 24 h, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membranes oxygenation) or perinatal death within the first 72 h of delivery. The secondary outcomes are neonatal mortality and/or other neonatal morbidities. This study will be the first randomized controlled trial that evaluates the effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids in late preterm twin neonates. NCT03547791 (ClinicalTrials.gov), first submitted date: March 29, 2018, first posted date: June 6, 2018 (retrospectively registered).

Park H, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2019 Dec;35(7):e26. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e26