Oxytocin antagonists may improve infertility treatment

Abstract

Objective: To confirm the improvement of uterine receptivity following administration of oxytocin and vasopressin V1A antagonist atosiban.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Private reproductive medicine center.

Patient(s): A 42-year-old woman with a history of 15 years' infertility and seven failed in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF-ET) attempts.

Intervention(s): Atosiban (mixed vasopressin V1A/oxytocin antagonist registered for the treatment of imminent premature birth) was administered on the 14th day of endometrial synchronization for oocyte donation.

Main outcome measure(s): Uterine contractile activity (component of uterine receptivity) and success of treatment of infertility.

Result(s): Intense spontaneous uterine contractility was visualized by transvaginal sonography. After 1 hour of intravenous infusion of atosiban, a repeated scan showed a significant decrease in contractile activity (11 vs 7 contractions per 4 minutes, respectively). The ET was performed immediately after, and the infusion of atosiban continued for the next 2 hours. The treatment decreased the uterine contractile activity and resulted in successful embryo implantation and a normal twin diamniotic pregnancy.

Conclusion(s): Atosiban may improve uterine receptivity during ET and may increase success rates of advanced infertility treatment procedures.