BACKGROUND:Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and it has antioxidant properties. AIM:This study aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin on assisted reproductive technologies through a systematic review and a meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Search strategies were used in PubMed and in other databases covering the last 15 years. After screening for eligibility, 17 articles were selected for the systematic review. For the meta-analysis statistics, two groups were formed, the treatment group (with melatonin) and the control group (without melatonin) for various assisted reproduction outcomes. RESULTS:The main results were that no statistical differences were found concerning the clinical pregnancy outcome (p = 0.64), but there was a statistical difference with respect to Mature Oocytes (MII) (p = 0.001), antral follicle count (p = 0.0002), and the fertilization rate (p ≤ 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:Melatonin had beneficial effects such as the improvement in the fertilization rate, although the authors did not obtain significance in the clinical pregnancy rate.

To evaluate the influence of factors such as age, education level and previous treatment for infertility in the decision to donate or receive eggs. Patients visting our service for the first time answered the question: “Would you donate or receive eggs?”. We assessed whether the inclination to donate or receive was related to age, level of education and the previous unsuccessful treatment for infertility. 313 patients were included and most (56.9%) said they would donate eggs while only 34.5% would receive a donation. When giving and receiving were evaluated jointly we observed a positive correlation between them (Pearson correlation: r = 0.537, p < 0.01). Patients that underwent previous treatments for infertility were significantly more prone to egg donation (63.4% yes vs. 36.6% no, p < 0.05 vs no previous treatment group), but not to receive (41.8% yes vs. 58, 2% no). In high and low levels of education most patients were in favor of donation (55.4% and 61.3%, respectively), but against the idea of receiving (33.9% and 37.5%, respectively). There was no significant differences between groups. The age of the patients (< 35 years old or > 35 years old) did not influence the will do donate (58.2% and 56.4% respectively) or receive eggs (36.9% and 33.0%, respectively). Our results help understand the factors that may influence the decision to participate in an egg-sharing scheme. We could speculate that patients who have previously undergone unsuccessful treatments are more open to egg-sharing, despite their age or educational background. It would also be relevant to investigate the psychosocial reasons that make couples more willing to donate eggs than receiving. Avaliar a influência da idade, grau de escolaridade e tratamento anterior na decisão de doar ou receber óvulos. Mulheres atendidas em nosso serviço responderam à pergunta: “Você doaria ou receberia óvulos?”. Avaliou-se a concordância de aceitação de ovodoação ou ovorecepção com a idade, o grau de escolaridade e tratamento anterior para infertilidade. Foram incluídas 313 pacientes e a maioria (56,9%) respondeu que doaria óvulos enquanto apenas 34,5% receberiam. Houve correlação positiva entre doação e recepção (r = 0,537, p < 0,01). Pacientes submetidas a tratamento anterior de infertilidade se mostraram significativamente mais propensas à doação (63,4% sim vs 36,6% não, p < 0.05 vs sem tratamento anterior), mas não a receber (41,8% sim vs 58,2% não). Em níveis altos e baixos de escolaridade a maioria dos pacientes se mostrou a favor da doação (55,4% e 61,3%, respectivamente), mas contra a ideia de receber (37,5% e 33,9%, respectivamente), não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos. A maioria das pacientes com menos ou mais de 35 anos de idade doaria (58,2% e 56,4%, respectivamente), mas não receberia (36,9% e 33,0%, respectivamente). Nossos resultados são relevantes para entender os fatores que podem influenciar na decisão de participar em um esquema de partilha de óvulos. Poderíamos especular que pacientes previamente submetidas a tratamentos mal sucedidos são mais aberta à ovodoação, apesar de sua idade ou formação educacional.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore psychosocial effects of infertility using the SF-36 Health Survey and Beck's Depression Inventory.DesignProspective clinical study.Materials and MethodsDuring 12 months one hundred and eight patients were seen at an infertility clinic in São Paulo. Control group was composed of 105 women seen at a regular gynecology clinic not facing reproductive dificulty. A total of 213 subjects were invited to complete a survey while waiting for their medical appointment. All patients were informed about the aim of the study, signed consent forms and completed the Short-form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI).ResultsMost subjects in both groups had a high educational level (>11 years) with similar income. The age of the infertile group was significantly higher than the control group (35.3±4.21 vs 32.9±5.98 respectively; p=0.002). BDI scores indicated that both groups are predominantly non-depressed. Although the infertile group had a higher score, it was not significantly different than the control group (infertility 8.9±7.9 vs 7.8±6.8 control). Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36. Comparing our controls to infertile women, no significant difference was observed in any of the domains analyzed. In addition, we analyzed within the infertility group if BDI score was correlated to the number of previous In Vitro Fertilization attempts and no correlation was found (Pearson's correlation = 0.049).ConclusionThe results of our study show that women facing reproductive difficulties were not depressed, since their results for the BDI score were similar to the control group and below 10 points. In addition, our service also did not identify significant impairment in quality of life in the infertile group. It is important to note that the use of a non-infertile group can help us understand the psychological distress experienced by infertile patients and further investigation will take place in order to assess the level of anxiety of these women. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore psychosocial effects of infertility using the SF-36 Health Survey and Beck's Depression Inventory. The aim of this study was to explore psychosocial effects of infertility using the SF-36 Health Survey and Beck's Depression Inventory. DesignProspective clinical study. Prospective clinical study. Materials and MethodsDuring 12 months one hundred and eight patients were seen at an infertility clinic in São Paulo. Control group was composed of 105 women seen at a regular gynecology clinic not facing reproductive dificulty. A total of 213 subjects were invited to complete a survey while waiting for their medical appointment. All patients were informed about the aim of the study, signed consent forms and completed the Short-form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). During 12 months one hundred and eight patients were seen at an infertility clinic in São Paulo. Control group was composed of 105 women seen at a regular gynecology clinic not facing reproductive dificulty. A total of 213 subjects were invited to complete a survey while waiting for their medical appointment. All patients were informed about the aim of the study, signed consent forms and completed the Short-form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). ResultsMost subjects in both groups had a high educational level (>11 years) with similar income. The age of the infertile group was significantly higher than the control group (35.3±4.21 vs 32.9±5.98 respectively; p=0.002). BDI scores indicated that both groups are predominantly non-depressed. Although the infertile group had a higher score, it was not significantly different than the control group (infertility 8.9±7.9 vs 7.8±6.8 control). Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36. Comparing our controls to infertile women, no significant difference was observed in any of the domains analyzed. In addition, we analyzed within the infertility group if BDI score was correlated to the number of previous In Vitro Fertilization attempts and no correlation was found (Pearson's correlation = 0.049). Most subjects in both groups had a high educational level (>11 years) with similar income. The age of the infertile group was significantly higher than the control group (35.3±4.21 vs 32.9±5.98 respectively; p=0.002). BDI scores indicated that both groups are predominantly non-depressed. Although the infertile group had a higher score, it was not significantly different than the control group (infertility 8.9±7.9 vs 7.8±6.8 control). Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36. Comparing our controls to infertile women, no significant difference was observed in any of the domains analyzed. In addition, we analyzed within the infertility group if BDI score was correlated to the number of previous In Vitro Fertilization attempts and no correlation was found (Pearson's correlation = 0.049). ConclusionThe results of our study show that women facing reproductive difficulties were not depressed, since their results for the BDI score were similar to the control group and below 10 points. In addition, our service also did not identify significant impairment in quality of life in the infertile group. It is important to note that the use of a non-infertile group can help us understand the psychological distress experienced by infertile patients and further investigation will take place in order to assess the level of anxiety of these women. The results of our study show that women facing reproductive difficulties were not depressed, since their results for the BDI score were similar to the control group and below 10 points. In addition, our service also did not identify significant impairment in quality of life in the infertile group. It is important to note that the use of a non-infertile group can help us understand the psychological distress experienced by infertile patients and further investigation will take place in order to assess the level of anxiety of these women.