Pregnancies and obstetrical prognosis after oocyte donation in Turner Syndrome: A multicentric study

Maternal cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy in individuals with Turner syndrome: a committee opinion

In individuals with Turner syndrome, the risk of death from aortic dissection or rupture during pregnancy may be as high as 1%, and it is unclear whether this risk persists during the postpartum period owing to pregnancy-related aortic changes. Turner syndrome is a relative contraindication for pregnancy; however, it is an absolute contraindication for pregnancy in a patient with an aortic size index of >2.5 cm/m2 or an aortic size index of ≥2.0 cm/m2 with a documented cardiac anomaly or other risk factors. This document replaces the 2012 document of the same name.

Fertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with Turner syndrome: A single centre experience

OBJECTIVE

Many women with Turner syndrome (TS) will consider fertility options and pregnancy. We wished to examine the fertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with TS undergoing oocyte donation (OD) treatment or spontaneous pregnancy in a large single-centre cohort. General population reference data or data from those with idiopathic premature ovarian insufficiency were used as comparators.

DESIGN

A retrospective single-centre cross-sectional study.

PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS

Seventy-four women with TS underwent OD treatment with a total of 105 pregnancies, and 31 women with TS had 71 spontaneous conceptions. Fertility outcomes included clinical pregnancy and live birth rate. Pregnancy outcomes included miscarriage rate, prevalence of hypertension, gestational diabetes, lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), small for gestational age (SGA), prematurity and vertical transmission of TS.

RESULTS

In those with TS, OD pregnancies were associated with increased rates of LSCS and SGA compared to spontaneous pregnancies; LSCS (OR: 4.19, 95% CI: 1.6-10.8, p = .003) and SGA (OR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.02-8.38, p = .04). There were no recorded cardiac events but 5 (17.2%) cases of vertical transmissions of TS in daughters were identified. OD in those with TS was associated with a lower live birth rate per cycle started (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.34-0.84, p = .008) and a higher rate of miscarriage compared to women with POI (40% vs. 26.2%, p = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

We show that pregnancy in women with TS, whether OD or spontaneously conceived, carries obstetric risks, and therefore, women with TS, considering pregnancy, should receive comprehensive pre-pregnancy counselling and optimal obstetric care.

Assessment of obstetric characteristics and outcomes associated with pregnancy with Turner syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To assess national-level trends, characteristics, and outcomes of pregnancies with Turner syndrome in the United States.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample.

SUBJECTS

A total of 17,865,495 hospital deliveries from 2016-2020.

EXPOSURE

A diagnosis of Turner syndrome, identified according to the World Health Organization's International Classification of Disease 10th revision code of Q96.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Obstetrics outcomes related to Turner syndrome, assessed with inverse probability of treatment weighting cohort and multivariable binary logistic regression modeling.

RESULTS

The prevalence of pregnant patients with Turner syndrome was 7.0 per 100,000 deliveries (one in 14,235). The number of hospital deliveries with patients who have a diagnosis of Turner syndrome increased from 5.0 to 11.7 per 100,000 deliveries during the study period (adjusted-odds ratio [aOR] for 2020 vs. 2016; 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.83-2.60). Pregnant patients with Turner syndrome were more likely to have a diagnosis of pregestational hypertension (4.8% vs. 2.8%; aOR 1.65; 95% CI 1.26-2.15), uterine anomaly (1.6% vs. 0.4%; aOR, 3.01; 95% CI 1.93-4.69), and prior pregnancy losses (1.6% vs. 0.3%; aOR 4.70; 95% CI 3.01-7.32) compared with those without Turner syndrome. For the index obstetric characteristics, Turner syndrome was associated with an increased risk of intrauterine fetal demise (10.9% vs. 0.7%; aOR 8.40; 95% CI 5.30-13.30), intrauterine growth restriction (8.5% vs. 3.5%; aOR 2.11; 95% CI 1.48-2.99), and placenta accreta spectrum (aOR 3.63; 95% CI 1.20-10.97). For delivery outcome, pregnant patients with Turner syndrome were more likely to undergo cesarean delivery (41.6% vs. 32.3%; aOR 1.53; 95% CI 1.26-1.87). Moreover, the odds of periviable delivery (22-25 weeks: 6.1% vs. 0.4%; aOR 5.88; 95% CI 3.47-9.98) and previable delivery (<22 weeks: 3.3% vs. 0.3%; aOR 2.87; 95% CI 1.45-5.69) were increased compared with those without Turner syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of contemporaneous, nationwide assessment in the United States suggest that although pregnancy with Turner syndrome is uncommon this may represent a high-risk group, particularly for intrauterine fetal demise and periviable delivery. Establishing a society-based approach for preconception counseling and antenatal follow-up would be clinically compelling.

Reproductive health in Turner's syndrome: from puberty to pregnancy

Turner syndrome (TS) is a genetic pathology that affects about 1/2500 newborn females. Turner's syndrome is characterized by highly variable genetic anomalies that consist in a partial or complete deletion of the X sexual chromosome; it can be present as a monosomy or as a mosaicism with two o three different cellular lines. 50% of the patients with Turner's syndrome has a 45 XO karyotype while the remaining cases have karyotypes with mosaicism or X isochromosome or with partial or whole Y chromosome. This pathology is characterized by multiple anomalies that involve physical and cognitive development and in particular endocrine, cardiovascular, reproductive, auditive and visual systems. Integrity of the X chromosome in essential for fertility. In TS is accelerated germ cells apoptosis. About 30% of TS girls have some pubertal development, 10-20% undergo menarche and 2-8% go through spontaneous pregnancy. Women with TS should be informed about the risk of premature menopause and should be referred, if possible, to a specialist evaluation with a doctor expert in assisted reproductive techniques. In adolescents and in adults, Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) can be evaluated clinically and biochemically with the classic combination of amenorrhea and elevated FSH concentrations (hypergonadotropic hypogonadism). However, in postpubertal adolescents and adult women, reproductive hormones may remain within the normal range before POI is clinically evident, despite significant depletion of the ovarian reserve. Today, reproductive medicine offers the opportunity of fertility preservation in women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Two techniques have been suggested such as ovarian cortex cryopreservation and oocytes cryopreservation.

Impact of Indication for Oocyte and Embryo Reception on Reproductive and Obstetric Outcomes

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess if the indication for oocyte reception (OR) or embryo reception (ER) impacts the reproductive and obstetric outcomes by evaluating our experience at a tertiary fertility centre and by performing a literature review on this subject. Several previous studies have reported that, in contrast to other types of fertility treatment, the indication for OR/ER seems to have little impact on the outcomes. However, the compared indication groups vary considerably between these studies, and some data indicates worse outcomes in patients who developed premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) due to Turner syndrome or treatment with chemotherapy/radiotherapy.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of all cases of OR/ER at a tertiary fertility centre from 2001 until 2020 was conducted. We analysed 584 cycles from 194 individual patients. A literature review on the impact of indication on reproductive or obstetric outcomes of OR/ER was performed using the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. A total of 27 studies were included and analysed.

PARTICIPANTS, SETTING, METHODS

For the retrospective analysis, patients were divided into three major indication groups: failure of autologous assisted reproductive technology, POI, and genetic disease carrier. To assess reproductive outcomes, we determined pregnancy rate, implantation rate, miscarriage rate, and live birth rate. For comparing obstetric outcomes, we reviewed the term of birth, mode of delivery, and birthweight. Outcomes were compared using Fisher's exact test, χ2 test, and one-way ANOVA utilizing the GraphPad tool.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in reproductive and obstetric outcomes between the three major indication groups in our population, in line with the findings reported by existing literature. Data on impaired reproductive outcomes in patients with POI after chemotherapy/radiotherapy are conflicting. Obstetrically, these patients are at higher risk of preterm birth and possibly also low birthweight, especially after abdomino-pelvic or total body irradiation. For patients with POI due to Turner syndrome, most data suggest similar pregnancy rates but a higher rate of pregnancy loss, and obstetrically an increased risk of hypertensive disorders and caesarean section.

LIMITATIONS

The small number of patients in the retrospective analysis resulted in low statistical power when evaluating differences between smaller subgroups. There were some missing data on the occurrence of complications during pregnancy. Our analysis covers a period of 20 years, during which several technological innovations have also been made.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that the important heterogeneity in couples treated with OR/ER does not significantly impact their reproductive or obstetric outcomes, except for POI due to Turner syndrome or treatment with chemotherapy/radiotherapy, where there seems to be an important uterine/endometrial component that cannot be entirely overcome by providing a healthy oocyte.

Reproductive health in Turner syndrome: A narrative review

Turner syndrome (TS), a common chromosomal abnormality affecting females, is associated with partial or complete loss of the second sex chromosome. Although the classic karyotype is 45, X, the detection of mosaic TS is increasing. TS is a multi-system disorder with significant endocrine, cardiovascular and reproductive impacts. Accelerated ovarian follicular loss leads to primary amenorrhoea or premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility. Early diagnosis and counselling regarding hormone replacement therapy and future reproductive capacity, including fertility preservation, are essential to improve reproductive outcomes. Pubertal induction or estrogen replacement is usually required to optimise long-term health outcomes; however, initiation may be delayed due to delayed diagnosis. Spontaneous pregnancy occurs in a small number of women; however, many require donor oocytes and assisted reproductive technology to achieve a pregnancy. Pregnancy is a high risk especially when associated with congenital heart disease. Prepregnancy counselling by the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to identify contraindications and optimise pre-existing health issues is essential. Pregnancy management should be led by a maternal-fetal medicine unit with input from the MDT. This review examines reproductive health outcomes in women with TS and how best to manage them to reduce health risks and improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Turner syndrome: fertility counselling in childhood and through the reproductive lifespan

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The potential for fertility in Turner syndrome has improved in recent years. Understanding of associated risks and approaches is important for the care of girls and women with this condition. This review focuses on reproductive health, fertility options and appropriate counselling for women with Turner syndrome and their families.

RECENT FINDINGS

Women with Turner syndrome have rapidly declining ovarian function beginning in utero . Therefore, counselling regarding fertility concerns should begin at a young age and involve discussion of options, including ovarian tissue cryopreservation, oocyte preservation and use of nonautologous oocytes. Clinical guidance on fertility management and pregnancy risk assessment based on karyotype, associated comorbidities and fertility is still not fully data driven. Realistic expectations regarding reproductive options and associated outcomes as well as the need for multidisciplinary follow-up during pregnancy are crucial to the ethical and safe care of these patients.

SUMMARY

Fertility care in women with Turner syndrome is evolving as current management techniques improve and new approaches are validated. Early counselling and active management of fertility preservation is critical to ensure positive and well tolerated reproductive outcomes.

Provision of fertility services for women at increased risk of complications during fertility treatment or pregnancy: an Ethics Committee opinion

This opinion addresses the ethics of providing fertility treatment to women at elevated risk from fertility treatment or pregnancy. It is ethically appropriate for providers to treat women who are at elevated risk provided that the women are carefully assessed, that specialists in their medical condition are consulted as appropriate, and that they are fully informed about the risks, benefits, and alternatives, which may include oocyte or embryo donation, use of a gestational surrogate, declining fertility treatment, and adoption. Providers also may conclude that the medical risks of fertility treatment for a given patient are too high, in which case it is ethical for them for them to decline to provide treatment. Such determinations must be made in a medically objective and unbiased manner, and patients must be fully informed of the decision and its rationale. Counseling for these women should incorporate the most current knowledge available, with cognizance of the woman's personal determinants in relation to her reproductive desires. In this way, both the physician and the patient will optimize decision making in an ethically sound, patient-supportive context. This document replaces the document of the same name, last published in 2016 (Fertil Steri 2016;106:1319-23).

Pregnancies in women with Turner Syndrome: A retrospective multicentre UK study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the characteristics and outcomes of pregnancy in women with Turner Syndrome DESIGN: Retrospective 20-year cohort study (2000-2020) SETTING: 16 tertiary referral maternity units in the UK POPULATION OR SAMPLE: 81 women with Turner syndrome who became pregnant METHODS: Retrospective chart analysis MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mode of conception, pregnancy outcomes RESULTS: We obtained data on 127 pregnancies in 81 women with a Turner phenotype. All non-spontaneous pregnancies (54/127 (42.5%)) were by egg donation. Only 9/31 (29%) of pregnancies in women with karyotype 45,X were spontaneous, compared with 53/66 (80.3%) with mosaic karyotype 45,X/46,XX (p<0.0001). Women with mosaic 45,X/46,XX were younger at first pregnancy by 5.5-8.5 years compared to other TS-karyotype groups (p<0.001), and more likely to have a spontaneous menarche (75.8% vs 50% or less, p=0.008). There were 17 miscarriages, 3 terminations of pregnancy, 2 stillbirths and 105 livebirths. Two women had aortic dissection (2.5%); both were 45,X karyotype, with bicuspid aortic valves and ovum donation pregnancies, one died. Another woman had an aortic root replacement within six months of delivery. 10/106 (9.4%) births with gestational age data were preterm and 22/96 (22.9%) with singleton birthweight/gestational age data weighed <10^th centile. The caesarean section rate was 72/107 (67.3%). In only 73/127 (57.4%) of pregnancies was there documentation of cardiovascular imaging within 24 months prior to conceiving.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy in women with TS is associated with major maternal cardiovascular risks and deserve thorough cardiovascular assessment and counselling prior to assisted or spontaneous pregnancy managed by a specialist team.

Influence of Pregnancy on Aortic Diameter in Women With the Turner Syndrome

Women with Turner syndrome (TS) have high prevalence of cardiovascular anomalies. Literature suggests pregnancy is associated with a higher dissection risk, presumably preceded by aortic dilatation. Whether the aortic diameter truly changes during pregnancy in TS is not well investigated. This study aims to evaluate ascending aortic diameter change during pregnancy and reports on cardiac events during and directly after pregnancy. This tertiary hospital retrospective study investigated all TS women pregnancies (2009 to 2018). Outcome parameters included aortic diameter growth and aortic complications, specifically dissection. Thirty-five pregnancies in 30 TS women, 57% assisted by oocyte donation. Mean age at delivery 32 ± 5 years. In 27 pregnancies of 22 women imaging was available. From over 350 childless TS women a comparison group of 27 was individually matched. The median ascending aortic diameter growth between pre- and postpregnancy imaging was 1.0 mm (IQR -1.0; 2.0), no significant change (p = 0.077). Whether the patient had a bicuspid aortic valve (p = 0.571), monosomy X or mosaic karyotype (p = 0.071) or spontaneous pregnancy or resulting from oocyte donation (p = 0.686) had no significant influence on diameter change. Aortic growth between pregnancy and matched childless group (0.23 vs 0.32 mm/year, p = 0.788) was not significant over 3.3 ± 2 versus 4.4 ± 1 years. During pregnancy or the first 6 months after delivery no aortic complications were observed. In conclusion, this study suggests pregnancy in TS women does not induce faster ascending aortic diameter increase. Also not in presence of a bicuspid aortic valve, monosomy X karyotype, and oocyte donation. No aortic complications occurred. Based on current study pregnancy in TS women seems safe.

Fertility preservation for genetic diseases leading to premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)

PURPOSE

The current review aims to summarize the data available concerning the applicability of fertility preservation techniques to genetic conditions at risk of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

METHODS

A literature review through the PubMed Database was carried out.

RESULTS

About 10% of cases of POI is related to genetic diseases. The most frequent conditions associated with POI are Turner syndrome and fragile X pre-mutation; mutation of BRCA 1-2 genes and several other mutations and genetic syndromes have recently been highlighted, although they rarely occur. If a diagnosis is issued before POI onset, counseling on currently available fertility preservation techniques is advisable. In case of spontaneous menarche (this can occur variably depending on the mutation) established techniques like embryo or oocyte cryopreservation can be proposed, even if, in some cases, their effectiveness may be reduced by ovarian alterations connected to the mutation. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation has recently been defined as an established medical procedure for fertility preservation in young cancer patients and may be an option for prepubertal patients. However, it is still experimental in special populations with genetic diseases causing POI. New innovative experimental techniques, like in vitro maturation of immature oocytes (IVM) and vitro activation (IVA) of immature follicles on ovarian tissue, have shown limited but encouraging data and they will be probably available in the near future. For a correct risk-benefit evaluation, the following aspects should be considered: actual knowledge about the pathology-specific efficacy of the various techniques, the average age of onset of POI, the possible risks associated with the procedure in relation to the underlying pathology, the probability of spontaneous conception, as well as the health implications of a possible future pregnancy..

CONCLUSIONS

Fertility preservation techniques represent a crucial opportunity for patients with genetic risk of POI. Early diagnosis increases the chances to apply these techniques. No specific recommendations concerning fertility preservation for each genetic pathology are available, and clinicians should first counsel the patient and her relatives about known risks and benefits of the available techniques, both those established and those considered as experimental.

Genetic conditions impairing female fertility

Fertility represents a biological and psychological requirement for women. Some genetic diseases represent a rare cause of infertility, being responsible for 10% of cases of premature ovarian insufficiency. Among these, the most frequent and also those most studied by researchers are Turner Syndrome - due to a karyotype abnormality of the X chromosome pair - and the presence of fragile X premutation (FMR1). To exclude these conditions the diagnostic workup for non-iatrogenic premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) involves the performance of a karyotype analysis and the search for the FMR1 gene mutation, as well as the search for the presence of Y-chromosomal material. However, several other mutations and genetic syndromes associated with POI development have recently been highlighted, although they occur rarely, such as the GALT gene mutation in galactosemia or the FOXL2 gene mutation in BPES and many others, and further autosomal genetic testing are indicated if clinical suspicion is present. Mutations of BRCA 1 and 2 genes, make patients at genetically determined high risk of developing early ovarian or breast cancer and of getting POIs for the treatments they must undergo to prevent it (prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy) or treat it (chemotherapy). The management of impaired fertility is not less important than that of other syndromic manifestations for the quality of life of patients. Few data are available regarding the efficiency of cryopreservation of reproductive material (oocytes, embryos or ovarian tissue) in order to preserve fertility in this particular subgroup of patients, but certainly it represents a promising chance and a hope for the future.

Progress in Fertility Preservation Strategies in Turner Syndrome

Growth retardation and gonadal dysgenesis are two of the most important clinical manifestations of Turner syndrome (TS). As premature ovarian failure generally occurs early in life in women with TS, these patients should be counseled and evaluated as early as possible for discussion of optimal and individualized fertility preservation strategies. Infertility seriously affects the quality of life of women with TS. For those who have ovarian reserve, the theoretical options for future fertility in TS patients include cryopreservation of oocytes, ovarian tissues, and embryos. For those who have already lost their ovarian reserve, oocyte or embryo donation, gestational surrogacy, and adoption are strategies that allow fulfillment of desire for parenting. This review describes the etiologies of infertility and reviews the fertility preservation strategies for women with TS.