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Updated: Sep 24, 2025
Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
Published on: September 16, 2021
Use of pentoxifylline during ovarian stimulation to improve oocyte and embryo quality: A retrospective study
Salvatore Giovanni Vitale1, Marco Palumbo1, Agnese Maria Chiara Rapisarda1
1Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Objective:
This study aims to investigate if the administration of pentoxifylline during ovarian stimulation have an impact on the quantity and quality of oocytes recovered for in vitro fertilization (IVF), the quality of zygotes and embryos resulting from IVF, the serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations, the endometrial thickness and pregnancy outcomes after embryo transfer.
Methods:
Retrospective crossover study including 18 women with recurrent implantation failur, defined as having a history of at least two consecutive cycles of implantation failure and 25-45 years of age at the time of embryo transfer. Pentoxifylline was added during their following IVF attempt aiming to improve endometrial function. Oocyte, zygote and embryo quality, serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations, endometrial thickness and IVF outcomes were compared between the two sequential attempts.
Results:
Compared to the first attempt, the outcomes of the second attempt, with the addition of pentoxifylline administration, resulted in higher numbers of total and mature oocytes, better oocyte, zygote and embryo quality, higher serum estradiol concentrations, thicker endometrium and better clinical IVF outcomes.
Conclusions:
The administration of pentoxifylline during ovarian stimulation seems to improve IVF outcomes, not only by the generating a thicker endometrial lining, but also by producing a higher number of oocytes, with better oocyte, zygote and embryo quality, and higher serum estradiol concentrations.
