Vietnamese Doctor's Groundbreaking Infertility Study Featured in International Medical Journal
An infertility study conducted by Dr. Ho Ngoc Anh Vu of My Duc Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has been published in The Lancet, marking only the second time a Vietnamese medical study has appeared in the prestigious journal. The research, released on June 27, was carried out under the guidance of Associate Professor Vuong Thi Ngoc Lan, head of the Medicine Department at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City.
Dr. Vu, who leads the Assisted Reproduction Technique Unit at My Duc Hospital, collaborated with co-authors Pham Duong Toan, Nguyen Thanh Nam, Vuong Thi Ngoc Lan, Ho Manh Tuong, Rui Wang, Robert Norman, and Ben Mol on this significant study. The research focuses on protocols for preparing the uterine lining, comparing natural and modified natural cycle strategies with an artificial cycle strategy for endometrial preparation before frozen embryo transfer (FET).
The study aims to enhance the embryo's development environment, increasing the chances of pregnancy by tailoring protocols to individual patients' physical conditions. The research involved recruiting ovulatory women aged 18-45 years, randomly assigned to one of three endometrial preparation strategies: natural, modified natural, or artificial cycle. Between March 2021 and March 2023, 4,779 women were screened, and 1,428 were randomly assigned to each group.
The results showed that 99 first FET cycles were canceled in both the natural and modified natural cycle groups, compared to none in the artificial cycle group. The live birth rate after one FET was 37% in the natural cycle group, 33% in the modified natural cycle group, and 34% in the artificial cycle group. Maternal and neonatal outcomes did not differ significantly between groups.
These findings provide physicians with more scientific evidence to select the appropriate protocol for each patient, aiming to optimize treatment outcomes. The study's interim analysis was evaluated by an independent international data analysis board, including Professors Lyle Gurrin, Jim Thornton, and Ernest Ng from the U.K., Australia, and Hong Kong.
The research project faced interruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. The team had to adjust their sample collection plan while focusing on combating the pandemic. Research activities resumed after social distancing measures were lifted in Ho Chi Minh City. After completing sample collection in March 2023, the team prepared the manuscript and submitted the first draft to The Lancet in December 2023. The study underwent rigorous reviews and met numerous stringent requirements before being published.
The Lancet, first published in October 1823, is the world's most influential scientific journal, recognized for its high impact factor and credibility in the global medical and health science community. Research works accepted for publication in The Lancet are of superior scientific quality and significantly impact treatment and research activities.
