1. HOW TO WRITE AN ABSTRACT P Devroey

2. Consideration on Fertility and Sterility November 2009

3. Which type of abstract? Which type of study? Historic cohort study Retrospective and analysis Laboratory based study Systematic review and meta-analysis In vitro and in vivo study Clinical study Retrospective non-randomized study Source Fertilty and Sterility November 2009

4. Which type of abstract? Which type of study? (continued) Retrospective cohort study Retrospective case series study Retrospective clinical study Retrospective data review Cross-sectional study Source Fertilty and Sterility November 2009

5. Pilot study Prospective cohort study Meta-analysis Systematic review Randomized controlled trial Which type of abstract? Which type of study? (continued) Source Fertilty and Sterility November 2009 Absent in Fertilty and Sterility November 2009

6. Which type of abstract? Which type of study? To be avoidedPreferred Historic cohort studyProspective cohort study Retrospective non-randomized studyProspective randomized controlled trial Retrospective case series studyNone Systematic review and meta-analysisSystematic review Systematic review and meta-analysisMeta-analysis

7. Preferred type of abstract and study Level of preference Pilot study ++ Prospective cohort study + Randomized controlled trial +++ Meta- analysis ++

8. Preferred type of abstract and study ( continued) Probability of acceptance Pilot study ++ Prospective cohort study + Randomized controlled trial +++ Meta- analysis +++ Historic cohort study -

9. Pilot study Innovative idea Mechanistic study Small sample Judgement positive Conclusion to start trial preferentialy randomized controlled trial

10. Randomized controlled trial State of the art Blinded Sealed envelopes Computer randomized list Primary end point (only one) Secundary end points Power calculation Level of significance

11. Examples of randomized controlled trials RCTPrimary end point Replacement of one day 3 versus one day 5 embryo Ongoing pregnancy rate hCG triggering versus hCG agonist triggering in antagonist cycle Number of MII oocytes Programming of antagonist cycles with or without estradiol priming Avoiding weekend oocyte retrievals

12. Proposal of abstract design ObjectiveIs day 5 ET preferential to day 3 ET? DesignRCT MethodsICSI Primary end pointPregnancy rate Results15% increased pregnancy rate after day 5 ET ConclusionsDay 5 ET is preferential to day 3 ET ReferencesX Y Z

13. Which is the perspective of an abstract ? To be presented on scientific meetings Oral presentation Poster presentation To be cited as an abstract To be written in a peer reviewed journal To be cited as a paper

14. Example of not well documented abstract ObjectiveDoes varicocele influence testicular volume DesignRetrospective clinical study Methods150 infertile patients with and 299 without varicocele Primary end pointSemen analysis, serum FSH, LH and testosteron levels ResultsSemen density and serum FSH did correlate with testicular volume in patients without varicocele ConclusionsPresence of varicocele influences testicular function ReferencesBonde JPE, et al Lancet 1998

15. Evaluation of properly performed abstract in Fertility and Sterility November 2009 Abstracts (n=26) Prospective design9 (35%) Non prospective design17 (65%)

16. Evaluation of properly performed abstract in Fertility and Sterility March 2013 Abstracts (n=35) Prospective design12 (34%) Non prospective design23 (66%)

17. Evaluation of properly performed abstract in Human Reproduction 2012 Abstracts (n=23) Prospective design6 (26%) Non prospective design17 (74%)

18. Evaluation of properly performed abstract in Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2013 Abstracts (n=13) Prospective design2 (15%) Non prospective design11 (85%)

19. Conclusions The majority of published abstracts does not comply with evidence based medicine It is of paramount importance to innitiate a correct study design Avoidance of studies with retrospective and historical nature Prospective studies are mandatory and preferred Every abstract has to be viewed as a highly cited paper in a peer reviewed journal

20. CODA Accepting reseach in our centers based on pilot studies prospective studies randomized controlled trials This type of research does not encounter competition High acceptance rates of abstracts and manuscripts are predictable Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are proned to be cited in meta- analysis