胚胎冷冻10年复苏并行囊胚培养后再次冷冻并复苏移植后获妊娠1例报道

目的:探讨在体外受精-胚胎移植(in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer,IVF-ET)过程中,卵裂期胚胎冷冻10年后解冻复苏再移植成功妊娠的可能性。方法:1例患者卵裂期胚胎冷冻10年后解冻复苏并行囊胚培养,获得囊胚后再次冷冻1年后复苏,行囊胚移植。结果:该患者移植后顺利获得临床妊娠,并于孕38周剖宫产一健康男婴。结论:长期保存的胚胎解冻后重新冷冻对最终获得妊娠依然有价值;冷冻胚胎囊胚培养有助于提高卵裂期胚胎冷冻复苏后的利用价值及提高胚胎着床率。     

废弃胚胎继续囊胚培养研究

目的:探讨体外受精治疗周期中废弃胚胎的体外发育潜能。方法:通过囊胚序贯培养法将无原核(0PN)、单个原核(1PN)、多个原核(≥3PN)和卵裂期发育延缓的2原核(2PN)废弃胚胎培养至囊胚期。比较不同来源胚胎囊胚形成情况和d3胚胎的卵裂球数、质量分级等;并利用废弃胚胎囊胚形成情况对体外受精妊娠结局进行预测。结果:共收集801个废弃胚胎,经序贯培养,形成209个囊胚(26.09%),其中58个为优质囊胚(27.75%)。1PN胚胎、0PN胚胎、d3卵裂球数为7-9-细胞胚胎、d3评分为Ⅰ-Ⅱ级胚胎以及卵裂球数为偶数的胚胎囊胚形成率较高(P均<0.05)。废弃胚胎中有囊胚形成者的临床妊娠率明显高于无囊胚形成者(P<0.05)。结论:废弃胚胎有不同程度的发育潜能,部分可发育为囊胚;特别是:①0PN和1PN胚胎;②d3的4-9-细胞胚胎,偶数卵裂球者更佳;③I级和Ⅱ级胚胎。     

影响冻融胚胎发育潜能及妊娠结局因素的探讨

目的:探讨胚胎冷冻复苏后,卵裂球存活状态对胚胎发育的影响以及体外授精(IVF)和卵胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)2种授精方式对冷冻胚胎复苏后体外发育能力和妊娠结局的影响。方法:回顾性分析142例患者,150个复苏周期,共769个冷冻胚胎复苏后培养至囊胚期进行移植的结果。结果:共复苏胚胎769个,存活胚胎702个,复苏率91.3%。220个胚胎(31%)到达囊胚阶段。在卵裂球全部存活胚胎中,囊胚形成率35%,部分存活胚胎中囊胚形成率24%,两者有统计学差异(P<0.01)。在卵裂球全部存活胚胎中,来源于IVF的胚胎囊胚形成率为40%,来源于ICSI的为26%,两者有统计学差异(P<0.01);部分卵裂球存活胚胎中来源于IVF的胚胎囊胚形成率为26%,来源于ICSI的为19%,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。在全部220个囊胚中,IVF组的优质囊胚率为38.6%,ICSI组的优质囊胚率为21.0%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。临床妊娠率IVF组和ICSI组分别为61.05%与61.11%;胚胎种植率分别为37.50%与36.67%,活产率分别为81.03%与78.79%,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:胚胎冷冻复苏后卵裂球的损伤削弱了囊胚形成能力,影响卵裂期胚胎进一步发育,这与ICSI和冷冻胚胎复苏后发育潜能的降低有关,但其对临床结果和妊娠结局的影响不大。     

囊胚和卵裂期胚胎的早期胚胎流产率比较

目的:探讨辅助生殖技术中囊胚培养是否能够筛选出更加具有发育潜能的胚胎,降低胚胎的早期流产率。方法:回顾性分析因单纯输卵管因素或/及男性因素接受囊胚期与第3日卵裂期胚胎移植获得妊娠后患者的流产率。总周期数1 673个,其中新鲜胚胎移植周期(fresh embryotransfer)932个(囊胚移植139个周期,卵裂期胚胎移植793个周期),冻融胚胎移植周期(frozen-thawed embryo transfer)741个(囊胚移植211个周期,卵裂期胚胎移植530个周期)。结果:Logistic回归分析表明无论新鲜胚胎移植组还是冻融胚胎移植组,囊胚期胚胎受孕后的早期胚胎流产率均低于第3日的卵裂期胚胎,并且囊胚移植和卵裂期胚胎移植的流产率均与妇女年龄呈正相关。结论:无论新鲜胚胎移植组还是冻融胚胎移植组,囊胚移植均比第3日卵裂期胚胎移植流产风险降低。年龄仍是影响移植后妊娠早期流产的重要因素。     

囊胚期与卵裂期胚胎培养及移植60例疗效比较

目的比较囊胚期与卵裂期胚胎培养及移植的疗效。方法2002年9月至2003年2月,中国医科大学第二医院采用序贯培养的方法,对30例(囊胚组)IVFET的患者进行囊胚培养及移植,并与30例(卵裂组)在胚胎卵裂期移植的IVFET患者作配对研究。囊胚组移植胚胎1～2枚,对照组移植胚胎3枚。比较两组的胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率及多胎妊娠率。结果囊胚组的胚胎种植率高于卵裂组(56.76%、17.78%),差异有显著性意义(χ2=9.44,P<0.05)。囊胚组的临床妊娠率高于卵裂组(59.29%、26.70%),差异有显著性意义(χ2=4.37,P<0.05)。囊胚组与卵裂组多胎妊娠率分别为31.25%、62.50%。结论囊胚期胚胎培养及移植的疗效优于卵裂期。     

融合期胚胎和囊胚移植的探讨

目的：探讨融合期胚胎和囊胚单胚胎移植的可行性.方法：选取苏北人民医院生殖医学中心冷冻胚胎解冻移植231个周期的患者为研究对象,比较卵裂期胚胎移植组、融合期胚胎移植组和囊胚移植组的胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率以及多胎的发生率.结果：融合期胚胎移植组平均移植胚胎数低于卵裂期胚胎移植组,差异有统计学意义[（1.35±0.50） 个vs.（1.73±0.59） 个,t=-4.902,P＜0.001],但其胚胎种植率和临床妊娠率高于卵裂期胚胎移植组,差异均有统计学意义（49.58% vs.23.00%,χ2=24.567,P＜0.001;53.41% vs.34.15%,χ2=7.805,P=0.005）;囊胚移植组胚胎种植率高于卵裂期胚胎移植组,差异有统计学意义（46.88% vs.23.00%,χ2=8.214,P=0.004）;3组间多胎发生率差异无统计学意义（χ2=2.231,P=0.328）.结论：进行融合期胚胎或囊胚移植可获得较高的胚胎种植率和周期移植妊娠率,降低多胎率,尤其应用于单胚胎移植有重要意义.     

卵裂期评分对优质囊胚移植妊娠结局的预测价值探讨

目的:探讨优质囊胚的卵裂期胚胎评分对囊胚移植妊娠结局的预测作用。方法:回顾性分析2012年10月至2015年10月于中山大学附属第六医院生殖医学研究中心行新鲜或解冻优质囊胚移植的108例周期资料,其中移植来源于优质卵裂期胚胎的优质囊胚为H-H组(59例),移植来源于非优质卵裂期胚胎的优质囊胚为P-H组(49例)。比较两组移植情况及妊娠结局,并采用Logistic回归分析临床妊娠结局的相关因素。结果:H-H组59例均为单囊胚移植;P-H组中有42例为单囊胚移植;7例移植2枚囊胚(1枚优质囊胚及1枚非优质囊胚);H-H组的临床妊娠率及胚胎种植率较P-H组高(57.63%vs 34.69%,P=0.017;57.63%vs 32.14%,P=0.004),且流产率较后者低(16.13%vs 47.06%,P=0.039)。Logistic回归分析提示优质囊胚的卵裂期评分与临床妊娠结局相关(OR 2.560,P=0.019),而其他混杂因素与临床妊娠结局的关联差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:卵裂期评分较低的胚胎,即使发育至优质囊胚,移植后妊娠率和流产率并不乐观,或不适用于优质单囊胚移植策略。优质囊胚的卵裂期评分可作为胚胎发育潜能的预测因素,改进优质单囊胚移植策略的实际应用。     

输卵管积水患者冻融胚胎移植周期移植卵裂胚及囊胚妊娠结局的对比分析

目的:对比分析输卵管积水患者冻融胚胎移植(FET)周期中卵裂期胚胎及囊胚移植的妊娠结局。方法:回顾性分析2017年1月至2019年12月在空军军医大学唐都医院生殖医学中心合并输卵管积水患者行FET助孕的235个周期。根据移植不同时期胚胎,分为两组:卵裂胚组(n=132);囊胚组(n=103)。收集患者一般资料,包括女方年龄、男方年龄、体质量指数(BMI)、抗苗勒管激素(AMH)、不孕类型、不孕年限、不孕因素、输卵管积水诊断方式及分布情况、FET周期子宫内膜准备方案、移植日子宫内膜厚度及形态、移植次数、移植胚胎数、辅助孵化(AH);比较两组临床妊娠率、种植率、异位妊娠率、流产率及活产率等差异。结果:两组患者一般情况差异无统计学意义。FET周期临床资料中,移植胚胎数(1.88±0.33个vs 1.04±0.19个,P0.05)及AH比率(30.30%vs 23.30%,P0.05)卵裂胚组均显著高于囊胚组;移植日子宫内膜形态两组差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。妊娠结局中,临床妊娠率(42.42%vs 47.57%,P0.05)、种植率(30.12%vs 46.73%,P0.05)及活产率(36.36%vs 42.72%,P0.05)囊胚组均显著高于卵裂胚组,而异位妊娠率(8.93%vs 4.08%,P0.05)囊胚组显著低于卵裂胚组,两组流产率差异无统计学意义。通过多元回归模型校正后,临床妊娠率(OR 1.66,95%CI 1.06～2.52,P0.05)、种植率(OR 1.75,95%CI 1.46～3.18,P0.05)、异位妊娠率(OR 0.40,95%CI 0.01～0.92,P0.05)及活产率(OR 1.87,95%CI 1.49～3.07,P0.05),两组间差异有统计学意义。结论:对于输卵管积水患者,相较于移植卵裂期胚胎,FET周期行囊胚移植临床妊娠率、种植率及活产率更高,异位妊娠率更低,妊娠结局更好。【     

人卵裂期胚胎和囊胚玻璃化冷冻妊娠结局分析

目的探讨人卵裂期胚胎和囊胚玻璃化冷冻解冻后复苏效果及妊娠结局。方法回顾性分析434个卵裂期胚胎（卵裂组）和102个囊胚解冻周期（囊胚组）的临床资料,比较采用玻璃化冷冻解冻后的复苏率及妊娠结局。结果囊胚组患者的临床妊娠率和胚胎种植率分别为63.73%（65/102）和45.79%（87/190）,卵裂组分别为42.82%（185/432）和24.17%（241/997）,两组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P均〈0.05）;囊胚组患者的复苏率、流产率和异位妊娠率分别为98.45%（190/193）、12.31%（8/65）和0（0/65）,卵裂组分别为97.55%（997/1 022）、13.51%（25/185）和2.16%（4/185）,两组比较,差异均无统计学意义（P均〉0.05）。卵裂组中,卵裂球完全存活患者的临床妊娠率和胚胎种植率分别为44.62%（170/381）和25.57%（224/876）,非完全存活者分别为29.41%（15/51）和14.05%（17/121）,两组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P均〈0.05）。结论囊胚解冻移植的妊娠结局优于卵裂期胚胎,卵裂期胚胎解冻后胚胎的完整性影响胚胎种植。     

冻融囊胚移植降低重复性异位妊娠发生

目的:探讨重复性异位妊娠的发生与移植日胚胎发育天数的关系。方法:回顾性分析741个冻融胚胎移植(FET)周期且有明确异位妊娠病史患者的临床资料。按胚胎体外培养时间分为卵裂组,复融第3日胚胎(n=458);囊胚组,复融第5或第6日囊胚(n=283)。比较组间患者的一般情况及治疗情况。结果:组间患者的平均年龄、平均不孕年限、既往异位妊娠病史、输卵管手术史、内膜准备方案、内膜厚度等差异无统计学意义(P0.05),囊胚组平均移植胚胎数低于卵裂组(1.9±1.3 vs 2.0±0.5,P0.05),临床妊娠率、双胎妊娠率囊胚组高于卵裂组(75.97%vs 42.36%,57.20%vs 31.40%,P0.05),流产率、重复异位妊娠率囊胚组低于卵裂组(6.97%vs 16.49%,0.82%vs 5.15%,P0.05)。结论:有异位妊娠病史的患者,囊胚移植可降低重复异位妊娠的发生风险。     

Blastocyst culture after repeated failure of cleavage-stage embryo transfers: a comparison of day 5 and day 6 transfers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of blastocyst transfer among patients with at least three previous cleavage-stage embryo transfer failures and to compare pregnancy and implantation rates of blastocysts according to the day of embryo transfer (day 5 or day 6 after oocyte retrieval). DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: Private ART center. PATIENT(S): One hundred forty-eight patients (with at least three failed cleavage-stage embryo transfers) undergoing blastocyst-stage embryo transfer. INTERVENTION(S): Embryos were grown for up to 6 days and only blastocyst-stage (cavitating) embryos were transferred on either day 5 or day 6 after oocyte retrieval. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy and implantation rates. RESULT(S): Blastocysts transferred on day 5 implanted almost five times the rate of those transferred on day 6 (23% vs. 5%). Pregnancy rates were triple as high among the 73 day 5 patients compared to the 63 day 6 transfer patients (38% vs. 11%). The number of blastocysts formed and per embryo rates of blastocyst formation were both significantly higher for patients undergoing day 5 transfers: more blastocysts developed (3.0 vs. 2.1) and more were transferred (3.0 vs. 1.9). In addition, blastocyst formation rates were 46% and 33%, respectively, for both groups of patients. CONCLUSION(S): Blastocyst transfer (preferably on day 5 after retrieval) appears to be a successful and improved alternative for patients with multiple failed IVF attempts. Moreover, with blastocyst transfer there should be a reduction in multiple pregnancy risk, because fewer embryos have to be transferred.     

CLINICAL ASSISTED REPRODUCTION: Development of Blastocyst-Stage Embryos After Round Spermatid Injection in Patients with Complete Spermiogenesis Failure

Purpose: Our purpose was to evaluate the progression of embryos derived from round spermatid injection to the blastocyst stage and compare the results with those obtained by the use of testicular or epididymal spermatozoa.Methods: Thirty-eight patients with azoospermia enrolled in this study. In 29 patients with obstructive or nonobstructive azoospermia, spermatozoa were recovered from epididymis or testis. In the remaining nine cases with nonobstructive azoospermia, only round spermatids were found in seven, whereas in two of the patients, there were no elongated or round spermatids. Six of these cases underwent round spermatid injection.Results: Twenty-one of 29 patients with injection of spermatozoa underwent embryo transfer on day 3, and 10 pregnancies (47.6%) were obtained. In eight cycles, embryos were further cultured for delayed transfer. In six cases undergoing round spermatid injection, no transfer was performed on day 3 and extended culture with delayed embryo transfer was applied. The mean number of fertilized oocytes and mean number of embryos on day 3 and also the fertilization rate and mean number of good-quality embryos on day 3, mainly grade 1 or 2, were statistically significantly higher in the spermatozoa group than the round spermatid injection group. Compared to the spermatozoa group, the number of arrested embryos was significantly higher and the number of blastocyst-stage embryos and number of good-quality blastocysts were significantly lower in the spermatid injection group. No blastocysts developed in two spermatid cycles and embryo transfer was not possible, and in the remaining four cycles, after at least one blastocyst transfer, no pregnancies were achieved. However, in eight cycles with extended culture in the spermatozoa group, embryo transfers were achieved in all and three pregnancies, for a pregnancy rate of 37.5%, were obtained after blastocyst transfer.Conclusions: Our preliminary results showed that round spermatid injection was associated with a significantly lower fertilization and embryo development rate and a significantly higher developmental arrest rate compared with the injection of spermatozoa. Extended culture and delayed embryo transfer did not improve the clinical outcome after round spermatid injection, and these results suggested a developmental failure in embryos preventing successful implantation after round spermatid injection.     

单囊胚移植在全胚冷冻患者中的临床应用

目的 探讨全胚冷冻后冻融胚胎移植（FET）周期第3天(D3)卵裂期胚胎,第5、6天双囊胚及单囊胚移植的临床效果分析。方法 回顾性分析2010年1月至2012年12月在河南省人民医院生殖医学研究所行体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）的不孕患者,以全胚玻璃化冷冻FET周期的患者为研究对象,根据患者的意愿分为D3胚胎移植组（A组,n=456）;双囊胚移植组（B组,n=106）;单囊胚移植组（C组,n=402）。比较3组之间基本资料、IVF治疗的妊娠结局。结果 与A组比较,B、C两组患者平均冷冻胚胎数、平均移植胚胎数少,移植周期率低,而种植率高,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;C组平均移植胚胎数亦少于B组,而B组临床妊娠率、最初周期妊娠率高于A、C两组,C组多胎率低于A、B两组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;C组早期流产率显著性低于A组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 对于全胚冷冻患者,当D3可利用胚胎个数≥4时,囊胚培养后玻璃化冷冻,择期FET周期选择性单囊胚移植是目前最佳的冷冻策略和最有益的临床处理方案。     

Noninvasive assessment of human embryo nutrient consumption as a measure of developmental potential

Objective: To determine the relationship between blastocyst development and morphology and embryo metabolism.

Design: Noninvasive assessment of carbohydrate uptake and ammonium production by individual embryos.

Setting: Private assisted reproductive technology unit.

Patient(s): Patients donated, with consent, cryopreserved pronucleate embryos and noncryopreserved blastocysts.

Intervention(s): Culture of 60 thawed pronucleate embryos in sequential media to the blastocyst stage with concomitant noninvasive analysis of embryo metabolism and analysis of 13 blastocysts from noncryopreserved embryos.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Pyruvate and glucose consumption as well as blastocyst formation and quality.

Result(s): Pyruvate and glucose uptakes on day 4 were significantly higher by embryos that went on to form blastocysts than by embryos that failed to develop to the blastocyst stage. Glucose uptakes were greatest in those blastocysts of highest grade, whereas pyruvate uptakes were similar irrespective of blastocyst grade, indicating that glucose is the more important nutrient for the human blastocyst. Among blastocysts of the same grade from the same patient, there was considerable spread of glucose consumption, indicating that glucose consumption may be of use in identifying blastocysts for transfer. Ammonium production by individual embryos was also measured, reflecting amino acid transamination and use by the human embryo.

Conclusion(s): The ability to identify in culture the embryo with the highest developmental potential will facilitate the move to single-embryo transfers.     

Blastocyst culture and cryopreservation to optimize clinical outcomes of warming cycles

Surplus embryos available for cryopreservation in fresh cycles are considered as having good potential for future use. However, the optimal stage of embryo cryopreservation remains unclear. In this study, 1190 patients with surplus embryos on day 3 were divided into two groups: cleavage-stage embryo cryopreservation (control group) and blastocyst cryopreservation (blastocyst group). The clinical outcomes of the subsequent warming cycles were evaluated. The proportion of cycles with blastocyst formation was 73.8% in the blastocyst group. Although in the blastocyst group, the cancellation rate of blastocyst transfer was increased due to lack of blastocysts available for cryopreservation, the blastocyst group achieved significantly higher rates of clinical pregnancy/cycle (43.2% versus 34.9%; P = 0.003), pregnancy/transfer (59.5% versus 35.4%; P < 0.001) and implantation (46.5% versus 22.2%; P < 0.001) from the first warming cycle compared with the control group. In an embryo-number classified analysis, the clinical pregnancy rate was also higher in the blastocyst group. However, the cumulative pregnancy was similar between the two groups. Blastocyst culture as an embryo selection tool will not improve embryo viability but it will help patients to achieve pregnancy more quickly. Extended culture of surplus embryos to the blastocyst stage for cryopreservation optimizes the clinical outcomes.Surplus embryos available for cryopreservation in fresh cycles have been considered as having good potential for future use. However, it remains unclear whether cleavage-stage embryo cryopreservation on day 3 or further extended culture with blastocyst cryopreservation on day 5 or 6 is of most benefit to patients. This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical outcomes of vitrified–warmed embryo transfer cycles according to cryopreservation of embryos at different stages. The study enrolled 1190 patients with surplus embryos on day 3, who were divided into two groups: cleavage-stage embryo cryopreservation (control group) and blastocyst cryopreservation (blastocyst group). The proportion of cycles with blastocyst formation in the blastocyst group was 73.8%. Although the cancellation rate of blastocyst transfer in the blastocyst group was increased due to lack of blastocysts available for cryopreservation, the blastocyst group achieved significantly higher rates of clinical pregnancy/cycle (43.2% versus 34.9%; P = 0.003), clinical pregnancy/transfer (59.5% versus 35.4%; P < 0.001) and implantation (46.5% versus 22.2%; P < 0.001) from the first warming cycle as compared with the control group. In an embryo-number classified analysis, the clinical pregnancy rate was also higher in the blastocyst group. However, the cumulative pregnancy was similar between the two groups. In conclusion, blastocyst culture as an embryo selection tool will not improve embryo viability but it will help patients to achieve pregnancy more quickly. Extended culture of surplus embryos to the blastocyst stage for cryopreservation optimizes the clinical outcomes of the subsequent warming cycles.     

不同发育天数囊胚冻融移植后妊娠结局分析

目的比较不同发育天数冻融囊胚移植后的妊娠结局。方法回顾性分析1 176例行冻融囊胚移植患者的临床资料,其中植入前遗传学诊断(preimplantation genetic diagnosis,PGD)周期135例,比较第5日单囊胚移植(single embryo transfer,SET)组、双囊胚移植(double embryo transfer,DET)组与第6日SET组和DET组的妊娠结局。结果同是优质囊胚级别的条件下,第5日DET组的生化妊娠率(56.91%)、临床妊娠率(53.25%)以及多胎妊娠率(1.20%)显著高于其他组(P0.05);第5日DET组与SET组的胚胎着床率无统计学差异(P0.05),但均显著高于第6日DET组和SET组(P0.05);同级别以及PGD周期中第5日和第6日SET组相比较,第5日组的生化妊娠率、胚胎着床率均显著高于第6日组(P0.05)。结论在同是优质囊胚的条件下,第5日SET、DET及经PGD诊断的SET妊娠结局均优于第6日。     

Effectiveness of two-step (consecutive) embryo transfer in patients who have two embryos on day 2: comparison with cleavage-stage embryo transfer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness, for patients who have only two embryos on day 2, of a two-step (consecutive) embryo transfer (ET) procedure in which a cleaved embryo is transferred on day 2 and a single blastocyst is transferred on day 5. DESIGN: Observational comparative study. SETTING: Private IVF clinic. PATIENT(S): Ninety two-step ET cycles were performed in patients who had two embryos on day 2 (two-step group). Ninety day-2 ET cycles were performed in age- and infertility-matched patients who had two embryos on day 2 (control group). INTERVENTION(S): Cleaved-ET, extended culture of one embryo, and a second transfer of a blastocyst. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Implantation and pregnancy rates. RESULT(S): The pregnancy and implantation rates in the two-step group (respectively 33.3% and 17.2%) were significantly higher than those in the control group (18.9% and 9.4%). Thirty-nine of the patients in the two-step group (43.3%) could not proceed to the second step of ET because no viable blastocyst could be obtained, but four of them conceived anyway. CONCLUSION(S): Taking advantage of both day-2 ET and blastocyst transfer, two-step ET may be an effective option for ET in patients who have an insufficient number of embryos.     

The effect of short-term disturbance of day 3 embryo culture on the development and implantation

Abstract

This study is carried out to estimate the effect on embryo development and implantation potential performed by inevitably occurring short-term 3-day embryo culture condition disorders due to light microscopy applied for morphology parameter assay. One thousand two hundred and fifty-three IVF program results were analyzed to measure the pregnancy rate on embryo transfer and the percentage of embryos reached the blastocyst stage. In 58% of cases, on the 3rd day the quality of embryos was not evaluated (n?=?730), while in 42% of cases the evaluation was done on day 3 (n?=?523). Embryo development estimation on day 3 affects the pregnancy rate and implantation potential especially in patients of older age group. Additional embryo analysis also affects the number of blastocysts obtained. The pregnancy rate for 3rd and 5th day transfer does not differ. Additional analysis of the 3rd day embryos reduces the PR in patients of the older age group. Embryo culture condition variation has a considerable impact on obtained blastocyst number (i.e blastocyst formation) especially in patients of the older age group.     

Blastocyst-stage transfer of poor-quality cleavage-stage embryos results in higher implantation rates

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility and success of blastocyst-stage embryo transfers in patients having only fair and poor quality cleavage-stage embryos on day 3. DESIGN: Prospective case study with historic controls. SETTING: Tertiary care private hospital IVF center. PATIENT(S): A total of 158 day 5 embryo transfer cycles in patients with grade 3 and grade 4 cleavage-stage embryos. Control group consisted of 162 day 3 transfer cycles performed with embryos of similar quality. INTERVENTION(S): In vitro culture of embryos up to the blastocyst stage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The percentage of cycles that culminated in the transfer of at least one blastocyst and implantation and pregnancy rate related to the day of transfer. RESULT(S): In the day 3 transfer group, a mean of 5.2 embryos were replaced per patient. This was significantly more than the mean of 2.4 embryos that could be replaced on day 5 (P <.001). The clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was 27.2% and 33.5% in the two groups, respectively (P >.05). The implantation rate per embryo was significantly higher in the day 5 transfer group (15% vs. 5.9%). The multiple pregnancy and abortion rates were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION(S): Transfer of fair and poor quality embryos at the blastocyst stage is feasible and is associated with higher implantation rates as compared to transfer of similar quality embryos on day 3.