Related Experiment Videos
Blastocyst culture and transfer: a step toward improved in vitro fertilization outcome
Raja Z Karaki1, Sadoon S Samarraie, Nagham A Younis
1Fertility and Assisted Reproduction Unit, Amman, Jordan. alrabia@joinnet.com.jo
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of blastocyst culture and transfer in human in vitro fertilization (IVF) as compared to day 3 embryo transfer.
Design:
Prospective randomized trial.
Setting:
Private assisted reproduction unit.
Patient(S):
A total of 162 IVF patients were included in the day 3 embryo transfer (n = 82) and blastocyst transfer (n = 80) groups.
Intervention(S):
Embryo transfer on day 3 after culture in the standard culture media and blastocyst transfer on day 5 or 6 after culture in the sequential culture media.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Implantation and pregnancy rates, multiple gestation rate.
Result(S):
The implantation rate for embryos transferred at the blastocyst stage was significantly higher than that for embryos transferred on day 3 (26% vs. 13%). The viable pregnancy rate was similar in both groups (29% vs. 26%). Significantly fewer embryos were required for transfer at the blastocyst stage compared with day 3 embryo transfer (2.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.63). The high-order multiple gestation rate was significantly less with the blastocyst transfer than with the day 3 embryo transfer (4% vs. 19%).
Conclusion(S):
With the use of blastocyst culture, a few embryos can be transferred without decreasing the overall pregnancy rate. This may reduce multiple gestations and improve human IVF outcome.