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Updated: May 20, 2026

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Human Blastocyst Biopsy and Vitrification
Published on: July 26, 2019
Time-dependent O2 consumption patterns determined optimal time ranges for selecting viable human embryos.
Alberto Tejera1, Javier Herrero, Thamara Viloria
1Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Fertility and Sterility
|July 28, 2012
Summary
Oxygen consumption (OC) patterns in human embryos correlate with implantation success. Measuring OC up to 72 hours can help select embryos with the highest developmental potential for improved IVF outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Embryology
- Metabolic research
Background:
- Embryo metabolic activity is crucial for development and implantation.
- Oxygen consumption (OC) reflects an embryo's energy production capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between embryo metabolic activity, measured by OC, and implantation potential.
- To determine if OC patterns can predict successful embryo implantation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 575 injected oocytes from 56 oocyte donation cycles.
- Measured OC patterns of embryos over time (up to 85 measurements per embryo).
- Correlated OC patterns with embryo destination, ongoing pregnancy, and successful implantation.
Main Results:
- Embryo OC generally decreased during development.
- OC patterns from 52 hours post-insemination showed the strongest correlation with implantation success.
- Similar OC patterns were observed for embryos based on their destination (transferred, frozen, discarded).
Conclusions:
- Individual embryo OC patterns, especially near transfer time, significantly differ and correlate with implantation.
- Measuring human embryo OC patterns during culture up to 72 hours can aid in selecting embryos with optimal developmental potential.
- This method may enhance in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates.

