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Related Concept Videos

In Vitro Fertilization01:24

In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology where an egg is fertilized with sperm in a controlled laboratory environment before transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus. This process is designed to help individuals and couples experiencing difficulties conceiving.
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...
Cleavage and Blastulation01:33

Cleavage and Blastulation

After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

The Immediate Partial Removal of Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes: A Refined Approach for Rapid Observation of In Vitro Fertilization
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Day 3 embryo shape as a morphologic selection parameter in in vitro fertilization.

Sophia C Kamran1, David E Reichman, Stacey A Missmer

  • 1Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
|August 15, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Embryo shape is not a reliable predictor of successful pregnancy in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. This morphological characteristic is unlikely to improve embryo selection beyond existing criteria like cell number and fragmentation.

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Embryology
  • In vitro fertilization (IVF)

Background:

  • Assessing embryo developmental potential is crucial for successful IVF outcomes.
  • Morphological assessment of embryos is a key component of embryo selection.
  • Novel methods for embryo assessment are continuously being investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if embryo shape is a useful morphological predictor of developmental competence in IVF cycles.
  • To evaluate the association between quantitative embryo shape measurements and IVF outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 218 day 3 single embryo transfer (SET) and 225 day 3 double embryo transfer (DET) cycles.
  • Analysis focused on 8-cell, non-fragmented embryos with symmetric blastomeres.
  • Embryo shape was quantitatively assessed using MATLAB image analysis, with a score of 1.0 representing a perfectly circular embryo.

Main Results:

  • In SET cycles, embryo shape did not significantly impact embryo developmental fate.
  • In DET cycles, a trend suggested better outcomes with rounder embryos, but only one subgroup showed significantly lower live-birth odds.
  • Combined analysis of SET and DET data indicated embryo shape is not a predictor of IVF outcome.

Conclusions:

  • Day 3 embryo shape shows a weak association with implantation potential.
  • Embryo shape is unlikely to be a valuable additional marker for embryo selection.
  • Further research is needed to evaluate embryo shape in embryos at different developmental stages and grades.