Live birth resulting from a conjoined oocyte confirmed as euploid using array CGH: a case report.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
• Embryology

Background:

• Conjoined oocytes, characterized by two oocytes within a single zona pellucida or fused zonally, are rare in clinical IVF.
• Limited data exists on their significance and developmental potential, often leading to their discard without fertilization attempts.

Observation:

• A conjoined oocyte was identified and processed for IVF.
• The germinal vesicle was removed on day 3, and the resulting embryo was genetically screened.
• A single embryo derived from the conjoined oocyte was transferred.

Findings:

• The embryo developed to the blastocyst stage.
• A clinical pregnancy was confirmed with a gestational sac and fetal heartbeat.
• A healthy baby girl was delivered at 37 weeks' gestation following Caesarean section.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates the potential viability of embryos derived from conjoined oocytes.
• It suggests that conjoined oocytes may not necessarily be non-viable and warrant further investigation.
• This finding could impact laboratory protocols regarding the handling and assessment of conjoined oocytes in IVF.