Time lapse microscopy is useful for elective single-embryo transfer

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Embryology
• In Vitro Fertilization

Background:

• Single-embryo transfer (SET) is increasingly adopted to reduce multiple pregnancies in assisted reproductive technology (ART).
• Time-lapse microscopy (TLM) offers continuous embryo monitoring, potentially improving embryo selection for SET.
• Comparing SET with double-embryo transfer (DET) is crucial for evaluating ART efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of time-lapse microscopy (TLM) as a selection tool for day 5 single-embryo transfer (SET).
• To compare pregnancy and multiple pregnancy rates between SET and double-embryo transfer (DET) cohorts.

Main Methods:

• Observational cohort study including 108 patients undergoing either SET (n=83) or DET (n=25).
• Embryos were incubated and evaluated using time-lapse microscopy (TLM) for selection.
• Pregnancy and multiple pregnancy rates were compared between the SET and DET groups.

Main Results:

• Similar pregnancy rates were observed between SET (42.2%) and DET (48.0%) groups.
• The multiple pregnancy rate was significantly lower in the SET group (2.9%) compared to the DET group (41.7%; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Single-embryo transfer (SET) utilizing time-lapse microscopy (TLM) does not decrease pregnancy rates compared to double-embryo transfer (DET).
• SET significantly reduces the incidence of multiple pregnancies, enhancing safety in ART.
• TLM is a viable tool for selecting single embryos for transfer, optimizing ART outcomes.