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Methods of water purification for the preparation of culture media in an IVF-ET programme
J L Yovich1, W R Edirisinghe, J M Yovich
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
Abstract:
Five methods of water purification for culture media preparation have been described. The quality of media thus prepared has been assessed retrospectively by relating to the fertilization and pregnancy rates of a total of 646 treatment cycles in an in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) programme. All media for human use was subjected to quality control assessment in a mouse embryo culture system. Although no differences were seen in the fertilization rates or the proportion of women proceeding to embryo transfer, significant differences were seen in the pregnancy rates. The highest pregnancy rates were obtained using rainwater distilled six times (22/100, 22%) or eight times (40/184, 21.7%), and water polished using a Milli-Q water purifying system (41/181, 22.7%). Significantly lower pregnancy rates were obtained when the water was purified using an alternative Milli-Q system (9/89, 10.1%) or dam water distilled six times (6/63, 9.5%). These findings may reflect contamination of local dam water supplies but demonstrate the difficulty in purifying water for the preparation of culture medium.
Insights
Water purification methods significantly impact pregnancy rates in in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Highly purified water, like distilled rainwater or Milli-Q polished water, yielded the best results, highlighting the importance of water quality in assisted reproductive technologies.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Biotechnology
- Environmental science
Background:
- Water quality is critical for preparing culture media used in assisted reproductive technologies.
- In-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) programs rely on high-quality media for optimal outcomes.
- Previous studies have explored various water purification techniques, but their impact on IVF success rates requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of five different water purification methods on the quality of culture media used in IVF-ET.
- To assess the relationship between water purification techniques and fertilization, embryo transfer, and pregnancy rates.
- To identify optimal water purification strategies for preparing media in human IVF programs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 646 IVF-ET treatment cycles.
- Assessment of media quality using a mouse embryo culture system for quality control.
- Comparison of fertilization, embryo transfer, and pregnancy rates across different water purification methods.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in fertilization rates or the proportion of women proceeding to embryo transfer across methods.
- Significantly higher pregnancy rates were achieved using rainwater distilled multiple times (21.7-22%) and Milli-Q polished water (22.7%).
- Lower pregnancy rates (9.5-10.1%) were associated with an alternative Milli-Q system and distilled dam water, suggesting potential contamination issues.
Conclusions:
- The method of water purification for culture media preparation significantly influences pregnancy rates in IVF-ET.
- Highly purified water, such as repeatedly distilled rainwater or polished Milli-Q water, is associated with superior pregnancy outcomes.
- Challenges in water purification underscore the need for stringent quality control to ensure the efficacy of assisted reproductive technologies.