Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

In Vitro Fertilization01:24

In Vitro Fertilization

840
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...
840
Infertility in Females01:28

Infertility in Females

3.6K
Female infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse and affects about 10–15% of couples worldwide. The primary cause of female infertility is ovulatory disorders, which hinder the release of eggs. These disorders can be classified as hypothalamic amenorrhea, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure, and hyperprolactinemic anovulation disorders.
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of...
3.6K
Infertility in Males01:23

Infertility in Males

509
Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
509
Meiosis II01:57

Meiosis II

206.4K
Meiosis II is the second and final stage of meiosis. It relies on the haploid cells produced during meiosis I, each of which contain only 23 chromosomes—one from each homologous initial pair. Importantly, each chromosome in these cells is composed of two joined copies, and when these cells enter meiosis II, the goal is to separate such sister chromatids using the same microtubule-based network employed in other division processes. The result of meiosis II is two haploid cells, each...
206.4K
Oogenesis02:07

Oogenesis

68.8K
In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
68.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A large retrospective study on 1PN embryo transfer supports the need for updated harmonized best practice guidelines.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

The efficacy of frozen-thawed oocytes compared with fresh oocytes: real-world evidence.

Fertility and sterility·2026
Same author

The Istanbul consensus update: a revised ESHRE/ALPHA consensus on oocyte and embryo static and dynamic morphological assessment†,‡.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2025
Same author

Blastocyst quality and reproductive and perinatal outcomes: a multinational multicentre observational study.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2023
Same author

Symmetry at the 4-Cell Stage Is Associated with Embryo Aneuploidy.

Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)·2021
Same author

Do patient factors influence embryologists' decisions to freeze borderline blastocysts?

Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics·2020

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Culture and Co-Culture of Mouse Ovaries and Ovarian Follicles
10:41

Culture and Co-Culture of Mouse Ovaries and Ovarian Follicles

Published on: March 17, 2015

23.5K

Culture media age does not affect IVF outcomes.

Dean E Morbeck1,2, Natalie Hesketh1, Diana Bui1

  • 1Genea Fertility, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|December 10, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The age of single-step embryo culture medium up to its 1-year shelf-life does not impact in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes, including embryo development, live birth rates, or neonatal health. This finding supports flexible media usage, potentially reducing waste and costs in IVF.

Keywords:
embryo culture medialive birthmedia ageshelf-lifesustainability

More Related Videos

Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application
08:51

Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application

Published on: August 19, 2019

20.1K
Chromosome Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos by Using Spent Culture Medium: Sample Collection and Chromosomal Ploidy Analysis
12:32

Chromosome Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos by Using Spent Culture Medium: Sample Collection and Chromosomal Ploidy Analysis

Published on: September 7, 2021

2.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Culture and Co-Culture of Mouse Ovaries and Ovarian Follicles
10:41

Culture and Co-Culture of Mouse Ovaries and Ovarian Follicles

Published on: March 17, 2015

23.5K
Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application
08:51

Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application

Published on: August 19, 2019

20.1K
Chromosome Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos by Using Spent Culture Medium: Sample Collection and Chromosomal Ploidy Analysis
12:32

Chromosome Screening of Human Preimplantation Embryos by Using Spent Culture Medium: Sample Collection and Chromosomal Ploidy Analysis

Published on: September 7, 2021

2.6K

Area of Science:

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

Background:

  • Media quality is crucial in IVF, with composition, pH, and osmolality being key factors.
  • The impact of embryo culture medium shelf-life on IVF success rates remains understudied.
  • Varied expiration dates among suppliers create logistical challenges and potential waste.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether the storage duration of single-step embryo culture medium affects IVF outcomes.
  • To assess the association between media age and embryo development, pregnancy rates, and birthweight.
  • To determine if using older media within its shelf-life impacts neonatal health.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective multicenter study of 9680 IVF/ICSI cycles across eight Australian clinics (Oct 2020 - Dec 2023).
  • Inclusion criteria: autologous cycles with at least one fertilized oocyte and known media production date.
  • Analysis of embryo development, clinical pregnancy, live birth, preterm birth, and birthweight using regression models.

Main Results:

  • Media age at use ranged from 38 to 365 days (mean 190 days).
  • No significant association found between media age and embryo development (Day 5/6 blastocysts).
  • Media age did not correlate with cumulative pregnancy, live birth, preterm birth, or birthweight outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • The age of single-step embryo culture medium within its 1-year shelf-life is not linked to adverse IVF or neonatal outcomes.
  • Findings support the flexible use of culture media up to its expiration date, potentially reducing waste and logistical burdens.
  • Further prospective studies are recommended to validate these findings across different media types and settings.