Simplified vitrification-warming protocol in donor oocytes: artificial intelligence-based oocyte competence and...

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Embryology
• Cryobiology

Background:

• Oocyte cryopreservation is crucial for assisted reproductive technologies.
• Conventional vitrification protocols are time-consuming and complex.
• Simplified protocols aim to improve efficiency without compromising outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficiency of a simplified vitrification and warming protocol for human donor oocytes.
• To compare laboratory and clinical outcomes between simplified and conventional protocols.
• To assess the impact of the simplified protocol on oocyte competence using AI.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, randomized study involving 245 mature oocytes from 20 donor cycles.
• Randomization to either a simplified (1-min equilibration/vitrification, 1-min warming dilution) or conventional (stepwise equilibration, multistep warming) protocol.
• Evaluation of oocyte survival, fertilization, blastocyst development, implantation, and ongoing pregnancy rates, alongside AI-based competence assessment.

Main Results:

• Oocyte survival rates were high and comparable (97.7% simplified vs. 97.4% conventional).
• Fertilization, usable blastocyst, and good-quality blastocyst rates showed no significant differences between protocols.
• Clinical outcomes, including implantation (80.0% vs. 71.4%) and ongoing pregnancy (60.0% vs. 57.1%) rates, were similar.

Conclusions:

• The simplified oocyte vitrification and warming protocol is as effective as the conventional method.
• A single-step approach for cryoprotectant equilibration and dilution yields comparable laboratory and clinical results.
• This simplified procedure offers a more efficient alternative for oocyte cryopreservation.