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Marsh P, Radif D, Rajpurkar P, Wang Z, Hariton E, Ribeiro S, Simbulan R, Kaing A, Lin W, Rajah A, Rabara F, Lungren M, Demirci U, Ng A, Rosen M. A proof of concept for a deep learning system that can aid embryologists in predicting blastocyst survival after thaw. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21119. [PMID: 36477633 PMCID: PMC9729222 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25062-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to understand whether embryos survive the thaw process is crucial to transferring competent embryos that can lead to pregnancy. The objective of this study was to develop a proof of concept deep learning model capable of assisting embryologist assessment of survival of thawed blastocysts prior to embryo transfer. A deep learning model was developed using 652 labeled time-lapse videos of freeze-thaw blastocysts. The model was evaluated against and along embryologists on a test set of 99 freeze-thaw blastocysts, using images obtained at 0.5 h increments from 0 to 3 h post-thaw. The model achieved AUCs of 0.869 (95% CI 0.789, 0.934) and 0.807 (95% CI 0.717, 0.886) and the embryologists achieved average AUCs of 0.829 (95% CI 0.747, 0.896) and 0.850 (95% CI 0.773, 0.908) at 2 h and 3 h, respectively. Combining embryologist predictions with model predictions resulted in a significant increase in AUC of 0.051 (95% CI 0.021, 0.083) at 2 h, and an equivalent increase in AUC of 0.010 (95% CI -0.018, 0.037) at 3 h. This study suggests that a deep learning model can predict in vitro blastocyst survival after thaw in aneuploid embryos. After correlation with clinical outcomes of transferred embryos, this model may help embryologists ascertain which embryos may have failed to survive the thaw process and increase the likelihood of pregnancy by preventing the transfer of non-viable embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Marsh
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - D. Radif
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - P. Rajpurkar
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Z. Wang
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - E. Hariton
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - S. Ribeiro
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - R. Simbulan
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - A. Kaing
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - W. Lin
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - A. Rajah
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - F. Rabara
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - M. Lungren
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - U. Demirci
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Canary Center for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - A. Ng
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - M. Rosen
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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Wang YJ, Liu WJ, Fan L, Li ZT, Huang YQ, Chen CQ, Liu D, Zhang XQ, Liu FH. The impacts of the number of prefreeze and postthaw blastomeres on embryo implantation potential: A systematic analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e19591. [PMID: 32221078 PMCID: PMC7220464 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000019591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To systematically analyze the potential of embryo implantation through comparison between the number of surviving blastomeres, the growth, and implantation rate.Retrospective analysis on implantation rate and the growth of prefreeze-postthaw embryos with different blastomeres in 1487 frozen embryo transfer cycles.In groups of postthaw embryos without damage, implantation rate and the average number of blastomere growth increased significantly with increasing number of blastomeres. The implantation rate and the number of blastomeres of embryos with 8-8c (the number of blastomeres in prefreeze embryo-the number of blastomeres in postthaw embryo) continued to grow at a significantly higher rate than that of 5-5c and 6-6c (P < .05). In groups of embryos with the same number of blastomeres before freezing and with partial damage after resuscitation, the implantation rates were lower and the average numbers of blastomere growth reduced as the number of damaged blastomeres increased. For embryos with good quality before freezing, 1 to 3 damaged blastomeres in postthawed embryos did not affect the development and implantation rate. Both implantation rate and growth rate of embryos with 8-6c were significantly higher than those of embryos with 6-6c (P < .05).The number of surviving blastomeres and growth in frozen-thawed embryos could be important index to predict embryo development potential and clinical outcome of implantation. For embryos with good quality, a small amount of damaged blastomeres would not weaken embryo development potential and implantation rate after being thawed.
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Spent culture medium analysis from individually cultured bovine embryos demonstrates metabolomic differences. ZYGOTE 2017; 25:662-674. [PMID: 29032784 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199417000417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Spent culture medium can provide valuable information regarding the physiological state of a bovine preimplantation embryos through non-invasive analysis of the sum/depleted metabolite constituents. Metabolomics has become of great interest as an adjunct technique to morphological and cleavage-rate assessment, but more importantly, in improving our understanding of metabolism. In this study, in vitro produced bovine embryos developing at different rates were evaluated using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Spent culture medium from individually cultured embryos (2-cell to blastocyst stage) were divided into two groups based on their cleavage rate fast growing (FG) and slow growing (SG; developmentally delayed by 12-24 h), then analyzed by a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer. Sixteen metabolites were detected and investigated for sum/depletion throughout development. Data indicate distinct differences between the 4-cell SG and FG embryos for pyruvate (P < 0.05, n = 9) and at the 16-cell stage for acetate, tryptophan, leucine/isoleucine, valine and histidine. Overall sum/depletion levels of metabolites demonstrated that embryos produced glutamate, but consumed histidine, tyrosine, glycine, methionine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, lysine, arginine, acetate, threonine, alanine, pyruvate, valine, isoleucine/leucine, and lactate with an overall trend of higher consumption of these metabolites by FG groups. Principal component analysis revealed distinct clustering of the plain medium, SG, and FG group, signifying the uniqueness of the metabolomic signatures of each of these groups. This study is the first of its kind to characterize the metabolomic profiles of SG and FG bovine embryos produced in vitro using 1H NMR. Elucidating differences between embryos of varying developmental rates could contribute to a better understanding of embryonic health and physiology.
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Chang CC, Elliott TA, Wright G, Shapiro DB, Toledo AA, Nagy ZP. Prospective controlled study to evaluate laboratory and clinical outcomes of oocyte vitrification obtained in in vitro fertilization patients aged 30 to 39 years. Fertil Steril 2013; 99:1891-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2012] [Revised: 01/09/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Jin R, Tong X, Wu L, Luo L, Luan H, Zhou G, Johansson L, Liu Y. Extended culture of vitrified–warmed embryos in day-3 embryo transfer cycles: a randomized controlled pilot study. Reprod Biomed Online 2013; 26:384-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2012.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Revised: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Liu Y, Peirce K, Yap K, McKenzie K, Natalwala J, Chapple V, Norman M, Matson P. The fate of frozen human embryos when transferred either on the day of thawing or after overnight culture. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTION 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s2305-0500(13)60075-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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Lin TK, Su JT, Lee FK, Lin YR, Lo HC. Cryotop vitrification as compared to conventional slow freezing for human embryos at the cleavage stage: survival and outcomes. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2011; 49:272-8. [PMID: 21056310 DOI: 10.1016/s1028-4559(10)60060-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of cryotop vitrification of human cleavage-stage embryos to that of conventional slow freezing of these embryos with respect to survival. A second objective was to compare the two cryopreservation techniques with respect to outcomes for a cohort of women. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cleavage-stage embryos from 102 patients were cryopreserved either by vitrification (57 patients) or by traditional slow freezing (45 patients). After thawing, rates of embryo survival, implantation, and clinical pregnancy were determined. RESULTS Survival of embryos was significantly higher with the vitrification procedure as compared to traditional slow freezing [287/298 (96.3%) vs. 294/446 (65.9%); p < 0.05). Rates of implantation and clinical pregnancy were also significantly higher using vitrification procedure as compared to the slow freezing procedure (24.3% vs. 7.1% and 35.6% vs. 15.6% respectively, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION As compared to conventional slow freezing, cryopreservation of human cleavage-stage embryo using vitrification results in higher rates of embryo survival, implantation, and clinical pregnancy. Vitrification therefore represents the superior cryopreservation technique for cleavage-stage embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tseng-Kai Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hsinchu Cathy General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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Solé M, Santaló J, Rodríguez I, Boada M, Coroleu B, Barri PN, Veiga A. Correlation between embryological factors and pregnancy rate: development of an embryo score in a cryopreservation programme. J Assist Reprod Genet 2010; 28:129-36. [PMID: 21042843 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-010-9498-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2010] [Accepted: 10/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To establish which embryo parameters, in frozen thawed embryo transfers, have the highest prognosis value in the establishment of pregnancy. The relative importance of different embryo parameters is used to develop an embryo score. METHODS Retrospective analysis of the implantation rate in 356 frozen/thawed single embryo transfers. A logistic regression model is used to establish an embryo score. RESULTS A direct correlation is established between the implantation rate and fresh embryo development (number of blastomeres and their symmetry), survival rate after thawing and mitosis resumption after overnight culture. CONCLUSIONS An embryo score is developed to determine the implantation potential of frozen/thawed embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Solé
- Servei de Medicina de la Reproducció, Departament d'Obstetrícia, Ginecologia i Reproducció, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Sabino de Arana, 5-19, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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Granne I, Child T, Hartshorne G, (on behalf of the British Fertility. Embryo cryopreservation: Evidence for practice. HUM FERTIL 2009; 11:159-72. [DOI: 10.1080/14647270802242205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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10
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Edgar DH, Archer J, Bourne H. The application and impact of cryopreservation of early cleavage stage embryos in assisted reproduction. HUM FERTIL 2009; 8:225-30. [PMID: 16393822 DOI: 10.1080/14647270500054779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The contribution of cryopreserved embryos to the overall outcomes achieved by a clinical assisted reproduction programme has increased in importance with the trend towards reducing the numbers of fresh embryos transferred following in vitro fertilisation. Although cryopreservation appears to fully preserve developmental potential in early cleavage stage embryos that survive intact, it results in a reduction in potential when blastomere loss occurs during freezing and thawing. Overall, it can be estimated that cryopreservation results in approximately a 30% reduction in the potential for pregnancy in a population of embryos. Both blastomere survival and post-thaw resumption of mitosis can act as markers of implantation potential in frozen/thawed embryos. Application of strict criteria for freezing embryos and transferring thawed embryos may enhance apparent success rates, but may also result in some pregnancy potential being discarded. The role of embryo cryopreservation in minimising the incidence of multiple pregnancy must be balanced with the need for efficiency in the quest to establish pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Edgar
- Reproductive Services, Royal Women's Hospital and Melbourne IVF, Victoria, Australia.
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El-Toukhy T, Coomarasamy A, Khairy M, Sunkara K, Seed P, Khalaf Y, Braude P. The relationship between endometrial thickness and outcome of medicated frozen embryo replacement cycles. Fertil Steril 2008; 89:832-9. [PMID: 17681313 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2006] [Revised: 04/17/2007] [Accepted: 04/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between endometrial thickness and outcome of medicated frozen-thawed embryo replacement (FER) cycles. DESIGN A retrospective observational study. SETTING Assisted conception unit at a university hospital. PATIENT(S) All patients who underwent an FER cycle between 1997 and April 2006 and met the inclusion criteria. INTERVENTION(S) For endometrial preparation, a daily dose of 6 mg of oral E(2) valerate was started on menstrual day 1, and P pessaries (800 mg daily) were administrated when the endometrial thickness had reached 7 mm or more, with ET taking place 2-3 days later. The FER cycles were categorized according to endometrial thickness measurement on the day of P supplementation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Implantation, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth rates. RESULT(S) In all, 768 consecutive medicated FER cycles were analyzed. The lowest pregnancy rates were associated with endometrial thickness <7 mm (n = 13) and >14 mm (n = 12; 7% in both groups). Significantly higher implantation (19% vs. 12%), clinical pregnancy (30% vs. 18%), ongoing pregnancy (27% vs. 16%), and live birth (25% vs. 14%) rates were achieved in cycles where endometrial thickness was 9-14 mm (n = 386), compared with those in which endometrial thickness was 7-8 mm (n = 357). These differences remained significant after adjusting for confounding variables (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.83 [confidence interval {CI} = 1.3-2.6] for clinical pregnancy, 1.8 [CI = 1.2-2.6] for ongoing pregnancy and 1.9 [CI = 1.3-2.8] for live birth). CONCLUSION(S) In medicated FER cycles, an endometrial thickness of 9-14 mm measured on the day of P supplementation is associated with higher implantation and pregnancy rates compared with an endometrial thickness of 7-8 mm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarek El-Toukhy
- Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
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Edgar DH, Archer J, McBain J, Bourne H. Embryonic factors affecting outcome from single cryopreserved embryo transfer. Reprod Biomed Online 2007; 14:718-23. [PMID: 17579986 DOI: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60674-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Multiple pregnancy minimization by single embryo transfer is becoming more prevalent, but is less common in the case of cryopreserved embryos. This study defines embryonic characteristics in single cryopreserved embryo transfers associated with success rates equivalent to those achieved when transferring two cryopreserved embryos. In a retrospective analysis of 6916 cryopreserved day-2 embryo transfer procedures, transfer of two cryopreserved embryos resulted in higher clinical pregnancy rates when compared with transfer of a single thawed embryo but was also associated with elevated multiple pregnancy rates (26.7% in women under 36). Optimal outcome (implantation rate of 30.9%) from single cryopreserved embryo transfer (SCET) in women under 36 was associated with cryopreservation at the 4-cell stage, loss of fewer than two blastomeres and subsequent cleavage of at least two surviving blastomeres. In comparison, transfer of two cryopreserved embryos in women under 36 resulted in pregnancy and implantation rates of 25.5 and 16.1% respectively. Interestingly, in cryopreserved 4-cell stage embryos, loss of a single blastomere did not reduce implantation potential and cleavage of only a single post-thaw blastomere was not indicative of increased implantation potential. Establishment of these critical thresholds provides a rational basis for SCET.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Edgar
- Reproductive Services/Melbourne IVF, Royal Women's Hospital, 132 Grattan Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
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Abstract
Clinical application of oocyte cryopreservation may be in the context of fertility preservation for women about to undergo cytotoxic therapies or may be as an alternative to embryo cryopreservation in routine assisted reproduction. The clinical efficiency of oocyte cryopreservation will be a consequence of the cumulative impact of pre-freeze oocyte quality, postthaw survival and subcellular effects of cryopreservation protocols, which impact on early embryo quality and post-transfer viability, together with the degree of selection which is applied to the available biological material. Any valid assessment must include reference to all the above aspects, particularly when comparing cryopreserved oocytes with non-frozen controls or cryopreserved embryos. Cumulative pregnancy rates from oocyte collections may provide the most relevant index of success. Survival of human oocytes cryopreserved using current methodology is similar to that achieved with early-cleavage-stage embryos. Although evidence suggests that developmental potential may be compromised when current oocyte cryopreservation protocols are applied, there is a paucity of rigorously controlled studies in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Edgar
- Reproductive Services/Melbourne IVF, Royal Women's Hospital, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
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Tang R, Catt J, Howlett D. Towards defining parameters for a successful single embryo transfer in frozen cycles. Hum Reprod 2006; 21:1179-83. [PMID: 16410326 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dei490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Twin pregnancies in IVF should be avoided by transferring embryos one at a time, even for frozen cycles. In this study, we investigated the effect of blastomere lysis and cleavage in singleton frozen embryo transfer (sFET) cycles. Outcomes were compared with the transfer of two embryos in frozen transfer cycles (dFET). METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 891 FET cycles, involving 404 sFET and 487 dFET cycles. RESULTS Overall, in sFET cycles, the pregnancy and implantation rates were 8.9 and 8.7%. When blastomere lysis was more than 25% but no greater than 50%, the pregnancy and implantation rates were 3.2%. If blastomere lysis was greater than 50% there were no pregnancies. If blastomere lysis was less than 25%, but with no cleavage, the pregnancy and implantation rates were 4.1%. The results significantly improved (P = 0.007) in the group with less than 25% lysis, when cleavage occurred. The pregnancy and implantation rates for this group were 17.3 and 16.6%. This was not significantly different from unselected two embryo transfers (22 and 12.7%,P = 0.2 and 0.19, respectively). There were 21 twins with dFET (19.6% of pregnancies) and none in sFET. CONCLUSION Both blastomere lysis and cleavage affect the outcome in sFET. To avoid the risk of twins, sFET should be considered when the embryo shows less than 25% blastomere lysis and at least one blastomere cleaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tang
- Monash IVF, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Hydén-Granskog C, Unkila-Kallio L, Halttunen M, Tiitinen A. Single embryo transfer is an option in frozen embryo transfer. Hum Reprod 2005; 20:2935-8. [PMID: 15980000 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dei133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A good strategy to decrease multiple pregnancy rate in assisted reproduction technology (ART) is the use of single embryo transfer (SET). METHODS This retrospective study analysed 1647 frozen embryo transfers carried out during 1998-2003 in Helsinki University Central Hospital; of these, 872 were double embryo transfers (DETs) and 775 SETs. The SET group included 140 (18.1%) elective SETs (eSETs). RESULTS The yearly rate of SETs in frozen cycles increased from 28 to 66%. Overall, the clinical pregnancy rate per frozen embryo transfer was 30.7% and the delivery rate 22.6%. The delivery rate was significantly higher in DET cryocycles than in SET cryocycles (25.7 versus 19.2%, respectively; P < 0.01). In DET cryocycles, the multiple delivery rate was 21.9%, 10 times higher than that observed in cryocycles with SET (2.0%) (P < 0.0001). When eSET was applied, no difference in delivery rate was observed when compared with cryocycles with DET (28.6 and 25.7%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS SET can be used in frozen cycles to reduce multiple delivery rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Hydén-Granskog
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
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Zheng WT, Zhuang GL, Zhou CQ, Fang C, Ou JP, Li T, Zhang MF, Liang XY. Comparison of the survival of human biopsied embryos after cryopreservation with four different methods using non-transferable embryos. Hum Reprod 2005; 20:1615-8. [PMID: 15746196 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deh808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The standard embryo cryopreservation method is still less than optimal for biopsied embryos. The aim of this study was to compare the survival of biopsied embryos cryopreserved with four different methods using non-transferable embryos. METHODS Abnormal embryos from one or three pronuclei and spare embryos of grade 3 and 4 were used for this study. Non-biopsied embryos were cryopreserved using the standard method as control. Biopsied embryos were cryopreserved using four methods as follows: standard method, modified freezing method, modified thawing method and vitrification. Blastomere survival and blastulation of frozen-thawed embryos were compared between the different methods. RESULTS The proportion of embryos with > or = 50% blastomere survival and total blastomere survival rate of biopsied embryos were significantly higher with vitrification than the other three methods. Both the modified freezing and modified thawing methods had significantly higher embryo survival and total blastomere survival rates than standard methods. However, there was no significant difference in blastulation of surviving embryos in all the five groups. CONCLUSIONS Non-transferable embryos derived from clinical IVF/ICSI are useful for evaluation of the optimal freezing procedures for biopsied embryos. Vitrification increases the survival rate of human biopsied embryos above standard and modified cryopreservation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- W T Zheng
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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Pal L, Kovacs P, Witt B, Jindal S, Santoro N, Barad D. Postthaw blastomere survival is predictive of the success of frozen?Thawed embryo transfer cycles. Fertil Steril 2004; 82:821-6. [PMID: 15482754 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.02.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2003] [Revised: 02/26/2004] [Accepted: 02/26/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the predictors of postthaw blastomere survival and the relationship of blastomere survival to the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING An IVF unit in a tertiary care facility. PATIENT(S) Infertile women undergoing FET cycles with embryos cryopreserved on day 3 postinsemination. INTERVENTION(S) FET cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Embryo survival postthaw, pregnancy (PR), clinical pregnancy, and implantation rates. RESULT(S) A significant impact of postthaw blastomere survival on the outcome of FET cycles was noted. The thawed embryos in the low survival tertile resulted in significantly impaired implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and PR compared to embryos in the high survival tertile. An inverse association was noted between serum P levels on the day of hCG administration and postthaw blastomere survival. CONCLUSION(S) We have demonstrated that postthaw blastomere survival is predictive of success of FET cycles. The relationship of poor postthaw embryo survival in the setting of elevated P is novel and not hitherto described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Pal
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
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Edgar DH, Archer J, Gook DA, Jericho H, Wilton L, Bourne H. Survival and developmental potential of stored human early cleavage stage embryos. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2004; 115 Suppl 1:S8-11. [PMID: 15196708 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Human early cleavage stage embryos which survive cryopreservation and thawing fully intact demonstrate similar developmental potential to equivalent non frozen embryos when returned to the in vivo environment, whereas blastomere loss is directly related to the loss of potential for subsequent implantation in thawed embryos. This suggests that blastomere lysis during freezing and thawing does not occur preferentially in non viable blastomeres. Prefreeze growth rate rather than prefreeze blastomere number per se correlates with the developmental potential of stored embryos. When blastomere loss occurs as a consequence of cryopreservation, development of thawed early cleavage stage embryos to the blastocyst stage in vitro is impaired and the resultant blastocysts have a reduced total cell content. Blastomere loss is more prevalent in embryos which have been biopsied for preimplantation genetic diagnosis but this increased sensitivity can be circumvented by modification of the standard cryopreservation protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- D H Edgar
- Reproductive Services, Royal Women's Hospital, 132 Grattan Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
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