ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the beneficial effect of fragment removal on the subsequent cell division and clinical outcome of the fragmented human embryos. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in Hanna Women's Clinic and Mizmedi Hospital. Sixty couples undergoing In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program were participated in the present study. The microsurgical fragment removal was performed in 106 fragmented embryos of 29 patients before the transfer. As a control group, 122 fragmented embryos of 31 patients were transferred without the fragment removal. Effects of fragment removal on morphological changes and clinical outcomes of fragmented embryos were investigated. RESULTS: Mean morphological grade (G2.79) of fragmented embryos was significantly improved after the fragment removal (G1.63, p<0.001). Most of the fragmented embryos did not show a regeneration of fragments after the fragment removal during the subsequent development, and a beneficial effect of fragment removal on the development of the fragment removed embryos was observed. Implantation and pregnancy rates of fragment removed embryos were 12.3% and 31.3%, whereas the rates of control group embryos were 6.6% and 22.5%, respectively. There was no statistical significance in the rates between the two groups because of the low number of trials. CONCLUSION: Microsurgical fragment removal improved the subsequent development as well as the morphological grade of fragmented embryos. The fragment removal may be beneficial for neighboring blastomeres by repairing the intercellular communication and removing the secretion of the potential toxic materials by fragments.
Subject(s)
Humans , Blastomeres , Cell Division , Embryonic Structures , Family Characteristics , Pregnancy Rate , Prospective Studies , RegenerationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: There are various factors affecting the outcome of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the influence of the factors on pregnancy rate of IVF programs. METHODS: From September 1994 to December 2001, 2604 IVF-ET cycles were performed from 1823 patients. The effects of ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, cause of infertility, age of patients, number of oocytes aspirated, number of embryos transferred, quality of embryos transferred, endometrial thickness, and type of IVF procedure on the pregnancy rates of the IVF-ET cycles were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 2604 IVF-ET cycles, 931 pregnancies (35.8%) were obtained from fresh embryos transfer (ET), and 78 pregnancies (20.1%) were obtained from 389 thawing ET cycles. Total 1009 clinical pregnancies were obtained, so the cumulative pregnancy rate is 38.7%. The pregnancy rates were significantly decreased in patients who were over 38 years old, showing poor ovarian response or having less than 8 mm of endometrial thickness (P<0.05). At least more than one Grade 1 or Grade 2 embryo transfer is requisite for maintaining over 40% of pregnancy rate. Limitation of embryos number for transfer to 3 is recommended for maintaining pregnancy rate and restraining multiple pregnancy rate. Transfer of zygotes or/and embryos into the oviduct is beneficial for improving the pregnancy rate, compared to transfer of embryos into the uterus. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy rate in IVF-ET is significantly affected by both endogenous and exogenous factors such as age, ovarian response, endometrial thickness, quality and number of embryos transferred, and method of IVF programs. Therefore, continuous effort to improve not only the controllable exogenous factors but the uncontrollable endogenous factors is necessary for increasing the pregnancy rate.
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Embryo Transfer , Embryonic Structures , Fertilization in Vitro , Infertility , Oocytes , Oviducts , Pregnancy Rate , Pregnancy, Multiple , Retrospective Studies , Uterus , ZygoteABSTRACT
No abstract available.