Effect of Fragment Removal on Development of Human Fragmented Embryos in IVF-ET Program / 대한불임학회지

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.

The relationship between pregnancy rate and suppression of luteinizing hormone in IVF-ET program / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of profound LH suppression in the late follicular phase during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) on pregnancy rate. METHODS: Data were collected by retrospective analysis. A total of 172 cycles of oocytes retrieval for IVF after COH with GnRH agonist-down regulation and hMG/FSH were included from January 1999 to July 2002. Serum LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone concentrations were measured on the day 3 of the preceding cycle and LH concentration was measured on the day of hCG administration. Based on LH concentrations (mIU/mL) on the day of hCG administration, cycles are classfied to two groups (group 1: LH>0.7 mIU/mL, group 2: LH