Implantation Rates after Two and Five Days of Embryo Culture: A Comparative Study.

ABSTRACT

The aim of our study was to compare the Implantation rates of embryos transferred after two and five days of culture. A Randomized, prospective study was conducted in Infertility clinic, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology,Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jaipur on 300 patients aged 25-40 years undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/ intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle from May 2010-April 2011. When three or more Grade-I embryos were observed on day 2 of culture, patients were divided randomly into two study groups, day 3 transfer group and blastocyst transfer group or day 5 transfer group having 150 patients each. IVF outcome in terms of Implantation rate was compared between the groups. The results were analyzed using proportions, standard deviation and chi-square test.Both the groups were similar for age, indication and number of embryos transferred. Embryo transfers on day 5 resulted in significantly higher ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates as compared with day 3 embryo transfers(44% and 35.17% versus 29.33% and 21.35%, respectively)(P< 0.001). No significant difference was found in terms of multiple gestations in both the groups. Embryo transfers on day 5 of culture give significantly higher chance of ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates per cycle and per transfer than day 3 transfers.