ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between blastocyst growth parameters and birth weight. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: University-affiliated fertility center. PATIENT(S): In vitro patients who delivered a singleton after a single-blastocyst transfer. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Birth weight adjusted for gestational age at delivery and gender, with adjusted birth weight examined for association with blastocyst scores and grades. RESULT(S): After standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) and thawed embryo transfers, greater birth weight was associated with a higher inner cell mass grade. The grade of the trophectoderm and stage of the blastocyst did not relate to weight. CONCLUSION(S): Embryonic growth as early as day 5 can predict the progress of fetal development as measured by birth weight.
Subject(s)
Birth Weight/physiology , Blastocyst Inner Cell Mass/physiology , Blastocyst/physiology , Embryo Culture Techniques/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
This is the first report of viable pregnancies established with ICSI after 24-hour incubation of washed ejaculated sperm from men with poor sperm parameters. Because both pregnancy rates and viable pregnancy rates were significantly increased compared with 2- to 4-hour-incubated historical controls, 24-hour incubation before ICSI may be beneficial in selecting the most favorable ejaculated sperm.
