An auto-controlled prospective comparison of two embryos culture media (G III series versus ISM) for IVF and ICSI treatments.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of 2 different media on embryo morphology and development at days 2/3. METHOD: Six hundred seventy-six attempts from 512 couples were included in this prospective auto-controlled study. Sibling oocytes of all couples undergoing an IVF (n = 286) or ICSI (n = 390) attempt were randomly assigned to either GIII series (Vitrolife) or ISM (Medicult) media. Primary end points were fertilization and embryo morphology rates. RESULTS: Fertilization rates in GIII series and ISM (IVF: 59.9 vs 62.0% and ICSI: 65.7 vs 66.8%) respectively were not different. GIII series showed an increase, compared to ISM, of early cleavage rate, (IVF: 25.8 vs 16.2% (p = 0.005); ICSI: 40.8 vs 25.5% (p < 0.0001), and good embryo morphology rate at day 2 [IVF: 64.6 vs 57.3% (p = 0.01); ICSI: 74.2 vs 69.4 (p = 0.03)] and at day 3 [IVF: 57.5 vs 49.0% (p = 0.02); ICSI: 67.2 vs 61.6% (p = 0.01)]. CONCLUSIONS: Embryo morphology at days 2/3 was significantly enhanced when the embryos were cultured in GIII series.

A prospective randomized study to compare four different mineral oils used to culture human embryos in IVF/ICSI treatments.

OBJECTIVE(S): We aimed to evaluate and compare the embryo quality at early cleavage stages using different oils overlaying media to culture human embryos during IVF/ICSI treatments. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 500 IVF/ICSI treatments from 500 women were analyzed in a prospective randomized study. Oocytes/embryos were treated into microdroplets of appropriate media overlaid with (i) Mineral Oil (CryoBioSystem, L'Aigle, France) (group 1, n=129), (ii) Liquid Paraffin (Medicult, Lyon, France) (group 2, n=126), (iii) Nidoil (Nidacon International, Guthenburg, Sweden) (group 3, n=126) and (iv) Ovoil (Vitrolife, Kungsbacka, Sweden) (group 4, n=119). Comparisons between groups were done using two by two post hoc tests, with 5% significance. The primary endpoint was the embryo quality, defined as good or top quality when embryos were with (i) less than 20% of fragmentation and (ii) 3-5/4 cells at day 2 or 6-10/8 cells at day 3, respectively. RESULTS: At day 2, the embryo quality was similar in all groups. However, the mean number of top quality embryos at day 3 was statistically higher into the group 4 (1.4+/-1.8) compared to the group 1 (0.9+/-1.0; p=0.03) and 2 (0.8+/-1.3; p=0.05). Furthermore, a significant increase of the mean number of good quality embryos was observed at day 3 into the group 4 (2.6+/-2.6) compared to the group 1 (1.6+/-1.6; p=0.02). CONCLUSION(S): The embryo quality could be modified according to commercial oils used to overlay culture media.

Day 3 compared with day 2 cryopreservation does not affect embryo survival but improves the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfers.

A retrospective study was performed to determine the differences in embryo survival and frozen-thawed embryo transfers outcome between cryopreservation performed on day 3 versus day 2. We conclude that freezing supernumerary embryos on day 3 provides similar thawing survival parameters, better implantation, pregnancy, and live-birth rates compared with day 2 cryopreservation.