Pregnancy rates after communal growth of preimplantation human embryos in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of communal growth of preimplantation human embryos on pregnancy rates in IVF-ET.


METHODS
Prospective randomized study.


METHODS
In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Bikur Cholim Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.


METHODS
Ninety-one women undergoing 91 cycles of IVF-ET.


METHODS
In 42 cycles (control) embryos were grown singly, in 49 cycles (study) embryos were grown in groups until transfer.


METHODS
Proportion of women achieving pregnancy in study and control groups.


RESULTS
Communal growth of embryos resulted in significantly improved pregnancy rates. Intrauterine transfer of embryos grown in groups produced 43% pregnancy rates per transfer, whereas, with embryos grown individually, 24% pregnancy rates were obtained (odds ratio = 2.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that, in IVF, the potential of preimplantation human embryos to produce pregnancy tends to increase when embryos are grown in groups.
Almagor
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bikur Cholim Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Bejar
C
C
Kafka
I
I
Yaffe
H
H
D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies