title: Improved clinical outcomes for in vitro fertilization with delay of embryo transfer from 48 to 72 hours after oocyte retrieval: use of glucose- and phosphate-free media.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical outcomes of day 2 versus day 3 ET using a culture media with no glucose or phosphate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based fertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-six IVF-ET patients undergoing controlled ovarian supraovulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  IVF and delaying the ET by 1 day.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number of blastomeres per embryo, implantation and pregnancy rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Delaying the ET from day 2 to day 3 after oocyte retrieval significantly increased implantation rates (13% versus 24%) and ongoing/delivered pregnancy rates per retrieval (26% versus 44%). Day 3 embryos with > or = 8 blastomeres resulted in a significantly higher pregnancy rate (53%) than day 3 embryos with < 8 cells (23%) and day 2 embryos with > or = 4 cells (31%) or < 4 cells (11%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Day 3 ET was associated with a significant increase in implantation and pregnancy rates. Delaying the ET until day 3 may permit the selection of more viable embryos than on day 2. The absence of glucose and phosphate from the culture media is compatible with good IVF outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Pridman
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Pool
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D005947:Glucose; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010710:Phosphates; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D010710:Phosphates; D005947:Glucose