High implantation and pregnancy rates with transfer of human blastocysts developed in preimplantation stage one and blastocyst media.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the proficiency of preimplantation stage one (P1) and blastocyst media in supporting human blastocyst development and to document implantation and clinical pregnancy rates from the transfer of the normally developed blastocysts.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical study.


METHODS
Private IVF unit of a university-affiliated center.


METHODS
Twenty-eight women aged 33.7 +/- 2.9 years who underwent IVF treatment for infertility.


METHODS
Bipronucleate oocytes obtained from IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection were cultured in vitro with P1 and blastocyst media for 96-120 hours. One to three embryos were transferred (2.1 +/- 0.2 for the patients who became pregnant and 1.5 +/- 0.3 for those who did not become pregnant).


METHODS
Total number and percentage of developed blastocysts, frequency of blastocysts of grades A and B, and implantation and pregnancy rates.


RESULTS
From 431 oocytes retrieved, 269 bipronucleate oocytes were cultured, producing 81 blastocysts that resulted in the transfer of 54 embryos in 27 procedures. Blastocysts developed in 39.7% +/- 5.5% of the pregnant group and 30.2% +/- 4.5% of the nonpregnant group. From 15 (15/27 = 55.6%) clinical pregnancies, 18 (18/54 = 33.3%) gestational sacs were visualized. The rate of implantation in the pregnant group was 58.1% (18/31).


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide evidence for the benefits of extending human embryo culture with P1 and blastocyst media for all normally fertilized embryos in vitro.
Alves da Motta
E L
EL
Centro de Medicina Reprodutiva Huntington São Paulo, SP, Brazil. bebefiv@uol.com.br
Alegretti
J R
JR
Baracat
E C
EC
Olive
D
D
Serafini
P C
PC
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003470:Culture Media