Comparison of G1.2/G2.2 and Sydney IVF cleavage/blastocyst sequential media for the culture of human embryos: a prospective, randomized, comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two commercially available sequential media, G1.2/G2.2 and Sydney IVF cleavage/blastocyst media, as supports for human embryo culture.


METHODS
Prospective randomized study.


METHODS
University-based IVF clinic.


METHODS
Two hundred forty-nine patients undergoing IVF treatment for the first or second time, randomly allocated at the time of oocyte retrieval, to either culture in G1.2/G2.2 or Sydney IVF media.


METHODS
Oocyte recovery, IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo culture, transfer on day 3 or day 5/6.


METHODS
Developmental stage on day 3, blastocyst rate, pregnancy outcome as assessed by beta hCG positive test, implantation rates, and ongoing pregnancies.


RESULTS
Embryos cultured in G1.2/G2.2 media displayed a faster kinetics of cleavage, compaction, blastulation, and hatching, but a lower day 3 embryo quality than those grown in Sydney IVF media. For patients with at least five embryos, G1.2/G2.2 media yielded higher implantation rates (26.2%) in our day 3 embryo transfer program when compared to Sydney IVF medium (15.5%), whereas similar implantation rates were obtained for day 5/6 embryo transfer for both media (43.1% and 36.1%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
In our day 3 embryo transfer program, G1.2/G2.2 media were superior to Sydney IVF media, whereas both media yielded similar outcomes in our blastocyst transfer program.
Van Langendonckt
A
A
Department of Gynecology, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Demylle
D
D
Wyns
C
C
Nisolle
M
M
Donnez
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D046508:Culture Techniques; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D003470:Culture Media