Postthaw blastomere survival is predictive of the success of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the predictors of postthaw blastomere survival and the relationship of blastomere survival to the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
An IVF unit in a tertiary care facility.


METHODS
Infertile women undergoing FET cycles with embryos cryopreserved on day 3 postinsemination.


METHODS
FET cycles.


METHODS
Embryo survival postthaw, pregnancy (PR), clinical pregnancy, and implantation rates.


RESULTS
A significant impact of postthaw blastomere survival on the outcome of FET cycles was noted. The thawed embryos in the low survival tertile resulted in significantly impaired implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and PR compared to embryos in the high survival tertile. An inverse association was noted between serum P levels on the day of hCG administration and postthaw blastomere survival.


CONCLUSIONS
We have demonstrated that postthaw blastomere survival is predictive of success of FET cycles. The relationship of poor postthaw embryo survival in the setting of elevated P is novel and not hitherto described.
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. lubnapal@hotmail.com
Lubna
L
Pal
Peter
P
Kovacs
Barry
B
Witt
Sangita
S
Jindal
Nanette
N
Santoro
David
D
Barad
D000328:Adult; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D011374:Progesterone