Short gamete co-incubation during in vitro fertilization decreases the fertilization rate and does not improve embryo quality: a prospective auto controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effect of short gamete incubation on fertilization rate and embryo quality.


METHODS
A prospective study has been performed. Two thousand five hundred and forty seven sibling oocytes from 240 couples undergoing IVF attempts were allocated to a short (1 h) or a standard (18 h) insemination procedure. Diploid fertilization rate (two pronuclei, 2PN), polyspermy (>2PN) and embryo quality were compared.


RESULTS
The fertilization rate was statistically lower in the short insemination group compared to the standard insemination one (64.9% and 70.1%; P = 0.039), with a similar polyspermy rate observed between the two groups. A slight, but non significant, increase was observed concerning good embryo quality rate in the short insemination group when compared to the standard insemination, both at day 2 (60.1 vs. 58.1%; P = 0.06) and day 3 (53.2 vs. 48.5%; P = 0.22).


CONCLUSIONS
This new study highlights that a 1 h gamete exposure decreases the fertilization rate and does not improve embryo quality compared with a standard 18 h insemination procedure.
Barraud-Lange
V
V
Service d'Histologie Embryologie Cytogénétique, Hôpital Jean Verdier, Avenue du 14 Juillet, 93140 Bondy, France. virginie.barraud-lange@univ-paris5.fr
Sifer
C
C
Pocaté
K
K
Ziyyat
A
A
Martin-Pont
B
B
Porcher
R
R
Hugues
J N
JN
Wolf
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004171:Diploidy; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D035781:Siblings; D013997:Time Factors