Hyaluronan-enriched transfer medium in cleavage-stage frozen-thawed embryo transfers increases implantation rate without improvement of delivery rate.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of hyaluronan-enriched transfer media in cleavage-stage frozen embryo transfer cycles.


METHODS
Two commercially available transfer media were prospectively compared in an observational study.


METHODS
Hospital-based in vitro fertilization clinic.


METHODS
Patients (n = 425) undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET). The embryos transferred were included in either a study group (high hyaluronic acid [HA], n = 199) or a control group (low HA, n = 226).


METHODS
Delivery rate per FET; positive hCG rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, and clinical abortion rate were secondary outcomes.


RESULTS
The use of HA in the transfer media significantly increased the positive hCG rate (37.2% vs. 25.2%) and implantation rate (23.1% vs. 15.8%) without increasing the delivery rate (21.6% vs. 21.2%). More subjects in the study group with a positive hCG test experienced biochemical pregnancy (28.4% vs. 8.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
Addition of HA to transfer media seems to favor attachment of early embryos in FETs without increasing the delivery rate.
Hambiliki
Fredwell
F
Department of Clinical Science, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Ljunger
Elisabeth
E
Karlström
Per-Olof
PO
Stavreus-Evers
Anneli
A
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D006820:Hyaluronic Acid