title: Effects of transfer of embryos independently cultured in essential and sequential culture media on pregnancy rates in assisted reproduction cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several culture media are available to be used in ART. However it is uncertain whether embryos would preferably benefit from one type of medium or the association of different media.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed this study to evaluate the impact of simultaneous transfer of embryos independently cultured in two distinct culture media, on pregnancy outcome. A total of 722 couples who underwent infertility treatment were sequentially allocated into three groups: those who had half of the embryos individually cultured in MEM and the other half cultured in sequential media (MEM + Seq Group) (n = 243); those who had all embryos cultured only in sequential medium (Seq Group) (n = 239); and those who had all embryos cultured only in MEM (MEM Group) (n = 240).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pregnancy rate was higher in the MEM + Seq group (51.8 %) than the Seq group (36.7 %) (p < 0.001). However the pregnancy rate observed in the MEM group was similar to the others (44.2 %). When a logistic regression test was applied it demonstrated that the number of transferred embryos did not interfere in the pregnancy rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggests that offering different culture conditions for sibling embryos with subsequent transfer of embryos that were kept in distinct culture media, might increase pregnancy rates in assisted reproduction cycles.
authors.affiliation: Origen--Center for Reproductive Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. selmogeber@origen.com.br
authors.forename: Selmo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geber
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bossi
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008677:Metaphase; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media