title: No effect of embryo culture media on birthweight and length of newborns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Does the type of media used to culture embryos for IVF influence the birthweight and length of neonates?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant differences were observed in birthweight and length among the three embryo culture media used for in vitro embryo culture.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Since the establishment of IVF as an assisted reproductive technology (ART), many different culture systems have been used for the development of human embryos. Some studies have shown that the types of culture media influence the newborn birthweight; however, other studies have shown no effect. To further explore this contradictory issue, we compared the birthweight and length of neonates born after the transfer of embryos cultured in one of three commercially available media.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective analysis of birthweight and length of newborns included 1201 women who delivered singletons and 445 women who delivered twins. The following three commercially available culture media were used: G5™, Global and Quinn's advantage media. Women who underwent IVF-ET cycles between 2008 and 2010 were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients younger than 40 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) <30 kg/m(2) were analyzed. Only data from singletons and twins born alive after the 20th week of gestation were included in the data analysis. Patients who received preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and donor oocytes were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of 1201 singletons and 445 sets of twins showed no significant association between mean birthweight or mean birth length and the type of embryo culture medium. Inter-twin mean birthweight and length disparities were analyzed, but were not shown to be significantly different. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that maternal weight, maternal height, gestational age and infant gender were significantly related to birthweight, and paternal height, gestational age and newborn complications were significantly associated with birth length.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study showed that birthweight and length of newborns were not associated with the embryo culture medium. More research needs to be performed to analyze the effects of other culture medium formulations and to evaluate the long-term effects of embryo culture medium on the health of children conceived through ART. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS: Our retrospective study suggests that embryo culture medium does not influence neonatal birthweight and length; however, the effects of culture medium on epigenetic variation of embryos need to be studied further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medical Center, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Lixue
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D003470:Culture Media / Q000009:adverse effects*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media
keywords: IVF; birth length; birthweight; embryo culture medium