title: Influence of cumulus cell coculture and cumulusaided embryo transfer on embryonic development and pregnancy rates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of autologous cumulus oocyte complex (COC) coculture on embryonic development and quality, and investigate the implantation and pregnancy rates after cumulus-aided embryo transfer in the ICSI-ET cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety five consecutive infertile women undergoing their first cycle of IVF teratment were included in the study. The cases were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 48 women undergoing ICSI, along with autologous cumulus embryo coculture and cumulus-aided emryo transfer. Group 2 comprised 47 consecutive patients who consented to undergo ICSI and in whom autologous cumulus embryo coculture and cumulus-aided embryo transfer were not performed. Implantation and pregnancy rates were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The demographic data and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation parameters were similar in the two groups. The fertilization and cleavage rates were found to be higher in group 1 when compared with group 2 (p=0.03 and 0.001, respectively). There were no statistical significant differences for the implantation and clinical pregnancy rates between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Usage of autologous COCs as coculture may improve fertilization and cleavage rates. However, cumulus-aided embryo transfer does not produce an increase in implantation and pregnancy rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meram Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nalan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cihangir
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meram Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hüzeyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Görkemli
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meram Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryolog, Meram Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aktan
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryolog, Meram Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duman
keywords: Coculture; Cumulus cells; ICSI-embryo transfer; Pregnancy rate