Unaltered timing of embryo development in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): a time-lapse study.
OBJECTIVE
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of female infertility. Factors other than anovulation, such as low embryo quality have been suggested to contribute to the infertility in these women. This 2-year retrospective study used timelapse technology to investigate the PCOS-influence on timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo (primary endpoint). The secondary outcome measure was live birth rates after elective single-embryo transfer.


METHODS
In total, 313 embryos from 43 PCOS women, and 1075 embryos from 174 non-PCOS women undergoing assisted reproduction were included. All embryos were monitored until day 6. Differences in embryo kinetics were tested in a covariance regression model to account for potential confounding variables: female age, BMI, fertilization method and male infertility.


RESULTS
Time to initiate compaction and reach the morula stage as well as the duration of the 4th cleavage division was significantly shorter in PCOS embryos compared with non-PCOS embryos. No other kinetic differences were found at any time-points annotated. The proportion of multi-nucleated cells at the 2-cell stage was significantly higher in PCOS embryos compared with non-PCOS embryos. The live birth rates were comparable between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the causative factor for subfertility in PCOS is not related to timing of development in the pre-implantation embryo.
The Fertility Clinic, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark, linda.karin.sundvall@post.au.dk.
Linda
L
Sundvall
Kirstine
K
Kirkegaard
Hans Jakob
HJ
Ingerslev
Ulla Breth
UB
Knudsen
D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D050498:Live Birth; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000379:methods*